CHARIOT OF F IRE Carmelite Vocation Newsletter of the Province of St Elias

F A L L 2 0 1 0

ldquoCommunity life

lived in the spirit

of Elijah

and under the

protection of

Mary Mother of

God and our

Sister is thus the

expression and the

test of our

fraternal love

CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS

305

C A R M E L I T E l i fe in community

The children are surprised when we begin the

retreat in the Carmelite cemetery It is a

beautiful little area decorated with trees and a

dominant Celtic cross The men who lay buried

in our place are the Brothers of the Blessed

Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (our Carmelite

Priests and Brothers) who carried the torch of

their vocation to the end Their bodies lay in

the ground as the holy instruments of Godsrsquo love and as such are honored each year

The children come from parishes surrounding our beautiful Shrine in Orange County New York They are

the next generation and teaching them about the resurrection and our need for a savior is a privilege

Leading them up an incline we move toward a small shrine and altar dedicated to Our Lady of Knock It

serves as a symbol of Mary and her desire to be with us in our life long struggle to be faithful even in the

midst of chaos and persecutions of all sorts

This issue of the Chariot of Fire is dedicated to all religious men and women who have chosen a call to

follow after Jesus Christ in a religious community Community is the ultimate religious expression because

it is the place where our own will and desire has to become transformed and given over to others in charity

In our current Carmelite formation manual it states ldquoThe task of building community is a form of

asceticism which requires continuous conversion and a sense of self denial No one presumes too much of the

others while each rejoices in what the others are capable of giving (35 RIVC)rdquo

In this edition you will find many images of Carmelites in community We are blessed to have good communities of men usually of

various ages and cultures praying eating and sharing stories of life Conversation carries messages of love concern joy and pain

Sometimes it is easy and rewarding to share in community at other times we are conflicted and must break through barriers to be ldquorealrdquo

to ourselves and others

Traveling around the country gives me the chance to hear from the

next generation In our conversations the young adults tell me of a

desire to live out a call to serve God in a community instead of doing

it alone Many ask if this is the beginning of a call to religious life

My answer is yes Jesus did the same thing He gathered together a

group of disciples He lived with them and brought them in contact

with a new refreshing brilliance which he called the Kingdom of God

He called all around to share in the banquet prepared by His Father

in Heaven Is He calling you now Will you take a seat at the banquet

community

3

Formation for Community Rev Paul AM Denault OCarm

Pre Novice Director

+Maria

W e usually describe the Carme-lite charism as the interplay

of three elements prayer communal life and service to the People of God and that these elements are bound together by the experience of con-templation When you recall that the Order began more than 800 years ago with a group of hermits it might seem strange to mention community as an essential element Yet the Rule of Saint Albert which established the Carmelite Order calls on the hermits to live in a fraternal and helpful rela-tionship with each other under the general guidance of one chosen to be the Prior They were to pray together in the chapel at certain times and meet regularly to discuss their mutual welfare All goods were held in com-mon and were distributed to each hermit according to his health and needs While they lived mostly soli-tary lives they also saw themselves as members of community joined to one another

Later on when the Carmelites re-turned to Europe and embraced the mendicant way of religious life they gave even greater emphasis to being in community In keeping with the commandment to ldquolove your neighbor as yourselfrdquosup1 the friars came to see that communal living is the truest expression and test of fraternal lovesup2 By sharing life with one another they were giving witness to the deeper life of the Kingdom of God where all are

united in abiding love While the ele-ment of prayer is best expressed in silence and solitude the Carmelite life is balanced by the reaching out from oneself to life in community

Today we have many electronic ways of communicating and sharing which some like to call a social network Yet these connections cannot replace communal living The day-to-day effort to be lovingly present to one another has its own challenges and rewards The sad reality now is that many have no experience of living with others on this deep level it has to be taught in order for community to form When young men come to join us they are told directly the im-portant aspects of communal life taking part in the Eucharist the Lit-urgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina sharing a common table and recrea-tion sharing work and ministries along with meeting to find ways of finding the Word and Presence of God in the modern world More im-portantly these young men try to establish such a life as soon as they enter the Pre-Novitiate

Along with these daily events there are times for Community Meetings Formation Meetings Eucharistic Ado-ration Lectio Divina and the Rosary There are also days set aside for the students to do some ministerial work among the people By following this schedule the pre-novices learn how to divide well their time in commu-nity paying attention to their own

needs but also careful to help with the needs of one another Thus they learn to live in community which is where we share our deeper selves and our love for each other The early hermits were right to choose to com-bine community life with their soli-tary life of prayer It helps us today to continue that way of coming to God and knowing God in our daily life

Here at Saint Eliseus Priory the Pre-Novitiate we recently had a Community Meeting to discuss how all of us could live out the common life making room in our day for prayer meals study and recreation It took some time and a lot of talk but in the end we agreed to follow this schedule This the basic schedule for most days although there are a few variations on some days to accom-modate the needs of the students

600 AM Office of Readings

620 AM Meditation

630 AM Morning Prayer

645 AM Mass

720 AM Breakfast

750 AM Departure for School

530 PM Meditation

545 PM Evening Prayer

600 PM Recreation

sup1Matthew 2239

sup2Constitutions of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel1995 Article 30

4

O n a snowy Saturday morning in February of 2010 ac-companied by two other friars I went to an exhibit at

the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC entitled Women and Spirit Catholic Sisters in America The exhibit is a celebra-tion of the many and varied contributions that religious women made in the USA As I walked through the exhibit I had a profound sense of gratitude for the gift of religious life and for the women who have lived it so creatively and coura-geously throughout the ages The exhibit contained many artifacts one would expect to see in glass cases---photos items used by the Sisters in the convent or the apostolate articles of clothing religious images etc One section that caught my attention was an audio-visual presentation in which various Sisters discussed religious life One Sister said she is often asked to name her greatest joy as a Sistermdashher answer was community She then said that she is also asked what the most challenging aspect of religious life is---before she could answer the three of us answered community This was also her answer

I entered the Carmelite formation pro-gram in 1976 One of the things that attracted me to the Carmelites was the experience of community life I wit-nessed during my visits to the house of studies in Washington DC I enjoyed being at prayer recreation and meals with men who were seeking the same thing I was Over the years I have been comforted by the friars I lived with in

times of sorrow such as the death of my parents and chal-lenged by brothers when my actions didnrsquot quite match the values I espoused I have learned about myselfmdashsometimes the spotlight was put on areas where I needed growth and at other times the community brought forth and acknowledged gifts and talents I never knew I had Community is a gift a joy a blessing and without a doubt it is also work and a chal-lenge

Jesus invited people to community His healings often re-stored people to community when they had become outcasts I believe that Jesus brought me to the Carmelite community because this is the place where I was going to be formed and become the man He desires me to be These are the brothers who are going to walk with me Saint John of the Cross wrote hellipyou did not come to the monastery for any other reason than to be worked and tried in virtue you are like the stone which must be chiseled and fashioned before being set in the building He

continued hellipyou did not enter religious life for any other reason than for others to work youhellipand so become worthy of heaven (Counsels to a Religious)

Over the years I began to realize that community is an invitation to move from self-centeredness to greater concern for others and union with Christ I continue to find support through the presence example and wisdom of the friars in the Province At many of our Provincial gatherings I am mindful of the words of

Life in Community Rev John Horan O Carm

Executive Director Carmelite Institute

5

the Psalmistmdashbehold how good and pleasant it is where brothers dwell as one

As Carmelites we believe we are on a journey of conversion and transformation Community life is a key component of our life and this journey I have a notebook in which I jot down favorite quotes from books I read This quote comes from the writings of Michael CaseyOCSO

ldquoUnity does not derive from a common background it comes from an act of will by which each renounces individualism and strives to live in concord Community of will has a double function it serves as a check to self-will and it creates a climate of harmony that makes the cohabitation of brothers a good and pleasant thing It creates an affective community where differences are neither denied nor suppressed Any tendency to fragmentation is subverted by the glue of loverdquo

A favorite bookmark has this quote from the Dutch spiritual writer Henri Nouwen

ldquoCommunity is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit not built upon mutual compatibility shared affection or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire and having been embraced by the same divine loverdquo

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts114) we read that the apostles gathered together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and devoted themselves with one ac-cord to prayer Our Carmelite communities strive to be praying communities in the midst of the people A bit later in Acts 242-47 we read what the Spirit filled community of the early Church looked like We seek to live in this man-nermdashto be of one heart and mind in our following of the Lord

