Displaying items by tag: carmelite nuns america
Carmelite Order Celebrates Day of the Cloistered Nuns
Carmelite Order Celebrates Day of the Cloistered Nuns, Pro orantibus. Prior General Sends Letter
In recognition of Pro orantibus, the day the Church dedicated to contemplative nuns, Fr. Míceál O’Neill, the prior general of the Carmelite Order, wrote to the monasteries of the Order. The letter focuses on 2024 being the Year of Prayer, as announced by Pope Francis at the beginning of the year. The prior general connects this year of prayer to the Carmelite charism, writing to those “who incarnate the Carmelite charism to think about our vocation to pray, to pray more intensely ourselves and to help other to pray.”
Reflecting on the Gospel read in the celebrations of both St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Francis of Assisi, he finds that God reveals “truths to children like us” in prayer. “Prayer is a communication between persons divine and human who are united in love.” The great Carmelite nun, St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, teaches us about the moment after Holy Communion when she began to think about the Gospel she had heard in the Eucharist. “There was no better place for her to be at the moment.”
Fr. Míceál also explores the Order’s tradition of prayer and contemplation as recorded in the Order’s Constitutions for the nuns. He points out that the revision of those for the men in 2019 focused the most attention on contemplation. Recalling that the nuns are well into the process revising their own Constitutions, he points out that proposed revisions clearly recognize the gift of contemplation is the nuns’ “charism and calling in a way that allows you to live out that vocation yourselves and explain it to the Church of today and to those who will approach you in the future …”
The prior general notes that liturgical prayer “is the privileged place desired by Christ for our encounter with him.” He senses movement in the Order today “to recover and enhance our rich liturgical tradition.” He highlights a recent publication and the scheduled Liturgical Congress in May. He asks that the liturgies celebrated during the Jubilee Year “contribute to … enlightenment and moving us to seek reconciliation in families, in the Church, in communities.”
Finally, Fr. Míceál speaks of prayer as “discernment, discernment alone in the cell, nourished and completed by discernment in the community and vice versa.” He writes that “a community that comes together to pray and engage in communal discernment is a community that is capable of growing in maturity and responding each day, more fully, to the call to holiness which is union with God.” He concludes “union with God does not exist without union with neighbor, union with our families, union with our religious community.”
He concludes wishing that this day of Pro orantibus be an experience of joy for the sisters and a moment of renewal of love for prayer in their lives.
Wahpeton Carmelite Nuns and Friends Celebrate 70 Years
On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the community of Carmelite nuns in Wahpeton, North Dakota and their friends and benefactors gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of their Carmel of Mary monastery. The actual date of the foundation is November 1—the Feast of All Saints. Among those attending were a number of Lay Carmelites as well as school children who lectured, sang, and served at the altar.
The celebration took place at St. John’s Church in Wahpeton with Bishop John T. Folda of the Diocese of Fargo celebrating. The church was full with over 150 adults and 80 students from the parish school attending. Cake and ice cream were served afterwards. During the reception, the sisters sang a newly composed hymn for their 70th anniversary invoking Mary as the Flower of Carmel, Sweet Prairie Rose, Resplendent Virgin and Hope of All Carmelites.
In his homily, Bishop Folda spoke about the original 7 founding sisters—courageous pioneers he called them—and their willingness to leave their monastery in Allentown, Pennsylvania to start something new in the wilds of North Dakota. He also spoke of the many blessings the diocese and State of North Dakota have received through the prayers of the sisters. He said, “The sisters pray not only for us but with us, lifting our needs to God.”
He also spoke about the community, “continually living a life of prayer and intercessions, being a sign of God’s presence among us, because they live in the presence of God, and inspire others to do so.” He expressed great gratitude for the presence of the Carmelites in the diocese.
In 1953, Archbishop (later Cardinal) Aloisius Muench and Bishop Leo Dworschak, the auxiliary bishop, desired to have a special tribute to Our Blessed Mother for the forthcoming Marian Year of 1954. The answer came "out of the blue!”
Patrick Flood, a professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, knew that the Carmelite Nuns in Allentown, Pennsylvania were searching for a suitable place to make a new foundation. He received an appeal for the Indian Missions in North Dakota and decided to pursue the possibility.
Flood wrote to the bishops and asked if they would be interested in having a Carmelite Monastery in their diocese. With great delight they saw God's providential answer to their desire for a fitting tribute to Our Lady. A flurry of communications went between the bishops and the Carmelite superiors in Allentown. Permission for the foundation were granted by the Holy See at the canonization of Pope Pius X in May 1954.
