Novitiate Prayer Service

                                                              

Sr. Lois Ann (below), Postulant Director, put together a prayer service to celebrate Sr. Philomena Ann's transition to the Novitiate.  Using the theme of "journey", different footwear was used to indicate the different ways and paths one travels in life.

Reception

February 14, 2016

“I have brought you into the land of Carmel to enjoy it’s fruits and blessings”

                                                                                              Jer. 2:7

Song:  Listen in Silence

 

Opening Prayer

Dear Lord we gather here this evening to celebrate our journey.  A journey ended and a journey begun and yet part of the greater journey to the space, freedom and landscapes of Carmel.  We have all walked different paths to this place yet our feet share the space of this room and this experience.   We come open to discover how You are calling us into a new ways of walking, a new way of journeying and a new paths to follow.  Guide our steps in the days of our Novitiate so that we may learn ever more surely how to walk in Your way.

Walking the Journey: A reflection

The shoes we wear have a big effect on us.  They affect how we walk, what we do and dictate where we go.  Different shoes put us in a different frame of mind.  They may be “work” shoes that signify our powerful, competent self; a self-sufficiency that does not allow the help of others or feels the need to be “in control”.  They may be our “walking” shoes that speak of a sense of freedom, the open road.  Perhaps our old slippers, that allow us to relax, get comfy and let our guard down.  God called Moses to take off his shoes for he stood on “holy ground”.  He stood unshod, open and vulnerable before His God.  Jesus took off the sandals of his disciples and washed their feet; the dust, a reminder of where they had been.  God calls us to be bare footed in His Presence.  He wants to help wash the dust off our feet and our old ways of thinking so that the dirt of the past may not prevent us seeing the light and promise of the future. 

Together we walk bare footed into that future recognizing that we stand on holy ground and in the presence of a God who calls us like Moses to stand before the burning bush of His Divine love.  We learn courage to walk in the steps of our Teacher and to begin a new journey, a journey of love.

 

St. Therese had a profound insight into her life journey being one of love in the heart of the Church.  Here is how she describes discovering her vocation to love:

  

“Charity gave me the key to my vocation.  I understood that the Church being a body composed of different members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has a heart and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone that makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood.  I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal!”                                                                                                     Story of a Soul                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Prayer of St. Therese (alternate sides)

(R)     Lord, give me the open heart of a child.

          Let me come trustingly to You,

          not afraid to ask for your love.

(L)     Deliver me from the belief

          that I am self-sufficient.

          Show me the need of You.

(R)     Give me the grace to reach out to You.

          Lord give me a child’s simplicity

          and sense of wonder.

(L)     May my enthusiasm for You never dim.

          Let me hasten to converse with You

          in the intimacy of prayer.

(R)     Give me discernment to realize

          that there is no detail of my life

          too tiny for Your concern.

(L)     Help me to perceive your glory

          in the helplessness of the cross

          Son of God, who for my sake,

          Took on the dependency of childhood,

          Help me to accept the readiness of the Father’s grace.

Intercessions feel free to share your petitions

 

Final prayer

Lord, I believe that you are calling me to come and follow You.  Be with me during my Novitiate experience.  You will be my Protector, Guide and Companion.  Help me not be afraid to acknowledge and use the gifts you have given me in loving service of my Sisters.  Let my Novitiate be a school of love where I learn as did St. Therese that love is at the heart of every vocation.  May I walk into the future filled with daring and zeal, strengthened by the knowledge that You are with me.  Amen.   

Meet our New Novice!

                                         Sister Philomena Anne of Divine Mercy, O.Carm.

On February 14, 2016 at 9:30 am, on the First Sunday of Lent, the Carmelite Sisters received a new novice, Sr. Mary Philomena Anne of Divine Mercy, O.Carm.  The Reception Ceremony was held in private at St. Teresa’s Chapel located at St. Teresa’s Motherhouse in Germantown, New York.  Father Paul Denault, O.Carm. was the celebrant.  The Reception Ceremony is held after the Postulant completes her eight months of living the life of the Congregation.  She is then received into the Congregation as a Novice and given the Carmelite habit, her religious name and the Rule and Constitutions of the Congregation.

We join Sr. Philomena Anne in this happy occasion and pray that her journey in Carmel will be blessed and bear abundant fruits for the glory of God!

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Celebrating with Sr. Philomena Anne

Sr. Lois, Sr. Mary, Sr. Helena, with our novices Sr. Philomena Anne and Sr. Pia, spent an hour of recreation to celebrate Sr. Philomena's entrance into the novitiate. Sr. Lois prepared a beautiful prayer service (to follow soon) symbolizing the journeys of life. Meanwhile, the "party" continued with well-wishes, gifts, cakes and ice cream.