Of course the real model of community living is the Trin-ity The Trinity is a community where love is freely given

received and exchanged The love of the Trinity overflows and brings life light and love to all of creation

The early hermits on Mount Carmel built an oratory dedi-cated to Mary Each day they would leave the solitude of their cells and gather as brothers in the oratory Through-out the centuries we Carmelites have been doing the same thing We are called to leave behind preoccupation with the self and move toward God As we draw closer to God we become more concerned with others We do this with each other We assist each other I have a great fondness

for the desert mys-ticsa story is told that someone asked a desert father what he and his community did all day He replied we fall and get up we fall and we get up We help each other to get up when we fall

Many people are moved by the statue at Boystown of a young

boy carrying his brother and the inscription ldquohe ainrsquot heavy hersquos my brotherrdquo Our life as Carmelites challenges us to be there for each other in all the circumstances of life This is how we live in imitation of Jesus and wash each otherrsquos feet as He did at the supper on the night before He died We care for each other and about each other We are fam-ily We welcome each other and make a place for each other in our heart as God does for us

I live in our formation community at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC I enjoy my life there and am energized by the friars I am blessed to share life with As a commu-nity we have articulated the core values of our life as Car-

(Continued on page 6)

This exhibit is currently on view at the Ellis Island Immigration

Museum Liberty Island New York It is scheduled to run

through January 22 2011 Additional information and locations

can be found on the website wwwwomenandspiritorg

c o m m u n i t y

The children are surprised when we begin the

retreat in the Carmelite cemetery It is a

beautiful little area decorated with trees and a

dominant Celtic cross The men who lay buried

in our place are the Brothers of the Blessed

Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (our Carmelite

Priests and Brothers) who carried the torch of

their vocation to the end Their bodies lay in

the ground as the holy instruments of Godsrsquo love and as such are honored each year

The children come from parishes surrounding our beautiful Shrine in Orange County New York They are

the next generation and teaching them about the resurrection and our need for a savior is a privilege

Leading them up an incline we move toward a small shrine and altar dedicated to Our Lady of Knock It

serves as a symbol of Mary and her desire to be with us in our life long struggle to be faithful even in the

midst of chaos and persecutions of all sorts

This issue of the Chariot of Fire is dedicated to all religious men and women who have chosen a call to

follow after Jesus Christ in a religious community Community is the ultimate religious expression because

it is the place where our own will and desire has to become transformed and given over to others in charity

In our current Carmelite formation manual it states ldquoThe task of building community is a form of

asceticism which requires continuous conversion and a sense of self denial No one presumes too much of the

others while each rejoices in what the others are capable of giving (35 RIVC)rdquo

In this edition you will find many images of Carmelites in community We are blessed to have good communities of men usually of

various ages and cultures praying eating and sharing stories of life Conversation carries messages of love concern joy and pain

Sometimes it is easy and rewarding to share in community at other times we are conflicted and must break through barriers to be ldquorealrdquo

to ourselves and others

Traveling around the country gives me the chance to hear from the

next generation In our conversations the young adults tell me of a

desire to live out a call to serve God in a community instead of doing

it alone Many ask if this is the beginning of a call to religious life

My answer is yes Jesus did the same thing He gathered together a

group of disciples He lived with them and brought them in contact

with a new refreshing brilliance which he called the Kingdom of God

He called all around to share in the banquet prepared by His Father

in Heaven Is He calling you now Will you take a seat at the banquet

community

3

Formation for Community Rev Paul AM Denault OCarm

Pre Novice Director

+Maria

W e usually describe the Carme-lite charism as the interplay

of three elements prayer communal life and service to the People of God and that these elements are bound together by the experience of con-templation When you recall that the Order began more than 800 years ago with a group of hermits it might seem strange to mention community as an essential element Yet the Rule of Saint Albert which established the Carmelite Order calls on the hermits to live in a fraternal and helpful rela-tionship with each other under the general guidance of one chosen to be the Prior They were to pray together in the chapel at certain times and meet regularly to discuss their mutual welfare All goods were held in com-mon and were distributed to each hermit according to his health and needs While they lived mostly soli-tary lives they also saw themselves as members of community joined to one another

Later on when the Carmelites re-turned to Europe and embraced the mendicant way of religious life they gave even greater emphasis to being in community In keeping with the commandment to ldquolove your neighbor as yourselfrdquosup1 the friars came to see that communal living is the truest expression and test of fraternal lovesup2 By sharing life with one another they were giving witness to the deeper life of the Kingdom of God where all are

united in abiding love While the ele-ment of prayer is best expressed in silence and solitude the Carmelite life is balanced by the reaching out from oneself to life in community

Today we have many electronic ways of communicating and sharing which some like to call a social network Yet these connections cannot replace communal living The day-to-day effort to be lovingly present to one another has its own challenges and rewards The sad reality now is that many have no experience of living with others on this deep level it has to be taught in order for community to form When young men come to join us they are told directly the im-portant aspects of communal life taking part in the Eucharist the Lit-urgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina sharing a common table and recrea-tion sharing work and ministries along with meeting to find ways of finding the Word and Presence of God in the modern world More im-portantly these young men try to establish such a life as soon as they enter the Pre-Novitiate

Along with these daily events there are times for Community Meetings Formation Meetings Eucharistic Ado-ration Lectio Divina and the Rosary There are also days set aside for the students to do some ministerial work among the people By following this schedule the pre-novices learn how to divide well their time in commu-nity paying attention to their own

needs but also careful to help with the needs of one another Thus they learn to live in community which is where we share our deeper selves and our love for each other The early hermits were right to choose to com-bine community life with their soli-tary life of prayer It helps us today to continue that way of coming to God and knowing God in our daily life

Here at Saint Eliseus Priory the Pre-Novitiate we recently had a Community Meeting to discuss how all of us could live out the common life making room in our day for prayer meals study and recreation It took some time and a lot of talk but in the end we agreed to follow this schedule This the basic schedule for most days although there are a few variations on some days to accom-modate the needs of the students

600 AM Office of Readings

620 AM Meditation

630 AM Morning Prayer

645 AM Mass

720 AM Breakfast

750 AM Departure for School

530 PM Meditation

545 PM Evening Prayer

600 PM Recreation

sup1Matthew 2239

sup2Constitutions of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel1995 Article 30

4

O n a snowy Saturday morning in February of 2010 ac-companied by two other friars I went to an exhibit at

the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC entitled Women and Spirit Catholic Sisters in America The exhibit is a celebra-tion of the many and varied contributions that religious women made in the USA As I walked through the exhibit I had a profound sense of gratitude for the gift of religious life and for the women who have lived it so creatively and coura-geously throughout the ages The exhibit contained many artifacts one would expect to see in glass cases---photos items used by the Sisters in the convent or the apostolate articles of clothing religious images etc One section that caught my attention was an audio-visual presentation in which various Sisters discussed religious life One Sister said she is often asked to name her greatest joy as a Sistermdashher answer was community She then said that she is also asked what the most challenging aspect of religious life is---before she could answer the three of us answered community This was also her answer

I entered the Carmelite formation pro-gram in 1976 One of the things that attracted me to the Carmelites was the experience of community life I wit-nessed during my visits to the house of studies in Washington DC I enjoyed being at prayer recreation and meals with men who were seeking the same thing I was Over the years I have been comforted by the friars I lived with in

times of sorrow such as the death of my parents and chal-lenged by brothers when my actions didnrsquot quite match the values I espoused I have learned about myselfmdashsometimes the spotlight was put on areas where I needed growth and at other times the community brought forth and acknowledged gifts and talents I never knew I had Community is a gift a joy a blessing and without a doubt it is also work and a chal-lenge

Jesus invited people to community His healings often re-stored people to community when they had become outcasts I believe that Jesus brought me to the Carmelite community because this is the place where I was going to be formed and become the man He desires me to be These are the brothers who are going to walk with me Saint John of the Cross wrote hellipyou did not come to the monastery for any other reason than to be worked and tried in virtue you are like the stone which must be chiseled and fashioned before being set in the building He

continued hellipyou did not enter religious life for any other reason than for others to work youhellipand so become worthy of heaven (Counsels to a Religious)

Over the years I began to realize that community is an invitation to move from self-centeredness to greater concern for others and union with Christ I continue to find support through the presence example and wisdom of the friars in the Province At many of our Provincial gatherings I am mindful of the words of

