Kentucky Dominican of St. Catharine

Kentucky Dominican of St. Catharine –  Sister Ana Belén, O.P.                                                                                                             † The first American Dominican Order †                                                                             “To contemplate and give to others the fruits of that contemplation”

Founders:  Right Reverend Edward Dominic Fenwick, O.P.                                                                                The Very Reverend Samuel T. Wilson, O.P., S.T.M.                                                                                  Mariah Sansbury  († Foundress of the Dominican Sisterhood in the United States †)

Place:  St. Catharine, Kentucky

Year:  1822 A.D.

Her Charism:   This Sister is a preacher of Christ in active contemplation.  She is called to search for Truth, hear and proclaim the liberating Truth of the Word of God, promote the dignity of persons, and participate in the mission of the Church by teaching, healing, serving, and transforming oppressive structures.  She is called to be a prophetic voice in solidarity with the poor and marginalized and to work for human rights.  This Sister embodies the Dominican soul: a soul of light, a soul of silence, a soul detached from all evil, a contemplative soul, a soul of prayer and praise, an apostolic soul, a Daughter of the Church, an imitator of the Word, a “March lily” (the jonquil) – a symbol of hope despite hardships – a Marian soul and vessel of joy who imitates Mary’s loving and listening heart.  She wills to bear the Word of God within her, conceive Him in her heart, and give Him daily to others.