NASHVILLE – Nine young women professed the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation, on July 28. Among those who made their first profession was Sister Alma Marie Learner, a former parishioner of St. Peter Church in Columbia, S.C.
Sister Alma Marie is the daughter of Max and Stephanie Learner, also members of St. Peter. She is a graduate of Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia and the honors college at the University of South Carolina, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Sister Alma Marie is currently studying for a Master’s of Arts in teaching at Aquinas College in Nashville.
The Mass for the Rite of First Religious Profession was celebrated by Most Rev. David Choby, Bishop of the Diocese of Nashville, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.
In addition to the sisters making first profession of vows, nine young women professed their perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience with the Nashville Dominicans on July 25, 2016.
The Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia was established in Nashville in 1860. The Sisters of St. Cecilia are dedicated to the apostolate of Catholic education.
The community of nearly 300 serves in 37 schools throughout the United States, including South Carolina, with mission houses in Australia, British Columbia, Italy, Scotland, The Netherlands, and Ireland.
For more information, visit www.nashvilledominican.org.