Life in Community Rev John Horan O Carm

Executive Director Carmelite Institute

5

the Psalmistmdashbehold how good and pleasant it is where brothers dwell as one

As Carmelites we believe we are on a journey of conversion and transformation Community life is a key component of our life and this journey I have a notebook in which I jot down favorite quotes from books I read This quote comes from the writings of Michael CaseyOCSO

ldquoUnity does not derive from a common background it comes from an act of will by which each renounces individualism and strives to live in concord Community of will has a double function it serves as a check to self-will and it creates a climate of harmony that makes the cohabitation of brothers a good and pleasant thing It creates an affective community where differences are neither denied nor suppressed Any tendency to fragmentation is subverted by the glue of loverdquo

A favorite bookmark has this quote from the Dutch spiritual writer Henri Nouwen

ldquoCommunity is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit not built upon mutual compatibility shared affection or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire and having been embraced by the same divine loverdquo

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts114) we read that the apostles gathered together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and devoted themselves with one ac-cord to prayer Our Carmelite communities strive to be praying communities in the midst of the people A bit later in Acts 242-47 we read what the Spirit filled community of the early Church looked like We seek to live in this man-nermdashto be of one heart and mind in our following of the Lord

Of course the real model of community living is the Trin-ity The Trinity is a community where love is freely given

received and exchanged The love of the Trinity overflows and brings life light and love to all of creation

The early hermits on Mount Carmel built an oratory dedi-cated to Mary Each day they would leave the solitude of their cells and gather as brothers in the oratory Through-out the centuries we Carmelites have been doing the same thing We are called to leave behind preoccupation with the self and move toward God As we draw closer to God we become more concerned with others We do this with each other We assist each other I have a great fondness

for the desert mys-ticsa story is told that someone asked a desert father what he and his community did all day He replied we fall and get up we fall and we get up We help each other to get up when we fall

Many people are moved by the statue at Boystown of a young

boy carrying his brother and the inscription ldquohe ainrsquot heavy hersquos my brotherrdquo Our life as Carmelites challenges us to be there for each other in all the circumstances of life This is how we live in imitation of Jesus and wash each otherrsquos feet as He did at the supper on the night before He died We care for each other and about each other We are fam-ily We welcome each other and make a place for each other in our heart as God does for us

I live in our formation community at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC I enjoy my life there and am energized by the friars I am blessed to share life with As a commu-nity we have articulated the core values of our life as Car-

(Continued on page 6)

This exhibit is currently on view at the Ellis Island Immigration

Museum Liberty Island New York It is scheduled to run

through January 22 2011 Additional information and locations

can be found on the website wwwwomenandspiritorg

c o m m u n i t y

3

Formation for Community Rev Paul AM Denault OCarm

Pre Novice Director

+Maria

W e usually describe the Carme-lite charism as the interplay

of three elements prayer communal life and service to the People of God and that these elements are bound together by the experience of con-templation When you recall that the Order began more than 800 years ago with a group of hermits it might seem strange to mention community as an essential element Yet the Rule of Saint Albert which established the Carmelite Order calls on the hermits to live in a fraternal and helpful rela-tionship with each other under the general guidance of one chosen to be the Prior They were to pray together in the chapel at certain times and meet regularly to discuss their mutual welfare All goods were held in com-mon and were distributed to each hermit according to his health and needs While they lived mostly soli-tary lives they also saw themselves as members of community joined to one another

Later on when the Carmelites re-turned to Europe and embraced the mendicant way of religious life they gave even greater emphasis to being in community In keeping with the commandment to ldquolove your neighbor as yourselfrdquosup1 the friars came to see that communal living is the truest expression and test of fraternal lovesup2 By sharing life with one another they were giving witness to the deeper life of the Kingdom of God where all are

united in abiding love While the ele-ment of prayer is best expressed in silence and solitude the Carmelite life is balanced by the reaching out from oneself to life in community

Today we have many electronic ways of communicating and sharing which some like to call a social network Yet these connections cannot replace communal living The day-to-day effort to be lovingly present to one another has its own challenges and rewards The sad reality now is that many have no experience of living with others on this deep level it has to be taught in order for community to form When young men come to join us they are told directly the im-portant aspects of communal life taking part in the Eucharist the Lit-urgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina sharing a common table and recrea-tion sharing work and ministries along with meeting to find ways of finding the Word and Presence of God in the modern world More im-portantly these young men try to establish such a life as soon as they enter the Pre-Novitiate

Along with these daily events there are times for Community Meetings Formation Meetings Eucharistic Ado-ration Lectio Divina and the Rosary There are also days set aside for the students to do some ministerial work among the people By following this schedule the pre-novices learn how to divide well their time in commu-nity paying attention to their own

needs but also careful to help with the needs of one another Thus they learn to live in community which is where we share our deeper selves and our love for each other The early hermits were right to choose to com-bine community life with their soli-tary life of prayer It helps us today to continue that way of coming to God and knowing God in our daily life

Here at Saint Eliseus Priory the Pre-Novitiate we recently had a Community Meeting to discuss how all of us could live out the common life making room in our day for prayer meals study and recreation It took some time and a lot of talk but in the end we agreed to follow this schedule This the basic schedule for most days although there are a few variations on some days to accom-modate the needs of the students

600 AM Office of Readings

620 AM Meditation

630 AM Morning Prayer

645 AM Mass

720 AM Breakfast

750 AM Departure for School

530 PM Meditation

545 PM Evening Prayer

600 PM Recreation

sup1Matthew 2239

sup2Constitutions of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel1995 Article 30

4

O n a snowy Saturday morning in February of 2010 ac-companied by two other friars I went to an exhibit at

the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC entitled Women and Spirit Catholic Sisters in America The exhibit is a celebra-tion of the many and varied contributions that religious women made in the USA As I walked through the exhibit I had a profound sense of gratitude for the gift of religious life and for the women who have lived it so creatively and coura-geously throughout the ages The exhibit contained many artifacts one would expect to see in glass cases---photos items used by the Sisters in the convent or the apostolate articles of clothing religious images etc One section that caught my attention was an audio-visual presentation in which various Sisters discussed religious life One Sister said she is often asked to name her greatest joy as a Sistermdashher answer was community She then said that she is also asked what the most challenging aspect of religious life is---before she could answer the three of us answered community This was also her answer

I entered the Carmelite formation pro-gram in 1976 One of the things that attracted me to the Carmelites was the experience of community life I wit-nessed during my visits to the house of studies in Washington DC I enjoyed being at prayer recreation and meals with men who were seeking the same thing I was Over the years I have been comforted by the friars I lived with in

times of sorrow such as the death of my parents and chal-lenged by brothers when my actions didnrsquot quite match the values I espoused I have learned about myselfmdashsometimes the spotlight was put on areas where I needed growth and at other times the community brought forth and acknowledged gifts and talents I never knew I had Community is a gift a joy a blessing and without a doubt it is also work and a chal-lenge

Jesus invited people to community His healings often re-stored people to community when they had become outcasts I believe that Jesus brought me to the Carmelite community because this is the place where I was going to be formed and become the man He desires me to be These are the brothers who are going to walk with me Saint John of the Cross wrote hellipyou did not come to the monastery for any other reason than to be worked and tried in virtue you are like the stone which must be chiseled and fashioned before being set in the building He

continued hellipyou did not enter religious life for any other reason than for others to work youhellipand so become worthy of heaven (Counsels to a Religious)

Over the years I began to realize that community is an invitation to move from self-centeredness to greater concern for others and union with Christ I continue to find support through the presence example and wisdom of the friars in the Province At many of our Provincial gatherings I am mindful of the words of

Life in Community Rev John Horan O Carm

Executive Director Carmelite Institute

5

the Psalmistmdashbehold how good and pleasant it is where brothers dwell as one

As Carmelites we believe we are on a journey of conversion and transformation Community life is a key component of our life and this journey I have a notebook in which I jot down favorite quotes from books I read This quote comes from the writings of Michael CaseyOCSO

ldquoUnity does not derive from a common background it comes from an act of will by which each renounces individualism and strives to live in concord Community of will has a double function it serves as a check to self-will and it creates a climate of harmony that makes the cohabitation of brothers a good and pleasant thing It creates an affective community where differences are neither denied nor suppressed Any tendency to fragmentation is subverted by the glue of loverdquo

A favorite bookmark has this quote from the Dutch spiritual writer Henri Nouwen

ldquoCommunity is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit not built upon mutual compatibility shared affection or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire and having been embraced by the same divine loverdquo

