CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA Cuba Curaçao Nicaragua Puerto Rico Argentina Cordoba San Justo (Buenos Aires) Mendoza Catamarca Concepción (Tucuman) Añatuya – Santiago del Estero Valle (Corrientes) Bolivia Cochabamba Brazil Saõ Roque SP Chile Santiago Copayapu-Atacama Yerbas Buenas

Colombia Ocaña Bogota Duitama (Boyaca) Sogamoso (Boyaca) Ecuador Quito Duran Los Chillos (Pichincha) Ibarra - Caranqui Peru Cusco (Santa Catalina) Lima (Santa Catalina) Arequipa (Santa Catalina) Lima (Santa Rosa) Arequipa (Santa Rosa) Quillabamba Suppressed monasteries Hispaniola Venezuela (Caracas)

CUBA Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena Calle 41 # l 605 (entre 36 y Kholy) Nuevo Vedado La Habana, Cuba Tel. (00-53-7) 882-00-29 Founded in 1687 The Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena owes its foundation to the three young daughters of Don Juan Aréchaga, who was appointed Royal Treasurer of the Island of Cuba in 1688; the three sisters were determined to be professed as Dominican nuns in Havana. The request to Spain was made in 1679 and Royal Letters of Approval, dated August 2 1684, received. Land for construction of the convent was given by the Aréchaga daughters. On April 29 1688 the monastery was founded, thanks to three professed nuns sent from the Monastery of Santa Clara in Havana: Sister María de la Ascención de Soto, her blood sister Clara de Jesús and Sister Buenaventura de Arteaga. The Aréchaga sisters entered religious life on April 29 1688, supported economically by their elder brother Juan de Aréchaga. The buildings of the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena came to occupy the blocks bounded by Compostella, O’Reilly, Aguacate and Empedrado streets. The conditions contained in the Royal Letters stipulated a maximum of fifteen nuns at any given time; that the monastery would be built on land given by the Aréchaga sisters and its construction funded by them; that the first fifteen nuns would each bring a dowry of two thousand ducats in gold in order for the foundation to meet its present and future needs and requirements. The buildings were not planned or constructed in any unified way; on the contrary, the monastery grew little by little – living spaces, walls, roofs – until two floors were completed. The church bell-tower was not finished until 1728. The monastery of St. Catherine of Siena was typical of the early period of Cuban religious architecture. At the centre of the building was a large, square cloister surrounded by four two-storey galleries. On the ground floor and contiguous to three of the galleries were the refectory, reception rooms, parlours and other areas of general community life. The upper level was destined for the religious only, and contained the chapter house and the cells. The church was situated on the fourth side of the cloister, with access to the street; separating the church from neighbouring buildings was the three-storey bell-tower. The nuns’ choir was situated at the end of the main nave and adjacent to the facade wall. It was held up on three transversal beams. The front of the choir was protected by a grill of worked metal bars. The monastery church suffered serious damage in the hurricane of October 1846. Repairs were undertaken immediately. At the same time, the ugly stone covering the front of the church was removed and a porch built onto the principal entry. Although its architecture offered nothing out of the ordinary, for two hundred years the church of the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena was one of the more outstanding buildings in Havana.

Modern structures of three or more storeys built in the vicinity of St. Catherine of Siena and overlooking the nuns’ courtyards and galleries resulted in the violation of strict enclosure. When to this was added the danger that the convent would be cut in half due to the extension of the Calle San Juan de Dios, the nuns decided to sell their house and lands and to build outside the city. In 1918, the property was sold and the buildings were razed in 1924. On the site, a huge office building went up. On May 13 1918, the Dominican nuns of the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena took possession of their new home in El Vedado, a much more spacious building, with a beautiful largely neo-Gothic church. The church has two towers with cupolas; the style is a mixture of neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque and the Habanera architecture of the time. The church still contains the windows for use by strictly cloistered nuns. The altars are of marble and the main altar, dedicated to the Virgin, covered in wood. There is stained glass. The entire structure is of finely worked stone. The convent school, occupying the equivalent of a hectare, was later ceded to the Cuban Ministry of Education and transformed into an Institute of Pre-University Studies. Amazingly, despite the many vicissitudes of Cuban history in the 20th century, the Domincan nuns of Havana were able to maintain their monastery in existence, at times they depended greatly on sisters on loan from other communities, but in recent years they have been able to accept Cuban vocations again.

CURAÇAO Monasterio Mama di Dios Scherpenheuvel 3 5999 76 78 183 Founded from Olmedo in 1974 This monastery in the Dutch West Indies has always housed a community of mixed nationalities, mostly Spanish and South American, but Dutch sisters also. In the early 1990’s the community needed to relocate, but thanks to the generosity of benefactors the nuns were able to build a new monastery.

NICARAGUA Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe Carretera vieja a León. Km. 13 Las Piedrecitas p. 232 Chiquilistahua, Managua, Nicaragua Tel. (00-505) 883-79-06 Founded from Mexico in 1986 The first Dominican nuns came to Nicaragua on June 3, 1986, from various monasteries in Mexico. In León they founded the first monastery of Dominican contemplative life, in the province of San Vicente Ferrier in Central America. They were supported from the outset by the friars, "who taught us to take the first steps in these lands" The community was founded by ten nuns, of whom a number returned to their respective monasteries for health reasons. Today there remain only three nuns of that initial group. The sisters were happy in Leon, but in November 1998 hurricane Mitch destroyed most of the monastery monastery, leaving the community incommunicado for several days until they were rescued by neighbors. When the emergency was over, the sisters returned to live in the fragments of their monastery that had survived, and began to think about relocating to a safer area. In due course they were able to purchase two hectares of land closer to the capital, Managua. It took a while to raise the funds, but on 25th March 2003 the new monastery was blessed and the sisters moved in, although much work remained to be done. As the pictures below show, progressively work on the site has advanced to include a new chapel.

PUERTO RICO Monasterio Madre de Dios Carr. 643 Buzon 90 Barrio Pugnado 00674 Manati Tel. 787 854-6269 Founded from Olmedo in 1966 This was the first of the overseas foundations of the Dominican monastery at Olmedo, Valladolid, Spain, and so it forms part of the “Mother of God Fraternal Union” together with the other foundations of this prolific monastery. In the 1960’s monastery was led by Prioress Mother Teresa Maria Ortega, who began this expansion creating new foundations, in order to extend the contemplative life to mission territories. On June 5, 1966, the foundresses from Spain settled in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where they remained for nine years. In 1974 they moved to Utuado in what used to be a retreat house belonging to the Capuchin Friars of the parish of San Miguel, in Utuado. The friars donated the chapel, the buildings and the farm which today form the Monastery of the Mother of God. The donation was in fact made to the Bishop of Arecibo. The surrounding grounds were donated by Ismaro Rivera and his wife, residents of the neighborhood. The monastery has expanded according to needs of the nuns as they are now more than thirty. From 1985 onwards the ground surrounding the buildings subsided and part of the structure has collapsed. It became necessary to plan for relocation, and a new monastery was built for the nuns in the Barrio Pugnado of the town of Manatí. They moved into their new home in 2009. The nuns make a living by baking and supplying the hosts that are consumed in different parishes.

