LIVING THE RULE OF CARMEL

The Novitiate is a time of learning.  Although religious formation is an ongoing process and does not stop even after one has professed religious vows, the novitiate is especially dedicated to an intense exploration of one's vocation, Scripture and Church documents studies, community life and prayer, and integrating the Rule and Constitutions of the Order to daily living.  An essential aspect of religious formation touches on work.

The Rule of Carmel says "You must have some sort of work to do, so that the devil may find you always occupied, lest because of your idleness he manage to find some way of entering into your soul.  In this you have the teaching and the example alike of the blessed apostle Paul, in whose mouth Christ spoke, who has been appointed and given by God as preacher and teacher of the nations in faith and truth; if you follow him you cannot go astray." (Rule of Carmel, Chapter 20)

"BLACK FRIDAY" BAKING 

Baking some pretzels, rolo, and nut delicacy for our employees at St. Teresa's Motherhouse in thanksgiving for all they do for the Sisters throughout the year!

FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY IN CARMEL!

Our four novices celebrated their first Thanksgiving Day in Carmel with much gratitude and excitement.

Sharing her first impression, Sr. Hope Therese has this to say: " It was beautiful. It really made me feel at home. The altar was beautiful; the tables were set up very nicely.  I missed my family but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.  At this point, I’m really getting more attached to the Sisters. They’re becoming more and more like my own family."  Sr. Mary Catherine also shared the same sentiment with an added reflection on Thanksgiving Day's Eucharistic meaning for her. "My first Thanksgiving here was very exciting!  To see the combination of Eucharist, Mass, and the dinner we had with the Community, was very significant for me."  "I truly enjoyed my first thanksgiving in Carmel with my Sisters.  The turkey and all the trimmings were wonderful! The tables were beautiful and I really felt I was with my Carmelite family" added Sr. Maureen Paul.  Sr. Luke Mary was speechless and could only agree on what have been said so far!

(L to R:  Sr. Mary Catherine, Sr. Hope Therese, Sr. Maureen Paul, Sr. Luke Mary)

Remembering All Carmelite Souls

On November 3, 2012, the Carmelite Friars of the St. Elias Province, celebrated a Mass of Remembrance for their deceased members.  The Eucharistic celebration was held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middletown, New York with Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm., as the main celebrant.  The celebration was also attended by other Friars of the St. Elias Province, Third Order Carmelites, Brothers in Formation and their Directors, Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and Novices, as well as many other friends of the Carmelite family.  After Mass, the congregation walked in solemn procession to the cemetery located within the grounds of the shrine for the blessing and prayers for the dead.

May Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Gate of Heaven, intercede for all the souls of the faithful departed! May they rest in peace!

                                                           

                                                            

MY FIRST VISIT AS NOVICE
by Sr. Hope Therese Angeline, O.Carm

My family visited me twelve days after receiving the Carmelite habit.  It was so great to see them and we had a wonderful time! Visiting me were my parents John and Jo Ellen, my sister Melissa, my brother- in- law Scott, and nine-month-old baby nephew, Jacob.  Everyone looked great!  We chatted and took pictures and had a delicious lunch.  We took a short walk and took more pictures!  Then we played card games and chatted some more.  Can you guess what we did before they left?  That’s right.  We took some more pictures!  It’s easy to understand since they had no pictures of me in habit yet.  It was thrilling to see Jacob sitting up and “commando crawling” on his stomach for the first time.  Seeing these milestones is very precious to me.   I think they all got a little teary eyed from seeing me in the habit for the first time but they were tears of joy.  It shows me how far we’ve come from when my parents and I were shedding tears of sorrow after my first visit as a postulant.  That was the most difficult time in my vocation so far because of my severe homesickness and doubts.  Now all doubts are gone.  The homesickness remains but it is not as bad as it once was.  All visits are bittersweet but now they are more sweet than bitter.  The difference in my first visit as a postulant and my first visit as a novice makes me think of the difference between Jesus meeting his mother on the road to Calvary and meeting her in all his glory after his resurrection.  Nothing but God’s grace could have brought us this far and helped us heal from the separation.  Every visit is becoming less draining and more rejuvenating.  Visits from my family are my oasis in the Carmelite desert.  I eagerly look forward to every one!  However, I am growing to love my Carmelite family more and more every day.  I am beyond blessed to have two fantastic families who know and love me, and most important of all, care for my spiritual well-being.  We are all helping each other get to heaven.  That is what families are for.  Some day we will be together for eternity, glorifying God!    

 What An Exciting Day!

October 13th was the day designated for our Novices to receive their first visit from their families after they received the Carmelite habit.  Sr. Hope Therese and Sr. Luke Mary were thrilled to have their loved ones come that day and to spend some extra special time with them.  It was also a special time for the Sisters to meet their "extended family" and to share lunch with them.  Thankfully, the day was as perfect as could be, for a little ground walking and picture taking.  Avila was at its finest that day!

