Category: Anniversary

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Commemorating the 38th Anniversary of Birth & Death of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, O.Carm.

Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm.
The Most Rev. Geraldo J. Colaccico
Mother Mary Rose Heery, O.Carm.

On January 21st 2022, the 38th anniversary of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa’s passing to eternal life, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm held a Eucharistic celebration at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse in Germantown, New York. The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa: A Companion in Care.’  The Most Reverend Gerardo J. Colacicco of the Archdiocese of New York served as the principal celebrant. Also present were the Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Friars of the Saint Elias Province in Middletown, NY, Rev. James Hess, O.Carm., and the Professed Brothers of the St. Eliseus Priory in Harrison, NJ. The Mass was live-streamed to the public via the Carmelite Sisters website, and was attended by the Avila Sisters.

Bishop Colacicco’s homily reflected on this quote about Mother Angeline: “She lived her baptismal and religious consecrations brightly and intensely right up to the day God called her back to himself.”

These are highlighted excerpts from Bishop Colacicco’s homily:

…That light of Christ that she first received at her baptism… that call for everyone baptized Christian to be light to this world – she took very seriously. When challenges of life… tried to dim that light… that light burned brightly and intensely and it enabled those around her to live their consecrations as well.

At funerals, (there is a reading) from the Book of Wisdom… ‘The souls of the just are in the hand of God… In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and they shall dart about like sparks through stubble’. We know the power of the spark. It can ignite. The spark of Mother‘s life in cooperation with God’s grace and cooperation with divine providence continues to ignite.… her light enabled her to see clearly the path that God had chosen for her life, the purpose of her life… It was in that light that enabled her to see clearly… the aged and infirm and embrace them with love and compassion.

Mother’s life and example still shines brightly to remind us to be something different; to allow the spark of His light to shine forth from us so that no one remains in darkness; so that no one is in the shadow – that we are able to see clearly those whom Christ hides in. So that when we touch their life, we touch Him.

…Holy Communion is the fuel that keeps the flame of faith burning brightly and intensely in our lives, just as it did in Mother’s life… so Christ might be seen, reverenced, and loved in all we say and do. Mother believed this. She lived it and she has passed this legacy on to each and every one of us. Let us live out our baptismal and religious consecrations brightly and intensely for however long God’s providence allows.

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Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa: Anniversary Celebrations

The Carmelite Sisters celebrated Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory’s 37th anniversary of death and 128th anniversary of her birth on January 21, 2021. The Eucharistic liturgy was offered by Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm. Vice-Postulator of her Cause for Beatification and Canonization.  The event was held at St. Teresa’s Motherhouse in Germantown, New York.  It was attended by the Avila Sisters and was streamed LIVE to the public. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions and public safety guidelines, the McCrory family was not able to attend the celebration. It was with great anticipation and joy that the story of our Venerable Foundress was shown by EWTN on the same day in a program called “They Might Be Saints.”  It is our hope and prayer that God will grant our great desire to have this woman, courageous in adversity, be numbered among the Saints of the Catholic Church and give glory to Carmel and the Universal Church!

Father Mario’s Homily

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87th Year Anniversary of Foundation day

 

In 1929, Mother Mary Angeline Teresa pioneered a different approach to the care of the elderly and infirm. In addition to fulfilling physical and spiritual needs, she stressed the importance of a home-like atmosphere that encouraged residents to maintain their personal sense of dignity and independence. To that end Mother Angeline founded a new religious community – the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. With six other Sisters she set about making her vision a reality. From this relatively new beginning the work of the Congregation flourished and the Community was invited to work in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and as far west as Iowa. We currently serve in 20 facilities in the United States and Ireland. Mother Angeline Teresa’s philosophy of care is the keystone of the Carmelite commitment. The Sisters labor to make each Carmelite Home a genuine haven of love and Christian joy, serving each guest as if ministering to Our Lord Himself. Through their lives of prayer and in concert with the dedicated men and women who share their commitment to serve the elderly, the Carmelite Sisters share the Gospel message with the people of God and bring His love and healing to the Aged entrusted to their care. We are grateful to God for the continued grace of being able to minister to our beloved residents.  In these times of vocational and healthcare challenges, we continue to hope and pray, that the work began 87 years ago will continue to bear fruit and flourish for the greater glory of God and His Church!

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32nd Anniversary of Mother Angeline Teresa

“Apostle of Mercy to the Aged”  This theme was chosen in order to highlight the mercy which Mother Angeline demonstrated in her loving and generous care of the elderly, the vulnerable, and the infirm. As the Church celebrates the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, it seemed natural to recall the mercy which characterized the virtues of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, shown in the charity, magnanimity and forgiveness that marked her living and her ministry.

On January 21, 2016, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm celebrated the life of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa and the 32nd anniversary of her passing to eternal life with a Eucharistic celebration held at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse. The Most Reverend Brendan Comiskey, Bishop Emeritus of Ferns, Ireland, was the celebrant and homilist along with four members of the clergy who joined the celebration. Also present were members of the McCrory family, invited guests of the Carmelite Sisters, Carmelite friars and their novices.

Bishop Comiskey shared an encouraging insight in his homily on the centrality of mercy in the life of the Venerable. The ‘secret’ of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, according to the Bishop, was her having made the Word of God the source and inspiration for her life, vocation, and mission. Furthermore, it is not enough to think of her exemplary life with grand admiration, but more importantly, to contemplate the goodness of God who accomplished great things in her and through her.

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Celebrating the 31st Anniversary

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm celebrated the 31st anniversary of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa’s entrance into eternal life on January 21st.  If Mother Angeline was alive today, she would have been 122 years old!  Called to religious life at an early age of nineteen, she reached the fullness of her religious consecration when God called her to establish a religious community especially dedicated to the care of the elderly.  Among the many attributes of virtues, one that best describes this woman of faith was her religious zeal.  It is very appropriate then that the theme for this year’s anniversary celebration which falls on this proclaimed “Year of Consecrated Life” is that of the “Consecrated Woman of the Church.” Continue reading “Celebrating the 31st Anniversary”

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