ARGENTINA Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena Monjas Dominicas - Obispo Trejo, 44 Casilla de Correo nº 791 5000-Córdoba Tel.: 00 54 35 14 21 65 03-Fax: 00 54 35 14 22 67 58 Founded in 1613. The city of Cordoba, Argentina, was founded on July 6th 1573 by Don Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. In 1613, Argentina’s first monastery and first female religious community was created in this city. The foundress was Doña Leonor de Tejeda y Mirabal, daughter of Captain Tristán de Tejeda and of Doña Leonor Mejía y Mirabal, and wife of General Manuel de Fonseca y Contreras. The marriage was childless. The couple were, however, inspired to create a spiritual family, through the founding of the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, saint for whom Doña Leonor nurtured a particular devotion. After the death of her husband, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly to this foundation, which had been duly approved by Philipp III of Spain on March 6th 1613. The solemn celebration of foundation took place on July 2nd 1613, the feast of the Visitation, in the presence of the foundress, of the Bishop - Hernando de Trejo y Sanabria, OP, and of the entire city. After the formal blessing of the twelve white habits the Te Deum was sung, and the nuns entered their cloister, from where they would dedicate themselves to the Divine Office and to intercession for their Dominican brothers and for the men and women who would forge the beginnings of the nation. The monastery was definitively and canonically established by the Bull of Pope Urban VII, dated July 15th 1625. The ideal and inspiration of the nuns is that of Doña Leonor de Tejeda herself: love and the dialogue in prayer with God.

ARGENTINA Monasterio Santa Catalina de Siena Monjas Dominicas – Triunvirato, 3625 1754-San Justo-Buenos Aires Tel. : 00 54 11- 4115 9189 Founded in 1745 Five nuns from the monastery of Cordoba, Argentina, founded this monastery, established first of all in the city of Buenos Aires, and since 1974 in San Justo. Throughout its long history, the community has lived its vocation of worship in the Church, following Christ in poverty, chastity and obedience, forming a fraternity where the word of God celebrated, lived and shared has filled the existence of hundreds of sisters. The city of Buenos Aires was from its inception profoundly Christian. Since the years of its Foundation (1580) its inhabitants wanted a monastery of contemplative life that would be a focus of spirituality in the city and offer a home to women wishing to devote themselves entirely to God. To this end, the priest Dionisio de Briceño Torres dedicated his life and fortune. He began this work by making a trip to Spain to obtain a charter from King Felipe V, essential for any foundation. His Majesty granted it on October 27th 1717, but with certain conditions, among them that the number of nuns should not exceed forty. They should also receive within the enclosure pious ladies and girls to be educated. And the monastery was to be placed under the patronage of Santa Catalina. On his return to Buenos Aires Dr. Briceño began the task of founding the monastery in 1727 but unfortunately he died two years later. Once the essential was built but the rest still unfinished, five nuns of the monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena came from Cordoba. These sisters were only loaned for six years, after which they should be returned to their monastery of origin. These five nuns set out at the beginning of May 1745. They were escorted by soldiers during the entire trip. They arrived in Buenos Aires on May 25, after a bleak and uncertain journey through vast nad sparsely populated plains. They were received by the Bishop of Buenos Aires and large number of priests and Dominican friars. As the monastery as yet had no doors or windows, they delayed the opening of the monastery and settled in a family house, where they were joined by the first five vocations who had long awaited the arrival of the nuns. In the first ten years of the foundation forty religious mad profession. Regular life was interrupted after several years by the invasions of the English troops in the city of Buenos Aires. The first was in 1806 and the second in 1807, the latter was very important, since the English army had some 9,000 men, and the city had no army to speak of. The monastery became the British headquarters and the nuns suffered great hardships for several days, but miraculously the city was retaken and the sisters were released. The Prioress, Sr Teresa of the Holy Trinity wrote to the Archbishop of Charcas:

On 5 June in the morning we heard close to our monastery all the horrific noise of war. We were encircled by these men who came in droves through the door of our enclosure where the seventy sisters who make up this community and the twelve servants were gathered together in the choir. They found us kneeling in profound silence, we were preparing for death as they came at us with their rifles and bayonets... After being held hostage for three days by the British troops, no sister was hurt, but their belongings were destroyed. After these incidents, the nuns resumed their regular life. Over the centuries there were other vicissitudes, typical of a community whose history runs parallel to that of a nation in gestation, and seeking independence. For more than two centuries the community remained in the monastery located between San Martin and Viamonte streets; the building was declared a historic monument in 1942. In 1974, looking for a more suitable place to carry forward the contemplative life the community moved to a new monastery in the Diocese of San Justo, Buenos Aires province.

The old Monastery of Buenos Aires – and the new, at San Justo

ARGENTINA Monasterio Nuestra Señora del Rosario (NOVICIADO FEDERAL) Talcahuano, 150 5521-Villa Nueva (Guaymallén) Mendoza Tel. y Fax: 00 54 26 14 26 54 99 Founded in 1888 at Forcall (Castellón) Spain, transferred to Mendoza, Argentina 1972 The Confiscation of Mendizabal of 1835/6 closed a large number of Spanish convents and confiscated their buildings, although not those which had passed into episcopal hands. Many priests and religious left Spain for the New World, evangelizing and giving their lives for Christ and the Church. One of the male religious communities suppressed by the government was the monastery of Dominican brothers at Forcall, a 17th century foundation which had served as a study centre for the Order. Forcall is a small town in the province of Castellόn (in the ancient Kingdom of Valencia). It belongs to the Diocese of Tortosa. Its Patrons are the Virgin of Consolation and St. Victor Martyr. The solemn celebration of the 200th anniversary of the reception of the relics of St. Victor marked a period of intense spiritual renewal among the inhabitants of Forcall and, as a memorial to this renewal, a devout local woman of wealth, Doña Carmen Palos Llop, bought part of the 17th century convent of Dominican friars in order to establish a monastery for Dominican nuns. She obtained both the permission for this foundation from the Bishop of Tortosa and the material return of the church building, and acquired the old convent land and part of the convent building (the old guest-house) as a residence for the community. The foundation took place on July 25th 1888, the feast day of the Patron of Spain, St. James the Apostle, and during the reigns of Pope Leo XIII and of Maria* Cristina, Queen Regent of Spain. The six founding nuns came from the Monastery of Corpus Christi, Villareal, founded in 1639 by the Venerable Reverend Mother Ines de Sisternes y Oblites. The new Dominican foundation of Forcall continued peacefully until 1936. At 8 in the evening of July 22 1936, the existing community was obliged to abandon their cloister and seek refuge with family members. They were in danger of death. On March 25 1939, the dispersed nuns were able to reunite and, in the presence of the civil authorities and of the faithful, to hear mass and resume their conventual life. The post-Civil War years were as hard for the nuns as for the rest of Spain: the deplorable state of the buildings, the scarcity of food, the lack of economic resources, the difficulty of obtaining paid work, the bitter winter cold. But God continued calling young women to consecrate themselves to Him, following Jesus poor, chaste and obedient in a life of prayer and penance. Spanish monasteries found themselves with an undreamed of wealth of vocations. The community at Forcall, however, had to move, due to the lack of regular spiritual care, the distance from centres of population and the truly ruinous state of the buildings. Monastic life had become untenable. On August 9 1965, Reverend Mother