On October 31, 1954, seven nuns, with Mother Mary Rose as prioress, set out for North Dakota. On November 1, Bishop Dworschak offered the first Mass for the Community in the old St. Francis Hospital owned by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN. The Carmel of Mary was founded in Mary’s honor in her Marian Year.
The bishops also desired to have a public Marian shrine on the grounds in front of the monastery. Pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Prairies began in 1957 and have continued every August since then.
As candidates arrived, we outgrew the temporary monastery. Construction of the new monastery begin on land 6.5 miles (10.46 km) northwest of Wahpeton. The nuns moved in on October 24, 1964.
As part of the anniversary year celebrations although not driven by the anniversary, the nuns are building an infirmary wing so that the other sisters can be taken care of at home. Sr. Madonna said, “We had need for an infirmary wing in mind before the anniversary celebration but the two events coincided perfectly.”
Closing out the celebration, the prioress, Mother Madonna of the Assumption Morales, wrote, “We are so deeply grateful to all our friends and benefactors who have "journeyed" with us by your bountiful support in every possible way. God bless you, each and everyone! You are daily in our grateful prayers.”
Guests received a poppyseed loaf cake and biscotti baked with love the Carmelite Hermits in Christoval, Texas and tied with a gold bow. They also received a Carmel of Mary booklet and the children received a little nun carved out of wood.
(Pictures courtesy of the Carmel of Mary Carmelite Monastery and William J. Harry, O. Carm.)
General Chapter of Carmelite Sisters Held in Caracas
General Chapter of the Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria Held in Caracas
From August 30 to September 6, 2024, the Congregation of the 'Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria' celebrated their XVII General Chapter. “Walking Together in Communion, Participation and Mission” was chosen as the theme of the gathering.
The General Chapter was held at the generalate in Caracas-DC, Venezuela, with the participation of 31 sisters from the congregation’s communities in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil.
After a previous week of spiritual exercises, the chapter days were taken up with reflection on the experience of religious consecration in the institute. An agreement was arrived at on the courses of action to be taken in order to promote fraternal communion, and the spiritual and apostolic vitality of the congregation.
The Carmelite Family will celebrate 100 years of the congregation’s aggregation to the Carmelite Order on March 25, 2025.
The XVII General Chapter also elected the sisters who will form the general government of the congregation during the sexennium 2024-2030:
General Superior | Superiora General | Superiore generale:
Sr. M. Luisa América Córdova Cova
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr. Carmen Moreno García
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr. Ana María Montilla
3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr. Yaritza Jackeline Rujano Durán
4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr. Yusmilat Emenencio
Carmelites Return to the Foundress’ Hometown
Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm Return to the Foundress’ Hometown in Scotland
Six Carmelite Sisters and Father Mario Esposito, O. Carm., the vice-postulator for the Cause of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, traveled to Mossend, Scotland to attend an unveiling of the Venerable's statue. The event was hosted by the Holy Family Parish in Mossend, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, the home parish of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa.
Although Mother Angeline was born in Northern Ireland in 1893, her family immigrated to Carfin, Scotland when she was seven years old. She became a Little Sister of the Poor, caring for the aged poor. After profession, she was sent to the United States of America and soon began adopting a more American way of serving the elderly of various backgrounds. With the blessing of the Cardinal Archbishop of New York, Mother Angeline and six other sisters withdrew from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor and on September 3, 1929, began a new Congregation. Two years later the new Congregation became affiliated with the Carmelite Order and became known as “Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm.” Her work for the Church was recognized by Pope John XXII when she received the Pro Ecclesiae Award and the Benemerenti Award by Pope Paul VI. Mother Angeline died in January 1984.
Unfortunately, the statue was delayed in customs and the other planned ceremonies went ahead as planned. These included celebrating Mass at the Venerable’s home parish of Holy Family with the local bishop, Joseph Toal as celebrant, a visit the house where Venerable Mother Angeline lived, and to explore the areas— “to walk in the footsteps of their Foundress”— is a quote from the Congregation’s homepage, proclaiming the days in Scotland were “a great grace and gift to the Congregation.”
The celebration of the Mass on June 23 was a gathering of many. Besides Bishop Toal and the sisters from the USA including Mother General Mary Rose Heery, members of the Mother Angeline Society Pilgrims came from Ireland, and relatives of the Venerable.
The sister humorously expressed the hope that “there might just be another opportunity in the future to visit Mossend again and to see that much awaited statue!
Today the sisters have 18 residences in the United States and Ireland. There are 122 professed sisters. The headquarters is in Germantown, New York.
You Tube Interview with the Carmelites who traveled to Ven. Mother Angeline’s hometown (Sancta Familia Media).
Story of Mother Angeline (EWTN).
Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite Nuns Held in Mayagüez
Sor Lourdes María de Jesús Crucificado Avilés Calderón, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sor María de la Trinidad Rodríguez Barbosa, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sor. María Antonia de Jesús Sacramentado Acevedo Lorenzo, O.Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa
Sor María de la Trinidad Rodríguez Barbosa, O.Carm.
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice
Sor María Damaris de Jesús Sacramentado y del Niño Jesús Acevedo López, O. Carm.
Sacristan | Sacristana | Sacrestana
Sor Ivette deal Carmen Mediaville Maldonado, O. Carm.
Message for the World Day of Cloistered Life
Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm., the prior general, has sent a letter to each enclosed Carmelite monastery in the world on the occasion of the Church’s celebration of World Day of Cloistered Life or Pro Orantibus Day (For Those Who Pray).
In the letter, dated November 18, 2022, the prior general says:
“By your dedication to God, you adorn and strengthen the Carmelite Order throughout the world and you offer to the Carmelite family, amid the many gifts that express Carmel’s love for silence and solitude, the example of cloistered life, as a way of making space for God in our lives and deepening our love for God.” He then reflects on family life today and calls on their communities to become one that “stands before God and finds its dignity in responding everyday not with marvels beyond us, but with the simple knowledge that God is love and in him we find love.”
This annual celebration on November 21 is connected to the Feast of the Presentation of Mary. The day is intended to support—both spiritually and materially—the gift of the cloistered and monastic life. Pope Francis has spoken of the day as “an opportune occasion to thank the Lord for the gift of so many people who, in monasteries and hermitages, dedicate themselves to God in prayer and in silent work.
In 1953 Pius XII first introduced the idea of the Church reflecting on those who have answered the vocation to cloistered life. It is celebrated locally in the monasteries of men and women. In 2018, Pope Francis held a convention organized by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life at the Pontifical Lateran University. Entitled “Deepening Vultum Dei Quaerere and Cor Orans,” the gathering of 300 cloistered women, studied the two relatively recent Church documents. Vultum Dei Quaerere, was written by Pope Francis and issued on June 29, 2016. The implementing instruction, entitled Cor Orans, was written by the Vatican Dicastery for Consecrated Life and issued on April 1, 2018.
These two documents introduce new aspects for the living out of this state of life in the Church. They also emphasize the importance of this vocation for the Church and the world. Pope Francis reminded contemplatives in Vultum Dei Quaerere that they intercede for the world like Moses. “Now, as then,” the Pope wrote, “we can conclude that the fate of humanity is decided by the prayerful hearts and uplifted hands of contemplative women." He has also said that those who devote the whole of their lives to the contemplation of God “are a living sign and witness of the fidelity with which God, amid the events of history, continues to sustain His people.”
Read the Letter pdf here (136 KB)
Venezuela
Monjas Carmelitas
Monasterio de la Anunciación
Apartado 71
PORLAMAR (Nueva Esparta)
Venezuela
Tel. (+58) 295-2871225
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Santa María Del Monte Carmelo
La Acequia Sector Caño Grande
Barinas
VENEZUELA
Tel. (+58) 273-5143240
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República Dominicana
Monasterio María Madre de la Iglesia
Monjas Carmelitas
Apartado 86
LA VEGA
República Dominicana
Tel. (+1) 809-5732406
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Monasterio Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús,
La Bombita, Sección del Higüerito,
Azua de Compostela,
REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
Cell. (+829) 659 8528
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Monasterio Sta. Teresa de Jesús
Apartado 30438
SANTO DOMINGO
Republica Dominicana
Tel. (+1 ) 809-5302786
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Monasterio Carmelita
N.S. de America y San José
(Los Pinos, Cacique, MONCIÓN)
Apartado Postal 02
Mao-Valverde
República Dominicana
Tel. (+1) 829-344-0250/ 795-1620
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Madres Carmelitas
Monasterio Ntra. Sra. del Carmen
Apartado Postal 196
Carr. Duarte, km. 4,5
SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS
República Dominicana
Tel. (+1) 809-5824339
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Puerto Rico
Monasterio Carmelita San José
P.O. Box 568
TRUJILLO ALTO P.R. 00977-0568
Porto Rico
Tel. (+1787) 761-9548/903-8282
cel. (787) 299-8584
Postal Additional Address:
Monasterio Carmelita de San Jose
RR - 2 - Box 135, SAN JUAN
Puerto Rico 00926-9707
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website: www.carmelitas.org
Monasterio Sta. María del Monte Carmelo
745 Carretera 349
MAYAGÜEZ P.R. 00680-8323
Puerto Rico
Tel. (+1787) 834-6789
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