Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles investiture and profession ceremonies - 9:00 a.m. this Tuesday at Old St. Patrick Oratory

The photos above are a composite of the investiture of Sister Gemma Wilson. Sister Gemma's family were members of the Latin Mass community of Our Lady of Sorrows many years before they moved to another town. Sister Gemma was invested into the Order in November of 2005. The photo is to show some of the beautiful parts of the up-coming ceremony. The Lost Lambs blog also has a spread of photos of last year's investiture at Conception Abbey.

Holy Mass and Investiture Ceremony of three postulants and the profession of First Vows by one advancing novice will take approximately 2 1/2 hours, according to Mother Therese, Mother Prioress of the Order.

An investiture (sometimes called a"clothing ceremony") takes place after the period of postulancy. This ceremony will be held after Holy Mass and from beginning to end, an investiture ceremony is full of excitement! The sister's hair will be cut by the Most Reverend Bishop Finn, then she is clothed with the holy habit of the Order and receives a white novice veil. At the end of the ceremony, the sister receives a new name. The wedding dress worn by Sister Gemma (above) upon entrance to the church symbolizes the sister being a Bride of Christ and the cutting of her hair symbolizes (and is in fact a part of) renunciation of the world.

The Investiture ceremony marks the beginning of the new sisters' novitiate. During her novitiate, the novice will experience more fully her community life and will be formed in the spirit of the Order. Through prayer and daily living, the sisters will prepare themselves for their first holy profession of vows.

We will all keep the new sisters in our prayers during this new phase of their lives.