Vocation Event at the Church of Transfiguation

 On March 21, 2026, Sister Helena, Sister Michelle Elizabeth and Sister Mary Brigid were invited to participate in a Vocation Awareness Day hosted by the Carmelite friars of the Church of Transfiguration in Tarrytown, NY.  It was attended by the 6th, 7th and 8th graders of that school. Father Francis Amodio, O.Carm. of the Saint Elias Province, along with Aura Zelaya, Religious  Education Assistant, invited panelists representing the Friars (Fr. Nicholas Blackwell), Carmelite Sisters (Sr. Helena/Sr. Michelle), Carmelite Brother (Bro. Schafer Knostman) and a third order member. There was a sharing a of our vocation stories and a Q&A. The students displayed and explained projects they had on the Sacraments with creativity and due diligence. The presentation was followed by pizza and taco lunch. The Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament by Fr. Stephen Huy Tran, O.Carm.,  Parochial Vicar of Transfiguration Church, with short Adoration time, followed. We were able to leave vocation materials at the church's vestibule and network with the religious education teachers who plan to do this again next year.

Multiple Vocation Events

 by Sister Helena of Mary, O.Carm.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS, HUDSON, NY

On April 21, 2024, Sister Helena and Sister Mary visited Saint Mary-Holy Trinity Church in Hudson, NY to participate in the parish celebration of World Day of Prayer for Vocations and Good Shepherd Sunday.  We attended the 4:00pm Saturday Vigil Mass and the 9:00 am Sunday Mass. We had visitors at our table and many were very appreciative of the Sisters being there. We thank Very Reverend Anthony Barratt, E.V, Pastor of Saint Mary's for the opportunity to visit and witness to religious life and for his introduction and positive recommendations,  and to thank him for the wonderful invitation to an enjoyable coffee/tea and pastry at the rectory!

by Sister Lois Ann, O.Carm.

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS, STATEN ISLAND, NY 

Sr. Mary Anne, Sr. Lois and Sr. Sharon attended the monthly Holy Hour for vocations at St. Joseph and St. Mary Immaculate parish in Staten Island.  It was a beautiful evening filled with sacred reflections, worship music, Eucharistic Adoration and a procession of the Eucharist throughout the church.  Attendees were invited to light a candle for their intentions and place it along the communion rail.  The evening Holy Hour concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  There were over one hundred who attended.

 By Sister Mary O'Donovan, O.Carm.

FAMILY LIFE CONFERENCE, TARRYTOWN, NY

On April 13, Sr. Lois, Sr. Mary Anne and Sr. Mary  attended the “Second Annual Bilingual Family Life Conference’ in the Carmelite Transfiguration Church, Tarrytown NY. Most Rev. Franz-Peter Tebartz van-Elst, Delegate for Catechesis and Evangelization gave an inspiring presentation.  We met various group leaders from the Manhattan Dept of Youth Faith Formation, NY Archdiocese. Also present were  our Carmelite Fathers. It was a good networking event and worth attending.

Catholic Young Adults Event, New York City

 by Sister Michelle Elizabeth, O.Carm.

Last night Sr. Sharon Rose, Sr. Dolores, and Sr. Michelle Elizabeth attended Catholic NYC’s monthly Young Adult Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The night included the opportunity for adoration and confession before the Mass, and a social event afterwards. The Sisters had the chance to pray and connect with many young adults throughout the Archdiocese during the night.

#carmelites4aged #prayforvocations #catholicnyc #catholicyoungadults

Saint Christopher Celebrates Corpus Christi

 On Sunday, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, our Formation Sisters attended the Sunday Mass followed by Eucharistic Procession at Saint Christopher's Church in Red Hook, NY. As the universal Church honors the Body and Blood of Christ in different ways of Adoration, Procession, and conferences on this great gift of the Trinity to the Church, we visited our local Church and met local parishioners. It was a great day to be visible and connect with people both young and old!

Formation Workshop

by Sr. Helena of Mary, O.Carm.

On January 26-28, 2018, Sr. Philomena, Sr. Helena and Sr. Mary, participated in a workshop sponsored by the Religious Formation Conference Region 7 members, at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappinger Falls, NY.  It was attended by those in initial formation- pre-novices, postulants and novices- with their respective directors.  There were about 30+ participants and our own Carmelite brothers with Fr. Mario were also present.  The topic was on "Addictions" presented to us by a Marist Brother Sean Sammon, FMS , a renowned speaker and author of many related books.  It was a very enriching workshop on many aspects.  Brother Sean's expertise on the subject, along with his manner of clear, engaging, and organized presentation, afforded those present with a working knowledge and insight of this most relevant and significant issue in religious formation.

Aside from the opportunity to learn, the workshop also offered an opportunity to reconnect with new attendees from different religious communities. Religious communities represented were the Congregation of Notre Dame, Sisters of Saint Joseph (Brentwood), Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet (Latham), Felician Sisters, Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Religious Sisters Filippini, Sisters of Saints Cyril & Methodius, Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny, Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, Sisters of St. Joseph (Springfield), Order of the Holy Cross, and Carmelite Friars (St. Elias Province).

On Saturday evening, a social was organized with every congregation presenting some form of entertainment ranging from the serious to the comical. The Carmelite Sisters sang in parts "Seek Ye First." Sr. Mary performed a solo Air called "I Am Ireland" on her tin whistle and Sr. Philomena volunteered to lip-sync a song "The Voice" by Celtic Women.  Everyone had a ball! 

With Carmelite Friars

Brother Sean Sammon, FMS

Intra-Formation Workshop at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center

On November 10-12, 2017, Sr. Philomena and Sr. Helena attended a two- day conference on the topic of "Family of Origins" sponsored by the Religious Formation Conference Region 2 Members.  It was held at Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappinger Falls, NY and was attended by members of different religious communities in initial Formation along with their Formators.  We were privileged to have Dr. Kevin McClone, Director of the Institute for Sexuality Studies based at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL. Dr. McClone possessed a wealth of knowledge and his gentle presentation allowed for much sharing and openness to happen.   Sr. Philomena enjoyed the company of other novices from different religious traditions and charism, and for the opportunity to socialize, and to participate in group discussions (away from their Formators!)  issues common to those who are new in religious life. 

Below are some photos taken at the event:

Father Mike, Franciscan Director of Mt. Alvernia welcomes us.

Break-Time

Mount Alvernia Retreat Center

Some of the participants

Dr. Kevin McClone

About 40 participants were present

Sr. Philomena with Carmelite Pre-Novices and Novices

Vocation Sunday

by Sr. Mary O'Donovan
Vocation Director
 

Sr. Pia Ignatius and I attended a Vocation Awareness event at St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY.  At the invitation of Br. Mike Sheerin FMS, who serves as a Campus Minister at St. John’s University.   Campus  Ministry hosts three different evenings throughout the year  highlighting Religious Priests one night, Religious Brothers another night and Religious Sisters the third night in an effort to promote vocation awareness among students on campus.

The event began with Mass in St. Thomas More, the University Church on campus. After Holy   Communion there was a vocation talk given by a postulant with the Sisters of Charity. She informed the students that we would be dining with them after Mass and available for informal conversations

The real values to this evening were the witness of consecrated life and praying at Mass with the students.