Maria Teresa Muñoz Garde op, the Federal Prioress of the Immaculate Conception Federation, together with her Council and after long study, decided to move. On October 2 1966, therefore, sixty-six years after its foundation, the Dominican monastery at Forcall closed, in the firm hope it would re-open in a place of God’s choosing. The nuns were housed in the Monastery of Our Lady of Consolation in Jativa, whose community generously opened their doors and their heart. At the express wish of the Bishop of Tortosa, Manuel Moll y Salord, the Forcall community was not to be dispersed among other houses of the Federation. During this period, the authorities appeared to find a solution – a convent, belonging to the Jesuits, was under construction in Gandia. Arrangements went well enough for the Forcall community to acquire choir-stalls for the new convent. A short time after, however, negotiations failed. Meanwhile, the Assistant of the Federation of the Immaculate Conception, Marceliano Llamera op, had travelled to Buenos Aires to visit the community of the Monastery of Sta. Catalina de Siena. In conversation with the Prioress Sister Maria Jesus op, he learned that the friars of the convent of Santo Domingo de Soriano, Mendoza, had requested a foundation of Dominican nuns in their archdiocese, the Patron of which is precisely St. James the Apostle. On returning to Spain, Father Llamera learnt of the failure of the Gandia negotiations. He saw the Mendoza request as providential. In due course, this request was formally supported by the Archbishop of Mendoza, Monseigneur Olimpo Santiago. The community from Forcall arrived in Buenos Aires on November 19 1970. They were housed for twenty months by the community of the Monastery of Sta. Catalina de Siena, whose Chapter and Council of Holy Thursday 1970 had voted its commitment to build a monastery in Mendoza for the Forcall sisters and to support them economically until the new community could support itself. These monastic buildings in the Archdiocese of Mendoza, in an area called “El Borbollon” were inaugurated on July 2 1972. Due to construction deficiencies and to the site itself, it was later decided at hierarchical level that the community should be moved to new buildings, better designed for the monastic life. The Monastery of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, in is present location at Villa Nueva, Guaymallén, was inaugurated on July 25 1988, exactly one hundred years after its initial foundation. It is in the Archdiocese of Mendoza and was built with the help of the Dominican Order and of other monasteries of the Federation.

ARGENTINA Monasterio San Alberto Magno 3443 Lavalle - Corrientes Tel.: (03777) 49 4028 Founded in 1967 High up with magnificent views and shrouded in silence, 15 km from Goya and four blocks from the national highway, is located the monastery of contemplative Dominican nuns, the monastery San Alberto. The Monastery of San Alberto was born at the request of Monsignor Devoto, first bishop of the Diocese of Goya, as he was convinced that the life of a particular Church is not complete without a contemplative monastery. When he travelled to Europe to participate in the Second Vatican Council, he visited the Dominican Monastery of our Lady of the Sorrows, Blagnac, France, and asked for nuns to make a foundation in his diocese. On May 13, 1967, under the protection of our Lady of Fatima, he opened this house of prayer. The atmosphere of silence and the splendid view of the Paraná River are conducive to the contemplative life steeped in the Word of God. Being a small community the sisters have chosen to celebrate the liturgy in a sober and simple style. Besides the daily activities necessary to the running of the monastery, the nuns earn a living by modeling and painting on plaster and ceramics. The monastery has a guesthouse with capacity for twenty people. It welcomes priests, consecrated and lay people, especially of the diocese, seeking for silence to be with the Lord.

ARGENTINA Monasterio "La Inmaculada del Valle" Bartolomé de Castro s/n (Camino a El Jumeal) 4700-Catamarca Tel. y Fax: 00 54 38 33 42 52 12 Founded in 1979 No sooner does one enter the park surrounding the Monastery of “La Inmaculada del Valle”, on the road to El Jumeal (the capital of Catamarca), than one is conscious of a comforting, relaxing atmosphere. A stand of tall pines and trees with golden leaves dapple the ground with an almost celestial light, and where the branches block the sun the visitor is wrapped in deep peace. Here, time- so rushed, so desperate elsewhere – appears unhurried. Here live twelve nuns who have chosen consecration to God in contemplation and enclosure, which is relative according to the prioress, Sr Teresa Peréz, native of Cosquin, given that outside the nuns can enjoy a hectare of parkland, fruit-trees etc. The monastic buildings are of brick and simply decorated stone, in a style both modern and warm. The nuns’ church is singularly austere and beautiful at one and the same time

.

ARGENTINA Monasterio Madre de Dios. Av. España 150 2760 – Añatuya – Santiago del Estero Tel./Fax: (03844) 42 1773 Founded in 1980 from Olmedo The history of this monastery began in 1977, when Msgr Jorge Gottau, C.Ss.R., then bishop of Añatuya, sent to the Monastery “Madre de Dios” at Olmedo (Valladolid), Spain, introducing himself as a “beggar for God” and asking for nuns to found a monastery in his diocese. He explained that he had the necessary funds to build, but no sisters. In 1980 authorization was received from both the Holy See and the Master of the Dominican Order. On the 13th September of the same year, a group of ten founding nuns set out to take up their new mission. They arrived at Buenos Aires and were made most welcome by the community at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena (San Justo). Two seeks later they set off again, accompanied by two nuns of the San Justo community. The new monastery was inaugurated on October 1st with the support of all the local civic and religious authorities, and from this day forward the contemplative life was begun with its particular mission of prayer for the diocese. In due course the Sacred Congregation gave permission for the monastery to be part of the “Unión Fraterna de los Monasterios Madre de Dios”, a vicariate of the Spanish Federación de Santo Domingo. At the present time, the nuns earn their living principally by baking altar breads.

