Visiting Our Neighbors

During the month of October, all Sacred Heart-Griffin students visited the Dominican Motherhouse right across the parking lot from the school.

During their theology class, the students were divided into groups and led around the Motherhouse to gain information about the lives of sisters living there as well as a brief history of the place. Sophomore Grace McDonald said, “I had previously been to the Motherhouse to visit Sr. Lucille last year, so I had a pretty good idea of what it would be like. I was expecting it to be boring because I had already seen it all, but it was actually pretty fun.”

The maze-like facility is a lot larger than expected. It is full of so many rooms for so many different purposes. The students learned about the history of the Motherhouse in the artifact room. They also learned about how the sisters’ days usually unfold. Like lay people, the sisters and nuns who live there cook, clean, read and exercise. Some of the rooms include a kitchen, a library, a cafeteria and a computer room. The Motherhouse also includes a salon where the sisters get their hair cut and styled. It also has a physical therapy room and a swimming pool where the sisters swim to stay healthy and fit.

The Motherhouse includes many pieces of Catholic and Dominican artwork. Many pictures and sculptures include St. Dominic and his teachings.

An SHG tour group admires Fra Angelico’s painting of the Annunciation. Photo courtesy of Sabrina Johnston.

Other artwork seen on the tour include the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a picture of Fra Angelico’s portrayal of the Annunciation.

Although the students did not get to see the Motherhouse chapel, they did enjoy the tours that were given to them. Freshman Julia Curry was very pleased with her tour. “I enjoyed learning about and visiting with the sisters that I am familiar with, such as my great-aunt and some past teachers,” she said. “I also enjoyed speaking Spanish with some of the sisters who were learning the same language like I am.”

The Motherhouse tours gave SHG students more insight into the lives of the neighbors who help the school be what it is today. The hope was that the SHG students would feel more connected to the Dominican faith and the Dominican sisters.