Bless you for your interest. All of these orders should be supported by our prayers, donations of time and money if possible, and especially new vocations.
I recently visited a home run by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. It is for the poor with incurable cancer. They do not accept any payment from the patient, their families, or the government. They rely on donations, trusting that God will provide. The sisters still wear the habit, live in community, and hold to their founders’ rule. At the hospital I visited, the sisters work with the women patients but they have hired male employees to help with the male patients. They still work with them but sometimes a man’s strength is needed. It’s incredibly hard work, physically and emotionally - no one walks out of there. But the sisters say it’s amazing knowing that the patients can see your face one day and God’s the next.
The hospital was the cleanest and nicest one I have seen. The gardens were extremely well-tended. When asked what she would like help with if she could have anything, Sister said people to come and spend time with the patients so they could go outside and see different faces. There is a resident dog (actually lives in the hosptial), birds, activities. Everything is to make it as close to home as possible. The chapel is amazing and Mass is said every day. Patients and their families are welcome. It’s bright and, it sounds funny, but it’s very pleasant and comfortable.
The order has several hospitals in the U.S. and just opened one in Africa. They, like all others, need new members as they are getting older. But, even if some changes will have to be made, giving up the habit, living in community, and the basic mission of ministering to incurable poor will never be considered.