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts114) we read that the apostles gathered together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and devoted themselves with one ac-cord to prayer Our Carmelite communities strive to be praying communities in the midst of the people A bit later in Acts 242-47 we read what the Spirit filled community of the early Church looked like We seek to live in this man-nermdashto be of one heart and mind in our following of the Lord

Of course the real model of community living is the Trin-ity The Trinity is a community where love is freely given

received and exchanged The love of the Trinity overflows and brings life light and love to all of creation

The early hermits on Mount Carmel built an oratory dedi-cated to Mary Each day they would leave the solitude of their cells and gather as brothers in the oratory Through-out the centuries we Carmelites have been doing the same thing We are called to leave behind preoccupation with the self and move toward God As we draw closer to God we become more concerned with others We do this with each other We assist each other I have a great fondness

for the desert mys-ticsa story is told that someone asked a desert father what he and his community did all day He replied we fall and get up we fall and we get up We help each other to get up when we fall

Many people are moved by the statue at Boystown of a young

boy carrying his brother and the inscription ldquohe ainrsquot heavy hersquos my brotherrdquo Our life as Carmelites challenges us to be there for each other in all the circumstances of life This is how we live in imitation of Jesus and wash each otherrsquos feet as He did at the supper on the night before He died We care for each other and about each other We are fam-ily We welcome each other and make a place for each other in our heart as God does for us

I live in our formation community at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC I enjoy my life there and am energized by the friars I am blessed to share life with As a commu-nity we have articulated the core values of our life as Car-

(Continued on page 6)

This exhibit is currently on view at the Ellis Island Immigration

Museum Liberty Island New York It is scheduled to run

through January 22 2011 Additional information and locations

can be found on the website wwwwomenandspiritorg

c o m m u n i t y

4

O n a snowy Saturday morning in February of 2010 ac-companied by two other friars I went to an exhibit at

the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC entitled Women and Spirit Catholic Sisters in America The exhibit is a celebra-tion of the many and varied contributions that religious women made in the USA As I walked through the exhibit I had a profound sense of gratitude for the gift of religious life and for the women who have lived it so creatively and coura-geously throughout the ages The exhibit contained many artifacts one would expect to see in glass cases---photos items used by the Sisters in the convent or the apostolate articles of clothing religious images etc One section that caught my attention was an audio-visual presentation in which various Sisters discussed religious life One Sister said she is often asked to name her greatest joy as a Sistermdashher answer was community She then said that she is also asked what the most challenging aspect of religious life is---before she could answer the three of us answered community This was also her answer

I entered the Carmelite formation pro-gram in 1976 One of the things that attracted me to the Carmelites was the experience of community life I wit-nessed during my visits to the house of studies in Washington DC I enjoyed being at prayer recreation and meals with men who were seeking the same thing I was Over the years I have been comforted by the friars I lived with in

times of sorrow such as the death of my parents and chal-lenged by brothers when my actions didnrsquot quite match the values I espoused I have learned about myselfmdashsometimes the spotlight was put on areas where I needed growth and at other times the community brought forth and acknowledged gifts and talents I never knew I had Community is a gift a joy a blessing and without a doubt it is also work and a chal-lenge

Jesus invited people to community His healings often re-stored people to community when they had become outcasts I believe that Jesus brought me to the Carmelite community because this is the place where I was going to be formed and become the man He desires me to be These are the brothers who are going to walk with me Saint John of the Cross wrote hellipyou did not come to the monastery for any other reason than to be worked and tried in virtue you are like the stone which must be chiseled and fashioned before being set in the building He

continued hellipyou did not enter religious life for any other reason than for others to work youhellipand so become worthy of heaven (Counsels to a Religious)

Over the years I began to realize that community is an invitation to move from self-centeredness to greater concern for others and union with Christ I continue to find support through the presence example and wisdom of the friars in the Province At many of our Provincial gatherings I am mindful of the words of

Life in Community Rev John Horan O Carm

Executive Director Carmelite Institute

5

the Psalmistmdashbehold how good and pleasant it is where brothers dwell as one

As Carmelites we believe we are on a journey of conversion and transformation Community life is a key component of our life and this journey I have a notebook in which I jot down favorite quotes from books I read This quote comes from the writings of Michael CaseyOCSO

ldquoUnity does not derive from a common background it comes from an act of will by which each renounces individualism and strives to live in concord Community of will has a double function it serves as a check to self-will and it creates a climate of harmony that makes the cohabitation of brothers a good and pleasant thing It creates an affective community where differences are neither denied nor suppressed Any tendency to fragmentation is subverted by the glue of loverdquo

A favorite bookmark has this quote from the Dutch spiritual writer Henri Nouwen

ldquoCommunity is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit not built upon mutual compatibility shared affection or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire and having been embraced by the same divine loverdquo

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts114) we read that the apostles gathered together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and devoted themselves with one ac-cord to prayer Our Carmelite communities strive to be praying communities in the midst of the people A bit later in Acts 242-47 we read what the Spirit filled community of the early Church looked like We seek to live in this man-nermdashto be of one heart and mind in our following of the Lord

Of course the real model of community living is the Trin-ity The Trinity is a community where love is freely given

received and exchanged The love of the Trinity overflows and brings life light and love to all of creation

The early hermits on Mount Carmel built an oratory dedi-cated to Mary Each day they would leave the solitude of their cells and gather as brothers in the oratory Through-out the centuries we Carmelites have been doing the same thing We are called to leave behind preoccupation with the self and move toward God As we draw closer to God we become more concerned with others We do this with each other We assist each other I have a great fondness

for the desert mys-ticsa story is told that someone asked a desert father what he and his community did all day He replied we fall and get up we fall and we get up We help each other to get up when we fall

Many people are moved by the statue at Boystown of a young

boy carrying his brother and the inscription ldquohe ainrsquot heavy hersquos my brotherrdquo Our life as Carmelites challenges us to be there for each other in all the circumstances of life This is how we live in imitation of Jesus and wash each otherrsquos feet as He did at the supper on the night before He died We care for each other and about each other We are fam-ily We welcome each other and make a place for each other in our heart as God does for us

I live in our formation community at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC I enjoy my life there and am energized by the friars I am blessed to share life with As a commu-nity we have articulated the core values of our life as Car-

(Continued on page 6)

This exhibit is currently on view at the Ellis Island Immigration

Museum Liberty Island New York It is scheduled to run

through January 22 2011 Additional information and locations

can be found on the website wwwwomenandspiritorg

c o m m u n i t y

5

the Psalmistmdashbehold how good and pleasant it is where brothers dwell as one

As Carmelites we believe we are on a journey of conversion and transformation Community life is a key component of our life and this journey I have a notebook in which I jot down favorite quotes from books I read This quote comes from the writings of Michael CaseyOCSO

ldquoUnity does not derive from a common background it comes from an act of will by which each renounces individualism and strives to live in concord Community of will has a double function it serves as a check to self-will and it creates a climate of harmony that makes the cohabitation of brothers a good and pleasant thing It creates an affective community where differences are neither denied nor suppressed Any tendency to fragmentation is subverted by the glue of loverdquo

A favorite bookmark has this quote from the Dutch spiritual writer Henri Nouwen

ldquoCommunity is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit not built upon mutual compatibility shared affection or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire and having been embraced by the same divine loverdquo

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts114) we read that the apostles gathered together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and devoted themselves with one ac-cord to prayer Our Carmelite communities strive to be praying communities in the midst of the people A bit later in Acts 242-47 we read what the Spirit filled community of the early Church looked like We seek to live in this man-nermdashto be of one heart and mind in our following of the Lord

Of course the real model of community living is the Trin-ity The Trinity is a community where love is freely given

received and exchanged The love of the Trinity overflows and brings life light and love to all of creation

The early hermits on Mount Carmel built an oratory dedi-cated to Mary Each day they would leave the solitude of their cells and gather as brothers in the oratory Through-out the centuries we Carmelites have been doing the same thing We are called to leave behind preoccupation with the self and move toward God As we draw closer to God we become more concerned with others We do this with each other We assist each other I have a great fondness

for the desert mys-ticsa story is told that someone asked a desert father what he and his community did all day He replied we fall and get up we fall and we get up We help each other to get up when we fall

Many people are moved by the statue at Boystown of a young

boy carrying his brother and the inscription ldquohe ainrsquot heavy hersquos my brotherrdquo Our life as Carmelites challenges us to be there for each other in all the circumstances of life This is how we live in imitation of Jesus and wash each otherrsquos feet as He did at the supper on the night before He died We care for each other and about each other We are fam-ily We welcome each other and make a place for each other in our heart as God does for us