ARGENTINA Monasterio Inmaculada Concepción Saavedra Lamas, 698 4146 Concepción-Tucumán Tel. 00 54 38 65 42 43 00 Founded in 1990 by the Federation of the Immaculate Conception, Aragon, Spain In the 1980’s José María Cabrera, o.p., a young Dominican friar belonging at that time to the community of Preachers of Tucumán, was aware of the sincere wishes of the Dominican family of North-West Argentina to have a monastery of contemplative nuns in the region. After certain fruitless efforts, he spoke about the idea of a foundation to Mgr Jorge Meinvielle, Bishop of Concepción, southern Tucumán. The Bishop contacted the Superior of the Federation of the Immaculate Conception of Aragón-Spain, who explained the difficulties due to recent foundations. Once these had been resolved, however, the Federal Council agreed to the foundation and chose the five founding nuns. Four were Argentineans, one from each of the monasteries then existing in the country: Córdoba, S. Justo Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Catamarca. The fifth was Spanish, from the Monastery of St. Catherine, Valencia. September 4 1990 was the date fixed for the implantation of this community in the diocese. As the nuns did not yet possess their own home they lived in a small house-monastery, lovingly prepared by the diocese and situated in the city centre. On November 15 1990, a solemn Mass was concelebrated in the cathedral by the diocesan Bishop with clergy and friars of the Dominican Order, thanking the Lord for the gift of the contemplative life in the diocese. The four years from 1990 to 1994, years of solitude and silence, were fruitful for the five foundresses. Meanwhile, the monastic buildings were under construction, and completed in 1994. On March 24, the community moved into its new home, overflowing with gratitude to all who had made this possible through the Federation and the generosity of benefactors. On November 19 1994, Mgr Bernardo Witte, omi, Bishop of Concepción at that time, blessed the chapel and the monastery. The monastery was not canonically erected until 1998 but here again life anticipated official decrees; the Lord blessed the community with new vocations, which have not ceased to knock at the door. By 2000, the size of the community had tripled. The nuns make hosts, liturgical ornaments and candles. There is also a Dominican Lay Fraternity, which has grown up in the shadow of the monastery forming a true family.

BOLIVIA Monasterio Santo Domingo de las Monjas Av. Garcilaso de la Vega Nro. 188, Cochabamba Tel: 00591 4 4280842 Founded in 2008 by the Peruvian Federation of Dominican Nuns On the 21st November 2008, five nuns from various monasteries of the Peruvian Federation of St Rose of Lima arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In 2013 the Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena at Arequipa took on responsibility for the foundation, building up the community with seven more nuns. This decision taken by the nuns of Peru to found in Bolivia brought essential support to the young Vice-Province. This decision to establish Dominican sisters of the contemplative life in Bolivia was promoted by successive Masters of the Order so that the service of the Church might be as St Dominic intended it: preaching the Good News that nuns receive in silence and in prayer as a family of nuns, sisters, friars, laity and youth. The sisters lived in a house belonging to the friars during the time it took to find a suitable plot of land on which to build the first phase of the monastery. The nuns subsequently moved into this first building, which will ultimately serve as the novitiate. The next stage will be the chapel. On February 2nd 2014 the community of the Monastery of Saint Dominic of the nuns took possession of the monastery during a celebration of mass presided by Msgr. Roberto Flock, Auxiliary Bishop of Cochabamba. There was great rejoicing throughout the Dominican Family in Bolivia on this occasion on which the liturgy gave expression to the faith, hope and love that contemplation brings to the world. At the same time links were strengthened between members of the Order in Peru and in Bolivia.

The New Monastery at Cochabamba, Bolivia

BRAZIL Mosteiro Cristo Rey Caixa Postal 85 Rue Walter de Filippo 57 CEP 18130 – 970 Saõ Roque Tel 0055 11 47122808 Founded from Prouilhe in 1930 Dominican friars had been active as missionaries in Brazil since the 1880’s. Brazil had not the same “historic” monasteries dating back to the time of the conquest as did other Latin American countries, as the Portuguese crown – the colonial power - had forbidden it. In the early 20th century there was still no monastery of nuns of the Order in this vast country, yet the friars greatly desired this presence; it was natural enough that they should turn to Prouilhe for the possible realisation of this dream. But Prouilhe, which perhaps surprisingly has never made many foundations, was busy at this time with the project for a Canadian foundation, which would of course be made at Berthierville in 1925. The first sign that something might be possible one day was the arrival at Prouilhe of a Brazilian novice of the Dominican congregation of Monteils, who hoped to transfer to contemplative life, although she knew nothing whatsoever of the vague plans for a Brazilian foundation. She was followed in due course by a second and then an older Portuguese sister offered her services. The plans took shape slowly, and after gaining approval and the offer of temporary accommodation, six foundresses eventually set sail aboard the “Mendoza” from Marseille in 1930. On arrival they discovered that the house they had been offered was virtually a ruin and that extensive repairs would be necessary. Also several promises of land on which to build a permanent monastery faded away. The sisters sought temporary shelter with the Carmelites in Saõ Paolo – this location having been judged more suitable than Rio de Janeiro on climatic grounds. Slowly but surely the foundresses established themselves, and the monastery was placed under the patronage of Christ the King. In the early 21st century, the monastery was completely renovated, and the new permanent monastic church dedicated in 2012.

COLOMBIA Monasterio de Santa Inés Carrera 9 N° 59 - 43 Bogotá Tel: 0057 2494671 Founded in 1645 by local women Inaugurated with a solemn ceremony at 7am on the morning of July 19 1645, this foundation was made possible by the brothers Chavez Antolínez, who, after years of patient waiting, obtained the Royal Letters from His Majesty Phillip IV of Spain and of the Americas. The foundresses were Mother Beatriz de la Concepción, Mother Francisca Eufrasia de Cristo and Mother Paula de la Trinidad, who swore obedience to the local bishop. On the following day, four other women received the habit. All promised to keep and to teach to all those entering subsequently the Constitutions of the Nuns of St. Dominic, those Constitutions professed with such sanctity by the glorious St Agnes of Montepulciano. Brother Francisco Farfán was the Provincial at the time, the famous Dominican Cristóbal de Torres the Bishop, and Brother Francisco de Achuri the Preacher General, appointed as first instructor to the nuns by Bishop de Torre himself. In its early period, therefore, the monastery benefited from the support and guidance of illustrious Dominicans, well able to direct the first vocations. From 1645 to 1873, the Monastery of Sta. Inés provded the sole female religious presence in what is today Colombia.

Through prayer and penance, the nuns of the Convent of Sta. Inés supported the evangelising fervour of the young church of New Granada. Through their listening to those who sought their help, through contemplation, they contributed to the spread of the faith, so eagerly received by the indigenous peoples. They taught and held classes in catechism, prayer, liturgy and penance and, from within their convent, supported the work of the Confraternities. Once the Republic had been established, the nuns opened a small school for the Christian education of young women. This school lasted for twenty-five years. In 1861, during the dictatorship of Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, and as a result of the Decree of Suppression of all Convents, the community of the Monastery of Sta. Inés was expelled and dispersed. It was reorganised after the Dictator’s death, and continues today, faithful throughout its history to its dual mission – to bear witness to the transcendence of the Divine, and to pray night and day for the work of the Order of Preachers.

