CAUSE Highlights in Photos
Bulletin Artwork
About the Cover Artwork
Each year the Cause and Charism Commission recommends a specific theme that can be used for the Commemoration on January 21st – the anniversary of the birth and death of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa. The annual theme is reflective of a different virtue of Mother’s life. Once the theme is selected and approved by the Council, Father Mario Esposito, Vice Postulator, suggests possible readings that might be used for the Eucharistic Celebration. In order to assist the inclusion of the facilities in celebrating January 21st each year, the appropriate information on the theme and selected readings are sent to each facility. The selected themes since 1999 include those depicted here.
Greetings from Father Mario
Greetings from Father Mario
Fall 2022
Dear Members of the Mother Angeline Society,
Greetings to you and peace as we share with you, once again, the Bulletin of the Mother Angeline Society. These summer days have been warm for sure, but also blessed by many feast days and celebrations that remind of us of God’s love and Mary’s care for us. In preparation for the Solemn Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, each of you as members of the Mother Angeline Society, and your intentions, were remembered in a novena of Masses in preparation for Mary’s Feast. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Lady of the Scapular, the beautiful symbol of her protection and care for her children and our desire to live as her faithful children. Your membership in the Society is deeply appreciated, and your support invaluable, as together we continue to work for and promote the charism of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa and her cause for beatification and canonization.
It’s been my personal privilege to be associated with the Cause of Mother Angeline for thirty years this year, and 2022 also marks ten years since Mother was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI. The years move forward, and the Cause does not stand still. More and more people have come to know about the life and legacy of Mother Angeline, a Mother to the Aged as well as a model of virtue and religious living. Around the world through the miracle of modern social media, new people have come to know about both Mother Angeline and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, and new articles and favors have appeared month by month. People find the story of Mother Angeline consoling, and her love for the elderly, continued by the ministry of her Sisters and their lay collaborators, touches people and gives them hope.
Mother Angeline wanted to provide modern, up-to-date and home-like care for the aged and infirm. We all know how hard that is to do today because health care is under such stress, especially in terms of personnel and resources. Mother desired the residents in the Carmelite facilities to be treated with dignity, and the whole person served, physically, socially and spiritually. The Sisters by their day-to-day presence and work, the Carmelite System which helps to manage the homes, and every person associated in this endeavor of charity are necessary to create the right atmosphere especially in difficult times. I have no doubt that the prayers of the Sisters and old people, and the support of heavenly aid alone keeps the vision and mission of Mother Angeline and her first companion Sisters alive and well.
Please continue to support both financially and spiritually the Cause for the beatification and canonization of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, O.Carm. As the years pass, we depend upon you to make Mother known to others, and to reach out to her in prayer so that blessings may be received that will move the Cause forward. May God bless you, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel watch over and protect you always.
In Christ,
Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm.
Vice Postulator
Ministry Corner- Pastoral Care
Submitted by Sr. Kathleen John McLinden, O. Carm., Pastoral Care Director
In 1989, a new 209 bed facility St. Patrick’s Residence, was built in Naperville to replace the original facility located in downtown Joliet. In 1997, a beautiful and devotional Chapel and more common space were added and presently 194 residents are served. St. Patrick’s Residence has always sought to extend the healing ministry of Christ to those entrusted to our care. Besides meeting the physical, emotional, and social needs of the residents, every effort is made to provide for their spiritual needs, regardless of religious affiliation.
The Pastoral Care Department oversees the celebration of Mass four times a week, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Holy Communion is brought to residents unable to attend Mass by Sisters, dedicated lay staff and Eucharistic Ministers. Bedside prayers are also offered for the sick and dying, and emotional support is given to families experiencing the sickness or loss of a loved one. Pastoral Care Visits are done daily to give the residents time to talk about the family and if there are any issues that they may want to discuss 1:1 and in the privacy of their room where one feels comfortable to talk. We also broadcast Mass from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel throughout the house on the T.V.
St. Patrick’s residents also have two Memorial Masses said yearly for all the deceased residents in the past six months. The families and friends are invited to attend this special event and refreshments are provided with time to welcome all the families and friends. There is a candlelight service during this time when families are asked to bring up the candle to the altar as the names are called out and light the candle of their loved one.
After the Mass, the families are encouraged to take the candle home and light it to remember their loved one on their birthday or anniversary and say a prayer for them. This is a special event for families and friends to attend this Mass.
Profession of Perpetual Vows
On Saturday April 23, 2022, Sister Maureen Paul Angeline and Sister Luke Mary Angeline professed Perpetual Vows as Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. The Eucharistic celebration was held at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse Chapel. The presiding celebrant was the Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. Also present at the altar were Reverend James Hess, O.Carm. and the Carmelite Brothers of the Saint Elias Province.
In addition to live-stream coverage of the ceremony, Carmelite Sisters, family members, and special friends of Sister Maureen Paul and Sister Luke Mary attended the Mass. Among Sister Luke’s invited guests were Sisters of Saint John the Baptist, Little Sisters of the Poor, and Missionaries of Charity. The sight of these Religious Sisters, and the witness of the commitment of Sister Maureen Paul and Sister Luke Mary, gave a wonderful testament to the beauty of religious consecration and vocation!
Highlighted excerpts of Fr. Mario’s Homily:
“The first work of every Religious is the faithful living of their religious consecration, the seeking of perfect love, and any ministry comes after that and flows from that self-giving love offered to the Lord, in our case, within Mary’s Order. We can say, “I have come to consider everything as a loss and rubbish because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Everything else is a loss if I may gain Christ, and give myself to Him who has called me using the words of St. Paul we heard today, so that by sharing in His death, that is embracing the Christian life, I may attain the resurrection from the dead, that is, to possess Christ Jesus Himself.” This life-long aspiration to possess Christ, to be one with Him, to learn to recognize Him all around me in my sisters and brothers and in the elderly and infirm, to know the meaning of Matthew 25:25 that whatever I do for the least I do for Christ Himself, this is the vocation of a Religious, and it leads to new life.”
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