San Antonio

Although the last we heard from San Antonio in this newsletter was March 2004, Fr. Mary Philip has been faithfully sending in news reports every month from his bedside first at Padua Place, then St Francis Nursing Home [June 04 to March 05], HealthSouth Rehabilitation Institute, and finally from Morningside Manor where he has been since last April. Despite his paralysis, he manages to get news from his visitors to the various nursing homes and hospitals where he has been confined, dictates the reports to his faithful friend Rose Orsborn; Rose then types them up and sends them out. For one confined to a wheelchair and almost totally paralyzed, Father Philip is truly a wonder to behold. Here Father is shown with Ken Nolan who carries Philip in his van to celebrations at the basilica.

In April 2004, Fr. John Michael from Marylake joined Fr. Sam Anthony from San Antonio for a Secular Order retreat in Belton Texas. Fr. Sam conducted the retreat, while Fr. JM travled to Georgetown to inaugurate a new OCDS Group there. Fr. Marion took a month’s vacation in Vietnam after Easter; when he returned in May he reported he was not allowed there to say Mass publically. The lenten series at the basilica was given by Frs. John, Sam, Marion, Ralph and James Curiel, each giving a talk on the Catechism. Fr. Philip celebrated his 50th profession jubilee on May 1st. He’s shown here with his golden anniversary cake being presented by pastor and superior, Fr. John Magdalene. At the end of May Fr Sam flew to Alhambra to give a talk to our nuns there.
In June Fr. John Magdalene presented his project for renovation of the basilica basement into Saint Elias chapel. Funding for this project has been received from the Abdo family who left a $900,000 trust for the construction of a chapel dedicated to the prophet Elijah. $300,000 was borrowed to prepare groundwork for this project.

In August, Br. Joseph Le returned to New Orleans to take some theology classes at Notre Dame seminary. Br. Charles stayed on in San Antonio for his pastoral year. A postulant Steven Lerner was also in residence at the shrine this summer. On August 27, a Mass was celebrated commemorating the day in Rome when our shrine was named a basilica in 1998. We had the ceremony in San Antonio the following February. The second lecture series at the basilica began on 05-Sep-04 and will extend until spring 2005. The Fathers will rotate as speakers as they did for the lenten series. In September the shrine hosted the Texas premier of Leonardo de Fillipis’ movie Thérèse at a local theater. They provided a luncheon for those who attended at which the producer was present. Former novice Gabriel Espinoza has decided to take time off from his seminary studies for the diocese of Victoria, but wants to stay active in pastoral work. He is a guest at the monastery and is working on developing a youth ministry program here at the Shrine.

Mrs. Adeline “Tillie” O’Brien passed away on November 6th. She was 101 years of age. The photograph shows Tillie at her 100 birthday party with Fr. Raphael. Tillie worked for the Fathers for 67 years as secretary to the Prior and she was also in charge of the Apostolate of the Little Flower magazine office. She had a knack for writing notes to people wishing them and their family well. Her funeral was on November 10th. May she rest in peace and may God reward her abundantly for all she did for the Fathers.


Our General Visitator, Fr. Stehpen Watson, was in San Antonio November 20-22, and complimented the community on what they were accomplishing at the Shrine. He also met with Fr. Christopher and Fr. Mary Philip Wurth individually at St. Francis Nursing Home. He praised them on their good attitude toward their health problems. He also met with our Provincial Council while here to conclude the visitation of our province.

Fr. John Magdalene and our Provincial Fr. Ralph Reyes went to Mt. Angel Benedictine Abbey in Oregon to assess the suitability of their seminary for our own students. Fr. Gregory and the students from the New Orleans monastery spent Christmas and the day after at the monastery. They then went on to Marylake for New Year’s and the simple profession of Br. Joseph Marie Neely.

Fr. Sam Anthony served as retreat master for a retreat held from Jan. 17-21 for Bishop Peña and fifty-five of his clergy from the Brownsville diocese. The flu bug hit Fr. Sam Anthony and pastor Fr. John Magdalene in February but they tried to carry on as best as they could. Our Fathers also participated in the installation Mass of our new Archbishop, Jose Gomez on February 15, 2005, held at San Fernando Cathedral. With the death of Pope John Paul II, on 02-Apr-05, the Papal umbrella, a sign of the designation of a Basilica, was fully closed until the election of a new pontiff on 19-Apr-05. The actual re-opening of the umbrella did not take place until the 11:00am Mass on April 24th after Benedict XVI was installed. Four TV stations covered that event in our basilica. The week after Easter, Fr. Sam Anthony went to Houston and with the assistance of his niece was able to move his mother to an assisted living facility.

In his last act as Provincial, Fr. Ralph Reyes will give the State of the Province report at the Provincial Chapter in Oklahoma City. Fr. John Suenram will be going as a Provincial Counselor while Fr. Sam Anthony and Fr. Marion Joseph will be going as delegates of their age groups. Fr. John Magdalene returned from the chapter as the First Councillor to the Provincial which means that he will be second in charge and in a sense take the place of the Provincial when he is out of the country. Gabriel Espinoza did an excellent job of taking care of the Shrine and the monastery while the Fathers were gone.

At the Assembly meeting held at the monastery, the communities and assignments for the 2005-2008 Triennium were announced. Fr. John Suenram remained as Superior and Pastor of the Shrine. Fr. Bonaventure Sauer will move from Marylake to San Antonio. He will be in charge of the Shrine ministry. Fr. Ralph Reyes will move to Marylake and be its Superior. Br. Mary Charles Fickel will reside in San Antonio. Fr. Sam Anthony will be in New Orleans as Rector. Fr. Gregory Ross will also reside there and serve as another priest for the community.