The prophetic apostolate of St Agnes of Montepulciano, oil painting at the Monastery of Bogota

COLOMBIA Monasterio Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario Carrera 13 N° 15 -17 Duitama (Boyaca) Tel: 0057 2 494671 Founded from Bogota in 1960 The Dominican nuns of the Monastery of Sta. Inés in Bogotá founded this second monastery in Colombia on August 15th 1960 in Duitama, thanks to the initiative of Mgr. José Joaquín Flórez, then Bishop of that diocese. In order to make the foundation, the community of Bogotá sent eight choir nuns, three lay and one extern sister, all of whom they prepared and equipped most generously. The two monasteries maintain the closest links. The nuns celebrated their fiftieth anniversary on August 15th 2010 with a flourishing community in a purpose –built monastery.

The Dominican Monastery at Duitama

COLOMBIA Monasterio del Espiritu Santo Transversal 4 N° 5ª 218 Barrio la Florida Sogamoso (Boyaca) Tel: 0057 787 703179 Founded

COLOMBIA Monasterio de Ntra. Sra. De las Gracias de Torcoroma Calle 10 N° 8A-15 Ocaña Norte de Santander Tel: 0057 77 5623288 Founded in 1977 This monastery achieved its canonical erection on the 8th December 1977.

ECUADOR Monasterio Santa Catalina Calle Flores y Espejo 779 Quito Tel 00593 22 287213 Founded in 1592 by local women In the year of 1592, according to a report of the royal ambassador in Quito to King Felipe II of Spain, quoted by Fr José María Vargas: "the Lady María Siliceo de Troya founded in the city of Quito, in a house bought from Don Antonio de el Canal, a monastery for cloistered Dominican nuns, who, according to the charism of St Dominic de Guzmán, would be devoted to prayer, contemplation, and penance".1 The monastery was placed under the jurisdiction of the Order of Preachers. The then Provincial, Br. Rodrigo de Lara, gave the founding nuns the habit and received their first profession. The provincial chapter of 1598 appointed as vicar of nuns Fr. Juan de Todos los Santos op. The founding nuns were: Dona Maria de Trya together with her two daughters, and five other young women, mostly poor orphans. The foundress took the name of Sr María of Santa Catalina, her two daughters that of Sor Isabel de Santo Domingo and Sor Maria de Santo Tomás. As tends to happen in new foundations, the beginnings were difficult: the first nuns had to endure patiently many hardships and privations. The King was informed and on December 4th 1585, he ordered royal administration of Quito, to grant the monastery two thousand Ducats, as well as wine, wax and oil for the sacristy. The house was not really suitable; very soon there were thirty-six nuns and, their lodgings were damp and gloomy. Thus they began to look for a suitable place near the Dominican brothers. A house that belonged to Don Lorenzo de Cepeda, brother of St. Teresa of Ávila, was purchased. The acquisition was made in two stages: the first of May 8, 1608, and the second the 17 July 1613. Since then organized the nuns according to the constitutions of St. Dominic and the rule of S. Augustine, and more ordinations and guidelines of the General Chapter of 1601, in terms of the closure, silence, work, prayer and the performance of the charges within the monastery. Today the monastery of Santa Catalina can look back on a history of over four centuries. The sisters’ main income is the production of wine, hosts and natural medicines. In the second half of the 20th century the community of Santa Catalina founded three new monasteries in Ecuador: the Most Holy Rosary founded in 1959 (Caranqui, Ibarra), the monastery of Venerable. Jesús Herrera de Catalina founded in 1977 (Durán, Guayaquil) and the monastery of the Holy Family (San Rafael, Quito) founded in 1980.

1 Ecuadorian Artistic Heritage, chap. 7, p, 199.

The monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena is today considered a jewel of the national cultural heritage of Ecuador, with its the artistic wealth of paintings, sculptures and liturgical ornaments housed today in a museum which is much visited.

ECUADOR Monastery of the Most Holy Rosary calle Princesa Pacha No.8 - 148, Ibarra - Caranqui (Imbabura), Tel: 00593 6 2 652549 Founded from Santa Catalina Quito in 1959 Two of the daughters of a very Christian family in the parish of Caranqui became nuns of the Dominican monastery of St Catherine in Quito with the names: María Imelda and María Angelica; in due curse they were entrusted with the mission of founding a new monastery. They had in mind to make use of the extensive family property in their home parish. After lengthy negotiations, on December 9, 1958, land was donated by the Espinosa family to the community. Permission from Rome for the new foundation had already arrived on May 26, 1959. On August 4, at that time the feast St Dominic, at the monastery of St. Catherine in Quito was celebrated a mass of solemn farewell to the five sister foundresses, among them the two daughters of the Espinosa family . The town of Caranqui is eternally grateful to Mr. Carlos, Beatriz and Isaac Espinosa Vasquez, for having donated their property to this monastic foundation, which was inaugurated with much ceremony and enthusiasm on the part of the expanding local population. The main income of the sisters is the production of wine, communion hosts and the production of liturgical vestments. The pastoral mission that the community has is the prayer, and contemplation.

ECUADOR Monasterio Venerabile Catalina Herrera Av. Nicolas Lapentti 306 Duran Tel. 00593 42 814677 Founded from Santa Catalina, Quito in 1977 The first idea of the foundation of this monastery emerged in 1976 with the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the death of the Venerable Sr Catalina de Jesús Herrera, who by her mystical work, "Secrets between soul and God", is praised as the most illustrious writer from Guayaquil and the most important in the Spanish-American colony of the 18th century. On the occasion of the translation of part of the remains of Sr Catherine, the then Archbishop of Guayaquil, Mgr. Bernardino Echeverria, expressd his desire to have a contemplative Dominican monastery in his diocese to the nuns of the monastery of Santa Catalina of Quito. This idea was supported by Fr Ignacio Urquizo, O.P., Superior of the convent San Pablo de Guayaquil and Miss Alicia Riofrío, prioress of the Dominican laity from the city. The foundation finally took place on June 28, 1977, with the collaboration of the nuns of the Monastery of Most Holy Rosary of Caranqui, with Mother María Jacinta de los Ángeles Astudillo as prioress The first sisters came to the new foundation on August 8th of that year and settled in a house in the town. During eighteen months the community daily experienced the gift of friendship and fraternal generosity of the Dominican family, in particular of the women of the Dominican laity. On December 3, 1977 began the construction of the first section of the monastery on land donated by the archdiocese in the town of Duran. The community moved to the new building and the monastery was erected canonically on August 8, 1979. Since then, community, overcome quite a few difficulties, perhaps of all home, has lived to experience how the goodness and the love of God is manifested clearly and is made reality its presence, as Jesus says in the Gospel: "for where two or more gather in my name, there I am in the midst of them" (Mt 18.20). Today the community is large and young and lives out day by day its Dominican vocation.

