Rest In Peace, Sister Hope Therese!

On January 19, 2020, at 1:37 am, God called Sr. Hope Therese Angeline, O,Carm. to her eternal reward. Sister was 33 years old. We deeply mourn her loss and we share in the sorrows of those she left behind- her parents, sister Melissa, nephews, Carmelite Sisters, and those whose lives she touched at the places where she was missioned.  Sister Hope was a poetic soul and expressed her love of God and her journey to God in words of joy, longings, sufferings and love reflected in her poems.  You can read and meditate on some of them from the following links below:

Reasons to Smile

A Consecrated Soul

What Is Prayer

I AM

Through the Eyes of Dementia

Worth It

Therese's Room 

In His Presence

The Singing Heart



Sister Hope Therese also wrote reflections and shared her thoughts on some memorable events of her short religious life. Here are some of them:

What is Hidden in an Empty Box?

What Not To say to A Short Person

My Experience in Carmel Richmond

My Thoughts On Joy

My Favorite Saint

My Favorite Virtue

The Second Half of My Postulancy

All About My Mom

Mother Angeline Teresa

My Thoughts on Vocation

 The Life of "Albert" The Aloe Plant

Mother Angeline Teresa

Sr. Hope Therese

One characteristic of Mother Angeline that I especially admire is her courage.  She left the security and happiness with the little sisters because she felt called to serve the elderly in a different way.  She did not know if her order would succeed or not.  She had complete faith and trust in God’s providence and wisdom.  With any vocation, there are difficulties, struggles, and roadblocks.  If you get through these it leads to greater affirmation of God’s will for you.  To get through hard times and persevere in God’s plan for you, you need courage.  I am amazed by Mother’s strong faith that gave her the courage to carry out a vision that was radical for its time.  God has a plan for everyone.  Even when things are rough, they will get better.  No bad time lasts forever.   The hard road is the narrow gate that will lead us to the kingdom of God.  Mother Angeline understood all of this.  She never gave up on God’s plan for her even when things set her back.  We, her daughters, need to remember this on our vocational journey.  If Mother Angeline could persevere in a changing vocation, we can persevere in a steady one.  We have nothing to fear with such a courageous foundress as our mother, protector and guide.

Th Singing Heart

By Sr. HopeTherese

The Lord has consecrated me

To help deaf hear and blind to see

I will repeat what needs to be said

Or tell you what I see up ahead

If my heart could talk it would bless every deed

That I can do for all those who are in need

My mouth can talk, joke, or sing with you

If you are lonely and feeling blue

If you are scared or confused and shed a tear

I can tell you that there is nothing to fear

If my heart could talk if would tell you how glad

I am to be comfort to those who are sad

My hands I can give to those to hold

Who have feelings that need not be told

To those who can no longer stride

My feet will give you a quick ride

If my heart could talk it would tell the bliss

Of such a joyful and humble service

With every good thing that I have got

I can be to those what they have not

I can ever joyful and happy be

Because no one can take my Lord from me

The most precious treasure is God's son

The best gift I can give anyone

If my heart could talk it would surely sing

The praises of Lord Jesus Christ our King

If my heart could sing it would sing the song

Of how God showed me just where I belong

In His Presence

By Sr. Hope Therese

I could praise and glorify your name

No words could give you your due acclaim

I could petition for something I think is best

You know what it is I want before I request

I could give to you a prayer of thanksgiving

Poor repayment for joy I have from living

I could pray for you to intercede

You know better than I what I need

I could worship and adore you in everything

I am not worthy to honor so great a king

It feels too little to offer the life I live

God always loves everything that I have to give

Faith and trust in the Lord can be enough

If you know God will help when things get rough

Give to God every single little worry and care

You can not see the future God is already there

He understands all that you are going through

He was also a human once just like you

Sometimes best friends do not have to say a word

What is on your mind has already been heard

My favorite prayer is just to be in his company

That is always the closest thing to heaven for me