I live in our formation community at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC I enjoy my life there and am energized by the friars I am blessed to share life with As a commu-nity we have articulated the core values of our life as Car-

(Continued on page 6)

This exhibit is currently on view at the Ellis Island Immigration

Museum Liberty Island New York It is scheduled to run

through January 22 2011 Additional information and locations

can be found on the website wwwwomenandspiritorg

c o m m u n i t y

6

melites and we make deliberate efforts to put them into practice We hold ourselves and each other accountable for this We take respon-sibility for our life as brothers We have come to value each person and his unique contribution to our life We recognize that we are responsible to and for each other Saint Teresa of Jesus said she wanted her monasteries of nuns to be places where all are known loved and friends I can hon-estly say that we Carmelites of 2010 continue to work toward that ideal If we are true to our life of contem-plation we will eventually begin to see as God sees For me that means I begin to see the good in the other I am no longer blinded by my preju-dices When God sees He sees what is good and beautiful in a person His gaze makes us beautiful If I allow God to look at me and I spend time looking at God I become free and beautiful In turn as I look at others I see what God sees Jean Vanier founder of LrsquoArche wrote that some-times we need to tell people how beautiful they really are so they can see it and believe it

Community life is not always easymdashbut it is worth it I am grateful for

the Carmelites of the past and those of the present who have lived with me and by their word or example have shown me what it means to be a disciple of Jesus I have been chal-lenged and comforted I have been hurt and healed I regret the times my actions have hurt others or caused disunity among the brothers I am grateful for the forgiveness given and the reconciliation that takes place when men seek to live as brothers in community

I think many of us feel that one of the most exciting times for us is when we welcome men into the novitiate There is a real sense of joy and broth-erhood when we gather together to pray with and for the men who are about to begin their lives as Carme-lites As I participate in those services I am often transported back to my reception ceremony I recall all that has occurred throughout the years While I wish I had done many things differently I always have a sense of gratitude for the gift of Carmelite life I believe that God has shown His love for me by bringing me to the Carme-lites I continue to experience that love in many and varied waysmdashmost often through the gift and blessing of community and all it holds

(Continued from page 5)

STUDENT

VOICES

What are your

thoughts about living in a

Carmelite community

In the pre-novitiate house and in

school I experience community

in a way that I probably wouldnrsquot

anywhere else I learn from

people who have been raised

with different viewpoints than my

own and often from completely

different cultures Listening to

these new views and opinions

you suddenly find that youre

learning as much about where

you come from as about the per-

son youre talking to Sometimes

the way they think brings up

questions you never would have

thought to ask yourself

Difference brings change

Change brings growth

Growth brings life

Kristopher (Chance) Mathis Pre-Novice

7

The presence of

individuals of

different ages in a community can

be an important source of mutual

enrichment and a valuable testing

ground of the sincerity of younger

peoplersquos motives Elderly and ill

friars can hand on the richness of

their own life experiences to the

younger members for their part

young people can stimulate older

members to renewal and nourish

their hopes for the future

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

8

Rev Michael Kissane OCarm

Novice Director amp Chairman Formation Commission

Is Religious Life for Me

ldquoI remember when I was younger I thought about being a priest

ldquoTherersquos always been something that attracted me to religious liferdquo

ldquoI have always been involved in my parish and people have told me that I would be a good priestrdquo

ldquoHow do I know if God wants me to be a priest or religiousrdquo

D o these statements and questions resonate with your ex-perience Have you found yourself over the years think-

ing about being a priest or religious Perhaps it is time to make a decision

When I was vocation director I talked to many young men who felt that God may be calling them to the religious life However they did not know how to go about making a deci-sion to enter the religious life I often encouraged them to go through a discernment process The term discernment is in common usage today Spiritual directors formation and vocation personnel usually describe the nature of their work as one of discerning What is discernment Quite simply in a religious sense it is telling from within your own experi-ence where God is and where God is not in your life

I would like to offer a simple process of discernment that can be used to know if God is truly calling you to be a Carmelite

Gather information Most people who are considering

the religious life gather information from a number of reli-gious orders This is good One should never just look at one religious order since religious orders do differ and you may not be looking at the religious order where you would be most comfortable and where God wants you to be Most vocation directors can guide you to resources with descrip-tive listings of communities Vision magazine is a great re-source You can view the online copy of the magazine and get information on various religious orders from the Vision website httpvocation-networkorg Also most religious orders now have a website that contains a lot of information on their ministries lifestyle and spirituality The Carmelite vocation website is wwwcarmelitefriarsorg You also may want to write a variety of communities that live religious life in different ways apostolic monastic contemplative dioce-san priesthood or lay ministry If you dont know enough about those terms ask a vocation director It is important that before making a decision you are familiar with the variety of ways the religious life is lived

Another part of this phase is to talk with a vocation director whom you know and trust You will likely find out that many vocation directors are willing to talk to you This may seem like a risky step because it may be the first time you voice your desire to be a religious Very often those discern-ing a vocation wait to talk to family and friends about their possible vocation until they are sure this is where God is call-ing them No need to worry about getting pressured into a decision Most vocation directors have enough training to know thats not a good idea The point of this step is that it is a chance for you to become more familiar with the religious communities and to ask some basic questions that will help you make a good decision

Ponder In your own mind start outlining what it is youre

looking for What attracts you most to this idea of religious life Is it ministry or prayer and community life that are the most important elements for you What are your priorities Are you looking for a large or a small community Rural or urban Where What would an ideal community look like What ministry would you like to do How does the religious community spend their time Identifying your preferences is an important step in the process As you begin getting re-sponses to your requests you will start to see some patterns in what appeals to you

As you read the information communities send be aware of your feelings Is there something that excites you Something that seems scary Something that you cant put into words but somehow seems to draw you Remember our God is a God of surprises Listen to how God is speaking to you dur-ing this time of sorting things out

Remember God does not always call us to an easy lifestyle or one that we find attractive Sometimes God challenges us to do the difficult to stretch ourselves As you ponder remember it is not about what you want to do with your life Itrsquos about what God wants

9

Visit Obviously an important step in discerning a vocation

is to visit some religious communities Select several places to visit If you only visit one community you really canrsquot make a choice Visiting a particular community will give you information you cant gather from a brochure Its not necessary at this stage to be sure whether you want to move in a monastic or apostolic direction for example Thats part of the reason for your visit

Try not to be too hasty to make a decision after an initial visit You may have some anxiety visiting a new place nearly everybody does and that can color your experience Many of the people Ive accompanied during a discernment process comment on how different how much clearer how much more relaxed their second visit was

In deciding when to go you may want to consider going on a vocation retreat sponsored the community These are very helpful in the discernment process Being with other men on the same journey is very supportive and helpful

It is also good to visit a community on some other occasions other than for a vocation retreat Visit with the community for dinner or for some event that the community is having When you go resist the temptation to judge or question every little incident Yes I like this or No I couldnrsquot do that Allow yourself to experience everything as a whole

Listen Pray Each time you return home reflect on the

experience It is good to ask yourself the same kinds of questions you did when sorting the information from vari-ous communities Go back to what you identified as your preferences in selecting a community Has that changed Why and when Have you found any of these elements in the community you visited

Take time to pray and to listen every day Everyone consid-ering the religious life should have a good spiritual director

A good spiritual director can help you to sort out what God desires from your own personal desires It is also helpful to make a retreat Take time away from your normal routine to spend time with God and listen to the yearnings of your heart

How will you know when to stop looking for the right com-munity When will you know if you have found it Your search is coming to an end when you begin to get an answer to questions like these In which environment can I love and be loved Which one feels life-giving Which one will allow me to develop my potential to the fullest In which one do I feel This is home This is where I will be challenged to be my best self and to give that self to God and others

Be wary of trying to find the perfect community -- it doesnt exist If you find yourself comfortable with a community it is probably a good fit You may notice some imperfections in the community This is normal because every commu-nity is made up of imperfect people

Decide The last step of every discernment process is to

make a decision This is normally the most difficult step A few things to keep in mind First always remember that de-ciding to apply to a community is not as big of a step as you may think The application process all the way up to accep-tance will help you to know yourself better and know better what God wants of you in your life

Even the decision to begin the formation process is not that big of a step The formation process takes years and is gradual During the formation process your vocation will either be strengthened or you will come to know that God is calling you in other directions