On July 16th, feast Fr. Sam Anthony celebrated the Mass of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Fr. John Suenram was in Little Rock preaching to the Carmelite nuns a novena in honor of Our Lady. Fr. Jim Curiel and Fr. Daniel Cisneros were concelebrants along with me. Br. Juan E. Cabrera organized the Triduum in honor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The San Antonio Carmelite community will be comprised of Fr. John Suenram, pastor and superior, Fr. Bonaventure Sauer, 1st discreet and parochial vicar, Fr. Marion Joseph Bui, parochial vicar, Brother Mary Charles Fickel, Fr. Christopher Timoney and myself Fr. Mary Philip Wurth. Gabriel Espinoza returns to his seminary this fall. Gary Young, the volunteer who provides massage therapy to me is now also providing therapy to Sr. Celine, one of our Carmelite nuns here in San Antonio. Gary is an excellent chef who provides gourmet meals for special occasions at the shrine. He is shown here with Fr. Christoper.

Groundbreaking for the new St Elijah chapel will be covered in the next edition of the newsletter.

Chapter 2005

The Carmelite order runs in three year cycles called triennia. Every three years each local province of the order holds a chapter. The chapter is composed of an equal number of delegates: half the chapter members go by virtue of the leadership roles they presently hold; the other half is composed of elected delegates. The chapter traditionally elects the superiors who will serve the province for the coming triennium. They then draft the local legislation that will govern their lives for the coming triennium. This draft is submitted to Rome for approval after the chapter.

2005 is a chapter year. The superiors elected in 2002 were these: Ralph Reyes Provincial, Gregory Ross 1st Councillor, John Magdalene Suenram 2nd Councillor, Bonaventure Sauer 3rd Councillor, and Jenaro de la Cruz 4th Councillor. These five attended the chapter held in May 2005 “ex officio” (by virtue of the office they held). The elder friars selected three delegates: Sam A. Morello, Raphael Kitz and Henry Bordeaux. The young friars elected three delegates: Marion J. Bui, Stephen Sanchez, and Jesús Sancho. Jesús broke his heel in a construction accident prior to the chapter, and John Michael Payne took his place at the chapter as substitute. These eleven friars convened in our monastery in Oklahoma City on Monday May 16 to open the chapter of 2005.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the Washington province broke the tradition of electing the new Father Provincial at the chapter, and began a popular election of the Provincial by all the friars of the province. This election took place in the spring, so by the time the chapter opened in May, the new Provincial had already been elected. Our Oklahoma province followed suit in 1999, adopting the popular election option. Gregory Ross was elected Provincial of Oklahoma on the first ballot 01-Mar-05.

So the first order of business for the chapter on Monday night was to install Father Gregory in office. Fr. Ralph swears him in at 5:15 pm. The chapter friars then each went up, embraced him, and offered our obedience to him for the next three years. We then gathered in the upper room of our old monastery to toast our new superior. After supper, Ralph gave his state of the province report at 7:30 pm, and Gregory asked us each to write down our nominees for provincial councillors.

Tuesday was a day spent in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in our deliberations for the next two weeks of the chapter. Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm we gathered to elect the Council: 1st Councillor (and Vicar Provincial) John Magdalene Suenram [right], 2nd Councillor Ralph Reyes [left], 3rd Councillor Raphael Kitz (our novice Master 2nd R), and 4th Councillor Luis Joaquin Castañeda, who was in Rome. The council was installed in office at 7:45 pm.

Our 3rd session on Wednesday morning began at 9:00am. We were informed that Fr. Luis had sent Fr. Gregory an e-mail accepting his position as fourth councilor. Fr. Luis assured us of his prayers and support. He asked to be released from the obligation to attend the chapter. The Washington Province and California were informed of our election, Fr. General in Rome was informed, and the nuns in the province were informed. The first item on our agenda was discussion of a common novitiate with the Washington province. Their novitiate is presently at Holy Hill Wisconsin, and ours at Marylake south of Little Rock Arkansas. After much discussion of how we might collaborate in accomplishing this, we drafted the following resolution:

“As a chapter we desire to work with the friars of the Washington Province in the development of a common novitiate program. We are committed to dialogue, to collaborate and to identify and overcome any obstacles that might stand in the way of such collaboration.”

Before breaking for lunch, we opened discussion of a restructuring of our province in light of a personnel shortage. At present we have only two friars in two of our houses, one in another, and only one solemnly professed in our House of Studies. Some houses may need to be closed to shore up community life in our province.

session 4: Wednesday afternoon 18-May-05

Wednesday afternoon, restructuring discussion continued: “A positive dynamic of planning must be formulated to identify the essentials. We must return to what is essential for our life. Everything is built on the idea of having a praying community and a fraternal community. Communities must be healthy in terms of being supportive and life giving. It is from this base that apostolate flows.“

Fr. Stephen gave a report on how he has managed to run Mt Carmel Center in Dallas as a Spiritual Center with the help of the Secular Order. Two lay members of our order live there, and others come on a weekly basis to keep the place in order. Although only two friars remain stationed there since the departure of Fr. Francis, they actually have a community of four including the Seculars. Fr. Sam then gave a report on getting a spiritual center established in connection with our shrine in San Antonio. “It is wonderful that we have a place that has institutionalized the ideal of our spirituality.”

