Oklahoma Newsletter

25th Profession Jubilee

2011-10-29T12:27:00.010-05:00

We celebrated our annual retreat at Marylake from Oct 17-21 the 3^rd week of October. Fr. Raphael preached the retreat on Saint Teresa’s way of prayer as a relationship of intimacy with Jesus. On Thursday Bonaventure coined the name, “Rudolf the red-nosed Carthusian” referring to the Jesus Book St. Teresa used.

On Wed., 19-Oct-11 at 5:00 pm Mass we celebrated the 25^th silver jubilee of Bonaventure and Marion’s profession. They made their profession on the feast of Our Lady in July of ’86, but we wait until the province is all gathered together at Marylake to celebrate these things.

Our Fr. Provincial read the epistle, and after Marion read the gospel, each jubilarian spoke of his personal journey to Carmel. Both spoke of their gratitude to God for giving them 25 years of community life in our province. Living together in community is not always rosy, as any married couple can also attest.

Each rose has thorns. How did Paul express it? “In order that I might not become conceited I was given a thorn in my flesh.” [2 Cor 12,7] With the joys of community life come obligations and service to the brethren. Each of these two friars have stood up to these responsibilities with courage and valor for 25 years.

Fr. Bonaventure, in his gratitude to his religious brothers, also mentioned some failures he perceived in the positions of leadership to which we had elected him, accompanied by misunderstandings. His calls for restructuring and collaborative ministry did not always fall on sympathetic ears. But from a retrospective view on it all, he retains now a deep sense of thanks for having been accepted and being loved by his Brothers.

Fr. Marion recounted his long journey through imprisonments and boat wrecks of biblical proportions to finally get to learn about the Carmelite life through our nuns in Lafayette and Father Henry who introduced him to the friars. Marion laid down his guard and spoke of his personal feelings of gratitude to Our Lord and his Carmelite brothers for accepting his years of struggle with language and customs to arrive at this time of acceptance and true Brotherhood.

Fr. Luis, our Provincial, joined the two jubilarians on the altar for their Mass of Thanksgiving. The Community of Marylake had decorated the altar with autumn flowers and invited all, after the Mass, to a banquet in the refectory prepared by Rolf Tinner, a Swiss chef friend of Johnny Diaz.

Our retreat continued Thursday with Fr. Raphael’s final conference in the morning, and all the friars returned home to their monasteries and parishes Friday morning.

General Definitor's visit

2010-04-16T20:10:00.004-05:00

On Monday, April 12th, the General Definitor, Fr. John Grennan, flew in to make an informal visitation of our province. He flew from Rome to Newark where he went through customs, then caught a flight to Little Rock and actually came in almost an hour early. That’s something unheard of around these parts.

We had a nice visit with Father John. Here’s a picture of our little community with him. Father Marion Joseph is on the left, then Fr. John Michael, Father Grennan and Fr. John Magdalene on the right. Father John Magdalene made a vegetarian meal for Father Grennan. Father has been on a strict diet recently and brings his own blender. He has also been mending from knee surgery and had to cancel visitation of the California-Arizona province due to that.

The last picture was taken Wednesday morning the 14th as our Father Provincial, Gregory Ross [left] prepared to drive Father Greenan to our nuns in Jackson for lunch, and then onto our house in New Orleans. From there they will go to Covington, Lafayette, New Caney, San Antonio, Dallas and end up in Oklahoma City. After a meeting of Provincial Councils, Father will begin visiting the Washington province before returning to Rome.

Raphael's jubilee

2009-11-22T12:46:00.003-06:00

Father Raphael Kitz celebrated his golden jubilee as a priest this year. The jubilee celebrations began on June 2nd with a Mass with the Arkansas bishop for all jubilarians serving in the diocese. Raphael is shown here with the other jubilarians about to enter the cathedral in Little Rock for the jubilee Mass. The priest on the left, Gregory Hart, celebrated his 25th, and the priest on the other side of Father Raphael, Msgr. John Kordsmeier is celebrating his 60th.

Next Father was interviewed by the newspaper. He is shown here with Lladro’s bronze sculpture of Holy Mother Teresa of Jesus to the left and Edith Stein’s passport photo hanging on the wall behind him in the entrance room of the Monastery of Marylake. The headline of the article: “Priest spends 50 years… teaching spirituality.” In 1953 Father Raphael Kitz, OCD, came to Marylake Monastery and became a novice in the Order of Discalced Carmelites. As the novice master since 1993, Father Kitz has instructed at least 30 novices in the lifestyle and teachings of the Carmelite tradition.

Raphael celebrated his actual ordination day, September 19th at our Nuns in New Caney Texas. Then our big celebration was held in October when our entire province gathered at Marylake for our annual retreat. Raphael concelebrated this jubilee Mass with Father Stephen Sanchez, superior of Mt Carmel Center in Dallas who celebrates this year his 25th jubilee of Religious profession.

Fr. Gregory Ross, our provincial, preached extolling each for the service rendered our province as priests and as religious. Raphael entered our province after a brief stint with the Dominicans, in September 1953, four years before Stephen was born. Stephen was professed on July 16, 1984, in this very chapel where he was now celebrating his 25th jubilee.

After the Father Provincial’s sermon, Father Raphael had a few words of his own to share. He kept the subject matter lighthearted as you can see from Stephen’s reaction. “You would think a person his age would be thinking of retiring, but he’s going like the Energizer bunny,” noted Raphael’s local superior. He has put 200,000 miles on his car in the last seven years alone. He ministers to our Secular Order in Jackson Mississippi each month, and is extraordinary confessor to our Nuns in the Houston area. Each Sunday finds him at a parish in Arkansas.

After the jubilee Mass the province gathered to have their picture taken with Father Raphael. We then adjourned to the refectory for a feast with the biggest bottle of champagne ever seen in these parts. Raphael poses here with two of his community members at Marylake: Frs. John Michael and John Magdalene. A month later and we still haven’t finished off that bottle. Maybe for Thanksgiving! Also check out the Marylake blog at http://okfriarsnewslet.blogspot.com for the jubilee decorations there.

Gregory's birthday

2009-10-23T21:51:00.002-05:00

On Wednesday 21-October Fr. Gregory Ross, our Father Provincial turned 45. The Province was gathered for the week at the Monastery of Marylake for retreat. We had decided to celebrate the 50th sacerdotal jubilee of Father Raphael and the 25th jubilee of Father Stephen’s profession on that day, so to give the Provincial his due, we surprised him with a birthday cake on the night before his birthday. The cake had four candles. When you get this old is easier to count the decades than the years.

In our second picture Father Sam appears to be discussing with Gregory the ramifications of middle age. The sad faced dog balloon is tied to a red bag of coffee, Chicory of course –no son of Nawlins would have any other kind.

Juan's ordination

2009-07-22T22:56:00.005-05:00

As our province gathered in San Antonio for Juan Cabrera’s ordination, we found two of our Fathers in the hospital: Fr. Christopher and Fr. Joseph. We kidded Juan about what happened at Luis Joaquin’s ordination in 2003. Fr. Michael died during the ordination ceremony. “Which one of us is your ordination going to kill off?” we asked Juan. He answered, “Maybe one who is not even in the hospital!”
Fr. Stephen Sanchez, acting superior in Dallas, helps Juan get dressed in the sacristy for his ordination on Friday June 12th.

Juan’s family flew in from Puerto Rico for the occasion. That’s his brother and sister on the left, and his Mom Maria “Bory” and Dad Jorge Sr. (Juan is Jorge Jr.) on the right of our basilica’s front pew.

Our novice, Br. Juan Guillermo was one of the main servers for the ordination Mass. He stands here beside concelebrant Stephen Sanchez in the sacristy as we prepare to begin our procession into the church. We were privileged to have the Archbishop himself lead the ceremony. In the past, the archbishops have often sent their auxiliaries to perform our ordinations at the basilica.

The Mass finally begins at 7:00 pm sharp. The Little Flower choir did a beautiful job with music for the ceremony as our priests and brothers led the procession, when all had taken their place in the sanctuary, Juan was left quite alone at the altar rail. You can see the tomb chapel in the background.

