Study is one of four pillars to our Dominican life, so having access to quality materials that help us come to know God and the things of God better is key to our life. One publisher/production company we love is Catholic Productions and we are always grateful to add one of their productions to our library for our sisters’ initial and ongoing formation. For other current needs, please feel free to email us.

Following the example of our Holy Father Dominic, the early Dominicans relied on donations of food and goods from the faithful for their daily bread. Today, donations of foodstuffs and supplies are still relied upon - they are always greatly welcomed and appreciated.

Because of our life of poverty, our daily diet is simple and frugal; but with sisters from all parts of the United States and from English, Irish, Italian, German, Mexican, Vietnamese and Indonesian backgrounds, it is also culturally diverse. Basic food items and staples are always welcome as these are easier to for us to use to meet the dietary and health needs of our sisters. The items used most in our monastery kitchen are the same ones found in a food pantry or soup kitchen. For highly perishable items that cannot be easily frozen or preserved, we recommend calling the monastery first to ask whether it is currently needed. Here are a few ideas of our most commonly used products.

Grocery NeedsList

Last updated 08/17/21
We gratefully accept other grocery items not listed, however, these are the ones needed most at this time. For your convenience, we prepared the list to match our local grocery store online categories.

• Beverages: coffee (instant and ground or beans)

• Dairy, Eggs & Cheese: butter, cream cheese

• Frozen Foods: french fries; hashbrowns; for our monthly community days (see Dinner Offerings below): heat-and-serve entrees (i.e., fish/chicken sandwich patties, chicken pot pies, pasta dishes, meatless entrees, etc.)

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: seasonal fruits and vegetables are always needed and most appreciated

• Meat, Poultry & Seafood: whole, portions/cuts and soup bones are always most appreciated

• Paper, Cleaning & Home: bath tissue/toilet paper, multifold (trifold) paper towels for dispenser, facial tissue, liquid bleach, disinfectant

• Personal Care & Health: sugar-free menthol cough drops (i.e., Halls or generic); Ricola sugar-free cough drops; supplements: calcium

Besides food, other goods and supplies are needed to support our monastic life and the running of our monastery. To learn about our specific current needs, please contact us via email. Here are some of our most common general needs.

• Personal and hygiene items: toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, soap, shampoo, etc.

• Clothing and Linens: Upon entering as a postulant, a young woman is given a short list of essential clothing items (such as socks, undergarments, handkerchiefs, sleepwear, etc.) and linens (twin sheets sets, bath and hand towels and washcloths) to bring for her use when she enters. Over time, these items wear out and must be replaced. Many items we currently have a sufficient supply in our common clothing room; but some items, such as white, knee-high socks, are in constant demand.

• Household and Cleaning Supplies: laundry detergent, bleach, chlorine-free whitener/brightener, stain remover/pretreater, dishwashing liquid, kitchen and bath cleaner, powder kitchen cleanser, basic cleaning supplies, paper products (including tissues and toilet paper), etc.

• Study and Office Supplies: paper (lined paper, copy paper, white letter-size cardstock/coverstock, spiral notebooks, blank index cards: 3x5 and 4x6, sticky notes, notepads, etc.); erasers; pens; highlighters; chalk; general supplies (paper clips and binder clips, pocket folders and file folders, report covers); letter-size page protectors for 3-ring binders; 3-ring binders; other supplies (glue sticks, rubber cement, white craft glue, tape, white-out).

• Gift Cards: Amazon.com, grocery, lawn and garden, office supplies, art and craft supplies

Other gifts-in-kind are appreciated, and can supply the monastery with important equipment, tools, supplies, and valuables, such as computers, cameras, art or books, quality vehicles, garden and home improvement tools and equipment, health equipment and other materials beneficial to our cloistered life. If you would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact our community via email, as we are unable to accept all items.