Monastery of the Angels
Encyclopedia
The Monastery of the Angels is the cloistered convent of a Roman Catholic religious order for women in Karachi
, Pakistan
. The community is made up of nine Dominican
sisters. They dedicate their lives to constant prayer with one of them always present in the chapel. They receive many letters, telephone calls, faxes and e-mail with prayer requests.
The mother superior of the monastery (currently Sr. Mary Rose) and her assistant read the newspapers to learn about the situation in the world. They then tell the other sisters about the important things happening outside the cloisters.
The sisters are separated from the outside world by a grate. This divides them from the guests who visit them, from the priest who celebrates Mass for them, and even from the relatives who come to visit them on certain days.
Daily life in the convent is similar to that in other cloisters throughout the world. The sisters typically make bread, cakes, sweets, hosts and wine for the parishes. These products are placed near a small opening where people come to pick them up.
When Archbishop Joseph Cordeiro
became archbishop of Karachi in 1958, he invited a community of contemplative nuns to the diocese. In December 1959, nine nuns from the monastery in Los Angeles
arrived in Pakistan to found the monastery in Karachi. On July 20, 1968, the convent was moved from Ingle Road to its current location in Landhi
outside of Karachi.
Fr. James deSouza
was the first Chaplain of the Monastery. Later when he became the Rector of the St. Pius X Minor Seminary
he used to send his young Seminarians to help the sisters whenever they had some difficult work like cleaning of the Retreat House, a special planting project in the garden, or other heavy jobs. The sisters in turn supplied them with home – made jam, bakery goods, and fruits and vegetables from their garden.
On December 20, 2009 the Monastery will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its beginning in Pakistan. However there has been no one joining their number in ten years. Archbishop Evarist Pinto
of Karachi, celebrated a special Mass at the monastery chapel, concelebrated with Bishop Max John Rodrigues
of Hyderabad, Karachi Vicar General Father Arthur Charles
, and 17 other priests.
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The community is made up of nine Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
sisters. They dedicate their lives to constant prayer with one of them always present in the chapel. They receive many letters, telephone calls, faxes and e-mail with prayer requests.
The mother superior of the monastery (currently Sr. Mary Rose) and her assistant read the newspapers to learn about the situation in the world. They then tell the other sisters about the important things happening outside the cloisters.
The sisters are separated from the outside world by a grate. This divides them from the guests who visit them, from the priest who celebrates Mass for them, and even from the relatives who come to visit them on certain days.
Daily life in the convent is similar to that in other cloisters throughout the world. The sisters typically make bread, cakes, sweets, hosts and wine for the parishes. These products are placed near a small opening where people come to pick them up.
When Archbishop Joseph Cordeiro
Joseph Cordeiro
Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro was the first Pakistani cardinal.-Education:He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi, the University of Bombay and Oxford University...
became archbishop of Karachi in 1958, he invited a community of contemplative nuns to the diocese. In December 1959, nine nuns from the monastery in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
arrived in Pakistan to found the monastery in Karachi. On July 20, 1968, the convent was moved from Ingle Road to its current location in Landhi
Landhi
Landhi is one of the neighbourhoods of Landhi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. There are several ethnic groups in Landhi including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslims...
outside of Karachi.
Fr. James deSouza
James deSouza
James “Jimmy” deSouza was born on December 11, 1925, in Karachi, Pakistan. He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi. He received his religious training at the Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka, which entered in 1944 and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi...
was the first Chaplain of the Monastery. Later when he became the Rector of the St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary in the Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan. It had 25 seminarians in January 2010. Father Benjamin Shehzad is the seminary’s rector....
he used to send his young Seminarians to help the sisters whenever they had some difficult work like cleaning of the Retreat House, a special planting project in the garden, or other heavy jobs. The sisters in turn supplied them with home – made jam, bakery goods, and fruits and vegetables from their garden.
On December 20, 2009 the Monastery will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its beginning in Pakistan. However there has been no one joining their number in ten years. Archbishop Evarist Pinto
Evarist Pinto
Evarist Pinto is the current Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.-Education:He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, where he was ordained a priest on 6 January 1968. He also had a doctorate in theology...
of Karachi, celebrated a special Mass at the monastery chapel, concelebrated with Bishop Max John Rodrigues
Max John Rodrigues
Max John Rodrigues was born in Karachi, Pakistan on 29 May 1938. He entered the seminary in 1957 and spent seven years of his priestly formation at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI at St. Peter's Basilica on 6 January 1966...
of Hyderabad, Karachi Vicar General Father Arthur Charles
Arthur Charles
Arthur Charles received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi.From 2005 to 2009 he served as assistant parish priest at St. Jude's Parish, Karachi....
, and 17 other priests.