New Orleans

spring 04

After Easter week 2004, the Provincials and Councillors of the three Discalced Carmelite provinces in the USA met in New Orleans. The meeting lasted from May 20-21, as reported in the last newsletter. Enclosed picture of the councillors: John Magdalene Suenram, Ralph Reyes, Byran Paquette, Jude Peters, Gregory Ross, Bonaventure Lussier (Chicago), Bonaventure Sauer, Gerald Werner, Mark-Joseph DeVelis (Holy Hill pastor), Daniel Chowning (stud Mast Chicago), Michael Villagomez (Redlands), James Geoghegan (Mt Angel OR), & Christopher LaRocca (nov mast San Jose).

Fall 2004

This past fall semester we were happy to see Br. Joseph Le come back to our New Orleans community, after spending a year in San Antonio. He resumed his studies at Notre Dame Seminary beginning his second year of theology. Br. Charles, on the other hand, went to San Antonio to do his pastoral internship. After a successful pastoral experience, we were able to have him back in the beginnings of November. He is in fourth year of theology. Br. Juan began his first year of theology this semester.

During the last week of October (25-29) we were honored to attend a formation symposium for our nuns at Marylake. There had representation from the Carmels of San Antonio, New Caney, Covington, Piedmont, Little Rock, and Sioux City. Pictured at our provincial cemetery are: Srs. Mary Catherine, Alice, Edith, Grace & Maria with Fr. Gregory. Those in white veils are in formation, those in dark veils are formators. We, the students were able to attend since the event coincided with our fall break. We had the honor of providing transportation to some of our nuns from the Covington Carmel. Two seminarians from Notre Dame went with us, Paul Yi, from the diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Blake Deshautelle [photo] from the diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana. Since both of them are musicians (Paul sings and plays the organ and Blake plays the electric guitar), they provided a valuable help with the music for the liturgy.

From November 15 to the 17 we had the official visitation of Fr. Stephen Watson, who came with Fr. Ralph Reyes. We were enjoyed his company and words of support and encouragement.

During the Thanksgiving weekend Br. Juan got permission to attend his cousin’s wedding in Orlando, Florida. There he met with many of his family members who traveled to Orlando for the occasion. Being surrounded so many family members from Puerto Rico, Br. Juan’s Thanksgiving Day was far from quiet.

As is already tradition, Fr. Gregory, Br. Joseph Le and Br. Charles spent a nice and quiet Thanksgiving Day at Fr. Gregory’s parents.

From December 17 to 23 Fr. Gregory and Br. Juan went to the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic for a formation symposium offered by the CICLA. There was representation from the provinces of Central America, Venezuela, Oklahoma, Washington, and the vicariate of the Caribbean. The hospitality of the friars, the fellowship, and the conferences were excellent. Unfortunately Br. Juan and then Fr. Gregory got sick with the flu. On December 23 they both flew to San Antonio where they joined Br. Joseph Le and Br. Charles with the rest of the San Antonio community for the celebration of Christmas. Posed for the Christmas picture in our students chapel are: Joe Le, Juan, Charles, John Magdalen, Sam, Gregory, Ralph, & Marion. On the 30th the four of them drove to Marylake where they received the New Year and attended the profession of our novice, Br. Joseph Marie, which took place on January 2, the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

--filed by Juan Cabrera on 01-Jan-05

2005

After a summer in San Antonio, Brother Juan returned to the John of Cross house of studies in New Orleans to begin his 2nd year of theology at Notre Dame seminary. Br. Joseph Le spent the summer in Oklahoma City doing C.P.E., and will continue in Oklahoma making his second novitiate in preparation for solemn profession. Br. Charles is now stationed in San Antonio. Fr. Sam Anthony moved to New Orleans from San Antonio on July 29th. Father Sam will be the new Director of Students.

Brother Luis Benedicto in Rome flew home to Mexico after classes to attend to his brother who was in danger of dying. When his brother got better, he came back to our province and spent the summer in Oklahoma City. On August 12 he left for San Antonio and back to Mexico before leaving for the fall semester back in Rome.

--filed by Fr. John Michael, Aug-05

Bro. Joseph Le was here just for a week in August. He brought our car, the red Taurus, back. Just that we needed. He must see a certain Fr. Hampton Davis to give a report on his CPE experience that he opted to make this summer. He will be here a few more days and then return to Oklahoma City. He will, as you thought, prepare for solemn vows there. Where he will actually make solemn profession is not clear. After his profession, we expect him to return to New Orleans. That should be early January, 2006, to resume more studies as a brother.

Bro. Juan Evangelista will begin his second year in theology. Bro. Joseph Marie of St Philomena begins his first year of theology. Their summer at the San Antonio Basilica, under Fr. John Magdalene, was pastorally benefial to them, and it was most helpful to the parish community there.

