"Poor Clares" (by Sarah Simonis)

The sisters gather to pray before dinner at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:10:21 +0000

The sisters gather to pray before dinner at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.
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Sister Shirley, left, gets a piano lesson from Sister Natalie, who was a music teacher before becoming a nun in 1945. At the Monastary of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, twelve Poor Clares live a life of seclusion. They spend their days in prayer, but also find time for things they enjoy. They rarely leave the monastery grounds, and their quarters are not open to the public.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Sister Shirley, left, gets a piano lesson from Sister Natalie, who was a music teacher before becoming a nun in 1945. At the Monastary of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, twelve Poor Clares live a life of seclusion. They spend their days in prayer, but also find time for things they enjoy. They rarely leave the monastery grounds, and their quarters are not open to the public.
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The sisters at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey meet seven times a day for formal prayer. They live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. The Poor Clares is a contemplative order where the sisters dedicate themselves to a life of prayer. Their days are spent in prayer, both formally and privately.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:11:39 +0000

The sisters at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey meet seven times a day for formal prayer. They live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. The Poor Clares is a contemplative order where the sisters dedicate themselves to a life of prayer. Their days are spent in prayer, both formally and privately.
view full-size image

A sister dips her hand in the holy water before heading in to the chapel for service at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:12:06 +0000

A sister dips her hand in the holy water before heading in to the chapel for service at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.
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Sister Florence finds a quiet spot for contemplation at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:12:35 +0000

Sister Florence finds a quiet spot for contemplation at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.
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Sister Etta, left, Sister Mary Francis, center, and Sister Barbara relax on the grounds of the Monastery of Saint Clare with their yellow lab Maggie. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:13:04 +0000

Sister Etta, left, Sister Mary Francis, center, and Sister Barbara relax on the grounds of the Monastery of Saint Clare with their yellow lab Maggie. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.
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"Life here is life of meditation," said Sister Mary Francis about the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:13:39 +0000

"Life here is life of meditation," said Sister Mary Francis about the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.
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Sister Shirley works in the office at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer. All of the sisters are assigned jobs that change once a year, from cooking, to cleaning, or working in the office preparing and shipping altar breads.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:14:09 +0000

Sister Shirley works in the office at the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer. All of the sisters are assigned jobs that change once a year, from cooking, to cleaning, or working in the office preparing and shipping altar breads.
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"I think we're called to be love in the world," said Sister Miriam, right, the abbess of the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:14:42 +0000

"I think we're called to be love in the world," said Sister Miriam, right, the abbess of the Monastery of Saint Clare in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. They are dedicated to a life of prayer.
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Sister Natalie waits in silence for her breakfast toast. At 91, she is the oldest of the sisters. She became a nun in 1945. "I felt the Lord wanted me to do it. I tried to talk Him out of it, but I couldn't," she said. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. Sister Natalie said she is in a "spirit of prayer all day long, constantly aware of the presence of God."

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:15:13 +0000

Sister Natalie waits in silence for her breakfast toast. At 91, she is the oldest of the sisters. She became a nun in 1945. "I felt the Lord wanted me to do it. I tried to talk Him out of it, but I couldn't," she said. The Poor Clares live a life of seclusion, cloistered at the monastery. Sister Natalie said she is in a "spirit of prayer all day long, constantly aware of the presence of God."
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"God kind of chooses us and we land here," says Sister Miriam Varley, 72, the abbess of the Monastery of Saint Clare. She closes her eyes in silent prayer during one of the seven times a day the sisters meet together to pray. The rest of their time is divided between doing jobs around the monastery and private prayer time.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:15:39 +0000

"God kind of chooses us and we land here," says Sister Miriam Varley, 72, the abbess of the Monastery of Saint Clare. She closes her eyes in silent prayer during one of the seven times a day the sisters meet together to pray. The rest of their time is divided between doing jobs around the monastery and private prayer time.
view full-size image