2/21/2012

PERSONAL STORIES

                                                     Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm

I originally lived in New Jersey but moved to New York when I was four and a half years old.  Although my parents, John and Jo Ellen Maring, both attended the Methodist Church when I was born, it was after our move to New York that my mother felt called to return to the Catholic faith of her youth.  My father is a dairy farmer and supplies milk to the Chobani Yogurt Factory.  My mother has a quilt business and founded the New York Chapter of “Quilts of Valor”.  The Chapter awards quilts to wounded soldiers and veterans.  My mother also gives quilts to breast cancer survivors as she herself is a two year survivor.  My sister, Melissa, is a registered nurse who lives also in New York with her husband Scott and baby boy Jacob.  My family has been an amazing source of inspiration and faith throughout my entire life!
Before joining the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, I had three years at Suny Canton College to become an Occupational Therapist Assistant (“OTA”).  I love Carmelite spirituality, especially devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary.  I also love the elderly and working with them.  It is very easy to see Jesus in them.  I was drawn to the Congregation because the Carmelite Sisters seem to have very full and well-rounded lives!  I found out about them through their website and attended their vocation weekend retreat to further discern my vocation.  I eventually joined them on February 14, 2012.



                                          Sr. Maureen Paul Angeline, O.Carm.

 I am from New Mexico and raised Catholic in a family that was made up of both parents and five siblings.  I was especially close to my sister, Teresa Francis (“Teddi”), who was twenty four years older than me.  She died in April 2000.  I am the youngest in my family.  I have outlived both my parents and all relatives from their generation.  I have one sister living in Seattle and three brothers, two of them also live in New Mexico.  Before joining the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, I worked as a medical speech pathologist with twenty two years’ experience.  I have worked with geriatric patients and dealt with evaluating and treating swallowing disorders.  I have been heavily involved with end of life issues.
                                             
 I was drawn to Carmel because of its desert-hermit spirituality.  As I learned more about it I became enamored by the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.  But at the same time I have always known that I was created to work with the elderly and so a vocation to this Congregation seems to be right.  I learned of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm through VocationsMatch.com website.  This site then led me to the Congregation’s own website.  I joined the Congregation on February 14, 2012.

2/20/2012

 NEW POSTULANTS!

We are happy to welcome two new Postulants to our Congregation! Last February 14th, Sr. Maureen and Sr. Dianna received the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and began the first phase of their Formation process.  We wish them many blessings as they begin their journey in Carmel!
Sr. Maureen and Sr. Dianna making the Act of Consecration to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Sr. Lois, Sr. Dianna, Sr. Maureen and Sr. Maria Therese
Postulants with their Director

2/17/2012

Meet our New Postulant Director!


Sr. Lois Ann Wetzel, O.Carm
Sr. Lois Ann Wetzel, our new Postulant Director, comes from Cincinnati, Ohio.  Sister is a Registered Nurse by training.  While attending college, she worked in St. Margaret Hall, one of the Sisters facilities, and came to know the Carmelite Sisters.  “I grew to love working with the elderly in the facility.  After graduating from college, I would visit the home and volunteer to be with the residents.  I had always wanted a career in Science since I was a child, and became fascinated with the natural world, the heavens, and living things.  Though I had studied Science, and acquired a degree in Biology, I decided to return to school and to get a degree in nursing.  I could not imagine doing anything else but nursing and caring for the residents as a Carmelite sister.  The love and compassion received by the Residents from the Sisters and Staff made a strong and lasting impression on me.  God has a way of calling where He wants us to be and where the deepest desires of our heart will be fulfilled.”

Welcome to Carmel!

SR. HEATHER LUKOSE
Sr. Heather was born to a very traditional Catholic family in India.  She has four brothers and two sisters all of whom are currently living in Bronx, New York.  Both her parents are deceased.  She came to the United States through her brother in March 1993.  She then pursued her education completing a Pharmacy degree in Long Island University College of Pharmacy.  She has worked as a licensed pharmacist in many facilities in New York.
Sr. Heather thought of religious life in her teenage years but decided to ignore the attraction at the time.  In the course of her professional life, she enjoyed interacting with people and learned more about human suffering, giving her an insight about life.  Sister attended a discernment weekend at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse in 2010 and then pursued the road to the religious life in our Congregation.


 
SR. CATHIE HINKLE

 Sr. Cathie was born in Jackson, Michigan, the youngest of eight living siblings.  Her parents were married 65 years before her mother passed away in March 2008.  Sister Cathie  acquired part of her Catholic education with the Felician Sisters.  Sister lived in Italy for many years doing some social service work and then moved to Aurora, Illinois in 1997.  Sr. Cathie is a Certified Nursing Assistant and a Certified Phlebotomist.  She holds an Associate Degree from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
When Sr. Cathie was asked what drew her to Carmel and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm in particular, she wrote: “Carmel is a life of contemplation in action, love for Our Lady and a strong Eucharistic prayer life.  I was drawn to working with the elderly with respect, conscientiousness, and joy.  The Sisters wear a traditional habit and the Community has an acceptance of older vocations.”
World day of Consecrated Life

World Day of Consecrated Life was celebrated February 5, 2012.  Some of our Sisters attended a gathering sponsored by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Latham, NY.  Pope Benedict XVI in his multiple addresses to Religious constantly urges consecrated men and women to witness to the world the joy that Christ brings to a life totally given to the service of God and His Church so that the world is transformed from within and becomes a light to all.


March for Life 2012

 Our Formation team - Sr. Maria Therese (vocation director), Sr. Lois Ann (Postulant director), our two Postulants , Sr. Cathie and Sr. Heather, along with Sr. Jean- attended the 39th March for Life in Washington DC last January 23, 2012.  The Sisters joined other marchers from local parishes.  It was an exceptional experience described by the participants as being AWESOME!  “It was so wonderful to see many thousands of people come to lend their support in the March for Life.  The marchers were everywhere! The day was somewhat rainy but it did not stop the marchers who covered Washington in a rainbow of umbrellas, rain gear and sunny spirits.”  reported Sr. Lois.   Fr. Frank Pavone was the keynote speaker at a memorial service  for the innocent victims of abortion at the Capitol.  After the memorial service an estimated 400,000 marchers proceeded to make their way to the Supreme Court.