Ground broken for Mercedarian novitiate house

Late afternoon rays of sunlight splashed over a large group of people gathered on Jan. 26 at Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center in Baton Rouge to celebrate a new chapter for the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

With the turn of their shovels, members of the religious community, representatives of the Diocese of Baton Rouge and dignitaries broke ground for a novitiate house that will be instrumental in the future of the flourishing vocations for the Mercedarian sisters.

“Several years ago, the sisters began to increase their time of adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament and also began to fast for vocations,” Mother Mary Rosario Vega HMSS, regional superior of the United States, said in an announcement about the groundbreaking.

The growth in vocations for the Mercedarians sisters has prompted the building of a two-story, 14,574 square-foot novitiate house that will have 18 bedrooms to accommodate 36 novices. The novices are admitted into the religious community on a probationary basis, generally two years.

They spend time in prayer, study and learning to live in a community. During that time they get to know God and themselves more deeply while learning to get to their first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The day of prayer and thanksgiving groundbreaking ceremony began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca and concelebrated by several priests from the diocese at the Chapel of Divine Providence. The inspiring voices of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament choir led the music of the liturgy.

In his homily Bishop Duca referred to the quote from the movie “Field of Dreams:” “Build it and they will come.”

The bishop noted the novitiate house is a continuation of the history of the Mercedarian sisters. He noted how it “makes your heart come alive” to see the young women of the order becoming engaged upon the foundation upon which the order was built and the confidence and joy with which the order carries forth its mission.

“To see young sisters in formation today, and the young in spirit, to see that spirit among us is like a new day, a refreshment,” Bishop Duca said.

He concluded “We have built it, now let’s take the next part of the story and see what the Lord does.”

Present at the Mass was Mother Jeanette Marie Estrada HMSS, national vocation director for the Mercedarian Sisters, who spoke at a presentation before the groundbreaking.

Referring to Jesus’ statement, “I have come to set the Earth on fire,” Mother Jeanette spoke about the sisters moving forward in their mission to “set the earth on fire.”

The novitiate years of formation are crucial and transformational in that each novice collaborates with the transformational work of the Holy Spirit, according to Mother Jeanette. Each will have a special experience of discernment before they profess their final vows and become a “spouse of Christ forever into eternity.”

“These sisters will serve our Lord,” said Mother Jeanette, who added she was glad they will be able to undergo their formation at a site that is “surrounded by the beauty of nature and by faith-filled people.”

Eddie Rispone, past president of the Sister Dulce Foundation said, “Many come here just to experience it” and that it blesses them very much. Through their encounters with nature and the sisters, they go home with a new direction in life.

He thanked everyone who has supported the ministry of the sisters and the project.

“You are building it in the name of God and he will build a community of sisters,” said Rispone.

Chef John Folse, president of the Sister Dulce Foundation, noted that it’s through the generosity of prayer partners, benefactors and eucharistic adoration and sacrifices of the Mercedarian sisters that the community is thriving.

“As you look around this group today, you will see it has grown and continues to grow exponentially,” said Folse.

After the presentation, the attendees proceeded to the groundbreaking site. Bishop Duca blessed the ground before the groundbreaking, which was followed by “Our Lady of Ransom” Prayer of Thanksgiving.

To date, $2.7 million has been raised toward the projected $5.2 million needed for the project, which is estimated to be completed by December 2023.

To learn more about the project and make a contribution, visit mercedariansisters.org/novitiate-house-building-fund/ or call Kim Johnson at 225-752-8480