The ordination of a priest is a most complex ritual, but the actual act of ordination is a simple gesture done in absolute silence, as the bishop lays his hands on the ordinand’s head. This happened at 7:57 pm, so you can see that almost a hour of preparatory prayers preceded the actual ordination.

The next thing is the investiture of the new priest in the priestly vestments. Juan was assisted by our vocation director, Luis Joaquin Castañeda, and our Father Provincial who is preparing the chasuble. Each vestment has a spiritual significance: the alb, the cincture, the stole and the chasuble.

The chasuble was the final priestly vestment to go on. As our Father Provincial and Fr. Luis Joaquin straighten Juan out, we can see in the background that Father Joseph got out of the hospital in time to attend the ordination ceremony. Father pulled his motorized chair (I heard he calls it his “electric chair”) up to the altar rail between Juan and the server.

At the offertory Juan’s mother brings up the paten which holds the Eucharistic bread, and his father brings up the chalice which will soon contain the blood of Christ. The two deacons of our Little Flower parish receive the offertory gifts from Juan’s family.

The first Mass of a priest is usually considered to be the Mass said on the day after his ordination, for that would be the first Mass at which the newly ordained priest would preside. But the actual first Mass of a priest is actually his ordination Mass which he concelebrates with the archbishop, José Gomez [left] and Luis Gerardo Belmonte [right] who is the pastor of the basilica.

At the end of Mass, Juan thanked all who helped him with their prayers and sacrifices to come to this day: his family, his Carmelite community, his friends and classmates at the seminary. It takes a whole church to produce a priest, and after Juan expressed his gratitude to them all, the archbishop led the congregation in an applause for he who is now our Father Juan.

At the end of Mass we sang the Salve Regina as the archbishop, Juan and Luis Gerardo prepare to process out of the sanctuary into the basilica to greet the many people who had come from far and near to be with Father Juan for this joyful day in his young life. The parish hosted a reception in the parish hall after the ceremony.

Ralph's 40th

2009-06-13T20:23:00.003-05:00

Ralph Reyes, when he was a student in Washington D.C. back in the ‘60s, used to say he was going to die young. We kept telling him, “only the good die young.” It is true that so many of our Carmelite saints died in their twenties: St. Thérèse the Little Flower, Elizabeth of the Trinity, and Teresa of the Andes (only 19). Well, last Wednesday our province, gathered in San Antonio, celebrated with Ralph his fortieth jubilee as a priest. A few of the many priests who concelebrated that Mass (the few who vested early) gather around Ralph in the sacristy [left to right]: Frs. John Michael, James Curiel, Luis Joaquin (Ralph’s superior), Henry, Jenaro, Ralph, Gregory (our Provincial), Stephen, Bonaventure, Luis Gerardo (the pastor) & Sam A Morello.

At the offertory, The Knights of Columbus presented Ralph with a chalice which he gratefully accepted and brought into the sanctuary for that Jubilee Mass. Ralph was ordained in Uvalde Texas, his hometown, on the 15th of June 1969. His ministry has been a great blessing for our province, and though we refrain from wishing him 40 more, we certainly pray he makes it to his golden jubilee in ten years. Then maybe he can take a much deserved rest from his many labors. Presently he serves as pastor of Little Flower church in Oklahoma City.

Clothing a novice

2009-01-08T00:42:00.008-06:00

It has been a long time since we have had the clothing of a novice in our province. The last novice we clothed left after a few years to study for the diocese of Nashville. So it was with great joy that we celebrated the clothing of a novice in Oklahoma City on December 30^th. It was the first clothing, to my knowledge we ever had in Oklahoma. We began receiving novices in San Antonio in 1933. Then we moved our provincial novitiate to Marylake in Arkansas in 1951.

Our present Director of Vocations is Luis Joaquin Castañeda. In the first photo of December 30, Father Luis presents to our Fr. Provincial the candidate to be clothed in our Carmelite habit. He tells the provincial that the postulant came to us on January 8, 2007, and after spending eight months in Oklahoma City, he spent three months at our House of Studies in New Orleans. The provincial council has approved him to be admitted into our province as a novice. The Provincial then asks the postulant if he is ready to be clothed.

The Provincial and Director of Postulants then bless the habit (on the table in the photo) with holy water. Our habit was modified in the 16^th century by Saint Teresa of Avila. She cut off what she thought was excess material from the original Carmelite habit, and added sandals as a sign of the 16^th century reform.

Father Gregory, our Provincial then invests Juan Guillermo in the woolen tunic, and leather belt. You can see it’s a rather long belt. Saint Teresa, with a woman’s keen eye, even measured how long it would be, and this one looks just about the way she envisioned it. That's the pastor, Fr. Ralph Reyes, seated in back. The provincial is preparing to give Brother Juan the scapular which is the principal part of the Carmelite habit, signifying our devotion to Jesus’ Blessed mother.

I don’t know what’s going on in this picture. I think maybe the Provincial is straightening him out, now that he’s got the scapular and capuche or hood which serves as the friar’s hat. And now that I see that belt below the scapular, it does look a little long. Either that or the scapular may be a bit short. I’ll have to look up how many inches Teresa wanted it to drop below the scapular. We men, of course, could not care less, but women have a better fashion sense than most of us. It’s late. More pictures of this later.

last days

2008-06-05T23:30:00.008-05:00

Wednesday June 4th was spent with the Nuns who are under our province’s jurisdiction. Fr. Gregory welcomed “our Sisters” [left to right]: Srs. Edith from Covington, Kateri from Sioux City, Donna from Piedmont, Angel Teresa from New Caney and Teresita from San Antonio. Sr. Therese from Little Rock was unable to come. We first shared what’s going on at the chapter and invited each to give a report on her community. Vocaton promotion was our first priority.

Covington: We were blessed during the time of Katrina with having our brothers from New Orleans here for a semester, and to help us clean up after the initial damage. Fr. Sam gave wonderful talks during his stay with us --very formative. Mary Catherine transferred to San Antonio, and Joan transferred from Little Rock. Fides made solemn profession 21-May-06 & Grace on 03-Jun-07. Anna Maria made 1st profession 08-Sep-06 & Gabrielle professed 05-May-07.

LittleRock: Greatest need is new life in our community. Blessed with close relationship with our Fathers.

New Caney: Our community celebrates 50 years of our foundation this year. With great emotion, voice choked, Sr. Angel Teresa acknowledged “an enormous debt of gratitude to San Antonio Carmel and our friars in helping us survive a crisis in our history.” LifeAwareness retreat was a help. MaryAnne was present at career day at St Thomas University and a day for high school seniors in vocation promotion. After a few visits, young women are invited to come inside the cloister for a live-in. Theresa Margaret came from Savannah Dec 28, 2007. We had difficulty finding a chaplain this triennium, but last March 28, Msgr Paul Procella retired to be our chaplain. Friars can help us as extraordinary confessor, with talks and retreats, homilies, and pooling efforts for vocational promotion. Dinosaurs moving into neighborhood: Dino Park planned.

Piedmont: The medium age of our community is 58. This triemmium we have celebrated one diamond (60) jubilee, one golden & one silver. Two became US citizens: Agatha and Maria. Villa Teresa invited over for Juan de Bono’s conferences on Elizabeth of Trinity which we hosted. We replaced our roof in Feb '08, and it was destroyed by a hail storm in March. Difficulty finding priests for Mass. We are developing a formation team to help the novice mistress. Elder Care concern to take care of Sisters at home with help. Our Fathers help by their visits. We want them available for special liturgies. Continue the Marylake formative program. Help foster vocations to friars and nuns, perhaps we could make a collaborative effort in this. We signed up for vocation day in Stubenville. We need to go where the vocations are.

