Ringing the bells for Sister Maria Dominica

Dominican contemplative sister is mourned

Sister Maria Dominica Roland, OP

Sister Maria Dominica Roland died surrounded by members of her religious community Feb. 4 at the age of 91 at home where the sisters are building their new Queen of Peace Monastery near Squamish.

Death came at the end of a gentle decline in her 62nd year of religious life, according to one of the Dominicans.

Born to a non-practising Jewish family in Germany, Sister Roland said that she and her sister and parents began observing Jewish traditions and attending synagogue not long after Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party came to power before World War II.

The monastery has just installed bells in the new bell tower, prioress Sister Rolf told The B.C. Catholic. The first peal of the bells will be rung in memory of Sister Dominica, she said.

Sister Roland gave a moving account of her journey from being born a Jew to entering the Dominican order in The B.C. Catholic Nov. 8, 2010 issue. Part of her story can also be read in last week's B.C. Catholic.