Dominican Cloistered Contemplative Nuns

Welcome to Corpus Christi Monastery Nairobi-Kenya. Where, “In silence and stillness we earnestly seek the face of the Lord and never cease making intercession with the God of our salvation that all men and women might be saved”
Book of Constitutions of the nuns of the Order of Preachers, Chapter II, 4.

We are Dominican cloistered Contemplative Nuns. We live in a monastery totally embracing the papal enclosure . We were founded by St. Dominic in 1206 before he founded the Dominican friars In 1216. We were founded with the express intent of praying for the success of the Dominican Preaching. Our whole life as nuns of the order of preachers is harmoniously ordered to preserve the continual remembrance of God . In the year 1965 twelve nuns from Our lady of Grace Monastery, North-Guilford CT, USA, sailed to Africa to found a Dominican monastery in Nairobi – Kenya. They were invited by the then, Archbishop John Mc Marthy C.S.S.P of Nairobi diocese.

His intention was to bring to Nairobi – Kenya a complete cloistered nun who would perpetuate the divine grace to assists East Africa develop to mutuality, sanctity, and peace which is based on love of God expressed in love of neighbor, by perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the recitation of the holy rosary.

It’s worth noting that, in the monastery, prayer is not the work we do but life we live. It is the very atmosphere we live in and the air we breathe. Though we have set times for prayer, in fact, every movement in the cloister is a prayer. Our relationship with prayer in the cloister is like that of the fish in the ocean.

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In July 2023, we were honoured by an august visit by the master of the Order Fr. Gerrard Timoner OP it was a great joy to share together and to hear how God has blessed us as the order of preachers. May we continue to proclaim Him who is truth itself for the salvation of souls.

                                                                OUR DAILY HORARIUM

It’s worth noting that, in the monastery, prayer is not the work we do but life we live. It is the very atmosphere we live in and the air we breathe. Though we have set times for prayer, in fact, every movement in the cloister is a prayer. Our relationship with prayer in the cloister is like that of the fish in the ocean as you can see from our horarium.

We adhere to the Apostle’s admonition “to pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In one of his letters, St. Jerome speaks of the early church and for monasticism in general. The two ideas he emphasized on can be summarized as:  one should strive to pray at all times as well as adhere to a regular structure of prayer at appointed times. He numbers in all six common prayer periods: morning, evening, nighttime, as well as prayer at the third, sixth, and ninth hours (Terce, Sext, None). Our ancestors in the faith began counting hours at sunrise, about 6am.