San Antonio: We are grateful to our friars. We feel the relationship between the nuns and the friars here is as it should be. We have two Sisters in formation: Mary Catherine and Teresa Guadalupe a novice from Guadalajara. In July a woman from Puerto Rico will enter as postulant. All three are in their 30s. This is a big help as our membership is much older than that. Maria was received in 1970, so we have a big vocational gap. Hospice helps with Stella. Monthly day of recollection with Blessed Sacrament. Goals: vocation promotion, program for formators, deepen own community life and life of prayer. We want the friars to continue offering retreats for us in Spanish and in English. DVD’s of conferences could be made available. OCDS might help with this.

Sioux City: We’re a young community in a small city of 85,000. We have ten nuns. Our foundress Agnes 90, is still with us. We distribute altar breads and have a regular chaplain. We just received a postulant, the daughter of two OCDS members; she’s 21 years old. Medium age of community is 50. Vocation committee appointed, 4 nuns including novice. We made a vocational DVD, and have a procession to empty cells in our novitiate to pray for vocations. Happy to participate in Formators workshop. There’s something special about formation workshop in our province at Marylake. Goals: complete remodeling of choir and grill, plan something for St Paul year. We’re a diverse community; we work hard to have open expression of ideas. Provincial was there when we had to deal with a difficult situation.

Fr. Stephen asked if possible to have vocational requirements of each convent to help us direct prospects: age range, etc. to have perhaps in catalogue. Plan in such a way that dates when nuns will be out will not overlap with Association meetings, workshops, etc. Witchita nuns call themselves OCD. Our theological reflection is a ten year project initiated by the General Camillo with about 4 more to go.

The chapter finished up loose ends on Thursday the 5th, following the golden jubilee Mass for Fr. Jenaro on Wednesday evening in the Basilica. Cornish hens were prepared and tables decorated in the refectory afterwards. Father Ralph preached telling the story of Jenaro’s impatient encounter with some gypsies who showed up at Dallas’ cathedral on Ash Wednesday. They came up at Communion time. When Jenaro held up the host, after the “Cuerpo de Cristo,” they replied, “Not that! The other thing!” Jenaro told them he distributed ashes at the end of Mass. So they came up again after Mass, but stuck out their tongue as if they would be receiving Holy Communion. Jenaro, now exasperated with these unchurched gypsies, gave no furhter explanation. He simply put the ashes on their tongue.

After Mass, a banquet was held for all. The two Luises brought out the finest liquor.

The Chapter ended on Friday morning, the 9th. The chapter of 2008 came to a close at 10:00 am.

Day 6

2008-06-04T00:18:00.003-05:00

Gregory convened at 9:05 am and welcomed the OCDS members present, introducinig the newly elected president of OCDS Provincial Council, Elizabeth Korves from Austin. Elizabeth Korves then introduced the members of the council: [left to right] Henrietta Albright from Baton Rouge, Dorothy Mansen from Dallas, Elizabeth, Gloria Guajardo from San Antonio, Nancy Thompson from Cedar Rapids Iowa, and secretary Karen Harris from Atlanta. Elizabeth then gave a report on the work of the PC over the last three years.

What can the friars do for the OCDS?

Ask each house how the friars collaborate with the OCDS group in their area in relation to helping share Carmelite spirituality. Each house reported after a coffee break. Marylake assists two communities in Little Rock and Jackson. They meet at our monastery twice a year. Seculars help with upkeep of our facilities in Dallas. Seculars in San Antonio are now meeting in the basilica undercroft. Oklahoma City invites more interaction of OCDS with friars, since they meet at our Nuns, and have a Villa Teresa Sister as their assistant. New Orleans assists two groups: one who meets at the seminary and the other at our nuns in Covington.

How are the students formed about OCDS? CA-AZ province requires their students to attend the Regional Congress and one OCDS meeting each year.

Eat with us! The new OCDS Provincial Council met before the chapter in Castroville. They are shown here having their last Mass with outgoing delegate, Fr. John Michael. Celebration of OCDS 50th jubilee in San Antonio organized a reception, no friars even came across the street to attend this. It was negatively received by the ocds. Similar thing when we visited the General in Dallas.

Do not water down the demands of our OCDS vocation.

What can the OCDS do for the friars? Please alert us to when a profession or ordination is going to take place. If it’s public, some might be able to attend. At the very least, if we know early enough, we can put an announcement into the Flos Carmeli, our newsletter, so OCDS can hold the friar in prayer and maybe send a card. The session adjourned at 12:25 pm and the OCDS joined the friars in the refectory for some delicious enchiladas made by Ralph’s sister Alicia. In the afternoon we continued working on the Acts and Policies.

Day 5

2008-06-02T22:37:00.003-05:00

This was the first chapter of our province to which every solemnly professed member was invited to participate. Left to right in back: Bernard O’Neill, Raphael Kitz, Bonaventure Sauer, John Michael Payne, Jesus Sancho & Jenaro de la Cruz. Front: Joseph Le, Marion Bui, Sam Morello, Ralph Reyes, Henry Bordeaux, Jerome Early, Luís Gerardo Belmonte, Gregory Ross, Stephen Sanchez, James Curiel, Luís Joaquin Castañeda & John Magdalene Suenram.

On Friday the chapter reviewed our provincial policies. We first treated our new “Safe Environment Policy” which replaced our 2005 policy on “Sexual Misconduct.” The new policy was formulated by Fr. Ralph with the help of Presidium. It is meant to ensure that our province is a safe place where minors and adults with special needs may be protected from sexual abuse.

After an introductory section containing a definition of terms, the policy is divided into six sections: I. Code of Conduct, II. Screening and Formation Programs, III. 29 Standards for Prevention, IV. Review Boards, V. Pastoral Care Plan, and VI. A Form to be signed. We next approved the policy on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, then amended the Standardization of Financial Reporting with the recommendation that Quick Books replace Quicken, using the same stated categories as implemented in 2005. We differed the Living Will to later pointing out that Medical Power of Attorney is needed in order to implement the will. Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte [right], our delegate to the next general chapter.

Fr. Provincial then asked us to think about some goals to achieve this triennium, and concrete plans for achieving them. Areas of concern: vocation promotion and development projects including senior friendly houses of residence. Having finished the business of this first week of the chapter, we adjourned until Monday. In the evening, Fr. Provincial announced that his new delegate to the Secular Order was Fr. Bonaventure Sauer.

Day 4

2008-06-02T13:19:00.003-05:00

Thursday began with former Provincial, Fr. Bonaventure [photo right] leading us in Morning Prayer & Mass. Father Sam is in charge of music and liturgical coordination at the chapter. Left to right below: Fr. Jenaro whose golden jubilee of profession we will celebrate next Wednesday evening, Frs. Jerome, Marion, our postulant Juan Guillermo, Fr. Jesus & Br. Bernard.

Our business this day was spent on the Acts of the Chapter. Most of the Acts of the chapter of 2005 were approved for the following triennium. Amendments were made to four of the Acts on Our Carmelite Life, one Act was dropped. Amendments were made to two Acts on Members and Formation, and one Act added. One Act under Government was delayed. Under Economics, the Medical Fund and Elder Care Fund were revised, and an addendum added on expenses requiring special permission. Tomorrow we will proceed to examine our provincial Policies.

In the evening, we shared supper with our Nuns. 96 year old Sr. Stella is now in the infirmary and unable to make her enchilladas. Our nuns now have two White veiled onesn in formation: one from Mexico, and Mary Catherine whose Oatmeal cookies are always a delight. Fr. Marion [photo right] entertained our nuns with his Vietnamese lute which he made of bamboo.

chapter day 3

2008-06-01T22:30:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday morning, our new provincial council was installed. As Brother Joseph [photo right] is 7 months short of the three years required for this office since solemn profession a dispensation had been obtained from Rome overnight. We then proceeded to read the introduction to our chapter Acts of 2005, and give a report on what follow-ups had or had not been done on the goals we had set for this past triennium. A provincial website has been up and running at http://www.carmelitesok.org Fr. Provincial and his brother Michael have been maintaining it. Perhaps we could contract someone to continue this maintenance. Fr. Luis Joaquin [photo left] gave a report on vocation promotion efforts over the last three years. He receives about ten e-mails a year that appear to be good prospects. Work with Serra clubs and youth groups. We have one postulant, Juan Guillermo who after completing a fall course in English in New Orleans, would hopefully be ready to enter our novitiate after the first of next year.