Sr. Hope Therese with  Mom ( Jo Ellen Maring)

Sr. Hope Therese with Mom and Dad.  A beautiful portrait of St. Therese was given to Sr. Hope by her sister Melissa.

The Maring Family

Sr. Luke Mary's family

Sr. Luke Mary's sister and brother.

NEW NOVICES!

On this Feast of St. Therese, October 1, 2012, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm thank God for the grace of welcoming new Sisters to our Congregation.  The Reception Ceremony started with the four Postulants entering the Chapel and gathering in front of the main altar.  They were then asked the question, “What do you desire?” The Postulants then responded, “I ask the mercy of God and the habit of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I wish to learn and to live this way of life and to be tested, so that I may be admitted to this religious Community for the following of Christ.”  After invoking God’s blessings, the holy habits were then blessed and given to each Postulant by Mother Mark Louis Anne, Superior General, as they left Chapel.

 

 

   The Postulants then returned to Chapel dressed in the Carmelite habit and knelt down to receive their religious names:  “Your name in religion will be- Sr. Luke Mary Angeline, Sr. Mary Catherine Angeline, Sr. Maureen Paul Angeline and Sr. Hope Therese Angeline.”

The Chapel then filled with applause as the Community gave a warm welcome to our new Novices!  The Eucharistic celebration of the Feast of Saint Therese then followed.  Our main celebrant, Father Ashley Harrington, O.Carm, of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province, thanked God for the graces bestowed upon the new novices and our Congregation.  It was appropriate that Father Ashley would make “remembrance” as the theme of the day.  This happy event, experienced by all the Sisters who by their own calling answered the call of God, is an invitation to our new Sisters to etch and to cherish in their memories this “first hour, of the first day, of their Carmelite religious life.”   The journey has started, and the road is long, but for those who chose to follow the Will of God in their lives, every day of the journey is a new beginning since the Will of God is always in the present.

(L to R): Fr. Ashley Harrington, O.Carm., Sr. Luke Mary Angeline, O.Carm., Sr. Hope Therese Angeline, O.Carm., Sr. Maureen Paul Angeline, O.Carm., Sr. Mary Catherine Angeline, O.Carm., Mother Mark Louis Anne, O.Carm.

 A delicious meal was then enjoyed by everyone present.  Congratulations, Sisters!  May you find your life in Carmel joyful, fulfilling and full of promise!

MY JOURNEY CONTINUES

by Sr. Dianna Maring

I spent the last half of my time as Postulant in Carmel Terrace which is one of the assisted living facilities operated by our Congregation in Massachusetts.  I was rotated in various departments but most of my time was spent in the Activities department. This was probably my favorite assignment because I love activities! Their independent lifestyle allowed them to be more involved in complex games. They participated in games like French themed BINGO where the residents have to call out a French word instead of BINGO.  Another game was guessing the answers to riddles and mysteries, and also going out to short trips like the local Wal-Mart.  I found that meeting the needs of the more physically active and cognitively intact residents can be difficult but it can also be a lot of fun! This type of residents was the population our Foundress, Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, accepted in her days and really got the Community started!

My next assignment was in Spiritual Care or Pastoral Ministry. This mostly involved visiting residents and giving them a comforting and supportive presence. Sometimes they may want soft music played, a story or poetry read to them, a card game, someone to talk to, or just a quiet visit and companionship. Of course my favorite thing to do was to pray with them. I saw prayer as their chief need. My chief concern was their spiritual wellbeing. Their souls were the most important thing to me. In order to help the soul we need to consider the whole person.

Then, I was a general volunteer on the Alzheimer’s wing.  I loved our residents suffering from Alzheimer’s and loved working with them! Having a grandmother who passed away from early onset dementia, I have a strong compassion and empathy for these residents. Again, it is important to provide holistic care, and to meet their needs.  I learned that engaging them at their level of reality is important because their reality is different from ours.   A kind word or a hand to hold means more to them than we can ever know. I really felt the Lord’s presence in residents that spoke very little or not at all. These silent tabernacles were truly witnesses of the suffering Christ.

I cannot believe my Postulancy is almost over!  Time seems to have flown by.  My other companions, Sr. Cathie, Sr. Heather, Sr. Maureen and I will shortly become novices and receive the Carmelite habit on October 1^st, Feast of St. Therese, who is my favorite Saint! If having a vocation has taught me anything, it is trust in the Lord. If things don’t work out the way you thought you wanted them to, then rejoice! God has something better in store for you. He knows what he is doing. There is no need to worry about anything. He uses all things for good and everything happens for a reason even when we can’t see or understand the reason.  I am learning to trust in Him! I am in complete awe of my vocation and all the graces, gifts, and blessings the Lord has given me. I have never known such great peace and joy! This has been a beautiful journey that continues to sanctify me by increasing my faith, hope, and love. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. I am eagerly looking forward to the next step in my faith journey in Carmel when I become a novice!

I echo the words of the Psalmist, “Trust in the Lord and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.  Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust that God will act and make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday.”

( Psalm 37:3-6)