Mother Angeline was an immigrant who devoted her life to caring for the elderly – many, if not most, of whom were immigrants themselves. She never forgot her Irish roots and was very proud of her ethnicity. But she was also equally proud of her American identity (becoming an American citizen in 1934) and of the country in which her new Congregation began. But above all national and ethnic identities, Mother Angeline was a Spouse of Christ, someone completely devoted to His service, and it was because of this intimate relationship with Christ that she was able to, as she wrote, “provide a home for all nationalities and creeds where the feeling of home might be stressed.”
There is no doubt that Mother Angeline’s vision continues today in the homes administered by the Congregation, and she must be glad to continue to see her charism carried on by the employees who come from so many different countries.
On July 4, 2026, our nation commemorated and celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was an opportunity for us to appreciate our own ethnic backgrounds and the many gifts the Lord gives to different cultures to enrich the human family. We all thank God for the great diversity of peoples He has brought to our American shores, and may we, as Mother Angeline did, see our common humanity rooted in the person of Jesus Christ.
Photos courtesy of the many Carmelite homes that shared photos
of their July 4, 2026 celebrations.