Regarding Santa Maria in Dallas, we had hopes that the province of Mexico might help us staff this parish, but other developments took precedence. We still hold out the hope of help to our province from Mexico’s province of San Alberto.

We also discussed at length the best place for our students, with much discussion on Oblate’s O.S.T. [School of Theology] in San Antonio, and Notre Dame seminary in New Orleans. After a break, the superior of each of our houses gave a report on their respective foundation: Stephen for Mount Carmel Center, Jesus for Santa Maria both of Dallas. In the afternoon the community reports continued with Ralph on Marylake, Jenaro on Oklahoma City [photo right], John Magdalene on San Antonio, and Sam for New Orleans.

Provincial Chapter

2008-05-30T18:22:00.008-05:00

Our Provincial chapter convened in the student wing of our Monastery in San Antonio on Monday evening, May 26^th. Fr. Provincial led us in Evening Prayer, after which Fr. Gregory Ross was installed for his second consecutive triennium as our Provincial. He had been elected by the popular vote of the solemnly professed members of our province this spring. After supper we gathered in the old student recreation room for our first business session of the chapter. The schedule, chapter Acts 05, Ratio, Policies, and other miscellaneous documents were distributed. This was the first chapter of our province’s history in which all solemnly professed members of the province had been invited to participate due to the small number of personnel in our province. With the recent death of Fr. Mary Philip, we have only 23 professed. Two of these are in nursing homes, one in Rome and one in simple vows. So we had19 chapter friars present. The first order of business was to appoint a secretary. Fr. Provincial asked for volunteers, at which time all observed strict custody of the eyes. Fr. John Michael volunteered with the condition that he be given an assistant. Fr. Gregory then read our Fr. General’s letter to the chapter and delivered his state of the province address. He also gave us the sad news that Fr. Augustine Kizhakkedam will be returning to India. Father has been a wonderful help to us this triennium.

Tuesday was a day of Recollection which began with Fr. Provincial’s Mass homily inspired by Pope Benedict’s quote:

How does the Spirit operate? First of all, by bestowing remembrance, a remembrance in which the particular is joined to the whole, which in turn endows the particular, which hitherto had not been understood, with its genuine meaning. A further characteristic of the Spirit is listening; he does not speak in his own name, he listens, and teaches how to listen. In other words, he does not add anything but rather acts as a guide into the heart of the Word, which becomes light in the act of listening. The Spirit’s …method is simply to allow what stands before me as an other to express itself and to enter into me. This already enables an additional element: the Spirit effects a space of listening and remembering, a “we,” which in the Johannine writings defines the Church as the locus of knowledge. Understanding can take place only within this “we” constituted by participation in the origin. Indeed, all comprehension depends on [this] participation…

That evening we elected our new Provincial Council [left to right]: 2^nd Councillor Ralph Reyes, 1^st Councillor Luis Joaquin Castañeda, Provincial Gregory Ross, 4^th Councillor Br. Joseph Le and 3^rd Councillor Sam Morello. Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte was elected our delegate to accompany Fr. Provincial to the General chapter in Fatima next April. Fr. Henry Bordeaux [right] was elected socius, a fancy name for the spare in case the designated one is unable to go.

Mary Philip Wurth, R.I.P.

2008-04-19T23:13:00.008-05:00

Mary Philip Wurth 1925-2008

Martin Philip Wurth was born 22-May-25 in Phoenix AZ, to a postal worker Felix Martin Wurth and his wife Mary Christine (née Mueller). The Wurths had moved to Arizona from Paduca Kentucky in 1910. In 1913, Poppa Wurth built a new brick house at 314 E Roosevelt St. on a unpaved street on the outskirts of Phoenix. Felix and Christine moved in with their two children Kathleen and Joseph. Then four more children came: Marguerite, Angela, Elizabeth, and finally their youngest, Martin Philip. This family photo was taken when Philip returned home to Phoenix to offer his First Mass after being ordained priest. [l-r: Christine (Mother), Fr. MP, Joseph, Felix (seated), Elizabeth, Angela, Kathleen] They lived only eight blocks from St. Mary’s Catholic church. Philip’s parents walked to church every day. The children were enrolled in the parochial school. Philip had just begun high school there when his sister Marguerite died at the young age of 25. The next year was 1941 when the country went to war. Philip graduated from St Mary’s in 1943, and tried to join the navy. They rejected him as not strong enough for the regular navy, and drafted him into the naval Seabees. He served three years with the US Naval Construction Battalions [USN CBs] in the Pacific. After the flag was raised on Iwo Jima, the CBs came in to set up a port where supply ships could come in with materials to build air bases. During the War years, his sister Angela married a Ronan, who also served in the Navy; and his sister Elizabeth married a Scott. Both settled in “the valley” of Phoenix.

Meanwhile Philip, on being discharged from the navy at the port of Oakland on the east shore of San Francisco bay, enrolled on the G.I. bill at St Mary’s College of Moraga in that area. He chose St Mary’s because he heard they had a good business school with a course in library science. While enrolled there, the Paulist Fathers in San Francisco encouraged him to consider a religious vocation. In 1948 (his junior year in college) he applied to enter a Trappist monastery in Huntsville Utah. The Trappists soon discovered their new postulant suffered from post-polio syndrome, and sent him home as unable to lead their austere lifestyle. “Their loss became our gain,” said Fr. Sam Morello, at Philip’s burial Mass. So Philip returned to college in Moraga and got his degree magna cum laude, in economics and business administration. With that accomplished he began working for the Crown-Zellerbach Corporation, and moved to San Francisco.

When the Paulists at old St Mary’s recommended he try the Carmelites, Martin wrote to our Provincial in Oklahoma City, but Fr. Evarist was busy trying to move our novitiate from Texas to Arkansas, and didn’t answer for six months. Philip learned that a Carmelite named Pascal came from Sacramento, and asked to meet Pascal the next time he came home. They met at the SFO airport, and Philip was accepted as a postulant into the first novice class at the newly established novitiate of Marylake in Arkansas. He finally was allowed to receive the full novice’s habit in March 1953 after spending nine months of postulancy while we decided what to do with this Trappist reject.

Philip kept his middle name when he was clothed, but added the Trappist custom of Mary before it to replace his baptismal Martin. His initials remained the same MPW. So when he was professed on 01-May-54 at Marylake, Martin became Mary Philip of the Holy Family OCD. “In this unique man I have always seen an interesting combination of La Trappe and Carmel,” said Fr. Sam in his eulogy. “This good man joined the austerity of the Trappist life with some very distinctive traits of our Discalced Carmelite Saints. Curiously, I think that in this man the Trappist soul added energy to Carmel’s own Elijan spirit.”

Brother Philip was then sent to our House of Studies in San Antonio, where “by special dispensation” he was allowed to be ordained at the end of his third year of theology. He was ordained a priest by the Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio in St. Mary’s church on 30-May-59. Notice the recurrence in Philip’s life of St. Mary’s: parish church, parochial school, college, church of ordination. There was also a recurrence of anniversaries. All Philip’s anniverseries were in May: birth, profession, ordination. In June of 1959, Philip returned to Phoenix’s St. Mary’s to celebrate his first Solemn Mass. He was joined by his first prior, Fr. Felix DaPrato OCD, and his cousin Fr. Cornelius Snyder OFM. Their picture was taken at Philip’s reception in St Mary’s auditorium on 07-Jun-59. The reception lasted from 3-5 pm that Sunday afternoon. The young priest’s mother [between Felix and Philip] shows a proud smile for her son. Philip’s father Felix would die the following March.

