Why a Carmelite Sister?

I’d like to start by asking each of us a question. “What possessed you (and me) to become a Carmelite Sister for the Aged and Infirm?” This is a valid question and one that we may have asked ourselves a hundred times during the last however many years we have been in Religious Life. But what possessed us to enter Carmel? At some point each one of us must have felt that what we were doing was not enough, or perhaps how we were doing it. The God who called us brought us on an inner journey, made on behalf of the world – the Church. That unsatisfiable part of ourselves is what drives each one of us on. It is used to its full by the advertising industry – the constant need for bigger and better is in every heart, but for us, this is a longing which only God and God’s love can fill, because it is infinite. In the words of St. Paul: “Because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord I count everything else as loss. For him I have accepted the loss of everything and look on them all as nothing if only I can gain Christ….” This is what spurred us to prayer and what ultimately drew us to give up everything else and dedicate ourselves to our particular vocation as Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. Only Faith can make sense of this way of life. Like the crucifixion, the way of life of a Carmelite Sister is a “Stumbling block to the Jews and madness to the Greeks.” Yet only by giving His life, could Jesus influence the whole world through his Spirit; his teachings and healings were not enough. As it is with us, we gave our whole life to ministry in Carmel. We know that it is impossible to change anything by ourselves, but that is where we do well to recall the words of Jesus in the Gospel, “Remain in my love”. Only by remaining in Christ, by allowing His power to work through us, only insofar as our prayer is joined to the prayer of Christ can it bear fruit. Perhaps it is not so much “What possessed us?”, but rather “Who possessed us?” – God our Father who gave us the gift of our vocation, Jesus Christ who journeys with us each day, The Holy Spirit who leads us into unknown and challenging paths. May that Triune God fill us all today and lead us forward into a future full of hope. Another question: Who inspired us to be Carmelite Sisters? Was it perhaps some Sister we met who invited us to “come and see?” Well, we did come and we saw – their love, their joy, their enthusiasm for ministry, and their love of Mary. And one final question: Do I inspire, and do I invite young women to “come and see?” Will they see in me that joy, enthusiasm and the love for my community that I saw in the Sisters who inspired me; and if not – why?

Sr. Ann McCartney, O.Carm

THE LIFE OF "ALBERT" THE ALOE PLANT

By Sister Hope Therese, O.Carm.

  

Greetings!  Please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Albert.  I am Sister Hope’s Aloe plant.  She named me after the Saint who wrote the Carmelite Rule.  I have been with Sister Hope since the first time her family came to visit her as postulant on her mission experience at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham, MA.  Sr. Hope and I have both grown very much since then. 

When Sr. Hope was transplanted from St. Patrick’s Manor to Avila to become a novice, she had to transplant me into a bigger pot shortly thereafter.  I have seen her through laughter, tears, joy and fears.  I bring a little bit of home to the farm girl who is used to taking care of living things.  She has been very busy lately so I offered to write this post for her.  I have a few points to make to you humans, and I don’t mean the ones on my branches.  There is so much you can learn from the natural world if only you would listen and observe.  My first point is on silence.  Animals have their own ways of communicating but they do not have the frequent, often useless, and idle chatter that humans do.  If plants and animals can give glory to God in their silence so can humans.  I give glory to God the only way I can- by taking in the sunlight and water that he and Sr. Hope generously provide for me, and showing off my beautiful vibrant greenness that he created.  God made every living thing special and unique.  Don’t forget to give glory to God by just being you. 

My second point is on unconditional love.  Plants and animals do not care who you are or what you’ve done.  If you are good to them they will love you just the same.  Humans have complicated relationships and they are awful at judging.  Try to take the objective view of the natural world and you will find loving and forgiving much easier.  

My third point is don’t worry and be happy now. Plants and animals never worry about the future, what will happen, or how they will be taken care of.  They may have an understanding and trust of God’s Providence that many humans do not.  Jesus said that the birds don’t worry, so why should people if God loves them even more?  Although animals can suffer, for the most part the natural world has peace and contentment.  Plants and animals automatically accept things the way they are and it never occurs to them to want anything different.  People often set times in the future when they will be happy; if they keep setting these times they never will be.  They’ll be happy when they get a promotion, fall in love, get a new car, or any other thing.   Don’t wait to be happy!  God wants you to be where you are at in your life right now for a reason.  So be happy now and know that God’s plan is always at work. 

When everything around you seems to be dying know that you will soon see the green growth of spring after the winter in your life.  There is beauty in all of the seasons of your life.  Don’t forget to be optimistic.  When I look out of Sr. Hope’s window I can choose to look at the dumpster or the beautiful Hudson River.  God brings good out of every situation even if we can’t see it at the time.  I am continuing to grow and so is Sr. Hope as she matures in her spiritual life and gets a clearer picture of God’s plan for her. So my last bit of advice to you all is to never stop growing until you die.  There are always ways to get closer to God if you only listen and observe.  

