Dominican Sisters of the Presentation

Our Presence in Massachusetts          

Dighton: 

Provincial House 

The Provincial House is the home of all of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in the USA. It is not only the headquarters of our congregation in the USA, but it is also the place where we all gather to celebrate who we are as Dominican Sisters. Here we deepen our vocation, our living of the vision of Marie Poussepin, our Foundress, and our bond of mutual love, which is forged in community life and prayer. Resting on 11 acres in rural Dighton, our Provincial House enjoys the peace and quiet of its surroundings with plenty of area to enjoy the grounds as well as a meditative walk on our labyrinth. 

Central to our property is our chapel where, in this sacred space, we come together in Christ, bringing our cares and those of the world. Every aspect of our chapel and the bridge that leads to it, speaks of our desire to rest in the Lord, to trust Him more than ourselves, and to bring to the Lord: our mission, our ministries, our concerns, our brokenness, our families and friends, the poor and the needy, those hungry for God.

Various groups and individuals come to share the peace of our sacred space through days of prayers, retreats and workshops. The parish nurse program sponsored through Saint Anne's Hospital has an office in one of our buildings and holds all of their training and reflective/prayer sessions there. Whether it is time alone or times with others, we all strive to deepen our spiritual lives, finding joy and meaning in God.

The community of sisters who live in the Provincial House is a varied group, filled with diversity and richness. Here we find our oldest sisters, our young student sisters, sisters with various ministries who bring their "service of charity" to others, and sisters who serve their sisters in simplicity and generosity. Together we make up a community whose center is Christ and He strengthens the bond of love which unties us. 

Fall River: 

St. Anne's Hospital

Our founding mission in the USA was at Saint Anne's Hospital in the Diocese of Fall River in 1906. Our sisters in France were invited by the Dominican Fathers to come to the USA to begin a hospital to care for the healthcare needs of the various immigrant populations that were flooding into Fall River to work in the factories. Our first sisters came, and after them other came to join them. When the then Bishop Stang blessed the hospital on February 4, 1906 he said: 

Welcome noble daughters of France. You came to our hospitable shore with the spirit and intention to promote God's honor and work for his people. The diocese bids you welcome to that noble band of consecrated women who are the pride of our church....The city of Fall River,... invite you to contribute to its normal growth by the holiness of your example and the blessedness of your Godlike work ....
May you be in our midst angels of light and peace to your suffering brethren and the blessing of the Most high will abide with you and the Hospital St. Anne's.

With these words and the blessing of the Church, the hospital opened and the first patient was admitted. As we can imagine their beginnings were difficult: isolation, ignorance of the language and culture, overworked and homesickness tried their faith and courage, yet it was precisely this faith and courage that carried them through all of their difficulties and hardships: a faith that is rooted in the Gospel of Christ and a courage that is willing to spend itself for others through the service of charity and compassion.

We have been blessed in our congregation to have courageous and creative women of vision who were not afraid to share their love of Christ in very simple concrete acts of care and compassion. Since 1905 each generation of sisters in their turn laid the foundation of charity and compassion upon which the hospital rests today.

The hospital has grown in size and scope. Today it is a 139-bed acute care facility with comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services with 24 - hour emergency services. It offers centers of excellence in oncology, pediatrics, pain management, behavior medicine and sleep disorders. Saint's Anne's Hospital is a member of Caritas Christi Health Care System of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Although fewer in number throughout the hospital, the sisters continue to bring their dedication and commitment to the healthcare needs of the people of Fall River. Our mission of "the service of charity" is expressed and visible throughout the entire institution as along with our employees, volunteers and physicians, we strive to deepen the healing ministry of Christ through Catholic ethic and religious values expressed in charity and compassion within our culturally diverse greater Fall River Community.

Marie's Place

Founded in 1987 by the Dominican Sisters and a group of volunteers who wanted to do something more to actively reach out to those who are in most need, is located in the south end of Fall River. Marie's Place is a free clothing distribution center, named after our Foundress, Marie Poussepin.

Marie's Place is about welcoming those who are less fortunate and struggle to provide adequate clothing for their families. We try to reach out to the poor, the elderly, those on fixed income and the new immigrants coming into the city. In a context of care that expresses respect and dignity of every human person, we give life to our "service of charity" as we respond to the clothing needs of others.

Marie's Place has been a way for many people in the community and surrounding areas to get involved in helping the poor and needy. Individuals, families, businesses, local churches, parishes and health facilities all contribute in some way by their donations of new or used clothing and even canned goods and money. For the most part, the clothes that are donated are of excellent quality and we strive to exhibit them in the store in a way that is helpful to our customers. In addition to clothing, we also accept small household items such as pots and pans, dishes, sheets, blankets, towels, etc.

Marie's Place is about more than just giving out clothes. Since everything is free, one of our challenges is to get to know our clients as much as possible to not only respond to their clothing needs but also to support and affirm their personal value in the midst of the difficulties faced at this moment in their lives. It has been a way of connecting and offering care and compassion to anyone who come to us. People of all ages, races and nationalities come to Marie's Place seeking clothing. We never question anyone regarding his or her financial status or need. Everyone is treated with the respect and dignity, which is theirs. 

Sisters and laity who volunteer their time to sort clothes and respond to the needs of our clients when the store is open, staff Marie's Place. Together, volunteers and customers create a warm environment of friendliness and care as we continue to live Marie Poussepin's desire to serve and love the poor and needy in the name of Christ.

The store is open from the last week in August to the second week of June each year.
Our store hours of operation are as follows:

Taunton, MA

Marian Manor

Marian Manor, a Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitative Care Facility, sponsored by the diocese of Fall River, has been in operation since 1962. Since its first days, our sisters have been present, serving the needs of our frail and sick elderly population. 

In a society where the elderly are not always valued, we strive to value their precious, aging, fragile life in the midst of declining health. Through the eyes of Christ we seek to look at our residents not only with their limitations of health but as persons who have lived a full, vibrant life. Each person is valued as an individual, with unique accomplishments and abilities as well as needs. We recognize that they have received many blessings and lived through many losses that have brought them to this moment of needing specialized, compassionate care. Marian Manor provides that much needed care and support to our aging population through the professional skills and compassion of the sisters and the lay staff.

Daily the sisters are attentive to the physical and pastoral needs of the residents and their families as they face the challenges of aging, ill health and death. 

In a home-like environment, where sisters, staff and families respond to the needs of their loved ones, we live out our "service of Charity" through our care for the frail elderly as we help them live their declining days with dignity and love. 

Rhode Island I Texas I Washington, DC

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Sr. Faye Medina, O.P.

© 2008 by Dominican Sisters of the Presentation

 

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