In 1963, Philip was elected 2nd Provincial definitor under Raymond Donoho. This was quite an honor for a young man recently ordained to be elected to the third highest office in our province. This chapter photo shows Raymond and John Emmanuel in the middle. Raymond was the new boss; John the old. First Definitor Pascal sits left, and 2nd Definitor Philip on the right. During this triennium Philip was also placed in charge of our young students (of which I was one) studying in San Antonio. Here he gained a nickname. Fr. Helladius called him “Padre Papelitos,” that is, “Father of all the little notes.” Philip was a frugal man. Even if there were such a thing as Post-it notes back in 1964, he would never have sprung for the money to buy them. Although he would have been one of their best customers. Everywhere you went in our large Carmelite complex in San Antonio, you’d find a little piece of paper posted by Philip. If you were asked to change a light bulb in a ceiling fixture, on the outer glass you’d find a note with instructions on the proper procedures, steps 1-5 detailing which direction to unscrew the screws and where to put the screws once you had removed them, etc.

He was a man of minute detail. Once we asked if we could go see a movie. Philip checked the newspaper to see when and where the particular movie we wanted to see would be shown. When we got back from class, we found a note on the student bulleton board: The students may go see a movie this evening if they fulfill the following conditions: 1. finish your magazine article for the Apostolate, 2. complete your homework, 3. mop the kitchen floor, 4. You may leave in the Oldsmobile at 5:52 after vespers, and 5. be back home by 8:23 pm. In 1977 I prepared a curriculum vitae on Philip for our provincial archives. I gave it to him to check for errors and asked him to jot down anything I had missed. He handed it back to me a few days later. One of my entries was, “Houston 1971-72.” He wrote after that, “I arrived Friday Sept 10, 1971 at 2:58 pm. I vacated or left Houston house for last time at 11:15 am Feb. 6, 1973.” Of what dubious interest it might be to some obscure historian in years to come to know that Father arrived at 7907 Bellaire Blvd in Houston at 2:58 in the afternoon, and left the place at 11:15 in the morning, it certainly reveals the heart of a meticulous man. He used his attention to minutiae to good advantage when researching the Wurth family tree. I want you to know that the photograph above was taken on 21-Nov-75 at 12:07 pm. You can see how the student learned from his master. How Philip must have rejoiced to see the dawn of the digital age when the time the photo was taken is now imbedded in the picture down to 100th of a second.

Philip was elected to our Provincial council five separate times, serving under four different Provincials, first under Raymond, then from ’72-75 under Herman, ’84-90 under Ralph, and ’90-93 under Aloysius. Those last two times he was 1st Definitor which made him the vicar provincial in charge of the Province when the provincial was away. His talents were widely recognized. He was in charge of our Provincial finances from ’84-93, and was house procurator in practically every house of our province to which he was assigned.

When he was only two years old, Martin got polio. It was a disease that would shape his life. Anyone who knows someone with post-polio syndrome, sees how much effort it takes to do the slightest things like holding one’s head up straight or walking down a ladder or keeping from being run over by a tractor. Things the rest of us take for granted, became a life long struggle for Philip. He was always exercizing, even if it was to stretch the only muscle in his whole body which he could move. After paralysis set in, that one hand was always in motion. That he could move; that he would exercise.

Philip was man of responsibility. His devotion to being responsible for whatever project he was given was total. Every report would be finished and handed in on time, even if it meant staying up all night to complete. One might not have noticed how totally responsive he was until you lived with him for awhile. When he was in charge of our house records at Marylake when I was superior, I noticed Philip would only give periodical financial reports even though he was supposed to do so at each community meeting. Once I examined his books, I realized that the only time he’d give a report was when our expenses exceeded our income. It was when we made more than we spent that he’d give no financial report. He knew if we knew we had money, we’d spend it. He once reprimanded Father Sam at Mt Carmel when Sam had written the monthly newsletter while Philip was away. “You were far too positive,” Philip told Sam. “If our readers think we’re doing fine, they’ll cut back their donations.” So we began to call Philip’s newsletters, “the lamentations.” Every busted water pipe, sputtering motor, broken chair or flat tire was reported in vivid detail.

Philip became a political force in west Dallas when the water department raised our fee. He phoned the Catholic High Schools, both Catholic and Episcopal dioceses, Cisterian Abbey, Baptist College, and even SMU to protest the new fee to the City council. Some were not affected, and the others thought it was not worth their time to buck City Hall. So Philip reluctantly signed up to speak to the City Council the day they voted on the new fee. The Major’s office had already told him it would easily pass. He was told to come to City Hall at 1:00 pm with a prepared talk of no more than 3 minutes. Then the political maneuvering began. The Mayor moved the water fee hearing up to the first item on the morning agenda. Any protests would have to be presented by 9:00 am. Philip rushed downtown with his talk unprepared. When he got to City Hall the opposition was concluding, and the council was about to move onto the next item on the agenda. One business man protested that he had not been called. “While he was speaking I checked to see if my name had been called before I arrived,” Philip said. Someone had “accidentally” moved Philip’s name to another item to be covered later on. He protested, and was called up immediately.

“I did not have a prepared paper to read. I finished before the 2-1/2 minute bell rang. Briefly I mentioned that as they were having difficulty getting sufficient income to run the city so too the people and businesses in the poor areas of the city, West and South Dallas, were struggling to survive with the loss of jobs, income, and sales. We continued only by keeping our expenses low. We in this area of the city could not afford to pay the same high fees that North Dallas could easily swallow. Please take that into consideration when assessing us. There was more that I had intended to say but it slipped my mind at the moment.

“After I sat down, one person near me in the audience told me that at least I had every council member paying close attention to what I said. A few moments later a woman from the Water Dept came to tell me that they had reduced our estimated fee from $272 to $50.” This would be the first of many appearances Philip made at City Hall. Today if you drive south on Dallas’ Loop 12 freeway, as you approach the Jefferson Avenue exit, you see a sign announcing “Davis St.” That’s the street where Mt Carmel Center is located. Philip is responsible for the highway dept. putting up that sign.

He became a political force to be reckoned with. And every maneuver the Mayor or City Hall politicos made to avert his intervention, Philip always managed to out-maneuver them. Because he was always there. And he was always prepared. Even when he didn’t think he was.

In 1984, Philip celebrated his 25th jubilee as a Carmelite priest. He was stationed at Marylake at that time, and his three sisters came in from Phoenix for the joyful occasion. Kathleen Pemberton is on the left, Elizabeth Scott/Garth in the middle, and Angela Ronan on the right. They visited our nuns on 32nd Street in Little Rock, and one of the cloistered nuns took their picture from the other side of the grill in their parlor.

During Philip’s 54 years as a professed Carmelite, he had been stationed in each of our major foundations. He was professed at Marylake in Little Rock, then sent to San Antonio to study for the priesthood and be ordained. In 1966 he was sent back to Marylake for five years. In 1971 we was sent to Houston, then in ’73 on special provincial assignment to close down our houses in Houston, in Hartshorne OK, and Mt. Carmel Seminary of Dallas. I once mentioned to him that I did not think he was ever stationed at our traditional motherhouse in Oklahoma City. He responded, "In Nov '73 they sent me to OKC. I was there for a month. Then I was sent to San Antonio from Sept to June '74, when I came to Dallas." From ’74-81 he was Fr. Sam’s right hand man in establishing our province’s house of Spirituality in the old seminary building in Dallas. This wore him out, and in ’81 he asked to retire back to Marylake. But in 1986 Fr. Sam was called to Rome. The one man in the province Sam trusted would keep the Center going until he returned was Philip. Sam confessed to me that in 1986, “I stole Philip from you.” He had been my right hand man at Marylake. This was when Philip became superior in Dallas. When Sam returned from Rome he served under Philip until 1999 when Philip asked to be stationed in a warmer climate, like Phoenix for instance! Well we didn’t have a house there, but San Antonio served him well for the remaining eight years of his life.

Father's burial service can be found at http://okfriarsnewslet.blogspot.com

Oklahoma City

2007-09-03T20:33:00.000-05:00

Red House to Red Church

Fr. Luis Benages resigned as prior of Oklahoma City in June 1940, and Vincent Martinez was appointed the new prior by his right hand man, Fr. Eugene who was then our Provincial. John Emmanuel was subprior and prefect of students during this time.