After an afternoon break we discussed our students, and how a restructuring could best suit their needs as they prepare for the priesthood. Advantages and disadvantages were explored of having our students stationed in either New Orleans or San Antonio. Great improvements have been made to our oldest foundation in Oklahoma City, but community life there needs another friar. Three items from our last General Visitation were noted: 1. Collaborate with Washington on the novitiate, 2. consider moving the students, and 3. no recommendation to close a canonical foundation. We concluded the day with the General Chapter’s encouagement to celebrate the centenary in 2006 of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity.

session 5: Thursday morning, 19-May-05

Fr. Jenaro gave a report on our house in Oklahoma City. In addition to the regular prayer schedule kept Mondays through Saturday, they have Eucharistic adoration on Thursday evenings, and on Tuesdays the community meets to do lectio divina. Now that the old monastery has been renovated, they are embarking on a 1.6 million dollar project to construct a multipurpose building that will seat a thousand. All Spanish Masses in the church are filled each Sunday, and most to overflowing. The archbishop has promised to match the funds we can raise. We have 650 kids in Religious Education. Henry said, “I think we are beginning to feel our age.” A third friar stationed in Oklahoma City would be a big help.

Fr. John Michael pointed out that the helpout ministry at Marylake takes us to a different parish throughout the state each weekend, and affords us the opportunity of introducing people to our Carmelite spirituality. In order to recruit vocations, it is helpful to have visibility. Gregory asked us to zero in on what we consider the most significant issues and questions that have emerged in our discussion to get a sense of our priorities. Fr. Sam was impressed with Ralph’s statement that the good of the men in our province was the most important thing in restructuring.

“Institutions exist for persons. This is a life giving principle… Our Order has been known for living dramatic tensions. We have never known a time when we were in an ideal situation when it was easy to live that tension…"

In the brainstorming session that followed, we have chosen not to publish personal ideas and opinions expressed, interesting as they were, as all are duly recorded in the minutes. This is done so as not to intimidate our Brothers from expressing their views candidly for fear of seeing their frank appraisals published for all the world to see.

In general the chapter brothers spoke of the need to close houses or to weather the present personnel crunch, “our continued viability as a province,” our need for “praying communities... At present 3 of our 6 houses have less than three,” the “priority to the apostolate of spirituality, which is our primary service to the church.”

“Attracting and maintaining vocations requires fidelity to the charism we possess. What are the immediate steps that need to be taken to have life-giving communities?” Our lack of commitment to “establish a foundation in Louisiana, to do more than rent a temporary location there.” As for our students, “let things develop for a year and then make our decision.”

Fr. Gregory: “How difficult it is to move from general goals and desires to concrete embodiment of them.” He then summarized what he considered important points others had made. “Keep in mind what Fr. Ralph said about restructuring: that it not involve just closing houses but involves planning.” Our Father Provincial then brainstormed some new ideas “about making Mt Carmel a collaborative effort for the province, beginning a Carmelite spirituality program in Oklahoma City.”

Bonaventure suggested an effort of the three houses in the province that are not parishes to develop sources of income. “There are development issues that we can only deal with through collaboration.”

There was talk of developing a provincial website. Fr. Ralph said: “For us to move into the future, something has to be done and planning needs to be undertaken. Otherwise we are maintaining only and not doing what we need to do to orient ourselves to the future; respond to the need for vocational recruitment and retention.” Another Father said he would like to hear from us “a recognition that under certain circumstances the day might come in which we might discuss the fusion of ourselves with another province.”

Session 6: Thursday afternoon

A consensus was reached to discuss our commitment to the parish of St Mary of Carmel in Dallas, as we do not have the resources to commit another friar to that house. As to where to have students, Gregory said, “The goal would be that in 2008 we could complete these actions. If these proposals are agreed to, I commit myself to acting upon them… We have spent a full day on discussion about restructuring. I think we should let these thinks percolate for now.”

With that, we moved on to form a committee to work out a vision statement for the coming triennium. Bonaventure, Sam, Stephen, and Gregory volunteered. We then began a review of the Chapter Acts of 2002, to see which we would keep, which we would expire, and which we would modify. We took the section on I. Carmelite Life, and II. Members in Formation. When we got to the section on government, we adjourned for the day.

Session 7: Friday morning 20-May-05

This morning we continued with our chapter Acts section II. Members & Formation, A-O. Then section III. Government, A-J. Most of our old Acts were approved for renewal with minor revisions. The Vocation Promotion act which had not been implemented was scratched and replaced by a monthly Mass for vocations in each of our communities. The formation team was replaced by “a meeting of the formators” convoked by the Provincial. The on-going formation act was revised to include a study of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity in 2006. “Mini-Sabbaticals” were replaced by “personal retreats.” An act requiring a mentoring program for the newly ordained was passed. The smoking act was changed from encouraging our members “not to smoke” to “not to use tobacco.” Under government, we passed an act allowing all solemnly professed members to participate as members of the Provincial Chapter at the suggestion of Fr. Ralph. This act would abolish the old “ex-officio” members balanced by “elected delegates” from age groups. The Prioresses of nuns under the jurisdiction of our province will be invited to participate in the Provincial chapter for a day. And the final act of this first week of the chapter was “a friar, 70 or older, will be consulted at the beginning of the triennium on the house of residence of his preference.” Note what that act does not say: that he will be granted his preference!

