Sister Mary Rose, O.P. professes solemn vows

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
After graduating from college, Chelsea Allen worked for the U.S. Department of State. 
She’s now Sister Mary Rose of the Pure Heart, O.P., a cloistered Dominican nun at the Dominican Monastery of St. Jude in Marbury. First arriving at the monastery in 2015, Sister Mary Rose made her solemn profession on April 24 during a ceremony and Mass at the monastery celebrated by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi.
Sister Mary Rose grew up on the central coast of California, the oldest of seven children in a devout Catholic family. She was home-schooled, then attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, studying International Economics and Finance. 
Upon graduation in 2009, she worked for the State Department as an international budget analyst, but continued to pursue the will of God in her life and eventually arrived at the Dominican Monastery of St. Jude. After more than six years of formation, Sister Mary Rose pronounced solemn vows, offering her life as a holocaust of love, in imitation of Our Lady's complete fiat to the will of God.
“So much joy and peace surrounded me in and throughout the ceremony and throughout the day,” said Sister Mary Rose of the Pure Heart, O.P. said. 
“Everything was so very beautiful and I felt singularly loved by God in every detail. My soul was filled with gratitude and joy, Our Lady's own song of Magnificat echoing in my heart. What a beautiful day of grace and blessing for me and for all present, physically, spiritually and virtually!”
Sister Mary Rose also shares a sacred vocation with her younger brother, Deacon David Allen. 
Deacon Allen is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood in June for Allen family’s home diocese, the Diocese of Monterey, Calif. Deacon Allen sang the Gospel at the Profession Mass, younger brother Jonathan was an altar server, and other family members were also present.
“What a gift to belong especially to God as a cloistered nun and to be poured in love, like Our Lady, for the Church and world so much in need,” said Sister Mary Rose.
— Information provided by the Dominican Nuns of Marbury. For more information and photos, visit MarburyDominicanNuns.org.