As war raged in Europe in 1940, we had to evacuate our six students from Rome in June. Among the new arrivals in Oklahoma were Louis Scagnelli, Raphael Belauskas, Alexander Leoni, and Dennis Kelso. This picture shows Brother Louis (in the middle) and Alexander (gesturing to Brother Andrew as he took their picture) standing by the gas pump in our back yard. I can’t identify the Brother strolling in back nor the first of the three gathered by the pump. Andrew labeled this picture “scenes of philosophy,” although both Scagnelli and Leoni were theologians at the time, having taken their philosophy on Mt. Carmel in Palestine. Andrew would have been the philosopher. With the coming home of our Fraters from Rome, and newly professed novices from San Antonio, we are packed like "sardines crammed in a can," wrote the monastery goblin.

When Fr. John Emmanuel [left] came to Oklahoma City to be prefect of students in 1939, he immediately began making improvements to the college. He removed a wall and made the chapel a third larger with the help of students Stephen Till, Gerard Vara, Damien Hayes, Joseph Yohe and Cyril McDonnell. Stephen, Cyril, Damien & Robert Butler were in their last year of philosophy at this time. Father John also replaced the vestments as the ones being used were best described as “shabby.” He was trying to change things around to make enough room for the newly professed coming from the novitiate in San Antonio before the fall term opened in ‘39. In September, the prior of San Antonio, Edward Soler, brought Bernard Wood “a jolly Irishman from Washington DC” & Raymond Donoho [right] “the Texas Ranger” from the novitiate to Oklahoma City’s house of studies. Francis Bacon followed in October. Instead of studying philosophy as the other newly professed were to do, Frances went directly into theology, for he had obtained a Ph.D. degree from Fordham before entering. Father Cornelius OCD, provincial of Holland, [left] took refuge in Oklahoma City during the Nazi occupation. Fr. Evarist Foix was sent to OKC to teach dogmatic theology. So John Emmanuel had work to do to expand the college facilities for his expanding class of seminarians.

The new prior of the house was looking for a more permanent solution to the overcrowding of our Oklahoma City seminary. In the winter of ’40 he began negotiations for the purchase of the old governor’s mansion in Ponca City to serve as a house of philosophy. It would be prepared during summer vacation of ’41, but not open for classes until the fall of that year. In the meantime, our philosophy and theology students had to make do with sparse accomodations in Oklahoma City.

The noteworthy feature added to Oklahoma City’s grounds during the summer of 1940 is recorded by the goblin: “The Fraters just completed a cement walk leading from the college to the famous glorieta." Frater Andrew Palmero [left] arrived in Oklahoma City in June. He had just been professed. Andrew brought his camera from the novitiate in San Antonio to Oklahoma City and began to take pictures of the place. This picture shows that newly completed cement walk leading to the gazebo. I have yet to figure out why the gazebo was called “the famous glorietta.” But there it stands to the right of the students. In back is the Manuel home. Manuel’s son Edward Diaz was enrolled in our 8^th grade at Little Flower school at the time; he had been just elected “president” of our altar boys. To the left is what we called “the Red House”, a two story building being used as our college of philosophy.

The red house was nestled among trees in the back yard of our monastery. Towards the end of the ‘40s, it’s usefulness to us was diminished. But it was a good solidly built house, and our church’s secretary’s sister Pauline had just married Raoul Baltierra. They were looking for a place to live that was close to the church. At the chapter of 1948, Alexander Leoni was named prior of Oklahoma City. Alexander decided to tear down the old two-story parish hall to create more parking space for our new school, and get rid of the red house. To this end, the Red house was jacked up and moved across 11^th Street where Raoul and Brother Victor tore down an existing structure to make way for the Red House, which was then painted white. So it was that the red house was converted into the Baltierra residence which still stands today facing our back yard.

1980s

Now we jump ahead to 1984, when Jesús Sancho became pastor of Little Flower parish. He served as pastor for almost ten years until Fr. Jenaro de la Cruz came. Jesús saw the need for expanding the parish grounds. When Manuel Diaz died, we got his home and converted it into a clinic for the poor who could not afford regular health care. Jesús managed to acquire enough land bordering the back of our property that the story goes if we had left him there another ten years he would have acquired the entire block. A Sister’s convent was set up in the house next to our school. Soon after Father Jenaro [right] arrived in 1993, we had so many people crammed into our church for Sunday Masses and feast days, the archbishop began to promote the idea of building a larger church. Thanks to the acquisition of the Diaz house, we now had room for such an undertaking.

2000s

In May 2006, preliminary construction work was begun. Two brick structures were demolished: our three car garage, and a workshop out back which Jesús had acquired. Once these two buildings were taken out, bulldozers came in, piled the top soil on the east near the monastery, and scrapped down to the red earth beneath. The word “Oklahoma” means “red earth.” The new church, known as Centro Guadalupano --Guadalupe Center, now stands where the Red House once stood. Fr. Jenaro has taken us from the red house to the red church. Inside it’s blue, as a fitting Marian color for an edifice dedicated to the mother of God under her title Our Lady of Guadalupe. The parish gathered there on Sunday afternoon 12-Aug-07 at 3:00pm to celebrate the dedication of this new worhsip space. Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran blessed the church using a large green branch of hyssop to sprinkle everything with holy water. A reception folllowed with mariachi and music bands.

So that’s the story. This piece of land off Walker Avenue and 11^th street in Oklahoma City once housed a red house used to train Carmelite students for the priesthood. Now it is the site of a large red church that welcomes Hispanics to worship.

Rome

2006-09-16T12:02:00.000-05:00

In 2005 we had two students in Rome: the two Luises –Luis Joaquín Castañeda and Luis Gerardo Belmonte. Father Luis Joaquín was in graduate study in formation living at our Carmelite house La Scala and studying at the Salesianum. La Scala is our oldest house in Rome founded in 1597. The church is dedicated to Santa Maria a Scala, and a community for specialized study was set up there in 2001. The Salesianum is an international college run by the Salesians. At our provincial chapter in May, Fr. Luis was elected a provincial councilor and then given the office of Vocation Director. When he returned from Rome, he was stationed in Oklahoma City.

Br. Luis Belmonte went to Rome for theology after finishing his philosophy in Valencia. After September 11, 2001, that day we will never forget, Brother was not allowed to return to the United States. He had changed his name when he made his Carmelite profession to Luis Benedicto, although his passport and visa papers remained in his legal name Luis Gerardo. This confusion made him an exile from our province for a couple of years until Homeland security and the T.S.A. (the Transportation Security Administration people dressed in white at our airports) finally straightened out his identity. One summer he was able to return to Mexico to visit his family, but unable to cross the U.S. border. In the process, Luis Benedicto ceased to exist. He has now changed his name back to Luis Gerardo Belmonte.

By June 2005, Brother Luis had made a name for himself as Master of Ceremonies for all the solemn liturgies celebrated at the Teresianum, our Carmelite International House of studies at the Piazza San Pancrazio in Rome. M.C. is a position that did not come easy to this mild mannered, quiet student, for he ends up ordering bishops and cardinals around the altar.

So when the school year ended in June, the Juniors decided to put on a skit for the graduating seniors, and who was chosen to play the pope? You guessed it: our own Brother Luis. Here he is on the road with his acolyte Sibi Varghese from India. Moving over to the stage, they are joined by a Swiss Guard played by Carlos Alberto Arenas from Colombia.

On the feast of John of the Cross in December, Our Father General, Luis Aróstegi Gamboa came to celebrate the solemn profession of some of our students studying in Rome. California has three and we had Br. Luis shown here M.C.ing the General at the profession ceremony. Brother Luis will make his own solemn profession after he has been back in our province for awhile. Pray for vocations.

Marylake

2006-09-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

The year 2005 began with the profession of Joseph Marie Neely on Sunday morning January 2nd at 10:00am. Our superior, Fr. Bonaventure presided, with Frs. Joseph Neilson, Novice Master Raphael Kitz, and Fr. John Michael concelebrating. Br. Juan Cabrera, our student from New Orleans, served. Former student Peter Rivera, now principal of St Joseph school in Pine Bluff where Brother Joseph Marie did ministry with the middle schoolers, attended the ceremony and furnished food for the reception afterwards.