Chapter Week 2

May 23-27, 2005

Most of the chapter friars returned to their houses after lunch on Friday May 20th to attend to their weekend Masses. I stayed in Oklahoma City to welcome the OCDS Provincial councillors who arrived on Saturday for their annual council meeting on Monday and Tuesday, and day at the chapter the following Wednesday. The Vision statement committee [photo] met over the weekend to formulate our province’s vision for the coming triennium. I t was decided, instead of issuing a separate document to include this vision as an introduction to our 2005 Chapter Acts.

Session 8: Monday afternoon 23-May-05

The chapter resumed at 2:30 pm. Fr. Provincial began by informing us of the elections made by the Washington chapter meeting at the conference center on the grounds of St Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein, Illinois: 1st Councillor and vicar provincial Daniel Chowning, 2nd: Bro. Edward O’Donnell, 3rd: Fr. Leonard Copeland, and 4th: Fr. Mark Joseph De Velis. Fr. Philip Thomas had been elected Provincial to succeed Jude Peters last spring.

We then continued working on the chapter Acts. We finished the last two numbers of Section III on Government, then went back to review other numbers left for further consideration. One number on min-sabbaticals was revised by Fr. Bonaventure to emphasize on-going formation as part of regular community meetings. A proposal on use of English as primary communicative language in our bi-ligual province was sent to committee.

The next section of the Acts IV. was on Economics. The provincial council will now serve as the former Financial Administration board. A student burse was added to the initial formation fund. We finished the Acts at 5:15pm and adjourned for the day.

Session 9: Tuesday morning 24-May-05

At 9:00am we began discussion of the Sexual Abuse Policy that Fr. Ralph had formulated in conjunction with the Major Religious Superiors and Praesidium. After two hours, we moved onto the Formation “Ratio” used in the formation of our novices and students. The English language proposal of the previous day was worked into this policy. The session adjourned at 11:40 am.

Session 10: Tuesday afternoon 24-May-05

This afternoon we began work on our Directives. Ralph suggested we have a mentoring program for visiting clergy. Bonaventure stressed the need of having a plan for how anyone coming from outside should be received. A mentoring program was also to be instituted for the newly ordained. After completing the directives, we moved onto provincial policies. Having one on chemical dependence and sexual abuse, we went to our policy on the Living Will. I t was deciced to let the provincial council try to re-formulate a policy that would apply to all states, as our present policy has separate wills for each state of our province. The issues of nutrition and hydration which received so much press from Terri Schiavo were discussed. The standarization of financial reporting of our houses was then discussed.

After a break we convened to consider implications of the vision statement formulated over the weekend by committee. The personnel shortage was addressed, the problem with having only two friars in both Oklahoma City and at Mt Carmel in Dallas. The Provincial said, “It’s like a house of cards. We just have to hope that no one gets sick or dies or gets their faculties taken away.” Sam Anthony ended the session with the remark, “I think it is important to focus on the identity of these houses that are all in sync with our past and our identity.”

OCDS
Session 11: Wednesday morning 25-May-05

At 9:00 am the chapter welcomed members of the OCDS Provincial Council: President Elizabeth Korves from Austin, Nancy Thompson from Cedar Rapids Iowa, Pascal Alfano from New Orleans, Amelia Wilken from Sioux City, Gerald Alford from Lafayette LA, and Anita Mendoza from Houston. Fr. Provincial addressed the members of the Council: “First, I would like to say that your council has done great work collaborating on forming guidelines for the various chapters. Your organization astounds me! You have made a tremendous contribution to the province. We are very privileged to welcome you to our province.”

Fr. John Michael introduced each member to the chapter. After the introductions he said: “We were the first province in the U.S. to get our local statutes in effect. Most of the work was done on cyberspace… In the provincial chapter our basic worry has been personnel and vocations. The problem with the secular order is that we have so many vocations we can hardly handle them.”

The floor was then turned over to Elizabeth who gave an brief introduction to our legislation and structure. “In June 2003, Carmelite Seculars received new Constitutions, which replaced the 1979 OCDS Rule of Life. These were the result of two international congresses, one in Rome in 1996 and another in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2000. While the Constitutions did not change things like the obligations of Seculars to mental prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass, devotion to Mary, and attendance at meetings, they do recognize the evolution of the vocation of the laity that has taken place in the Church since Vatican II. The Constitutions call upon Seculars to grow more fully in our understanding of our vocation and our place within the Order.”

Our Provincial Statutes (excluding the not yet written statute on formation guidelines) were approved by the General Definitory in December 2004. “One question not clear in the Constitutions is how the OCDS Provincial Council fits into the structure of the Order. According to the Constitutions, the General Superior, the Provincial Superior, and the Council of the community are the legitimate superiors of the Secular Order." (Art. 48) The bottom line is that “we work for the Provincial.”

One of our guiding principles for our role was the basic question of "what can the OCDS Provincial Council do to make the job of Provincial Delegate to the OCDS easier?" Fr. John Michael Payne and Fr. Ralph Reyes were very involved in these discussions and indicated that they very much wanted the OCDS Provincial Council to take on the duty of making visitations... “In addition, we are to assist in the formation and guidance of new OCDS study groups, help the Delegate determine when the official status of a community needs to be reduced from their canonical rights to a study group..”

“We were asked to address also, what can the friars do to help us? First, of course, is prayer. Then what we really need from the friars is their support and help during this time of transition in relation to the seculars assuming greater responsibility for themselves.” For those who serve as Assistants, “help develop leadership within the community. This happens by helping people learn how to lead, how to discern, how to serve their community, rather than simply providing a ready answer.“

A short discussion followed Elizabeth’s presentation. After a break, Fr. John Michael, the provincial delegate to OCDS, gave a short presentation on statistics: “19 canonical communities, 16 Study Groups, six groups in discernment. Forty one separate localities under our jurisdiction encompassing over 850 active members.” He then explained the process of forming an OCDS community, from 1. Group in Discernment, to 2. OCDS Study Group, to 3. Canonical community.