We Are Getting Ready!

With just three days away, we are getting ready for the great celebration of Easter!

Sister Hope Therese cleaning the "chalice" centerpieces for Holy Thursday Meal

Sister Luke Mary setting up the Repository for Holy Thursday 

Sister Maureen Paul getting that pantry ready!

Getting those Easter eggs ready!

Sister Mary Catherine applying the finishing touch!

Palm Sunday

Chapel before Mass

Novices listening to Gospel reading before procession

Sister Maureen Paul First Reading

Sister Luke Mary as assistant- sacristan

MOVING FORWARD IN HOPE: A VOCATION WORKSHOP

This Year of Faith and New Evangelization proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is an appropriate time to think of and talk about vocation to Religious Life.  As the Universal Church enters further into the invitation of inner conversion by its members and of sharing the fruits derived from this experience to others, Religious Life is in the same way confronted by the invitation to self-examination, conversion and transformation, aimed at meeting the changing needs of the times.  In 2009, the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) sponsored an in depth study of the current state of Religious Life in the United States.  The study yielded statistical information which became known as the CARA (Center for Applied Research in Apostolate) Study. FULL ARTICLE

Remembering Our Foundress

January 21, 2013 is Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa's 29th anniversary of death.  What is it about our Foundress we admire?  Our Sisters in Formation share their thoughts on the woman they call "Mother Angeline Teresa."

SISTERS IN FORMATION

   (L-R) Sr. Mary Josephine, Sr. Luke Mary, Sr. Hope Therese, Sr. Katherine Theresa,
                                                  Sr. Maureen Paul & Sr. Mary Catherine

Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm.

Novice

 "One characteristic of Mother Angeline that I especially admire was her courage.  She left the security and happiness with the Little Sisters of the Poor because she felt called to serve the elderly in a different way.  She did not know if her new Community 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 one gets through them, it leads to greater affirmation of God’s will.  To get through hard times and persevere in God’s plan, one needs courage.  I am amazed by Mother Angeline’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 despite setbacks.  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."

 Sr. Mary Josephine Crowe, O.Carm

Temporary Vow Sister

 "Mother Angeline’s love of family draws me very much to her.  In caring for her residents, her emphasis was to provide a genuinely home-like environment.  She also encouraged family members to come into the Home often to visit and to be with and care for their father, mother, aunt, sister or brother.  She emphasized the importance of residents going out to visit their families, to go on vacation, to go to the theater with family and friends.  She saw the importance of family members joining the residents for Sunday Mass and having a cup of tea or coffee afterwards.  She saw the importance of decorating the residents’ rooms with their own belongings and memorabilia.  Mother Angeline also emphasized the importance of the Sisters’ families.   We also have our own families and I have been told that Mother used to say that you can’t care for other people’s families if you have not cared for your own.  I remember visiting one of Mother Angeline’s Homes before I entered.  The Sisters were chatting over lunch about who had joined them for the Easter celebrations and dinner afterwards.  One Sister had her mother and brother come a long distance to visit.  Another Sister had her mother who was a resident in the Home also join them. Coming through the convent the following morning, I met the one Sister who was on her day-off and was ironing her mother’s clothes.  It seemed so normal.  There was an atmosphere of family in the convent and in the Home."

Sr. Luke Mary Angeline, O.Carm

Novice

 "Mother Angeline’s faith was extraordinary. Faith is supernatural because we cannot by ourselves acquire it. It is a free gift of God. It is however, increased by prayer and continual exercise. Our faith must be firm and complete; that is, both certain and all-encompassing. Mother Angeline’s accomplishments proved that she was not only a woman of faith but also a woman of prayer. Without her faith and prayers, our Congregation, would not have been founded."

Sr. Mary Catherine, O.Carm.

Novice

 "Mother Angeline Teresa was a unique woman who followed the path, or shall we say, the road less traveled.  Her faithfulness to God the Father, following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, led her to establish a new road in the service of her Spouse and Love, Jesus.  May I also be so faithful on the road less traveled."

Sr. Maureen Paul Angeline, O.Carm.

Novice

 "When I first began to learn about Mother Angeline’s life, I remember thinking, “Now this is a person who is authentic in her relationship with God.”  With a single-mindedness found only in saints, she joined the Little Sisters of the Poor at the tender age of 20.  She was sent away to France as a Postulant, made her First Vows at age 22, and was sent to America to begin her ministry to the Elderly.  Ten years later she made Final Vows in France and was again reassigned to America.  Only four years after that, she took a huge step in faith and left her beloved Little Sisters of the Poor, in order to fulfill her vocation to serving the elderly in America in a new and unprecedented way.  She took into consideration the American culture and traditions and to provide care for the middle class elderly in a comfortable home-like environment.    This part of her life-story shows clearly the extent to which she gave of herself, not seeking to satisfy her own wants and needs, but in trust and humility abandoned herself entirely to do God’s will.  This complete lack of duplicity, her great courage, and total trust in Divine Providence are what inspired me to leave the comfort and security of the life that I had worked so hard to build up around myself.  I often turn to her prayerfully for guidance and assistance as I am formed and transformed in my life as Novice.  Mother Angeline listened to God’s voice with her heart and yielded to His will entirely and unselfishly.  I pray for the grace to follow her example.  Mother Angeline said, “It is not a way of life for the weak or ambitious.”          