Fr. Gregory has chosen to retain his residence here in New Orleans. Naturally, he will be in and out. We will try to keep him from working too hard. Presently our small community experience is very positive and light hearted.

Sam Anthony is happy to be here. He is feeling, however, probably because he is in his 70s, the stress of the surprise move from San Antonio, and the adjustment to our dealings with the big Institution of Notre Dame Seminiary. I must say that the faculty members have made me feel very welcome. I do not expect to be teaching here. Enough to contribute to the on-going education of our valued-few Carmelite students with me.

I would like to relay that my mother, Louise Morello, at 92, is now doing very well in an asssited living community in Houston, called the Hampton. Since she has lost her short-term memory, this is truly the answer to her children's worries about adequate care for her.

We wish all of you well. We pray daily for Fr. Augustine Healy's recovery. It seems strange to be distanced from Frs. Mary Philip and Christopher. God bless all our sick and infirm brothers and sisters in Carmel.

--filed by Sam Anthony Morello, 17-Aug-05

Fall 2005

In August we welcomed to our province Fr. Augustine Kizhakkedam, outgoing Provincial of Malabar [photo]. Having escaped the Tsunami that hit India earlier this year, Father began his stay in the safety of our province in the city of New Orleans where our Provincial resides. Fr. Gregory, our new Provincial, was in Sioux City on the last week of August. News reports warned of a killer Hurricane heading for New Orleans, Father’s home town. Gregory boarded one of the last flights in on Saturday, August 26. Most on that flight, were residents flying home in order to evacuate the city. Fr. Sam Anthony, loaded up the Suburban with our two seminarians, Fr. Augustine, and a seminarian from our parish in Oklahoma. They fled across Lake Ponchatrain to our nuns in Covington on the north shore. Fr. Gregory joined them in our red Ford Taurus on Sunday. Pictures on my Katrina blog http://oklahomaocdsviewnewsl.blogspot.com/

Hurricane Katrina spared New Orleans a direct hit Monday morning. The fury of it’s winds and tidal waves wiped out the Mississippi gulf coast. Monday afternoon as Katrina’s diminishing backwinds battered the city, it was presumed New Orleans had been spared. Tuesday August 30th was a calm warm day. The sun shone bright on the city. Residents who evacuated prepared to return home. But unseen trouble was brewing. The city’s pumps were no longer capable of ridding the streets of the storm waters. Several levees had been breached by the storm. All the water pumped out, was flowing back in. The pumps were shut down and the city quickly flooded. Chalmette is one of the lowest suburbs of New Orleans. Provincial Councillor for our lay Carmelites, Pascal Alfano OCDS [photo], lived there. He had broken his heel in the weeks before the hurricane and could not help his wife move their belongings in their evacuation. They got out, but the flood waters came up to their roof and they lost everything. Marion Sterns OCDS did not evacuate her home in Chalmette and drowned with over a thousand others. Marion’s body was recovered by her family on the last of November, and burial is planned for early December.

After weathering the storm in Covington, our five friars helped our nuns clear debris from their convent to the road. Once the highways were cleared, our refugees took off for Marylake in Arkansas where they spent most of September before resuming classes at Notre Dame’s temporary campus in Covington. Fr. Gregory Ross, Fr Sam Anthony and Brothers Joseph Marie and Juan, were allowed for the first time to return to the Student House in New Orleans on Sept 27, to see how it fared. Fr Sam Anthony was dreading it, especially from what we had heard of others who had returned to their homes, especially the condition of refrigerators and freezers. So, when they arrived at the Student House and Father Gregory said, "Let me be first", Fr. Sam Anthony was only too glad to say "Be my guest". However, it did not turn out to be as bad as they feared, with the exception of the freezer and refrigerator. The water line was to the second step and they have three steps so no water entered the house. They detected new mold only in the tv room where a window had blown out. All books, computers etc. safe. The brothers were heroic; they took the refrigerator and freezer out before emptying them; had to take an inner door off the hinges to get it out. They were wearing a big plastic bag with holes cut in it for arms and legs, long rubber gloves and masks. They double-bagged the contents; even so the smell, i.e. "stench" came through so they triple bagged the last one. The dumpster was near the bishop's house so they took it all there. They came back to Covington late, tired and wanting a hot bath and bed. Their spirits were much revived the next morning.

Fr Sam Anthony and the students are attending St Joseph Seminary this semester and living on the grounds of our nuns. The two students have the new First Professed Wing, a stand alone wing with bedroom and study for each and a kitchen and a foyer where they say the Hours together presided over by the Blessed Virgin Mary statue. Fr. Sam has the guest house.

--filed by Sr Aletheia OCD, 01-Oct-05