It's 800 Years !

This year, and through to 2016, we are celebrating, not just the foundation of the first community at Prouilhe 800 years ago, but the birth of our Charism:

As Dominican preachers,

we proclaim

in word, deed and relationship

the GOOD NEWS

of God´s love and compassion

Dominican Beginnings ....

In 1206 at the end of the summer the first group of Dominican women were gathered together by St Dominic in Prouilhe in the South of France.

  St Dominic receiving the Sisters 1206

                                       - used with permission of DSI

                                      - from a window in Japan by Carpentier op

"Some of the names of the first Sisters were : Sister Raymonde Claret, Sister Alazaice, Sister Richards, dame of Barbaire (Aude), Sister Guillelmine  de Belpech (Aude), Sister Guillelmine de Fanjeaux (Aude), Sister Raimonde-Passerine, Sister Berengere, Sister Jourdaine, Sister Curtolane, Sister Gentiane, and Sister Ermessende.

The first twelve women were soon joined by seven more."

(from "Saint Dominic - His Life and Times" By Marie-Hubert Vicaire. 1964)

New Zealand Dominican Sisters - Who Are We?

We are engaged in a variety of ministries which spring from our contemplative / preaching tradition. These ministries include education at every level, exploring and nurturing spirituality - our connectedness with God and life, working for justice and peace, preaching, ministry with the sick, dying and poor, ecumenical work, counselling and spiritual direction. We are God searchers. We continually seek to be aware of God's presence in the universe, the world we live in, the Scriptures and in all people. Our commitment is to give God and God's people first place in our lives.

Dominic, saint of the Middle Ages (1170 - 1221) lived in a time of transition. People were moving to newly founded towns and cities. Traditional ways of living and relating did not work any more. People felt insecure and anxious. We too live in times when life, ways of relating, values and traditions are being questioned. We believe our response is to enter into life in today's world and to reflect on what we see, hear and experience in the light of the Word of God. In faith and hope we search for Truth, and we try to share this Truth with others.

The founder of our group in New Zealand was Mother Gabriel Gill who with nine other Sisters, arrived in New Zealand in 1871 from Dublin Ireland, settling first in Dunedin, then gradually moving elsewhere.

Mother Gabriel Gill worked in New Zealand until 1899. She then moved to Western Australia to work with the families of gold miners in Dongara and Geralton.