 

 

A MEDITATION ON CHRISTMAS JOY

by Sr. Maureen Paul Angeline, O.Carm

 The idea that a virgin gives birth is “absurd.”  Even more absurd is the thought that a mere mortal could give birth to God. God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is, was, and ever will be, chose a specific time and place in human history to become one of his own creatures... Absurdity upon absurdity! 

These were my thought as I worked through my Advent meditations.  What do I really believe and why do I believe it?  Faith truly is a mystery and a gift.  I believe that there is a God because the world around me is too beautiful.  It is too well-ordered in all its complexities to be anything other than the creation of a great mind and power. It is far greater than that of human beings.  But what about the goodness of the God who created all of this?  What about all of the pains and sufferings of life?  What about innocent children being gunned down in their school?  What about the losses and the evil in the world?  How could God who is infinitely good allow them?  

The limits of my human mind prevent me from understanding.  And so, unable to comprehend, I turn my mind to the Incarnation:

"And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory; the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love.  Of his fullness we have all had a share - love following upon love."  Jn1:14 and 16 (NAB)

The ancient Israelites expected the messiah to come mounted on a steed, charging into battle, a powerful, fierce figure wielding the sword, dispensing justice, uniting the tribes of Israel, and ruling the whole world with invincible might and unending glory.  Instead he came as a little baby boy, a helpless, vulnerable, fully human baby.  The word "absurd" again came to mind. "Could it be that the infinitely good and all-powerful God, the Mastermind of all creation, knows more than I do?"  Of course He does!  My lack of understanding does not matter.  He chose to become human as a baby.  How delicately and gently He made His dwelling among us!  And He came "filled with an enduring love."  He loved completely, perfectly, steadfastly in all respects even to the point of suffering and dying for us.  The bitter sting of the finality of death was replaced by the sweetness of hope - hope in eternal life, in love and in salvation.

How absurd that I would question Him about anything, or set myself up as His judge to say whether He is good or not!  Life is a great gift and not one that is earned or merited in any way.  What great joy I then experienced as I relinquished my irrational desire to rationalize God.  Joy in His birth, joy in His life, and joy even in His death, because it was followed by His resurrection. To surrender to His will, accept life as the great gift that it is, and to love and live fully as He did, and as He created me to be- that is pure Joy.  I know from my own experience that the more I surrendered to His will in all things, from the biggest life decisions, to the smallest moment to moment choices- the fuller, richer, and more joy-filled my life is.  God is good!  I pray that you too may have a joyful spirit and may come to know "love following upon love."

VISITING NATIVITY SCENES

The Formation team and  four novices visited Hyde Park, New York on December 23rd for this year's display of nativity scenes from all over the world.  The location is called Mariapolis Illuminosa of the Focolare Movement.  The interesting  scenes of the birth of Christ depicted in different cultures certainly capture this one moment in history- a Child was born, not just to a particular race and nation, but as Savior of the world.

 

Sr. Luke points to a nativity scene painted on a framed leaf from India

Sr. Maureen Paul with Mexican display

NOVITIATE CHRISTMAS CHEER

The Novices are geared up to celebrate the coming of Jesus on Christmas day!  Whether it be putting up Christmas decorations around the novitiate wing, or baking cookies to give as gifts to special recipients, the spirit of the Season is definitely in full swing with just five days to go before Christmas!  Merry Christmas to one and all!

MY FAVORITE VIRTUE

by Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm

My favorite virtue is HOPE.  It has literally been with me my whole life.  In order to explain just how important the virtue of hope is to me, I will need to give a little of my background.  I was born and baptized Dianna Hope Maring.  My parents had hoped they would have another child.  Little did my parents know just how much I would need that virtue.  From the time I was born I have had various medical issues.  My family and I hoped and prayed that everything would turn out fine.  Through the grace of God all of these issues have been resolved.  In college, I had to do fieldwork placements to become an occupational therapist assistant.  I thought I wanted to work with children because I had occupational therapy as a child.  Playing with children is fun.  Working with them is difficult and complicated.  The children had Individualized Education Plans that I did not find holistic or realistic.  I dropped out of one fieldwork placement with children and failed another.  Clearly God was telling me to go in another direction.  I was despairing over what to do with my life.  I could not figure out God’s plan for me.  With a heavy heart and lack of confidence, I decided to do two more fieldwork placements.  Both of them were in nursing homes.  One was with a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant).  The other was with an activity director.  My favorite was with the activity director.  I did very well in both of these placements.