Solemn Profession of Sister Mary Thomas of the Holy Name of Jesus, O.P.

On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Sr. Mary Thomas of the Holy Name of Jesus, O.P. made her Solemn Profession in the hands of the prioress, Mother Mary of the Precious Blood of Jesus, O.P.

  • Photo of entrance procession
  • Photo of Dominican nun making cruciform prostration
  • Photo of Dominican nuns at Solemn Profession ceremony
  • Photo of Dominican nun
  • Photo of Dominican nun solemn vows
  • Photo of Dominican nuns
  • Dominican chant for Amo Christum, sung after the Dominican nun receives her blessed veil.
  • Photo of Dominican nun and deacon
  • Dominican Nun and servers
  • Photo of Dominican nun and family

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of our Archdiocese of Mobile celebrated the Profession Mass, joined by many priest friends of the community.  “Dearest sister, by this solemn profession you have given yourself to God and to His will,” proclaimed Archbishop Rodi over the newly professed nun.  “God Himself, therefore, has consecrated you to Himself through the ministry of the Church in preparation for the gospel of peace so that you may be His own heritage and He may be your heritage forever.”

Sister Mary Thomas is one of three children of Mark and Stephanie Rankin of Quincy, Illinois.  As a child she always wanted to be a nun, and when she learned of the Dominican nuns during her senior year of homeschool high school, she immediately wrote the monastery: “I think your life is for me!”  Sister joined the community in November 2011 after a year at college, and completed six years of monastic formation prior to her Solemn Vows.  She shares a sacred vocation with her twin brother, Deacon Dominic Rankin, who will be ordained to the priesthood this May for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.  He sang the Gospel at the Profession Mass, while their younger brother Alexander and many cousins and friends served.

In his homily, Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., spoke inspiringly of the important role of the Dominican nuns’ life of prayer. While the friars, sisters, and laity of the Dominican Order preach the Name of Jesus for the salvation of souls, the Dominican nuns seek, ponder, and call upon Him in solitude so that the Word which goes forth from the mouth of God may not return to Him empty, but may bear much fruit.

This is the vocation which Sister Mary Thomas of the Holy Name of Jesus received from God. If you think God might be calling you to this vocation, we encourage you to respond with joy! (Learn more at our Vocations Page.)