The sisters of Venus
Well another year comes to an end and quite a year its been.
The Order is growing rapidly, with close to 250 Nuns now, over half of whom are ordained.
With so many Nuns spread out over so many countries, we have had to restructure things a bit.
The Convent here, is now our headquarters and Post- graduate training center (Advanced training for the Sisters chosen to run the other convents).
With so many convents and so many Nuns now, we decided that two senior sisters will run each convent, with eight junior sisters rotating every nine months through each convent. This seemed to suite every ones needs best and there was consensual agreement on this.
Those operating outside of a convent, report to the closest convent.
On the downside it means we won't be seeing so many new faces or our old friends here as the work will be split up among the convents.
However it gives us good motivation to keep travelling around.
Under them are the "superior Sisters" of Finance, Training, Logistics, Rescue and Operations.
Next are the "Senior Sisters" Responsible for their Convents , Rehabilitation/ Training and discipline.
Senior sisters (Central America) |
Next the " Junior Sisters" responsible for day to day operations within their convents and the supervision of the Novices.
Finally the "Novices" responsible to assist other Novices through Rehabilitation and training. Responsible for cooking, laundry and any other tasks given to them by the Sisters.
Novices ( in casual wear) |
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Novice Dorm- group hugging |
The three main convents can house 60 nuns in each (most cloistered nuns reside in the main convents) , while the Smaller convents, now can house 16- 20 Nuns in total (on a regular basis), say that's four novices , eight junior sisters, three cloistered sisters and the two senior sisters.
A considerable amount of time and effort of course is spent on the rescued girls.
Sister consoles a victim |
Once through Rehab the girls are given the choice to enter the order as "Novices" or return to wherever they choose. No one is forced or coerced to join and some have chosen to leave after rehab.
By the way there's no fixed time for rehab , it varies greatly from girl to girl.
If they decide to stay they enter as "Novices" with the clear understanding that if they Graduate/ ordain the life they have chosen.
A novice is free to drop out and leave at any time, or be expelled for that matter.
The steps to graduation I have already covered in a previous blog and it has changed little, just gets tweaked here and there as the need arises.
De-frocking for Re-Frocking |
This has great significance not only within the order but to Asian women generally.
If the Novice accepts then her novice attire is removed and she gets the Habit of a full sister and all the responsibilities that go with it.
New sisters |
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I always enjoy the Princess parties |
Of course there's the serious side too, the daily chores and work needed to keep the convent functioning.
And sadly, yes, discipline too.
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Caught using |
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Working through a craving |
Thankfully it's rare that one of the Sisters starts using drugs again, but it happens. They are given the choice expulsion, return to novice or "administrative punishment", its their choice.
But on a brighter note, life within the order is much like any other commune a mixture of the mundane and fun.
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Getting ready for the day |
Convent Culture
Days off are always nice to
Mother and daughter doing well |
2014
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