The Monastery Chapel The Cell of Venerable Catalina

ECUADOR Monasterio de la Sagrada Familia Calle Coca-el-Tingo – Apartado 1023 Los Chillos (Pichincha) Quito Tel. 00593 22 850712 / 02 6039862 Founded in 1980 from Santa Catalina, Quito Around the year 1974, Provincial Fr Tomás Valdivieso op and Sr María Luisa Palacios, prioress of the monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena (Quito), began to take the first steps necessary for the foundation of a new monastery. Attaching importance to conditions favourable to silence and meditation, they began looking for land where monastic life could develop to its full potential. They found a very suitable place for the construction of the monastery located in the Valle de los Chillos, San Rafael. On January 29th 1978, the foundation stone of the monastery was solemnly blessed. The canonical erection was on April 27, 1980, and the foundation was placed under the patronage of the “Holy Family”. Note that the spirit of St Dominic accompanied from the beginning this new house of prayer, since the Master of the Order, Fr Vincent de Couesnongle, blessed the place where it was going to be built, with words of hope and commitment, seeing it as a spiritual support to the Dominican family in Ecuador. Life was not easy for the foundresses but they gladly accepted these sacrifices in order to ensure a Dominican presence in this place and to lay the foundations for new generations who will give their lives to the praise of God. The sisters have vineyards on their property and run a flourishing winery, producing wines for the celebration of mass. This is their principal source of income.

Sisters of La Sagrada Familia Monastery working in the winery and in choir

CHILE Monasterio de Santa Rosa C/ Trinitarias 7101 Las Condes Santiago. Tel: (2) 2294667 Founded in 1754 from Lima, Peru The Chilean Monastery of St. Rose of Lima originated in the “beaterio”of St. Rose, founded in Santiago in 1680 and located at the junction of Calle Rosas and Amunátegui. This “beaterio” acquired the rank of monastery in 1754, with the arrival of three nuns from the monastery of the same name in Lima. One of the three was Laura de la Oliva, the first Prioress and a cousin of the saint’s. In 1935, the monastery was obliged to move - to the Calle Manuel Montt; the location where it had been sited since its inception had become the object of litigation. The new location, however, fell victim to urban development, and in 1954 the community was obliged to accept the hospitality of the Poor Clares, in the Monastery of St. Clare in Calle Lillo. Finally, they were able to settle in Las Condes. Then it was a rural area almost totally uninhabited. Remembering those years, sisters recount how, during Divine Office, they saw all manner of country animals walking by. Today, our monastery is in the centre of the city, in conformity with St. Dominic’s original vision of our contemplative life. The Monastery of St. Rose of Lima in Santiago, as with sister houses in Spain and Argentina, belongs to the Federation of Dominican Monasteries of the Immaculate Conception, which – in the Southern hemisphere – unites five monasteries of contemplative Dominican nuns in Argentina and three of contemplative Dominican nuns in Chile. It is thanks to the Federation that the monasteries of Copiaopó and Linares (Yerbas Buenas) were founded, Copiapó in 1986 with Dominican sisters sent from Spain, and Linares in 1994 with sisters from Spain, Santiago and Copiapó.

CHILE Monasterio del Inmaculada de Atacama Casilla 166 - Copiapó. Fono/fax (52) 221395 Founded in 1986 by nuns from Spain The history of this monastery in the North of Chile began in 1983 when Monsignor Fernando Ariztía, Bishop of Copiapó, visited the Federal Monastery of Torrente in Spain, and in an interview with the then Mother Federal Sor Ana María Primo, proposed the foundation of a monastery of contemplative Dominican nuns in his diocese. And so on the 11th of February 1986, came to these lands six nuns of the Spanish federation to settle in Chile. They were soon joined by Chilean vocations, and less than ten years later the nuns of Copiapo were able to send sisters to found the new monastery at Yerbas Buenas. The beginnings were marked by the usual mixture of hardships, sufferings and joys, but when the community reached its 25th anniversary in 2011 great celebrations were held, which reveal the impact of this monastery on the local Church and population.

CHILE Inmaculada de Maule Camino de la Peñuela s/n Yerbas Buenas. Casilla 29 Correo Yerbas Buenas - Linares. Tel: (73) 390071 Founded in 1994 by nuns from Santiago and Copiapo

PERU Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena AREQUIPA When the Spanish first reached the Valley of Arequipa in 1537, it was already occupied by different ethnic groups originating from the high Andes; the area was already settled with villages and agricultural holdings. The city of Arequipa would be founded three years later (1540). At the end of the 16th century the Valley of Arequipa, was like a beautiful oasis, where corn, alfalfa, potatoes and wheat gave a special character to the area. Surrounded by three colossal snow capped volcanoes, there is the great Chilina quarry, where “sillar”, the local name given to it by the master stonemasons and a firmer building material than clay, was to be found in abundance. The Dominican Order was the only religious order that came to Peru with the Spaniards at the beginning of the conquest, and with them evangelization; a few years after the founding of the city, the need arose for a convent for nuns and an agreement was made at a meeting of the Council in 1568. In 1571, during the visit of the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, some important members of Arequipa society asked the representative of the crown for permission to establish “The Private Monastery for Nuns of the Order of St Catherine of Siena”; construction began shortly afterwards on a site near the plaza de Armas. After the years necessary for building, the Bisop of Cuzco, Sebastián de Lartaún, within whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction Arequipa fell, authorised the inception of the monastery and the entrance of Doña María de Guzmán together with four nuns on 10 September 1579. María de Guzmán was indeed the foundress of the monastery. She was born in Arequipa in 1543. When she was just eighteen years old, her father Álvaro Carmona, promised her in marriage to Diego Hernández de Mendoza; the father of Maria Guzmán gave 10% of his fortune as a dowry. The future foundress was widowed aged thirty, having no offspring; and so she took the decision to enter religious life. She donated land and all her fortune for the foundation of the new Dominican monastery in Arequipa. Maria de Guzman wished the foundation to be placed under the patronage of St Catherine of Siena, whom she had taken as a role model. She was aged thirty-three when she received the habit, together with her young followers.

The Foundress of the first Dominican monastery in Peru – Maria de Guzman The citadel that makes up the monastery complex has an area of more than twenty thousand square metres and is built entirely of “sillar”. It includes a church, cloisters, cells, streets, gardens and its own cemetery The stunning architectural style is that of the colonial churches and houses, with tall thick walls frequently supported by buttresses, in order to make the building more solid. An important feature is the number of cloisters with internal patios, with elegant arches and often decorated with frescoes. The Novices’ Cloister is decorated with paintings depicting the mysteries of the Rosary. In contrast, the cells of the sisters are very simple.

A fresco in the main cloister

But the most important thing in is the community of nuns. From the beginning the monastery received Creole (daughters of Spaniards born in Peru) and mestizo women as well as daughters of high ranking natives (curacas). Yet there was a degree of flexibility, and on occasion women of lower social rank were admitted, as were lay sisters, trained to help with household tasks. On entering religious life, the novices had to bring with them their habits, a trousseau of twenty five articles, payment of 100 pesos in silver for their food, and also had to deposit a dowry on making profession. By special permission from Pope Urban VII, girls between the ages of six and twelve were allowed to be educated within the monastery, as was usually the case in monasteries in the Spanish American colonies. Young women were also temporarily admitted when their husbands or fathers were obliged to leave on long journeys. Architecturally, this resulted in the intra-mural construction of small dwellings with all the comforts and commodities of the period and separated one from the other by narrow lanes. The interior of the monastery became, effectively, a small colonial town. Today, this is a source of delight for tourists. Such a permission, however, had an inevitable effect on monastic life, and made the observance of authentic claustral silence and austerity extremely difficult.