After a break, Nancy Thompson took the chapter floor. “As I begin to speak, I want to emphasize a phrase that was used at the 2nd national congress of the OCDS in Mexico. The phrase that was used over and over again by Fr. Camilo and Aloysius was 'co-responsibility with collaboration…' It is not easy to make this work, but the hearts are willing. Habits are in place, which could slow us down, but collaboration is possible.”

“As Secular Carmelites, we have a responsibility to make Carmel known… We value your identity but we value our own identity… As a church, we are a pilgrim people. We are ever rediscovering who we are... Three things came to light in the church that precipitated the most recent changes in our OCDS Legislation: a new code of Canon Law in 1983, a Synod on the laity in 1987 which produced the document Cristifidelis Laici, and a Synod on the religious life in 1996, which produced the document Vita Consecrata. In response to these redefining documents for the laity, the Secular Order sought to codify these ideas in our legislation.”

After a nice discussion, we adjourned at 11:45 to the refectory for lunch. There we celebrated Pascal Alfano’s 71st birthday with a cake and a thumbs up from the birthday boy. To Pascal’s left are Ernesto and Anita Mendoza from Houston. Anita serves as our provincial council’s liason to the Hispanic speaking members of the Secular Order.

Session 12: Wednesday afternoon

Gerald Alford and Pascal Alfano took the floor at 2:30 pm. They presented the OCDS statutes. I. on Formation reflects reduced role of priest assistant in new legislation. II. On Isolates requires connection to local community. III. Community Elections changed how local council is to be elected. IV. Remembrances of the Dead. V. Community is to prepare an obituary and keep a necrology. VI. Minimum age for incoming members: 18. VII. Community Size: exact number of maximum size left to discretion of each community. VIII. Apostolate: primary apostolate to share our spirituality. IX. Habit defined as large ceremonial scapular. X. Marian Devotions: we value diversity of devotions without specifying any in particular other than wearing of brown scapular. XI. Feast and Fast days: six major feasts of order plus local community patron. XII. Transfers within the province, and XIII. Transfers between provinces, and XIV. Transfers of TOCs to OCDS. XV. Canonical Establishment, XVI. Community Life includes monthly attendance at meetings, and responsibilities of local council. XVII. Prayer Life retains old tradition of 30 minutes of mental prayer each day, XVIII. Finances. After reading the entire statute, Pascal decided to summarize from then on. XIX. Plenary Council now requires each community to submit a written report prior to triennial meeting. XX. Provincial Council defines itself.

After a break, Amelia Wilken explained the formation statute the council is presently formulating. “I begin this talk from an excerpt of Fr. Michael Griffin’s book, A Commentary on the Rule of Life, on the three elements of a good formation program. Even though the 1979 OCDS Rule of Life has now been supplanted by our 2003 Constitutions, these elements still hold true: something for the mind, something for the heart, and something to do.” The formation guidelines are structured on a foundational statement of identity taken from the preface of the 1979 Rule of Life and worked into a formation program by the OCDS formators of our province at Dallas workshops in 1997 & 1998. “Goals in the area of Prayer, Community, Apostolate and Study are used in each stage of formation.” Fr. Jerome developed the outline of the stages of formation, i.e., Prayer, Community, apostolate, and Study. We added a section on the Promise into the periods of formation leading to the First and Definitive Promise.

The guidelines include a list of primary sources to be used during each formation period. The Council of each community is responsible for the on-going formation for those who are Definitively Professed. The one year Aspirancy program was outlined, then the two year formation leading to First Promise, and then the formation period of three years leading to Definitive Promise.

Our Father Provincial then opened the floor for discussion after thanking the council for all their work. Fr. John Michael called attention to OCDS Constitutions article 38. “When we read it, we said that the friars need to know that this is in our legislation so that they can invite us. It will be arranged that that the representatives of the OCDS will be present when apostolic service of the Order is planned in a geographical area. They expect to be invited when apostolic service is being considered and planned.” Fr. Gregory mentioned the goal of the chapter to promote vocations. “Maybe you could help us by making materials available wherever you are carrying on your local community apostolates. Your presence makes the order visible to people at large.” Bonaventure mentioned areas of expertise which the friars lack: “public relations computer technology, building contractors and architects. In all of these areas of need, seculars could be of help.” Elizabeth said, “We are making history by being here and it brings us great honor. Thank you for inviting us.” We then gathered for a photograph taken by Fr. Marion of the chapter with the OCDS Councillors, after which we adjourned to celebrate Mass.

Group photo left to right: Stephen, Sam, Ralph, Bonaventure, Gerald, Pascal, Anita, Gregory, Amelia, John Michael, Elizabeth, Nancy, (Jenaro), John Magdalene, Raphael, Marion & Henry.

Nuns at chapter

Session 13: Thursday morning 26-May-05

The chapter welcomed the prioresses of the Carmels of Nuns under our jurisdiction: Mother Teresita for San Antonio, Mother Monica from Piedmont OK, Mother Edith from Covington, Mary Ann from Houston’s New Caney, Mother Kateri from Sioux City, and Mother Cecilia from Little Rock. Fr. Provincial invited each to give a report from her community starting in alphabetical order with Covington.

