Aerial view of our Monastery today
The first Dominican nuns came to Lufkin at the invitation of the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, who had jurisdiction over Lufkin at that time. Our foundresses left their home, the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, Michigan (now Farmington Hills, MI) and arrived in Texas on July 26, 1945. They moved into a farm house out in the country, and were soon able to live a regular monastic life, including adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On November 9, 1945, papal enclosure was officially established. Above, you can see an aerial photo of the monastery taken some time in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, the nuns were able to begin construction on the permanent buildings where we live today.
When the sisters first came to Lufkin, the Catholic population was very small. But both the nuns and their new neighbors realized they had something very important in common: a strong belief in the power of prayer. Over the years our monastery has truly become "a house of prayer for all the people". Everyone is welcome to stop by to attend Mass or one of the hours of the Divine Office, or just enjoy a peaceful moment in our chapel.
Many things have changed since 1945. The quiet rural route running past our monastery has become busy Lotus Lane. The city of Lufkin has grown considerably, surrounding the monastery. But the praises, blessings, and preaching offered to God and His people by the nuns all these years has not changed. Recently, we celebrated our 75th anniversary here in Lufkin., and we thank God and all the people who have supported us, people of every age, race, and faith, here in the Piney Woods of East Texas.