The following evening, Marylake hosted a Christmas party for the priests of the diocese. We were happy to have Bishop Sartain with us for this celebration which began with Vespers and a prayer for vocations which the bishop had composed. Fr. Bonaventure left to give a retreat to the seminarians of Notre Dame at a retreat house in Mississippi. We also began our process of choosing a new Provincial in January with a poll of the solemnly professed members of our province for who they would like to have as their next provincial superior. Fr. Bonaventure went to Holy Hill Wisconsin on the last week of January for the solemn profession of our former student, Emmanuel Betasso. Fr. John Michael gave a retreat in Miami in February, a Lenten mission in Mountain Home Arkansas, and an OCDS visitation in Birmingham in March. On April 2, Fr. John Michael was attending a retreat by Dr. Susan Muto in Belton Texas, when word arrived of the death of Pope John Paul II. Father set up his laptop in our meeting room, so retreatants could view the pope laid out in state in the Vatican.

During the sede vacante the solemnly professed of our province gathered in San Antonio and in Dallas to elect our representatives to our provincial chapter in May. The chapter began on May 16. Fr. Gregory Ross, Student Master in New Orleans, was installed as our new Father Provincial by the outgoing Provincial, Fr. Ralph Reyes. One of the new Provincial’s first requests was for Fr. Raphael Kitz of our house at Marylake, to serve on his provincial council. [Photo of Raphael with his dog Sally] This chapter was historic as the first at which we ever invited our cloistered Nuns and also our OCDS Provincial Council to attend a session devoted to their respective needs.

On the first full week of June, we gathered in San Antonio for our annual assembly. The new Provincial Council, after receiving reports from all of our houses, appointed local superiors: Fr. John Magdalene, who had also been elected our vicar Provincial at the chapter, for San Antonio, Fr. Ralph for Marylake, and Fr. Sam Anthony Morello as student master in New Orleans. Fr. Gregory decided to remain in New Orleans as his provincial residence. Stephen Sanchez was reappointed superior in Dallas, and Jenaro de la Cruz as superior in Oklahoma City. Fr. Jesús Sancho remains pastor of Santa Maria in Dallas. Fr. Bonaventure was assigned to San Antonio, and newly elected Councilor Luis Joakim to Oklahoma City. Br. Charles was assigned to San Antonio to teach for the scholastic year 2005-06 in our parochial school.

Our old superior, Father Bonaventure, left for his new assignment in San Antonio on July 27, and our new superior, Father Ralph officially arrived on August 12, but because of Fr. Jesús Sanchos vacation and Fr. Augustine Healy’s death, Ralph didn’t really arrive until mid September. The following Thursday he went to the Missionaries of Charity where we give a conference and Exposition every other week, alternating between the Missionaries and our own Nuns for confessions. Anyway, Ralph goes to the Missionaries’ house in Little Rock, and gave his conference. After the conference he asked if they had any questions. I praised him for having a question and answer session with his conference. I never dared do such a thing myself, but this is a wonderful learning technique to have a dialogue with the Sisters instead of a simple monologue conference. One Sister held up her hand. “You have a question, Sister?” Ralph asked. “Yes Father. I have a question. What is your name?”

Fr. Augustine Healy, our elder member of the province, died on September 2. We buried him at Marylake on September 8th. His obituary can be found below. The week before Father died, Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans. See the New Orleans report below.

Fr. Augustine Kizhakkedam, former Provincial of Malabar, India, came to our province in August. After an earthquake off the Indian ocean caused tidal waves to flood India, Father probably thought coming to the United States would be a safer place to be for the next two or three years. So where did we first send him? --to New Orleans. Father’s introduction to life in our province was evacuating our house there and fleeing across Lake Pontchartrain to Covington where they weathered the storm. Our six Katrina refugees arrived here from Covington at 2:00 am Thursday Sept. 1. Our refugees, [pictured in our kitchen] are: Sam, Vicente, Augustine, Fr. Provincial, Juan & Joseph Marie. Gregory’s family (his parents Mr & Mrs Gilbert Ross, two brothers Gil & Michael, Gil’s wife Lisa and 2 sons) arrived the next day. Bonaventure & Joseph Le came Wednesday the 7th for Augustine Healy’s burial on Thursday morning.

Saturday, September 17th Fr. Provincial’s brother Gilbert, sister-in-law Lisa, two sons Jeremy and Cory, their parrot, blind dog, and three-legged cat left this morning at 7:00am to return home to Harahan, a higher lying suburb of New Orleans. Gregory’s other brother Michael stayed with their mother Helen to care for their father Gilbert Sr, who was still in the hospital with pneumonia and a blood clot in his heart. The hospital finally released him Tuesday morning and they left on the 20th to return to their home. Although still in need of hospitalization, Mr. Ross reported later on Tuesday evening, that he was content just to be back sitting in his easy chair in his home. Much damage had been done to their yards with fallen trees, but the Ross homes sustained no major damage worse than a horrible stench from the refrigerator food that had remained behind for three weeks. Electricity had been restored week earlier and they have drinkable water in their neighborhood.

On Sept 17th, Mayor Nagin of New Orleans allowed residents in the neighborhood of our House of Studies to come home, not to move back in, but to at least survey the damage done to our property. A member of the seminary staff checked our house from the outside and reported no windows broken and the flood line just inches from our front door. We are hopeful at this point the water did not penetrate our first floor. A warning was issued not to open the refrigerators or freezers; simply secure the doors shut and haul them out to have the “toxic waste” that was our food supply, hauled away by the military. On Tuesday, Mayor Nagin suspended his previously announced reentry plan for the city of New Orleans due to the expected arrival of new Hurricane Rita on Friday. Even without a direct hit, New Orleans could be re-flooded by a mere 3 foot surge from the new storm due to the damaged condition of the main 17th Street levee which was breached by the backlash winds of Katrina.

On Wednesday the 21st, our four refugees piled into the Provincial’s car to get their immunization shots in preparation for their return to New Orleans. As they were about to drive into town, Fr. Raphael passed them on his way for his morning hike, and yelled out to them, “Don’t cry when you’re shot!”

Marylake hosted our annual provincial retreat the third week of October. The theme was the Eucharist in keeping with the Eucharistic year being celebrated. Our bishop consecrated a host at the beginning of the year which then made a pilgrimage of the churches in the diocese, ending up at Marylake for the beginning of our retreat. Fr. Raphael gave a talk at the closing of the year held at the state Fairgrounds.

Father Joseph Neilson [photo] usually spends his vacation with his brother near New Orleans. This year he flew to Georgia where his brother and sister-in-law had relocated after the hurricane. Father continues to give conferences on John of the Cross each month despite his age and infirmities, and continues his apostolate of the confessional and counseling in our parlor. Father finds it more difficult to walk, but manages to get around by holding onto walls and railings. Brother Bernard installed an iron railing along the sidewalk that leads from our driveway back to the kitchen. Mr. Al Wrape Jr, who works as treasurer in our office, finds this helpful too as he struggles with infirmities associated with Parkinson’s.

Fr. John Michael gave a retreat to our Nuns in Savannah in November, and used the occasion to revive our Secular Order there. Br. Bernard went to San Antonio to represent our community at the solemn profession of Br. Joseph Le on December 30. He stayed busy in December wiring our monastery for a new satellite internet hookup. Due to our location out here in the country, we have received television from satellite since the days of Fr. Stephen. After hours lost on slow dial-up connections and multiple computer use among the brothers, we decided the time had finally come to set up a better connection for our computers. Getting wireless access from one end of the monastery to the other involved running a cable from the professed section all the way over to the novitiate. Father removed the ceiling to do this, and then had the Geek Squad from Best Buy out three times before the system became fully operative. Half of us were able to connect before Christmas, but Fr. Raphael and Br. Bernard had to wait until February to finally get on line.