Edith gave the history of the New Orleans Carmel. In 1992 the Carmel was revived by Nuns from Lafayette and Little Rock. They presently have four in formation. “As regards the building project, we have a large residence and we have been working for the last 10 years to renovate it. The additions that we have made have helped us in regard to enclosure. We have added four cells and a gift shop. We are doing work along the front of the property, adding a fence. Our plans are nearing completion. At this point, we want to remain small. We can only have 13 nuns.” Bonaventure began a discussion of the success they have had in recruiting young vocations.


Cecilia then gave a short history of the Little Rock Carmel founded from Loretto PA in 1950, their move from downtown to 32nd St., and expansion of the present site. “There have been 13 sisters most of these years. No one from Arkansas has entered the community yet. Presently we have 15 sisters. We have had a number of transfers. Camilla, Ann and Mary Alice were in Covington for a number of years. Now they have returned. For a living we distribute altar breads. And, people are very generous to our community. Almost all of our sisters are computer literate and have e-mail addresses. A new web site is being set up. We are blessed to have the friars at Marylake and the friars come twice a month to hear confessions and so forth. We are very happy to have you there. Right now we have 3 goals. The first is to build up the community and get back to essential living after our building project and renovation. We are looking at our prayer and liturgy to see how we can improve it and 3. we are looking into how we can recruit new members.” When Ralph asked about the elderly and infirm, Sister explained the new infirmary wing recently added.

Next Sr. Mary Ann gave a short history of New Caney founded from San Antonio in 1958 in a small house near Hobby airport. In 1963 they moved to the west side of Houston, and gained Mother Mary Angel, Virginia, Angel Teresa and Mary from San Antonio. “Gradually we were able to save up some money to get a new house. We moved to New Caney because a man bought our whole property [off Old Katy Rd] and allowed us to live there free of charge. In 1974 we moved to New Caney.” They support themselves by making vestments and distributing hosts. By 2001 aging, serious illness and several deaths were taking their toll in the community. They applied for grants, and were able to build a new infirmary wing. In 2003 they were able to establish a retirement fund through grants, and enrolled the Nuns in social security. “In the past 10 years we have lost five nuns through deaths and departures. In the Spring of 2002, a web site for vocations was set up. There has been little response. With the concern of the vocation problem, in 2004, with the approval of Fr. General, we participated in the diocesan vocation retreat. We plan do this again this year... Our dwindling numbers have affected us. We still support ourselves by sending out altar breads. Since Sr. Judith died we cannot do as much liturgical sewing.” Last July they set up a reception room in the front of their monastery where volunteers help screen calls, welcome guests, take prayer requests, and help bag hosts. “Our small numbers and lack of vocations are the things that are troubling us the most.” Another concern is finding a chaplain.

Suggestions on ways the friars can help: “classes and retreats, confessors a few times a year, and helping us with the theological reflection process when you pass through. We would like to continue working on the formation program and to pool our efforts for vocational recruitment.” Bonaventure stressed the need of “finding the right organizational structure to deal with the kind of collaborative possibilities.” Fr. Sam Anthony talked about the ideals of the order world-wide shifting from idealism to basic survival.

Next Sr. Monica gave her report on the Oklahoma City community, founded from New York (the Bronx) in 1939. Bishop Clement Kelley made the request for a Carmel through Fr. Vincent Martinez, O.C.D. The foundresses stayed with the Villa Teresa Sisters while a house at 18th and Ollie was converted into a temporary monastery. Ten years later they purchased 17 acres outside the city limits at 4200 N. Meridian Ave. and, beginning with a prisoner-of-war barracks moved from McAlester, OK, gradually erected a building which was to be their home for the next 36 years. They made a foundation in Ft Worth, Texas in 1958. In 1985 the community moved to their first permanent monastery in Piedmont, OK once again outside the city limits. Unfortunately our friars could no longer serve as chaplains. Gratitude was given to Fr. John Magdalene for serving as extraordinary confessor and to all the friars of the province from whom the nuns have received much good care and friendship all through the years since 1939.

Finding chaplains is difficult. "But we may have to adjust to the possibility of not having Mass every day and somehow attend Mass once a week. Our retired priests, on whom we depend, are wearing out and there will not be many to replace them." Regarding vocations, "We have taken an active part in a weekend vocation camp for high school girls the last two years and will again this summer. Last summer there were twelve girls who took part, up from seven the year before. Having seminars such as we had at Marylake proved very helpful. We would like them to continue. Perhaps we could also work together and collaborate on vocation recruitment."

This session adjourned at 11:45am for lunch in the refectory.

Session 14: Thursday afternoon

Mother Teresita began her report on San Antonio with a history of their evacuation from Durango to Tucson in the 1920s. They came to San Antonio in November 1934. Our friars housed them in the basement of the shrine while work was done on a two-story convent a few blocks south on Kentucky Ave. Our friars enabled them to stay together as a community. “This was the first time our sisters felt freedom and peace.” In 1983 they acquired their present site off Culebra in far western part of the city near the loop. “We have always been grateful for the presence of the friars and for their help as chaplains and confessors.”

“We are now 9 in the community. Our main source of income is the distribution of altar breads. We are beginning to look into a type of computer work but we are still in the beginnings of that.” “We have a great need for vocations. We have a new brochure and the web site under construction. Anything that could be done in a collaborative way in terms of vocation recruitment we would appreciate.” She mentioned construction of an infirmary and a mailing office.

