Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament To Unveil Novitiate House In May

On Saturday, May 4th, 2024, the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament welcome their Rev. Mother General, Maria Luisa Mendoza, and The Most Rev. Michael Gerard Duca, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, to the unveiling of the newly constructed Novitiate House for the United States Immaculate Conception Region in Baton Rouge, LA. Bishop Duca will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Divine Providence at Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center (17650 George O’Neal Ln., Baton Rouge) followed by an 11:45 a.m. Blessing by Bishop Duca throughout the Novitiate House and grounds.

The Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right, has seen a growing number of vocations. “These young women are attracted to a life of meditation, chastity, prayer, and devotion to Jesus Christ and Blessed Mother Mary,” said Mother Jeanette Marie Estrada, HMSS, Vocation Director and Mother Mistress of Novices. Because of the growth in vocations, the Mercedarian Sisters have built a two-story, 14,574 square-foot Novitiate House with 18 bedrooms to accommodate 34 postulants and novices. There are two handicapped accessible rooms, a chapel with sacristy, kitchen, dining area, recreation room, and study. Currently, 3 postulants and 8 novices are being formed in the Charism and Spirituality of the Institute. In August, 4 more postulants will arrive at Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center in Baton Rouge for formation. Sixteen of the 18 rooms will be occupied.

The total building cost of the Novitiate House is $5.2 million. To date, $3.8 million has been raised. The Novitiate House is an addition to the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center property, which includes a Convent, Chapel of Divine Providence, and Ministry Center.

A Novitiate House is a House of Formation where young women discern a call to Religious Life within the Mercedarian Institute. During their one year of Postulancy and two years of Novitiate, Postulants and Novices get to know God and themselves more deeply while learning to live according to their Constitutions. The Novitiate House on the campus of Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center will be the only House of Formation in the United States.

Currently, there are four Mercedarian convents in the United States including Baton Rouge, LA; Gainesville, FL; Cleveland, OH; and San Antonio, TX. In summer 2024 a convent will be established at Maumee in Toledo, OH. As vocations grow, Professed Sisters will move into these and other communities throughout the country. On April 4, 2024, two sisters made their perpetual vows in Gainesville, FL. During the previous year, three Mercedarian Sisters made perpetual vows.

Presently, the Sisters in Baton Rouge are working with students at St. Michael High School and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School and Church. One Sister is completing a Bachelor of Arts in Theology at Franciscan University in Baton Rouge. Eleven Sisters are working on Master of Arts (Theological Studies) at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

For information, visit www.MercedarianSisters.org/Novitiate-House-Building-Fund or contact Mother Jeanette Marie Estrada, HMSS, Vocation Director and Mother Mistress of Novices, at 216-526-6435 or [email protected] or Mother Mary Rosario Vega, Regional Superior of the United States, [email protected]. Checks should be made payable to The Sister Dulce Foundation, Inc., 17560 George O’Neal Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70817. In supplication, the Sisters pray for donors and benefactors to contribute toward the remaining $1.2 million debt.

For more information contact Kim Johnson at 225-752-8480.