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UNESCO World Heritage listed convent of St. John in Müstair

Nun and prioress Domenica Dethomas

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In the year 774, Charles the Great – who had recently been crowned King of the Lombards – found himself in a snow storm on the Umbrail mountain pass. He promised God that he would build a convent in the nearest village if he survived the storm. He did survive and he kept his word: construction of the convent was completed in the same century. Originally a monastery for men, it became a convent for Benedictine nuns in the 12th century and in 1983 the Convent of St. John was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Local nun and prioress Domenica Dethomas has been in charge of the convent since 2013.

“It was quite a shock.”

That’s how Sister Domenica describes her selection for the role of prioress. Her fellow nuns voted her into the top job on 13 October 2012 and she was ordained by a bishop on 28 January 2013 to coincide with a festival commemorating Charles the Great. Sister Domenica has held the position ever since and is a constant and dedicated presence around the convent. The heritage listed site is just a few metres from the house where the prioress was born and she says that the most momentous occasion in her life was not her appointment as prioress, but her decision to join the convent.

All or nothing

How and why do people become nuns? According to Sister Domenica, the decision is often informed by a strong inner drive. She too felt it was her calling and decided to take that “big step” – with all the associated consequences.  She decided to leave her family and friends behind and go without life’s small comforts. “I used to love wearing colourful clothes,” recalls the prioress. “When you join the convent you sort of become a new person, so you also receive a new name.” Sister Domenica used to be known as Gina Dethomas.

Passionate educator

As prioress, Sour Domenica represents the convent community in the outside world and provides religious education for the nuns, two of whom are from the Philippines. It is a task she feels very strongly about. When the 25-year-old qualified kindergarten teacher became a nun, she was able to continue her occupation inside the convent walls. She is still grateful for this privilege today. And she’s not the only one who is grateful: over the past few decades, countless kindergarten children in Münstertal have been taught by Sour Domenica – including the famous cross-country skiers Dario and Gianluca Cologna.

Praying for the world – and for the ‘Flyers’

The Benedictine nuns’ main duty is to serve their community. Those who want to dedicate their lives in this way, enjoy praying and have a solid religious background are welcome to join the order. Praying for people around the globe also requires a healthy degree of exchange and contact with the outside world. So despite their seclusion, the sisters have access to news, media and television, so they know what is happening “out there”. And they make no secret of their love for hockey. “The EHC Kloten Flyers club in particular is often in the prayers of the nuns of Müstair,” reveals the prioress.

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Gäste-Information Val Müstair
Chasa Cumünala
CH-7532 Tschierv
+41 81 861 88 40
info@val-muestair.ch
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