Finally Mother Kateri gave a report on Sioux City. “We are the newest foundation.” A few Sisters from Bettendorf including Sr Agnes made the foundation in Sioux City in 1962. “We are a community of ten nuns… For the first part of our history there were four or five sisters. Then, in the 1980’s we prayed fervently for vocations and we received ten novices.” “As we grew to know the friars through Fr. Aloysius, we decided to go under the jurisdiction of the friars. Then in 1998 and the next three years we lost five nuns, leaders of our community. We are between the ages of 38 and 65 except for our foundress, Sr. Agnes who is 87.” She then described a mid-week hermit day, an annual preached retreat, and a two-week private retreat for each nun. “We don’t have a problem with chaplains because the diocese has taken care of that need… We have two sources of income in addition to receiving alms. We distribute altar breads and we have a sewing department where we make vestments and baptismal gowns and so on. We used to do the printing for the bulletin of two surrounding parishes and it was a good source of income but it was a pressure job and difficult for us in terms of our prayer life, so we let go of that.”

As to ways the friars may help: “Working together on the promotion of vocations; collaboration with the workshops” [the friars have organized in Dallas and at Marylake]. Another Sister agreed with Kateri about the formation workshops, and also suggested these workshops be extended to on-going formation for those no longer in initial formation.

Fr. Provincial thanked the Sisters for their presentations, and suggested that after a short break “there could be some brainstorming about how this can go forward.” He also mentioned the desire of the friars to have a central provincial website that could act as a hub for all our houses of friars and nuns.

Fr. Ralph, who as Provincial, had taken the initiative to invite the Nuns to our chapter, began the brainstorming. “Thank you for accepting our invitation to come. I was mindful of what Bonaventure had done before and I thought this would be another step. I hope more can be done to collaborate. We appreciate what you have done for us in the past. You have been very generous with us and I want to acknowledge this. At times when we have been in need, you have come through to help us financially with the educating of our students. In the crisis of our province you prayed for us.”

Fr. Henry said, “I think our Holy Mother would be happy to see the growing unity that exists between us and our desire to collaborate.” Bonaventure then asked how things were going with the theological reflection of the associations. Difficulty meeting deadlines was mentioned. Bonaventure responded, “Camilo came up with this process. The initial idea was to give the Carmel’s of the world an opportunity to speak their voice on matters touching their life.” Mary Ann said, “First we have to find our voice. We are not used to talking to one another [on this level] and this is a means for that, a coming together.” Edith said, “It is educational and it helps us to verbalize things. When we are asked to summarize our thoughts it helps us to articulate.” Cecilia responded, “it all goes slowly because we have so much to do. There are a lot of things scheduled.”

Bonaventure then asked what the province might offer that the Association does not. Edith responded, “The value as I see it is that we build identity as a province.” Monica said, “When we gather on a province level, there is greater communion.” Gregory welcomed any suggested themes for future seminars. Jenaro described how the friars and nuns work together in Mexico. Gregory suggested we take stock of our resource people. Mary Ann suggested making CDs as a tool for recruitment of vocations, but admitted she diodn’t know where to start with the technology. Fr. Marion suggested DVD’s rather than CD’s, and suggested the first step would be to film activities in your community. “The seculars could share this with their families.” Fr. Stephen suggested using local college students to help with the techincals. “You can use people at Universities who need to do projects as a resource.” Before departing for Mass downstairs, Fr. Marion set up his new camera to take a group picture in the chapter room.

left to right: Marion, Cecilia, Bonaventure, Sam, Mary Ann, Edi, Gregory, Ralph, Teresita, John Michael, Henry, Joseph Marie, Kateri, Raphael, Stephen, Monica, John Magdalene, Jenaro & Charles. Brothers Joseph Marie and Charles came to Oklahoma City to serve with external chores of hospitality.

After a break Stephen gave a report on Mt Carmel, John Magdalene on San Antonio, and Bonaventure on Marylake. “Between these three main sites, Marylake, S.A. and Mt. Carmel, there is a need for collaboration on development.” The session adjourned at 5:00pm.

Session 15: Friday morning 27-May-05

The final session of the chapter tied up loose ends. The vision committee presented their final draft for the introduction to the Acts. Frs. John Magdalene and John Michael presented the final editing of the Acts. Fr. Provincial thanked John Magdalene for all the work he did in taking detailed minutes (53 pages) of the chapter [from which this report was compiled], and the community of Oklahoma City for their wonderful hospitality to us all for these two weeks. Then with a whoop and a cheer [see photo] Gregory declared the chapter of 2005 adjourned at 10:27 am.

--John Michael OCD

--John Magdalene OCD

Provincial Assembly

All the friars of our province gather in San Antonio each year on the first full week of June to be briefed on events of the past year and plan for the one ahead. We began this practice during Father Herman’s time, I believe, as Provincial Forums. The forums provided the “hoi polloi”, the common folk, a chance to have their voice heard in the deliberations of the higher ups that affected their lives in the monastery. One of the most colorful characters to have his voice heard was Fr. Joseph Peña (may he rest in peace) who once asked the superiors of the province during a forum to explain what “frugal” meant when applied to the vow of poverty. They explained it meant we were careful not to squander what we had or live an opulent lifestyle. If we were frugal we did not throw things away; we saved them. We learn to live frugally on second hand savings, on our left overs. “So then,” Joe replied, “frugal means to save?” Yep! Later on, when the discussion got bogged down in theological issues, Joe was heard to yelp from his seat, “Frugal me! Frugal me!”

