Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Unveil Novitiate House

On May 4 the community gathered with the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to celebrate the unveiling of its novitiate house on the serene grounds of the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center in Baton Rouge.   

The novitiate house, which is the only formation house for the Mercedarian Sisters in the nation, was built to accommodate an increase of vocations to the Mercedarian Institute. At this house of formation, young women will discern a call to religious life within the institute. 

The 14,574 square-foot novitiate was built house built by Deumite Construction of Baton Rouge at a cost of $5.2 million. The facility has 18 bedrooms to accommodate 34 postulants and novices. There are two handicapped-accessible rooms, a chapel with a sacristy, kitchen, dining area, recreation room, and study.  

Currently, three postulants and eight novices are being formed in the charism and spirituality of the institute. In August, four more postulants will arrive at the prayer center for formation. Sixteen of the 18 rooms will be occupied. 


Top right photo:  Bishop MIchael G. Duca, clergy, religious, and The Sister Dulce Foundation Board of Directors gather for a picture at the blessing of the novitiate house. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Above Photo:  Bishop Duca and Sister Dulce Maria cut the ribbon during the unveiling ceremony of the novitiate house for the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Photos by Debbie Shelley 
 
Before the unveiling ceremony, Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated Mass in the prayer center’s Chapel of Divine Providence. The assembly then proceeded to the novitiate house for the unveiling ceremony and blessing of the house by Bishop Duca. The procession then continued through the building with guidance from the sisters.  

During their one year of postulancy and two years as novitiates, postulants and novices get to know God and themselves more deeply while learning to live according to their constitutions, according to the Mercedarian Sisters.   

“Every religious community needs to have a formation house that we called a novitiate house,” said Mother Jeanette Marie Estrada, HMSS, vocations director and mother mistress of novices. “It used to be in San Antonio, Texas, but now, with the permission of Bishop Duca, it has been canonically erected here in Baton Rouge.” 


Each room in the novitiate house will accommodate two sisters in formation. 

The novitiate house is located on the 56 acres of land owned by the Mercedarian Prayer Center, which will provide an inspirational distraction-free environment for postulants and novices. 

“The beauty of this place helps with the prayer life of the sisters in formation so there’s a beauty of clarity of mind,” said Mother Jeanette. “We have lakes, and we have land that is virgin, that has not been touched. There’s some trails close to the land. So beautiful. For the desert days we have, which are days of complete silence and solitude, this is a perfect place.” 


The sisters share a lighthearted moment in the kitchen with Bishop Duca and Chef  John Folse.

She added, “The bishop said it well. ‘Once you build it, God will fill it.’” 

For more information about the novitiate house and to make donations to offset the costs associated with the construction of the building, visit https://mercedariansisters.org or contact Mother Jeanette at 216-526-6435 or [email protected] or Mother Mary Rosario Vega, Regional Superior of the United States, [email protected].   
 
Bishop Duca blesses the Novitiate House.