Finally always remember the process of discernment is a two-way street As you turn your discerning eye toward each community each community is also considering how you would fit in Each new member changes the entire community and its future Its not a matter for you of adapting so you can make it fit nor for them a matter of accepting anyone who wants to enter Discernment of your new home is really the first step in forming a mutual rela-tionship with a community Ideally through this relation-ship you and your community can draw closer to God

In conclusion there are many vocation directors who are out there willing to help you along the way The fact that you are reading this article means that you are already con-sidering the Carmelites I want to encourage you to keep in contact with Bro Robert Bathe He will assist you and be honest with you along the way My prayer is that God will speak to your heart and let you know His plan for you

c o m m u n i t y

10

SOLEMN PROFESSION August 2010 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

Hospitality is a characteristic

of the fraternal life and it is to

be extended not only to the

brothers within the order and to

members of their families but also

to others insofar as possible

CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

11

ldquoVocation to the religious life

demands total personal commitment

it is expressed concretely in a lifestyle

shaped by the gospel in the practice

of the evangelical counsels and in

living in community It does not

consist in assuming a role or in

accomplishing a task it consists in

handing over onersquos life in abandon-

ment to Godrsquos transforming action

and to his plan of salvationrdquo

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

SIMPLE PROFESSION June 2010 at the National Shrine

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

ldquoThe journey of formation is a lifelong journey God renews his call

day by day and always expects a fresh response from usrdquo

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

7

The presence of

individuals of

different ages in a community can

be an important source of mutual

enrichment and a valuable testing

ground of the sincerity of younger

peoplersquos motives Elderly and ill

friars can hand on the richness of

their own life experiences to the

younger members for their part

young people can stimulate older

members to renewal and nourish

their hopes for the future

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

8

Rev Michael Kissane OCarm

Novice Director amp Chairman Formation Commission

Is Religious Life for Me

ldquoI remember when I was younger I thought about being a priest

ldquoTherersquos always been something that attracted me to religious liferdquo

ldquoI have always been involved in my parish and people have told me that I would be a good priestrdquo

ldquoHow do I know if God wants me to be a priest or religiousrdquo

D o these statements and questions resonate with your ex-perience Have you found yourself over the years think-

ing about being a priest or religious Perhaps it is time to make a decision

When I was vocation director I talked to many young men who felt that God may be calling them to the religious life However they did not know how to go about making a deci-sion to enter the religious life I often encouraged them to go through a discernment process The term discernment is in common usage today Spiritual directors formation and vocation personnel usually describe the nature of their work as one of discerning What is discernment Quite simply in a religious sense it is telling from within your own experi-ence where God is and where God is not in your life

I would like to offer a simple process of discernment that can be used to know if God is truly calling you to be a Carmelite

Gather information Most people who are considering

the religious life gather information from a number of reli-gious orders This is good One should never just look at one religious order since religious orders do differ and you may not be looking at the religious order where you would be most comfortable and where God wants you to be Most vocation directors can guide you to resources with descrip-tive listings of communities Vision magazine is a great re-source You can view the online copy of the magazine and get information on various religious orders from the Vision website httpvocation-networkorg Also most religious orders now have a website that contains a lot of information on their ministries lifestyle and spirituality The Carmelite vocation website is wwwcarmelitefriarsorg You also may want to write a variety of communities that live religious life in different ways apostolic monastic contemplative dioce-san priesthood or lay ministry If you dont know enough about those terms ask a vocation director It is important that before making a decision you are familiar with the variety of ways the religious life is lived

Another part of this phase is to talk with a vocation director whom you know and trust You will likely find out that many vocation directors are willing to talk to you This may seem like a risky step because it may be the first time you voice your desire to be a religious Very often those discern-ing a vocation wait to talk to family and friends about their possible vocation until they are sure this is where God is call-ing them No need to worry about getting pressured into a decision Most vocation directors have enough training to know thats not a good idea The point of this step is that it is a chance for you to become more familiar with the religious communities and to ask some basic questions that will help you make a good decision

Ponder In your own mind start outlining what it is youre

looking for What attracts you most to this idea of religious life Is it ministry or prayer and community life that are the most important elements for you What are your priorities Are you looking for a large or a small community Rural or urban Where What would an ideal community look like What ministry would you like to do How does the religious community spend their time Identifying your preferences is an important step in the process As you begin getting re-sponses to your requests you will start to see some patterns in what appeals to you

As you read the information communities send be aware of your feelings Is there something that excites you Something that seems scary Something that you cant put into words but somehow seems to draw you Remember our God is a God of surprises Listen to how God is speaking to you dur-ing this time of sorting things out

Remember God does not always call us to an easy lifestyle or one that we find attractive Sometimes God challenges us to do the difficult to stretch ourselves As you ponder remember it is not about what you want to do with your life Itrsquos about what God wants

9

Visit Obviously an important step in discerning a vocation

is to visit some religious communities Select several places to visit If you only visit one community you really canrsquot make a choice Visiting a particular community will give you information you cant gather from a brochure Its not necessary at this stage to be sure whether you want to move in a monastic or apostolic direction for example Thats part of the reason for your visit

Try not to be too hasty to make a decision after an initial visit You may have some anxiety visiting a new place nearly everybody does and that can color your experience Many of the people Ive accompanied during a discernment process comment on how different how much clearer how much more relaxed their second visit was

In deciding when to go you may want to consider going on a vocation retreat sponsored the community These are very helpful in the discernment process Being with other men on the same journey is very supportive and helpful

It is also good to visit a community on some other occasions other than for a vocation retreat Visit with the community for dinner or for some event that the community is having When you go resist the temptation to judge or question every little incident Yes I like this or No I couldnrsquot do that Allow yourself to experience everything as a whole

Listen Pray Each time you return home reflect on the

experience It is good to ask yourself the same kinds of questions you did when sorting the information from vari-ous communities Go back to what you identified as your preferences in selecting a community Has that changed Why and when Have you found any of these elements in the community you visited

Take time to pray and to listen every day Everyone consid-ering the religious life should have a good spiritual director

A good spiritual director can help you to sort out what God desires from your own personal desires It is also helpful to make a retreat Take time away from your normal routine to spend time with God and listen to the yearnings of your heart

How will you know when to stop looking for the right com-munity When will you know if you have found it Your search is coming to an end when you begin to get an answer to questions like these In which environment can I love and be loved Which one feels life-giving Which one will allow me to develop my potential to the fullest In which one do I feel This is home This is where I will be challenged to be my best self and to give that self to God and others

Be wary of trying to find the perfect community -- it doesnt exist If you find yourself comfortable with a community it is probably a good fit You may notice some imperfections in the community This is normal because every commu-nity is made up of imperfect people

Decide The last step of every discernment process is to

make a decision This is normally the most difficult step A few things to keep in mind First always remember that de-ciding to apply to a community is not as big of a step as you may think The application process all the way up to accep-tance will help you to know yourself better and know better what God wants of you in your life

Even the decision to begin the formation process is not that big of a step The formation process takes years and is gradual During the formation process your vocation will either be strengthened or you will come to know that God is calling you in other directions

Finally always remember the process of discernment is a two-way street As you turn your discerning eye toward each community each community is also considering how you would fit in Each new member changes the entire community and its future Its not a matter for you of adapting so you can make it fit nor for them a matter of accepting anyone who wants to enter Discernment of your new home is really the first step in forming a mutual rela-tionship with a community Ideally through this relation-ship you and your community can draw closer to God

In conclusion there are many vocation directors who are out there willing to help you along the way The fact that you are reading this article means that you are already con-sidering the Carmelites I want to encourage you to keep in contact with Bro Robert Bathe He will assist you and be honest with you along the way My prayer is that God will speak to your heart and let you know His plan for you

c o m m u n i t y

10

SOLEMN PROFESSION August 2010 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