Little of our assembly time in recent years has been spent on theological issues. A great amont of our time has been taken up with the sexual abuse issue that has surfaced in the United States press in recent years. Our province has used the opportunity of the gathering of us all, to train our personnel how to make our facilities a safe place for minors, and how to properly deal with minors. After a day devoted to this issue, we moved onto insurance concerns as our premiums keep rising and benefits keep diminishing. After two days of being stuck dealing with such secular matters, a group of us decided to check out the final Star Wars episode at the local theater. Reviews were mixed. Nevertheless the next morning we arrived back at the assembly hall refreshed and well briefed to respond to any boring topic with a Yodaism.

On Wednesday evening we gathered in our basilica to celebrate the golden jubilee of two of our priests: Fathers Christopher Timoney and John Henry Bordeaux. Christopher was born John Timoney on 30-May-35 in Philadelphia. He remembers the horse drawn carriages bringing blocks of ice in summer and coal in winter to his family’s home. Hearing God’s call, he entered the Josephinum seminary in Ohio in 1949. Here his vocation turned toward religious life and on 07-Oct-51 he transferred to our Carmelite
minor seminary in Dallas, Texas. On 15-Jul-54 he was joined by a young seminarian from Milton Louisiana, John Henry Bordeaux, and both were clothed in the Carmelite habit at the Monastery of Marylake south of Little Rock AR. John Timoney took the religious name Christopher, and John Henry took the name Gracian. They were joined in September by Joe “Ambrose” Bertrand and Michael “Emmanuel” Jamail. Christopher and Henry were professed on 16-Jul-55, making this their 50th “golden” jubilee of religious profession as Discalced Carmelites. These two classmates were ordained together in San Antonio on 26-May-62.

After a summer at Conception MO, their first assignment as priests was back at the Novitiate in Marylake. Less than a year later in February 1963, Christopher was sent to our new foundation in Houston for two years. In 1966, Fr. Raymond sent him to be superior of Mt. Carmel Seminary in Dallas. During his six years as superior there he presided over the renovation of the pool, and turned the place into an inter-provincial seminary for Carmelite seminarians from both the Washington province and our own. In 1972, he was elected prior of our monastery in San Antonio and the archbishop appointed him pastor of Little Flower church, which even back then was dubbed by the diocesan clergy as “the basilica.”

The chapter of 1975 elected Christopher Provincial to succeed Fr. Herman. In 1978 he was back in San Antonio, and in 1981 he was at Santa Maria parish in Dallas. He remained at Santa Maria until Thanksgiving of 1986, when Ralph moved him to San Antonio to be the Director of Students there. On 09-Apr-87, Christopher suffered a severe debilitating stroke which has left him paralyzed to this day. But from his wheelchair, Christopher answered the phone of both parish and monastery for years, and has ministered to priests and bishops of San Antonio as confessor even to this day from his nursing home where he was moved in 2002.

Christopher is the consumate extrovert, the life of the party. He keeps track of the whereabouts of any Sister who ever worked for us, and is the first to hear the latest gossip. Look for where the action is and you will find it gathered around that guy in the wheelchair. Like the pope at Castel Gandolfo, Christopher greets visitors to the nursing home from the second floor balcony where goes to socialize and smoke his cigarettes.

John Henry was born a twin on 06-Feb-36 in Lafayette LA, and raised in Milton. Answering God’s call to be a priest, he entered Immaculata minor seminary in Lafayette where he learned about religious life from our nuns next door. Henry was clothed with Christopher on 15-Jul-54 at Marylake, and they made their profession of vows on 16-Jul-55. Ordained in San Antronio on 26-May-62, he was transferred to Marylake after completing his 4th year of theology in June 1963. After six weeks of study at Conception Abbey in Missouri, he was sent to Little Flower parish in Oklahoma City in June 1964. There was he tried by fire as he was placed under Albert Martinez as superior. The future seemed brighter when Henry got another pastor and superior in native Oklahoman, young Fr. Daniel Cardenas.

In the summer of ’69, Henry was trasferred to the Cathedral in Dallas. There he persevered under two pastors: Patrick Ahern and Andrew Palmero. In November ’73 he was transferred to Dilley Texas with David Cardenas. In July 1980 he moved to Santa Maria parish in west Dallas, but a year later was transferred to San Antonio to be student master to John Magdalene and his classmate who had just left their novitiate under Fr. Joseph Neilson. From August ’84 to June ’85, he studied in St. Louis. In November of ’86 he was made pastor of Santa Maria. In July 1987, he came to Marylake, and served as Novice Master there from 1989-1991. Henry was appointed by the bishop of Little Rock to care for the Hispanics in Arkansas from 1996 to 2002. In 2002 he was transferred to Oklahoma City.

Henry is known as our pious friar, unperturbed by the cajolings of his brothers that he has made more appearances in Medjugorje than Our Lady. He keeps our libraries stocked with copies of Our Lady Speaks to her Beloved Priests. A most convivial man, Henry is known for his culinary skills. He makes a gumbo second to none, starting off with a cajun rue and blending in any fish or animal part available, usually with the help of any poor Brother who wanders into the kitchen unaware he might spend the next few hours peeling shrimp or de-boning a squirrel.


On the final night of our assembly, the Prioress of our nuns, Mother Teresita, invited us all over for supper. She was a splendid host, seen here with our new young Provincial, Father Gregory, and our old Provincial Ralph leaning on his cane. We joked with the nuns that we would stay all night, because we knew they were interested in watching a basketball game that night as the San Antonio Spurs fought for the national championship. These cloistered nuns are the Spurs biggest fans.