About
We are Dominicans.
We live and pray in a holy tradition that dates back to the time of Saint Dominic in the 13th Century. Traditions of the Dominican Order, such as love of the Church and the Holy Father, wearing the habit, devotion to the Passion of Christ and Our Blessed Mother, are a major focus of the community's life. We are committed to the traditional pillars of Dominican Life: Prayer, Community Life, Study, and Preaching. As Dominicans, we are charged to preach to and serve the people of God. We preach God's love and His healing presence in the world today through our ministry to his sick poor. Each Sister is challenged to balance the two dimensions of Dominican life - contemplative and active - in her own life. |
Like Saint Dominic who was full of solicitude for all of humanity, Mother Mary Alphonsa was moved with tender compassion for the most neglected and marginalized segment of society in her day, the cancerous poor.
Mother Alphonsa’s intention in forming her Congregation was to bring the healing spirit of Christ and his Church to those who were most in need while asking nothing in return. She learned in all things to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit and to find hidden spiritual treasures in the lives of those who supported the work no matter what their religious or cultural background. |
Pillars of Dominican Life
PRAYER
Dominican life is rooted in the common celebration of the Liturgy—the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Divine Office. Eucharistic adoration, the pondering of Sacred Scripture, mental prayer and a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary form part of the daily lives of the Sisters. |
COMMUNITY LIFE
The Rule of Saint Augustine reminds us that an essential element of religious life is the union of hearts and minds in God. We glorify God by our oneness with Him and each other in deep mutual respect and loving concern. Our love of God and our witness of mutual love are a service we give to the world. |
STUDY
Blessed Dominic recommended some form of study to the first nuns as an authentic observance of the Order. We hold in high regard both religious and professional study on a continuing basis as a means of growth in the love of God and service of neighbor. |
PREACH
The Dominican mission is to preach God's love. We accomplish this mission through our apostolate of nursing incurable cancer patients who cannot afford care. Our apostolate preaches the intrinsic value and dignity of each human being in their last stage of life. We care for the crucified and suffering Christ in each of our patients. |
Our Apostolate |
Our specific apostolate of nursing Christ’s sick poor who suffer from incurable cancer or kindred diseases is at the heart of Mother Mary Alphonsa’s unique mission.
In each of our Homes we continue Mother’s desire to treat each of our dear patients as our loved ones and "to put them in our very best bedroom to receive God's loving and tender care". Our Homes are God's Homes and we are happy to welcome His poor so that we can shower His love upon them until He calls them to their eternal Home. The apostolate of the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer is founded on a living and dynamic faith in Jesus Christ and his twofold commission of witnessing to the truth of the Gospel and serving the poor. Because ours is a Congregation of both contemplative and apostolic elements, each Sister has been called by God to witness first to the reality of Christ’s presence in this world through her life of consecration. From this consecration flows our engagement in the works of the apostolate. |