Hospitality is a characteristic

of the fraternal life and it is to

be extended not only to the

brothers within the order and to

members of their families but also

to others insofar as possible

CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

11

ldquoVocation to the religious life

demands total personal commitment

it is expressed concretely in a lifestyle

shaped by the gospel in the practice

of the evangelical counsels and in

living in community It does not

consist in assuming a role or in

accomplishing a task it consists in

handing over onersquos life in abandon-

ment to Godrsquos transforming action

and to his plan of salvationrdquo

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

SIMPLE PROFESSION June 2010 at the National Shrine

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

ldquoThe journey of formation is a lifelong journey God renews his call

day by day and always expects a fresh response from usrdquo

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

8

Rev Michael Kissane OCarm

Novice Director amp Chairman Formation Commission

Is Religious Life for Me

ldquoI remember when I was younger I thought about being a priest

ldquoTherersquos always been something that attracted me to religious liferdquo

ldquoI have always been involved in my parish and people have told me that I would be a good priestrdquo

ldquoHow do I know if God wants me to be a priest or religiousrdquo

D o these statements and questions resonate with your ex-perience Have you found yourself over the years think-

ing about being a priest or religious Perhaps it is time to make a decision

When I was vocation director I talked to many young men who felt that God may be calling them to the religious life However they did not know how to go about making a deci-sion to enter the religious life I often encouraged them to go through a discernment process The term discernment is in common usage today Spiritual directors formation and vocation personnel usually describe the nature of their work as one of discerning What is discernment Quite simply in a religious sense it is telling from within your own experi-ence where God is and where God is not in your life

I would like to offer a simple process of discernment that can be used to know if God is truly calling you to be a Carmelite

Gather information Most people who are considering

the religious life gather information from a number of reli-gious orders This is good One should never just look at one religious order since religious orders do differ and you may not be looking at the religious order where you would be most comfortable and where God wants you to be Most vocation directors can guide you to resources with descrip-tive listings of communities Vision magazine is a great re-source You can view the online copy of the magazine and get information on various religious orders from the Vision website httpvocation-networkorg Also most religious orders now have a website that contains a lot of information on their ministries lifestyle and spirituality The Carmelite vocation website is wwwcarmelitefriarsorg You also may want to write a variety of communities that live religious life in different ways apostolic monastic contemplative dioce-san priesthood or lay ministry If you dont know enough about those terms ask a vocation director It is important that before making a decision you are familiar with the variety of ways the religious life is lived

Another part of this phase is to talk with a vocation director whom you know and trust You will likely find out that many vocation directors are willing to talk to you This may seem like a risky step because it may be the first time you voice your desire to be a religious Very often those discern-ing a vocation wait to talk to family and friends about their possible vocation until they are sure this is where God is call-ing them No need to worry about getting pressured into a decision Most vocation directors have enough training to know thats not a good idea The point of this step is that it is a chance for you to become more familiar with the religious communities and to ask some basic questions that will help you make a good decision

Ponder In your own mind start outlining what it is youre

looking for What attracts you most to this idea of religious life Is it ministry or prayer and community life that are the most important elements for you What are your priorities Are you looking for a large or a small community Rural or urban Where What would an ideal community look like What ministry would you like to do How does the religious community spend their time Identifying your preferences is an important step in the process As you begin getting re-sponses to your requests you will start to see some patterns in what appeals to you

As you read the information communities send be aware of your feelings Is there something that excites you Something that seems scary Something that you cant put into words but somehow seems to draw you Remember our God is a God of surprises Listen to how God is speaking to you dur-ing this time of sorting things out

Remember God does not always call us to an easy lifestyle or one that we find attractive Sometimes God challenges us to do the difficult to stretch ourselves As you ponder remember it is not about what you want to do with your life Itrsquos about what God wants

9

Visit Obviously an important step in discerning a vocation

is to visit some religious communities Select several places to visit If you only visit one community you really canrsquot make a choice Visiting a particular community will give you information you cant gather from a brochure Its not necessary at this stage to be sure whether you want to move in a monastic or apostolic direction for example Thats part of the reason for your visit

Try not to be too hasty to make a decision after an initial visit You may have some anxiety visiting a new place nearly everybody does and that can color your experience Many of the people Ive accompanied during a discernment process comment on how different how much clearer how much more relaxed their second visit was

In deciding when to go you may want to consider going on a vocation retreat sponsored the community These are very helpful in the discernment process Being with other men on the same journey is very supportive and helpful

It is also good to visit a community on some other occasions other than for a vocation retreat Visit with the community for dinner or for some event that the community is having When you go resist the temptation to judge or question every little incident Yes I like this or No I couldnrsquot do that Allow yourself to experience everything as a whole

Listen Pray Each time you return home reflect on the

experience It is good to ask yourself the same kinds of questions you did when sorting the information from vari-ous communities Go back to what you identified as your preferences in selecting a community Has that changed Why and when Have you found any of these elements in the community you visited

Take time to pray and to listen every day Everyone consid-ering the religious life should have a good spiritual director

A good spiritual director can help you to sort out what God desires from your own personal desires It is also helpful to make a retreat Take time away from your normal routine to spend time with God and listen to the yearnings of your heart

How will you know when to stop looking for the right com-munity When will you know if you have found it Your search is coming to an end when you begin to get an answer to questions like these In which environment can I love and be loved Which one feels life-giving Which one will allow me to develop my potential to the fullest In which one do I feel This is home This is where I will be challenged to be my best self and to give that self to God and others

Be wary of trying to find the perfect community -- it doesnt exist If you find yourself comfortable with a community it is probably a good fit You may notice some imperfections in the community This is normal because every commu-nity is made up of imperfect people

Decide The last step of every discernment process is to

make a decision This is normally the most difficult step A few things to keep in mind First always remember that de-ciding to apply to a community is not as big of a step as you may think The application process all the way up to accep-tance will help you to know yourself better and know better what God wants of you in your life

Even the decision to begin the formation process is not that big of a step The formation process takes years and is gradual During the formation process your vocation will either be strengthened or you will come to know that God is calling you in other directions

Finally always remember the process of discernment is a two-way street As you turn your discerning eye toward each community each community is also considering how you would fit in Each new member changes the entire community and its future Its not a matter for you of adapting so you can make it fit nor for them a matter of accepting anyone who wants to enter Discernment of your new home is really the first step in forming a mutual rela-tionship with a community Ideally through this relation-ship you and your community can draw closer to God

In conclusion there are many vocation directors who are out there willing to help you along the way The fact that you are reading this article means that you are already con-sidering the Carmelites I want to encourage you to keep in contact with Bro Robert Bathe He will assist you and be honest with you along the way My prayer is that God will speak to your heart and let you know His plan for you

c o m m u n i t y

10

SOLEMN PROFESSION August 2010 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

Hospitality is a characteristic

of the fraternal life and it is to

be extended not only to the

brothers within the order and to

members of their families but also

to others insofar as possible

CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

11

ldquoVocation to the religious life

demands total personal commitment

it is expressed concretely in a lifestyle

shaped by the gospel in the practice

of the evangelical counsels and in

living in community It does not

consist in assuming a role or in

accomplishing a task it consists in

handing over onersquos life in abandon-

ment to Godrsquos transforming action

and to his plan of salvationrdquo

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

SIMPLE PROFESSION June 2010 at the National Shrine

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

ldquoThe journey of formation is a lifelong journey God renews his call

day by day and always expects a fresh response from usrdquo

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

9

Visit Obviously an important step in discerning a vocation

is to visit some religious communities Select several places to visit If you only visit one community you really canrsquot make a choice Visiting a particular community will give you information you cant gather from a brochure Its not necessary at this stage to be sure whether you want to move in a monastic or apostolic direction for example Thats part of the reason for your visit

Try not to be too hasty to make a decision after an initial visit You may have some anxiety visiting a new place nearly everybody does and that can color your experience Many of the people Ive accompanied during a discernment process comment on how different how much clearer how much more relaxed their second visit was

In deciding when to go you may want to consider going on a vocation retreat sponsored the community These are very helpful in the discernment process Being with other men on the same journey is very supportive and helpful

It is also good to visit a community on some other occasions other than for a vocation retreat Visit with the community for dinner or for some event that the community is having When you go resist the temptation to judge or question every little incident Yes I like this or No I couldnrsquot do that Allow yourself to experience everything as a whole

Listen Pray Each time you return home reflect on the

experience It is good to ask yourself the same kinds of questions you did when sorting the information from vari-ous communities Go back to what you identified as your preferences in selecting a community Has that changed Why and when Have you found any of these elements in the community you visited

Take time to pray and to listen every day Everyone consid-ering the religious life should have a good spiritual director

A good spiritual director can help you to sort out what God desires from your own personal desires It is also helpful to make a retreat Take time away from your normal routine to spend time with God and listen to the yearnings of your heart

How will you know when to stop looking for the right com-munity When will you know if you have found it Your search is coming to an end when you begin to get an answer to questions like these In which environment can I love and be loved Which one feels life-giving Which one will allow me to develop my potential to the fullest In which one do I feel This is home This is where I will be challenged to be my best self and to give that self to God and others