--Fr. John Michael

San Antonio

2006-08-14T22:54:00.000-05:00

Groundbreaking

Phase II of The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica's multi-million dollar restoration project got underway on July 19, 2005, with a groundbreaking in its long unused basement. This was the lead sentence of the Aug 5th article in the Texas Catholic on the commencement of work on the long unused basement of our basilica. “The basement's well-worn stage was the site in bygone years of special community performances, including the likes of such illustrious figures as Helen Keller and the Von Trapp Family Singers.” Archbishop Jose H. Gomez delivered the blessing; then our pastor Fr. John Magdalene Suenram picked up a shovel with the construction boss, the architect, an historian and a city council member and the work began. The San Antonio Express News also covered this story, and Fr. John got his picture on the front page.

In September it was announced that Fr. Augustine Kizhakkedam, a Carmelite Provincial of the Province of Kerala, India [photo] has recently transferred to our Province and has been assigned to San Antonio to live and work here for the next three years. We are delighted to have Father with us this triennium. Fr. John Magalene went to Dallas for the funeral of Fr. Augustine Healy who had been pastor here in the 60’s. Fr. Bonaventure went to Marylake for the burial. Mother Ann Christine of the Dallas Carmel died on September 18, 2005. Fathers John, Bonaventure and Marion went to Marylake for our provincial retreat in October. Br. Charles was unable to attend as he was teaching classes in our school here in San Antonio. In mid-November, Fathers John and Bonaventure attended the annual convention of the National Association of Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolates in Portland Oregon. Fr. Augustine Kizhakkedam visited relatives in New York during November.

In December Father Marion took his vacation in Vietnam, but had great problems there with his allergies. Fr. Provincial and Fr. Sam Anthony brought the students from Louisiana here for Christmas. They have been in exile from New Orleans since hurricane Katrina, living with our Nuns in Covington while attending classes at St. Ben’s seminary down the river road from our Nuns. They hope to return to New Orleans for the next semester after the holidays. Work on the basilica basement is progressing. Fr. John celebrated his silver jubilee of profession on December 14. The parish gave him a reception and he expressed gratitude to God for his Carmelite vocation.

Augustine Healy dies

2006-02-23T23:34:00.000-06:00

We lost Father Augustine Healy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Not that Father’s death on Friday, Sept 2, 2005, was related to the hurricane, but his burial at the Monastery of Marylake would be attended by the refugees from that storm. Gus was a long time veteran of our province, having entered our minor seminary in 1940, when Fr. Simon was director of the seminary and Father Leopold was prefect of students.

Born 20-Jul-1923 to Mr & Mrs Peter J Healy in Brooklyn New York, he was baptized “James.” Our minor seminary was in Hartshorne OK the year young James joined us. That summer of 1940, we had to evacuate our students studying in Rome because of the war. With the coming home of our Fraters from Rome we are like "sardines crammed in a can," the students reported.

Brothers Felix DaPrato, Anthony Devine and Joseph Yohe were preparing to be ordained in Oklahoma City. Felix was practicing how to celebrate a high Mass in his cell --complete with incense. Yohe was a native son of our parish in Hartshorne. Clement Shaughnessey and Gabriel Hentrich came from Rome to join the three in Oklahoma City and were all ordained priests on June 30th.

James was clothed in the Discalced Carmelite habit in San Antonio on 26-Sep-41, taking the name Augustine of the Sorrowful Mother. There were five novices in his class under the direction of Fr. Bernard Brotons, who took sick and retired to Oklahoma City where he died during Gus’ novitiate. Simon was sent down to San Antonio to become the new Novice Master. They were joined in the summer of ’42 by Pascal Pierini and Patrick Ahern. Augustine made his profession of vows with Thomas Benhke on 27-Sep-42. [Photo taken on his profession day] They were then sent to Ponca City for philosophy. He made his solemn profession in 1945 in Oklahoma City where he studied theology. He was ordained priest at our parish in Oklahoma City on 04-Jun-49. His first assignment was at our parish in Hartshorne OK.

In 1954, Raymond Donoho sent him to be prior of San Antonio. In 1957, the young priest was elected 3rd Provincial Councillor under John Emmanuel. In 1963 he left San Antonio for Pearsall. He was elected provincial councilor again under Raymond. When Pascal resigned as prior of San Antonio, Augustine returned again to be prior of San Antonio in 1965. In 1969 he was named pastor of Hartshorne until Joseph Peña was sent there in 1971. In 1972 he was in Oklahoma City with Thomas. In 1975, he began a twelve year stint at the cathedral of Dallas under Jenaro where he underwent extensive treatment for cancer, which he managed to beat: “I’m considered a cancer survivor,” he said. In 1987 he was pastor of San Antonio under Raymond. In 1990 he returned to Dallas to be assistant pastor at Santa Maria under Jenaro. In ’93, Jenaro was sent to Oklahoma City, and Gus remained assistant under Henry. In 1995, he moved to St. Francis Village in Crowley Texas where he lived the remainder of his life.

Gus was an avid outdoorsman who would, like clockwork, travel down to south Texas each fall in his flannel shirt ready to stalk wild deer with his hunting buddies. After years of smoking he had his carotid arteries cleared, and slowed considerably his outdoor sports activities. By the turn of the century he was definitely retired, and rarely practiced his ministry aside from weekend Masses around Crowley. In 2003, he wrote: “Dear John Michael, thank you so much for the province news… esp., concerning our old and infirm Friars in which I include myself! Fr. Mary Philip's condition warrants serious concern and prayer ... Improper medical care and a stay in the hospital is scary! I've had some experiences that would make a healthy person get sick! As for me, visits to the doctor's office continue almost on regular basis and not so regular as I try to avoid them as much as I can! My doctor is good, but needs more cooperation from me! I rely more on prayer, not my own necessarily but on the prayers of so many others. This is not done as a last resort but a continuing effort from the beginning and I’m convinced it has worked/ helped.”

Father Augustine died after weeks in a Ft. Worth hospital. Father was a conventual friar of Santa Maria parish in Dallas.

Santa Maria of Dallas

2006-01-01T18:05:00.000-06:00

When we last checked in with Father Jesús Sancho, he had begun construction of a new Classroom and gym complex at Santa Maria church at 2900 Vilbig in west Dallas. This complex is called the “Santa Maria del Carmen Community Center.” The construction began as the ground behind our school was prepared around January 2004.

While this groundwork was being prepared, a dispute arose with the neighbor to the left, as to exactly where the property line was located. In March the walls of the new classrooms began to rise. You can see from these pictures how the west walls are designed to let in as much light to the classroom area as possible.

In April the walls of the big hall or gym began to rise at the north end of the classroom area. The “gym” is actually designed to be a multi purpose hall with a stage at one end upon which plays and music groups may perform. As the walls of the gym rise, the concrete flooring is poured. By May the roof of the classroom area began to take shape. Once the roof was secured, work on the interior could begin. In June, the roof of the main hall was being lifted into place after the concrete parking area was poured. The exterior work took about six to seven months; then the interior another nine months.

The interior work proved to be the most dangerous for the pastor, as Father broke his heel on January 11, 2005, as building material fell down on his foot. Father Jesús was in a cast for three months. In the spring he was able to attend the chapter delegate elections at Mount Carmel Center by means of a walker. Although elected to represent his age group at the chapter in May, he declined and Fr. John Michael went to the chapter in his place.

This spring things were being spruced up with the parishioners planting grass around the parking area. A house on the property was moved to give more room to this two block parish complex. By April 2005, most of the interior was complete, groups were already meeting in the classrooms, and only the kitchen stoves and sinks needed to be installed to get this area between the classrooms and gym operational.

“We have had no formal dedication, but in June, when the interior was completed, we had a catered party with music and an award dinner for all those who worked on this project. We are now putting a $40,000 floor in the gym.”

--report filed 31-Dec-05

New Orleans

2005-12-21T00:13:00.000-06:00

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

San Antonio

2005-08-31T23:15:00.000-05:00

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

2005-08-26T15:21:00.000-05:00

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

2005-08-26T13:10:00.000-05:00

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

2005-08-26T11:35:00.000-05:00

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

2005-08-09T00:59:00.000-05:00

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.