The earthquakes that continuously affected Arequipa damaged the monastic buildings many times; as rebuilding was frequently financed by the families of the sisters thus rendered homeless, social differenced began to emerge in the architectural styles, with

individual cells, kitchens, accommodation for maids etc. In the second half of the 17th century, the first efforts were made to try to reform some customs that had crept into the life of the nuns; for example, as regards the number of women employed as servants, or the number of visits of people from outside. The monastery, however, was always much loved and deeply respected by the citizens of Arequipa (the White City), not least for the memory of Blessed Ana de los Angeles Monteagudo. She spent almost her entire life within the monastery; she was placed with the nuns at the age of three and returned to her family at the age of fourteen, only to run away from home after a few months in order to consecrate herself to Christ in the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena. She died on January 10 1686, at the age of eighty-four. Her cell – with various mementos - is kept as it was; she is buried in the monastery church. This extensive colonial-style monastery is now maintained as an attractive museum. A modern building has been erected next to it, more comfortable and functional for the nuns of today.

CUZCO, Monastery of St Catherine of Siena The monastery of St Catherine of Siena was founded in 1601 in the city of Arequipa, but was soon transferred to Cusco because of a series of devastating natural disasters that happened in Arequipa at the beginning of the 17th century. The initiative for the foundation came from the widow Doña Lucía Rivera de Padilla de Arequipa, who possessed a large fortune. In February 1605, the first twenty five professed nuns arrived in Cusco. After several transfers within the city, the monastery was established on the site of of the old Aqllawasi. Probably, in the choice of the site, its former function was taken into account. The new monastic buildings were completed in 1610.

The foundress’s cell Aqllawasi in quechua means "House of chosen maidens". At the time of the Incas here lived the aqllas, women of noble families, chosen throughout the Empire for their beauty and high rank. They entered the Aqllawasi young and remained within its walls, practically without contact with the outside world, for the rest of their lives. All types of communication with men was strictly prohibited and they had to remain virgins until death. They were considered to be wives of the Sun and other deities venerated in Cusco. Their main occupations were the elaboration of fine textiles for the court of the Inca and the preparation of ceremonial drinks, activities that were considered sacred. The first Europeans who came to Peru called the aqllas "nuns". The architectural complex of the Aqllawasi occupied a large space that corresponds today to the block bounded by the main square and Arequipa, Loreto an Maruri streets. It was built in the form of a cloister, with high outer walls. On the inside, according to chroniclers of the sixteenth century, there were walkways or streets, around which were the houses and workshops of the aqllas and the women who were at their service, called mamacona. Currently few fragments of the whole survive, the best preserved are parts of the perimeter wall. The largest and best preserved fragment is the long wall of the southwest side.

In 1650 the new monastery, like many other new buildings of Cusco, was destroyed by a massive earthquake. Reconstruction work began the following year with the foundation of the new church that remains standing today. It is a simple building with a nave, which stretches along the northeast façade of the monastery. It contains the image of the Virgen de los Remedios, patroness and protector of the monastery from the moment of its foundation, object of great devotion of the Cusco. The monastery contains a museum of colonial and religious art. The collection includes an excellent selection of the Cusco School of painting, featuring some of the greatest works of Amerindian art -- a combination of indigenous and typically Spanish styles. The collection also includes four paintings of the Lord of the Earthquakes (El Señor de los Temblores) painted by Amerindians. The interior of the monastery is quite beautiful, with painted arches and an interesting chapel with baroque frescoes of Inca vegetation. Other items of interest include some rather macabre statues of Jesus and an extraordinary trunk that, when opened, displays the life of Christ in 3-D figurines. (It was used by missionaries to convert the indigenous population in far-flung regions of Peru.) Currently thirteen professed nuns live in the monastery of Santa Catalina of Cusco,. Their cells are located in the two internal cloisters, behind the church. Since colonial times the nuns of Santa Catalina have been known for their sophisticated embroideries of liturgical vestments, and for making pastries.

The Novitiate The Art Gallery The Refectory

The Chapter Hall Former work room

LIMA Monastery of St Catherine of Siena In 1589, a certain María de Celis, grandmother of the Archbishop of Mexico and of two Provincials of the Dominican Order in Peru, resolved to found a monastery of Dominican nuns in Lima, where – as of that date - there was no Dominican house for women. Her project was put to the Dominican Provincial, Father Domingo de Valderrama, who in turn delegated it to the Father Procurator. The necessary steps were taken with enthusiasm and success, and the required permissions obtained from Pope Sixtus V and from Phillip II of Spain. During this preliminary period, however, Doña María de Celis died, and plans came to a halt, due to a lack of financial means.

Time passed but the idea lived on. In 1607, Rose of Lima had a series of disconcertingly detailed and powerful revelations on the subject, to the extent of declaring that, were she to become a nun, she would enter this monastery which would shortly be founded. Rose did not simply announce this foundation; she did everything possible to realise it. It was she who obtained the land for the construction of the monastery and who commissioned – through the Dominican friars in Rome – the painting of St. Catherine of Siena which still hangs in the monastery choir. Her words were: “It is the Lord’s wish that the new house of prayer be under her (Catherine of Siena’s) patronage…”

On one of her missions of charity, Rose met a certain Lucia Guerra de la Daga, thirty years old and mother of three children. In Lucia, Rose recognised God’s instrument for the foundation of the new monastery, and told her so. Doña Lucia did not respond. Her resistance lasted for some years until, suddenly, there grew within her a strong urge to respond to Rose’s message and to God’s call. New approval and permissions were sought and, once obtained, Lucia Guerra de la Daga ceded all her goods and possessions to the new monastery, the building of which could now start.

Construction was finished in 1624. Thirty-three young women were chosen from amongst the many waiting for the opening of this new house of prayer. At the request of the Archbishop, five Conceptionist nuns and two Dominicans from the monastery of Arequipa came to help. On February 10 1624, the future nuns, amid great pomp and rejoicing and accompanied by the Viceroy, the Cathedral Chapter and the populace, processed from the Cathedral and entered through the doors of the new monastery.

The following day, Doña Lucia Guerra de la Daga and her sister Clara received the habit and started their noviciate in the presence of the Archbishop and of the Provincial of the Dominican Order, according to the Rules and Constitutions of the Order of St. Dominic. The thirty-three young women who accompanied the foundresses were clothed with the habit on February 13. All made their profession a year later, at which time Lucia Guerra de la Daga was elected prioress and the Conceptionist nuns and the Dominicans of Arequipa returned to their respective monasteries.

