The Worldwide Paradise Cloister
Hello and welcome! I’m Novice Clarissa Anne, one of the Resident Novices of the Feline Cloister. I was humbled when Amma Jane asked me to introduce you to this section of the website. Here we remember our beloved Companions and honor their lives.
The Feline Cloister voted unanimously to open the Paradise Cloister to all animal Companions. We know how difficult it can be to lose an animal friend. In the Paradise Cloister all departed animal Companions are welcomed and celebrated – four-footed, two-legged or no legged; Companions with fur, fins, scales or feathers; Companions of all shapes and sizes – felines, canines, gerbils, birds, and fish. Rabbits and horses, too.
We need ways to remember our departed Companions. Reflecting and sharing our memories is healing.
The Remembrances
Reading the memories offered by each Companion’s human, I was touched by the loving relationships described. The Rule of St. Benedict stresses the importance of love.
“Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else.” RB 4.20, 21
In the remembrances I see this love from both human and Companion.
I know that you will enjoy the stories about the felines, canines, gerbils, birds, fish and other animals as they are added to the Paradise Cloister. The stories reveal a wonderful variety of personalities and talents. And as you will see, departed felines and other animal friends written about by their humans, lived in many different parts of the United States. So, please, take a few moments to become acquainted with these loved, departed friends that are welcomed into The Paradise Cloister.
We also have a section on the website where we remember and honor the founding members of the Feline Cloister.
Do You Have a Companion You Would Like to Have Remembered in the Paradise Cloister?
If the answer is “Yes,” I encourage you to contribute a remembrance of your departed animal friend. All you need to do is to click on the link below. Then complete a simple form and send this to the Feline Cloister this along with one to three photos of your Companion.
Shared memories will be put into the website by our Cloister Porter, Sr. Nikki, and, of course, Amma.
To write a remembrance of your beloved Companion, click here
The Worldwide Paradise Cloister
Emily – God’s Gift to her Community
Emily was God's gift to her community. She had a thunderous purr, a sweetly demanding disposition, and a contemplative nature. Emily, like her namesake Emily Dickinson, selected her own society. Strikingly beautiful because of her pure white fur, which she kept...
Sera – Who Always Wanted to be Near Me
My beloved Sera (short for Serendipity), entered the Paradise Cloister on October 10. 2022. She was 18 years old. Sera always wanted to be near me, jumping into my lap whenever I sat or lay down! When I went to bed at night, she would lie on my chest and purr me to...
Amber and Leesi – Beloved Porters at the Door
Amber back home from a fun vacationAmber was the happiest, most outgoing kitty! She embodied hospitality and welcoming the stranger - she was truly the "Porter at the Door," even as she got older and - a little! - slower. With my other cat Leesi, definitely the...
Kibbie – My Beloved Companion Who Always Listened
I first met Kibbie in February, 2019, when I rescued him from a homeless situation. He was reputed to be about 12 years old, although that was never verified and he could have been older. So I actually only had him with me from about 3 1/2 years! Not nearly long...