Right now, however, the main tasks at hand are drafting the order's constitutions and looking for possible locations for a convent.
“I've told everyone that until the constitutions are signed by His Eminence I won't be able to officially welcome anyone,” she said. Meanwhile, the Iraqi sister has already started the official steps “in terms of writing the constitution and other canonical steps.”
Sr. Olga said that “if everything comes together” the community will open by fall or the end of this year.
She noted that the chosen name of the order – the Daughters of Mary, Our Lady of Nazareth – has “a lot to do with the ministry that we will be doing.”
“We will be a very Eucharistic and Marian order – Eucharistic communion, daily adoration, and Marian devotion,” she said. “These will be the two lungs we will be breathing out of as religious women.”
“I personally chose the words 'daughters' instead of 'sisters' of Mary because it keeps us focused on that element of humility,” Sr. Olga said. “We always look up to our mother to teach us and guide us and lead us as we try to bring the good news of Jesus' love and mercy to the world.”
She said that the group “will be a contemplative and apostolic community,” meaning that they will base their spirituality off of contemplative prayer but still go out into the community to perform “corporal and spiritual works of mercy.”
Sr. Olga also said the order's habits will consist of a simple blue gown and veil along with a draped rosary.
She emphasized how the “presence of a religious sister wearing a habit, bringing a smile and that motherly face of the Church” serves as profound witness to the surrounding culture.
“To have that spiritual presence of a religious sister and bringing that motherhood of the Church – it's very much needed in our country,” she said.
Marianne is a journalist with a background in writing and Catholic theology. When not elaborating on the cinematic arts, she enjoys spending time with people, reading thick books and traveling anywhere and everywhere.