The Novitiate in Naples sings the Te Deum (hymn of thanksgiving to God) on New Year’s Eve before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altarPerhaps the best view for New Year’s fireworks is atop the convent’s roof!Feast of the EpiphanyOur Reverend Mother with several postulantsDuring the Epiphany Octave, the novitiate has a lunch of farewell and thanksgiving for the novice mistress before she leaves for her new assignment, and a warm welcome for the new novice mistressDuring the Christmas Octave, our sisters in Switzerland visit with some horses after seeing an equestrian showBlessing of Epiphany waterThe Epiphany water is then used for a solemn blessing of the house and propertyOn the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, the sisters in Livorno, Italy share a lovely evening togetherThe sisters depict the life of Saint Margaret MaryA visit to the nearby shrine, Our Lady of MonteneroWhile Florence hosts an exhibition of works by Fra Angelico, the sisters in Livorno have the opportunity to visitThe sisters are delighted to explore the vast and charming manger scene created by seminarians at the Institute of Christ the King’s seminary in Gricigliano, ItalyBenediction of the Blessed Sacrament on New Year’s Eve in LivornoSecond Vespers in the convent chapel on the feast of the CircumcisionMass of the Epiphany in LivornoAdoration of the Blessed Sacrament in BrusselsTraditional blessed wine for the feast of St JohnRefectory on the feast of the Circumcision at Maria Engelport in GermanySolemn Blessing of Epiphany waterDinner with the Canons for the feast dayThe sisters sing the Mass of the Epiphany at our house in Ardee, IrelandThe traditional house blessing on the EpiphanyVisit to the ruins of Old Mellifont Abbaye, which had been the first Cistercian monastery in IrelandMass for the feast of Saint John in Preston, EnglandThe canons, sisters, and faithful end the year 2025 in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. After midnight, they begin the year 2026 with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.Some hours later, they celebrate the first Mass of the year for the feast of the CircumcisionMorning light at our house in Loisy, France, on the feast of the EpiphanyThe traditional Epiphany blessing includes a chalk inscription upon the door asking God to bless the house throughout the year, through the intercession of the Three KingsSisters sing carols for Christmas and the Epiphany during the afternoon recreationSecond Vespers of the Epiphany in the convent chapel in Loisy