During the first ten years of its existence, the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena, Lima housed up to three hundred nuns. In 1629, it received Doña María de Oliva the mother de Saint Rose, thus fulfilling another of the saint’s prophecies: “You yourself, dear Mother, will be one of the nuns of the monastery which will be founded after my death.” The mother de Saint Rose took the name in religion of Sister María de Santa María. The remains of this exemplary nun are kept in a chapel in the monastery.

In 1708, at the request of the then Archbishop, four nuns from this Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena, Lima left to help with the founding of the new Monastery of Sta. Rosa de Sta. María in the same city.

The Lord of the Sanctuary of Santa Catalina

The Monastery of St Catherine of Siena in Lima is home to a very famous crucifix known as the Lord of the sanctuary of Santa Catalina, and to which are attributed miraculous powers; it dates from the early 17th century, although its origins and exact date remain obscure. It is the subject of much popular devotion, and each year in October the statue is taken in procession through the streets of the city.

Monastery of Sainta Rose of Lima, Lima The canonization of Saint Rose of Lima on April 12th 1671 caused the city of Lima to exult over the virtues of its Patron Saint. Several pious young women conceived the desire to imitate the saint and from 1678 occupied, with the authorisation of the Ordinary, a house next to the sanctuary and the Dominicans; they began to wear the Dominican habit.

As the number of "Beatas rosas" (Holy Roses) - as they were known - grew, it seemed a good idea to build a monastery for them, and so the license for the foundation was requested from the King of Spain. The fact that the “Beatas rosas” had received so many donations (around four hundred thousand pesos) is considered to have influenced his Majesty in favour of granting the foundation. And so by virtue of a royal proclamation, given in Madrid on January 26th 1704, Philip V of Anjou, raised the “béguinage” to the rank of monastery. There was however a delay in putting this order into effect, and it was not until 2nd February 1708 that the monastery was formally erected.

This was a great event in Lima, as the city was anxious to have a convent of nuns in honour of Saint Rose. The Archbishop, Monsignor Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros, approved the transfer of three Dominican nuns of the monastery of Santa Catalina in Lima to the béguinage, These three nuns were destined to lead the new monastery and included Doña Josefa Portocarrero, daughter of the Viceroy, Conde de Monclova. Almost all of Lima turned out in solemn procession, accompanied by the prelate, ecclesiastics and ministers.

It was thought desirable to transfer the béguinage of Santa Rosa to a more salubrious location. Reverend Father Alonso Messia helped the nuns to acquire the house where Saint Rose died, as it was the only place associated with her life and sanctified by her; he did everything possible to convince the viceroy to grant this grace, and so it was achieved by a decree of January 2nd 1709, causing great joy amongst the nuns. Another momentous date for the monastery was May 17th 1710, when the first prioress was appointed; all eyes turned towards Doña Josefa Portocarrero Laso de la Vega and so she was appointed prioress by Rev. Dr. Don Francisco Alonso Garcés, with the blessing of all.

The room in which Saint Rose died is preserved as a chapel, together with her relics. Her life is illustrated in many fine frescoes.

PERU Monasterio de Santa Rosa de Lima, Arequipa

Eight hundred years ago, Dominic gathered at Prouilhe a group of women converted from Catharism. They would be consecrated to God and their prayer and penance would be the foundation and support of the preaching work of Dominic and his Order (the Santa Predicación). “.. the mission of the friars, sisters and lay members of the Order is to spread the name of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world. The mission of the cloistered nuns is to seek Christ in silence, to ponder and to call upon Him, so that the the Word of God should not return empty but should prosper and bear fruit in those who have been sent.” (Const. fund and II)

Our sisters of Prouilhe, guided by our holy father Dominic, strengthened their spirit through the study of God’s Word, becoming flames of love and enabling this fire to catch and take hold of other sisters, who founded other monasteries. By the grace of God, this fire reached as far as the Americas. Thus it is that we have six Dominican monasteries for women, two dedicated to our mother St. Catherine and two to St. Rose of Lima, devotion to whom spread fast throughout Peru.

259 years ago, on June 13 1747, four sisters from the Monastery of St. Catherine in Arequipa founded a second house in this same city, under the full name of the Monastery of Santa Rosa de Santa María del Señor San José. Our predecessors gave their all in order to ignite the Dominican flame in the hearts of their countrymen and women, to bring their fellowmen to God, to teach us to be as Abraham, to not retreat or to fail to win from God His grace and mercy.*

May the cry of our father Dominic - “What will become of sinners?” - resonate in our own bowels of mercy;, may it shake us (wake us and propel us) out of our own fears and into the work that God has entrusted to each one of us.*

It should be remembered that the original intention of our donors José Alcazar y Padilla and Doña María de Peñaloza was to found this monastery in the city of Moquegua. The Bishop of Arequipa Juan Calero de Toledo, however, successfully requested Phillip V of Spain to grant the permission to found in Arequipa instead, on the grounds that this was a far more populous city. The condition remained, nevertheless, that preference should be given to vocations from Moquegua.

PERU Monasterio de Nuestra Señora del Rosario Quillabamba Founded in 1994 by the Federation of Dominican Nuns of Peru

Compared to Peru’s other Dominican monasteries some of which have more than three centuries of history behind them, this is indeed a very recent foundation. It owes its existence to the express wish of the Church, and is the fruit of the prayers and evangelisation of missionary brothers and sisters in the harsh Amazonian environment.

The Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary was inaugurated on June 26 1994. It was a day of intense emotion for the many who accompanied Bishop Juan José Larrañeta and the nine Dominican foundresses, under the authority of Mother Teresa del Niño Jesús Capellán Arenas. Present in spirit were all the members of all the Dominican monasteries in Peru, each one of which had ‘contributed’ one or more sisters in order to make up the required number of nuns. All requisite formalities had been completed and permissions obtained from the Holy See and the Master of the Dominican Order. The duly prepared monastic buildings were ready; they are situated on the property of the Mission of Quillabamba.

It is easy to describe the calm and solemnity of the inauguration ceremony, but behind it lay hard work, worry and even moments of anguish. Certain institutions and persons must be acknowledged with gratitude: Juan José Larrañeta O.P., Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Maldonado; the Dominican Brothers of the Regional Vicariate of St. Rose of Lima, particularly Father Francisco Panera; the Federation of Nuns of Our Lady of the Rosary of Peru, with special mention of the Federal Prioress Teresa Capellan. A work of such magnitude required the co-operation, understanding and generosity of many.

The monastery was conceived as an oasis of peace, where the amazing orchestra of the jungle will be changed into prayer. It will be a house of contemplation, from which will flow light and thanks for our brother preachers, a place of rest in which to find strength for the missionary task. The prayers, sacrifices and love of the sisters of Quillabamba rise heavenwards, to be returned in grace and blessings for the Dominican mission and in comfort and joy for the inhabitants of the region. The heart of the Church seems very close here, in the Peruvian mountains, in full missionary field.