Human Sexuality Workshop

A Religious Formation workshop entitled "Healthy Sexual Integration in Religious Life" was held at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC on January 29-30, 2016.  The presenters were Fr. Quinn Conners, O.Carm and Dr. Kathy Galleher.  Both presenters are psychologists who have worked at the St. Luke Institute (a psychological treatment center for men and women religious)  and have been co-presenting this workshop to various inter-community novitiates for more than 10 years.  This two day workshop focused on sexual integration in consecrated life for men and women preparing for religious life. It approached sexuality from a holistic psychological perspective and stressed the importance of self-awareness, self-acceptance, integration, and integrity for healthy life-giving celibacy. The workshop  included sections on  psychosexual integration, , human development, and healthy relationship skills and boundaries.  Practical skills for dealing with loneliness, desire, and attractions as well as for deepening relationships inside and outside community were presented.  The workshop had educational, self reflection, and discussion components.

Our novice Sr. Pia Ignatius along with her director, Sr. Helena of Mary and Sr. Mary Vianney, O.Carm, participated with the Carmelite novices of the Saint Elias and Most Pure Heart of Mary Provinces.  There were also novices from the Congregation of the Marian Helpers, the Pallotines, along with their Formators.  On Sunday, January 31st, we visited and toured  the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  It was an opportunity we could not miss and were thankful for!

Visit our website for more photos @carmelitesisters.com

New Novice!

On February 14, 2016, our Postulant Sr. Melissa Schill (above) will receive the Carmelite habit and her religious name: Sister M. Philomena Anne of Divine Mercy, O.Carm.
Congratulations, Sr. Melissa! May you have many more happy and blessed years in Carmel. 

A SISTER'S PAGE: On the Road with Vocation!

SR. M. SEAN DAMIEN, O.CARM.

 

BY Sister M. Sean Damien, O.Carm.
 
Father Christopher J. Waitekus  (Father CJ), the pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Lenox, MA, St. Patrick’s Parish in West Stockbridge, MA and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Lenox Dale, MA wanted to make his parishioners more aware of the various Religious Congregations in the Church in celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life.  Father has been having a member of a different congregation speak at the Masses the first weekend of each month.  I was privileged to have been invited by Father CJ to speak the first weekend of May about the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged & Infirm.  Father asked that I address the history and charism of the Congregation as well as my own vocation story.  Since I’d been to St. Ann’s on a few occasions I knew it was a very welcoming community making it easy to say yes to Father.  Father says five Masses each weekend; 3 at St. Ann’s; one each at the other two churches.  I spoke at four of the Masses.  There was a First Communion at the Mass at St. Vincent de Paul.  Father and I agreed the focus should be on that. 

The people were as welcoming as always and a great many thanked me after Mass for sharing our story and my story.  I was able to attend a “Coffee Hour” between the two Sunday Masses and visit with the parishioners.  They were very interested in what I had shared and in learning more about us.  Most people I spoke with thanked us for our service to the Church and as so often happens, commented on how nice it was to see a Sister in a habit.  Masses were well attended and it was particularly nice to see so many families worshipping together.  I spoke at a 4 PM Mass at St. Ann’s followed by a 5:30 PM at St. Vincent de Paul’s on Saturday and then a 9:45 AM and 11:15 AM at St. Ann’s on Sunday.  It was a pleasure and a privilege to share with this faith filled people the story of our Congregation.  I brought with me many of the printed materials we have about the Congregation as well as vocation materials.  Perhaps a seed will be planted in the mind of some young woman and we will see our first vocation from Mount Carmel Care Center at some time in the future!

A Carmelite Event

Sr. Pia Ignatius and Sr. Mary Therese with Carmelite Friars

On October 15th, Sr. Pia Ignatius and Sr. Mary Therese, attended the close of St. Teresa of Avila's 5th centenary year of birth. Mass was celebrated at Whitefriars Hall Church in Dublin, Ireland. Celebrant was Most Rev. Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. This Carmelite Church is home to the relics of St. Valentine.

Celebrating the Feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

SR. MELISSA WITH ST. THERESE

SISTERS AT ST. PATRICK'S MANOR CELEBRATE ST. THERESE

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY LIFE

Visiting Our Lady of the Martyrs, Auriesville, NY

Sr. Pia Ignatius, Sr. Julie Michael and Sr. Melissa joined the Sisters on Renewal for a day's outing to Auriesville, NY to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs.  They also participated in a telethon held to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of the Shrine.  These photos show the Sisters being interviewed at the telethon, posing with the statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola, posing with a young man healed of flesh eating disease at young age through the  intercession of St Kateri Tekakwitha and just enjoying a beautiful day!

Surprise Visit- What a Surprise!

Sr. Pia Ignatius received a surprise visit from her brother Paul and his wife Sejin this morning. Along with their visit were two surprise visitors- their dogs Maggie and Cookie! Sr. Pia took her guests to the Mother Angeline Heritage Center and introduced them to Mother Angeline.

COOKIE FINDS A TRUSTED FRIEND

THAT'S ONE HAPPY DOG!

MAGGIE, SR. PIA, COOKIE & "MOTHER ANGELINE"