Be wary of trying to find the perfect community -- it doesnt exist If you find yourself comfortable with a community it is probably a good fit You may notice some imperfections in the community This is normal because every commu-nity is made up of imperfect people

Decide The last step of every discernment process is to

make a decision This is normally the most difficult step A few things to keep in mind First always remember that de-ciding to apply to a community is not as big of a step as you may think The application process all the way up to accep-tance will help you to know yourself better and know better what God wants of you in your life

Even the decision to begin the formation process is not that big of a step The formation process takes years and is gradual During the formation process your vocation will either be strengthened or you will come to know that God is calling you in other directions

Finally always remember the process of discernment is a two-way street As you turn your discerning eye toward each community each community is also considering how you would fit in Each new member changes the entire community and its future Its not a matter for you of adapting so you can make it fit nor for them a matter of accepting anyone who wants to enter Discernment of your new home is really the first step in forming a mutual rela-tionship with a community Ideally through this relation-ship you and your community can draw closer to God

In conclusion there are many vocation directors who are out there willing to help you along the way The fact that you are reading this article means that you are already con-sidering the Carmelites I want to encourage you to keep in contact with Bro Robert Bathe He will assist you and be honest with you along the way My prayer is that God will speak to your heart and let you know His plan for you

c o m m u n i t y

10

SOLEMN PROFESSION August 2010 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

Hospitality is a characteristic

of the fraternal life and it is to

be extended not only to the

brothers within the order and to

members of their families but also

to others insofar as possible

CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

11

ldquoVocation to the religious life

demands total personal commitment

it is expressed concretely in a lifestyle

shaped by the gospel in the practice

of the evangelical counsels and in

living in community It does not

consist in assuming a role or in

accomplishing a task it consists in

handing over onersquos life in abandon-

ment to Godrsquos transforming action

and to his plan of salvationrdquo

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

SIMPLE PROFESSION June 2010 at the National Shrine

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

ldquoThe journey of formation is a lifelong journey God renews his call

day by day and always expects a fresh response from usrdquo

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

10

SOLEMN PROFESSION August 2010 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

Hospitality is a characteristic

of the fraternal life and it is to

be extended not only to the

brothers within the order and to

members of their families but also

to others insofar as possible

CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

11

ldquoVocation to the religious life

demands total personal commitment

it is expressed concretely in a lifestyle

shaped by the gospel in the practice

of the evangelical counsels and in

living in community It does not

consist in assuming a role or in

accomplishing a task it consists in

handing over onersquos life in abandon-

ment to Godrsquos transforming action

and to his plan of salvationrdquo

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

SIMPLE PROFESSION June 2010 at the National Shrine

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

ldquoThe journey of formation is a lifelong journey God renews his call

day by day and always expects a fresh response from usrdquo

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

11

ldquoVocation to the religious life

demands total personal commitment

it is expressed concretely in a lifestyle

shaped by the gospel in the practice

of the evangelical counsels and in

living in community It does not

consist in assuming a role or in

accomplishing a task it consists in

handing over onersquos life in abandon-

ment to Godrsquos transforming action

and to his plan of salvationrdquo

from Carmelite Formation

A Journey of Transformation

c o m m u n i t y

SIMPLE PROFESSION June 2010 at the National Shrine

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Middletown NY

ldquoThe journey of formation is a lifelong journey God renews his call

day by day and always expects a fresh response from usrdquo

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

12

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS PICNIC At the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with 7th and 8th grade students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School Middletown NY

ldquoWe are therefore called to renew ourselves as brothers in dialogue with one another open

to the signs of the timesmdashtherefore to all peoplemdashwelcoming those who are involved in our

ministry especially the young and the poor We are also open to developing new forms of

community and new ministries that they may have a decisive impact on the Church and on

society inviting all people to conversionrdquo CARMELITE CONSTITUTIONS 304

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

13

Who became a Carmelite nun at fifteen years old

and wanted to be holy from the time she was only a

child

Therese of Lisieux did She believed that the face and

presence of God could be experienced in every person

or situation of our lives if we just treat every thing

with love

Born in France into a middle class family in the late

19th century her mother and her father spoiled her

way too much Selfish and stubborn Therese struggled

against all of her bad qualities and became a saint

Around the age of ten she was cured of an unusual

illness The illness was thought to be caused by an

emotional disturbance When she was thirteen the

Lord cured her of being so preoccupied with herself

and almost instantly she joined the Carmelite convent

at Lisieux In the last 18 months of her life she found

faith very difficult she also lost sense of future life and

she struggled to hold on to her very little faith The

Little Way is a way of love in the smallest things and

Therese went out of her way to be kind She tested her

Little Way in a life that had very much physical psy-

chological and spiritual suffering At twenty-four she

obtained a very ghastly form of tuberculosis and died

after much suffering Years after her painful death she

became a Doctor of the Church

Therese became a saint because she wanted to achieve

great works by doing many small but loving things that

would help other people She wanted to offer only

little things to the good God because Therese knew

she was a very little soul When she was healed of

being so preoccupied with herself Therese felt a call to

enter Carmel as a

contemplative nun

so that she could give

herself totally to

Jesus and God the

Father She was so persistent that even when the

Mother Superior Priest Chaplain and Bishop didnt

allow her to become a contemplative nun at such a

young age she appealed directly to the Pope and finally

entered the Lisieux Carmel at the age of 15

A quality of Saint Therese that would help the students

of Saint Jude Catholic School would be persistence She

never gave up and she did all she could to become a

nun Therese was also very very brave She confronted

the Pope and asked him for his permission so she could

enter the enclosed convent In addition she turned

away from being selfish and began to care about God

Jesus Mary and many other people She gained

confidence and trust in God During her life Therese

did many little yet good things even though she strug-

gled She did not do extraordinary things but instead

she did things with extraordinary love Her Little Way

is simple and straightforward but it is not easy to do

Saint Therese has always wanted to be holy and has

always struggled Saint Thereses struggle is just like

everybodys struggles Our struggle is to be where God

places us in real life situations Many people struggle

with their spirituality or belief in God as Therese did

and this is why she has become a Doctor of the Church

Her spirituality is simple and refreshing in our

complicated age - Nadine

Student Essay by 7th Grade student from Saint Jude Catholic School Boca Raton Florida

ST THEacuteREgraveSE OF THE CHILD JESUS FEAST DAY middot OCTOBER 1

c o m m u n i t y

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

14

St Peter Thomas Jan 8

O my God Trinity whom I adore help me forget

myself entirely so to establish myself in you

unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were

already in eternity May nothing be able to

trouble my peace or make me leave you O my

unchanging God but may each minute bring

me more deeply into your mystery Grant my

soul peace Make it your heaven your beloved

dwelling and the place of your rest May I never

abandon you there but may I

be there whole and entire

completely vigilant in my

faith entirely adoring and

wholly given over to your

creative action

-CCC260

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Nov 8

Communion of Saints Pray for Us

15

c o m m u n i t y

Abide in peace banish cares take no

account of all that happens and you

will serve God according to his good

pleasure and rest in Him

- St John of the Cross

St John of the Cross Dec 14

St Raphael Kalinowski Nov 19

St Andrew Corsini Jan 9

Blessed Bartholomew Fanti Dec 5

Look for Christ Our Lord in everyone and you will then have respect and

reverence for all -St Teresa of Jesus OCD

St Teresa of Jesus Oct 15

Communion of Saints Pray for Us L ORD MAY THE PATRONAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

MARY OUR MOTHER AND THE PRAYERS OF ALL THE SAINTS

OF CARMEL HELP US TO WALK STEADFASTLY IN THEIR

FOOTSTEPS AND BY OUR PRAYERS AND GOOD WORKS TO

FURTHER THE CAUSE OF YOUR CHURCH

WE ASK THIS THROUGH OUR LORD

Vocation Office

PO Box 3079

Middletown NY 10940-0890

2011

VOCATION DISCERNMENT

WEEKENDS February 18-20

April 8-10

St Eliseus Priory Harrison NJ

For information contact

Br Robert Bathe OCarm Vocation Director

ocarmvoc frontiernetnet

(845) 344 ndash 2225

Elijah

www car m eli t efr iars org

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Vocation Office

PO Box 3079

Middletown NY 10940-0890

2011

VOCATION DISCERNMENT

WEEKENDS February 18-20

April 8-10

St Eliseus Priory Harrison NJ

For information contact

Br Robert Bathe OCarm Vocation Director

ocarmvoc frontiernetnet

(845) 344 ndash 2225

Elijah

www car m eli t efr iars org

Our Lady of Mount Carmel