Anniversary – THE MOTHER ANGELINE SOCIETY

April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, O.Carm.

Reverencing Life In All It’s Stages

On January 21, 2026, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and invited guests gathered at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse Chapel to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa’s entrance to eternal life.

The principal celebrant and homilist was Rev. James Miara of the Archdiocese of New York, with Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm. as the Master of Ceremonies. Invited members of the clergy included Rev. James Donlon, Rev. Gregg Durham, O.Carm., and Rev. James Hess, O.Carm. Mr. Matthew Wise, Mr. Anthony Mathison, Mr. Munoz, and Mr. Edmund Holmes, the Carmelite Brothers of the Saint Elias Province, assisted in the liturgy.

Among the invited guests were members of the McCrory family, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, members of the Cause and Charism Commission, the Sisters for Life, and staff members of the Carmelite System. The celebration concluded with a special reception. It was a beautiful day to remember and honor the life and legacy of this woman who gave her life in service to the vulnerable elderly and left us a legacy of respect for life in all its stages.

Excerpts from Fr. Miara’s homily:

“When Mother Angeline founded the Carmelite Sisters almost 100 years ago, she did so because she felt a divinely inspired call to care for the elderly in a new way ….Mother desired the residents in the Carmelite facilities to be treated with dignity, and the whole person served, physically, socially and spiritually, regardless of race, color, or creed.

…. We see over and over again the effects of the inspiration of Mother Angeline in the lives of people through the manner of her charity, her sensitivity, her delicacy and her graciousness in the work of caring for the elderly and ill, and in promoting the value and sanctity of life as it comes under attack in so many subtle and lethal ways in today’s “throwaway culture” as decried by Pope Francis. Every individual person whether young or old, healthy or infirm has a God-given dignity and right to life. The vulnerable are not burdens, the suffering are not disposable, the end of life is not to be hastened but held sacred, as there is value in human suffering when united to the Cross of Christ and His Passion. Life is to be protected at every stage offering care, not killing, showing compassion, not letting those who are served fall into despair.

… Mother Angeline is a wonderful patroness for the cause of life, and her values and virtues indispensable in maintaining the attitude of charity and respect for the vulnerable that should mark the lives of all Christian people and human society. So, together with Our Lady, the Queen and splendor of Mt. Carmel, and Venerable Mother Angeline her faithful daughter, go forth in haste to glorify God by reverencing life in all its stages.”

April 5, 2025April 6, 2025

The 41st Anniversary of Ven. Mary Angeline Teresa’s Entrance to Eternal Life

Bishop Fernandes, Mother Mary Rose, Concelebrants and Council

The 41st Anniversary of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa’s Entrance into Eternal Life

On January 21, 2025, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and invited guests gathered at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse Chapel to commemorate the 41st anniversary of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa’s entrance into eternal life.

The principal celebrant and homilist was The Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes, Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus, OH, with Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. as the Master of Ceremonies. The invited members of the clergy were Rev. James Donlon, Rev. James Miara, and Rev. James Hess, O.Carm. Brother J.B. Duc Nguyen, O.Carm., Mr. J.B. Truong An Nguyen and Mr. Matthew Wise, the Carmelite Brothers of the Saint Elias Province, assisted in the liturgy.

Among the invited guests were the McCrory family, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, staff members of the Avila Institute of Gerontology, and the Carmelite System. The celebration concluded with a special reception. It was a beautiful day to remember and honor the life and legacy of Mother Angeline, who exemplified a deep love and devotion to our residents through her acts of kindness.

Excerpts from Bishop Fernandes’ homily:

“…when I was in between medical school and the seminary, I lived in Cincinnati…. I would work at St. Margaret Hall where the Carmelite Sisters were. I saw the love and the care that they gave to all those who were residents there… what is this care all about? It’s about affirming the dignity of each and every person. No matter how old or young, no matter how able bodied or disabled or ill you might be, we have to show reverence for the human person. For the human person is made in God’s image and likeness…

We could think in a worldly way and say, well these old people, these sick people – they’re just using up resources. They’re keeping us from being efficient. And in some societies, that’s what people say. And we are moving more and more toward what the Pope calls a throwaway culture. But you Sisters and you who support the Sisters with your prayers and your gifts, and your sacrificial offerings, you refuse to throw people away. You stand beside them; you hold their hands, and you stay strong.

We can afford to fail in many things, but not in kindness and certainly not in charity…

My dear sisters, my brothers, this is our task to be kinder than kindness. To love one another with true heartfelt compassion. To share God’s love with the sick and the infirm and those who suffer from a terrible poverty of loneliness to bring about a revolution of tenderness…

God called Mother Angeline McCrory from Ireland to Scotland, to France to New York to build something to bear fruit that will remain. And you are the fruit of her labor. Christ has planted the seed. He planted a seed of great love in her heart, and it continues to bloom and grow and so it continues to live in your vocations, faithfully committed to Christ, the true spouse of our souls. Continue to put on the garment of love, which is the bond of perfection. And you will see you will change our world.”

October 23, 2024October 21, 2024

Celebrating 25, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years of Religious Jubilees

On June 1, 2024, a Mass of Thanksgiving was held to celebrate religious jubilees of thirteen of our Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. Mass was followed by a reception and social gathering.

The Principal Celebrant and Homilist was Rev. Stash Dailey of the Diocese of Columbus. Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm. was Master of Ceremonies, Rev. Jim Hess, O.Carm., Rev. Ashley Harrington, O.Carm. and Rev. Senan Taylor, OFM Cap. were also concelebrants.

The Carmelite Brothers from Saint Elias Province assisted at the liturgy. Three of the Jubilarians could not be present for the celebrations and were especially remembered. Sister Mary Ann Immaculate Wasilko, our 70th year Jubilarian, was also remembered with love and gratitude, having gone to her eternal reward during her jubilee year.

(Lto R) Sr. M. Thertese Eileen Mulvaney (60 years), Sr. M. Theresa of the Eucharist Pham (25 years), Sr. M. Cyril Methodius Kasper (50 years), Sr. M. Margaret Edward of All Saints Costello (60 years), Sr. M. Joseph Augustine Thornley (75 years), Sr. Maureen Carroll (60 years), Sr. M. Philip Ann of All Saints Bowden (60 years), Sr. M. Veronica Robert Bien (50 years)

Not Pictured: Sr. Theresa Margaret Cave (60 years), Sr. M. Michelle of All Saints Moore (60 years), Sr. M. Rose of the Sacred Heart Spencer (80 years), Sr. M. Bernadette Murphy (60 years), and Sr. M. Matthew James of All Saints Gay (60 years)

Entered Eternal Life: Sr. Mary Ann Immaculate Wasilko (70 Yrs)

Rev. Stash Dailey- Celebrant and Homilist

“My interaction, my learning from the Carmelite Sisters, began in 1996 when I was a freshman in High School.” Father Dailey shared his memories as a high school weekly volunteer at St. Raphael’s Home visiting the residents and family members on a list given to him from Sr. Michelle. He fondly related a story of having black raspberry chip ice cream brought to Sr. Michelle and Mother Mary Rose and the Sisters when he was a seminarian, and then as a Priest. When new Priests asked for advice for visiting the elderly Fr. Dailey said,
“I remembered St. Raphael’s Home, the good Sisters telling the volunteers… ‘when you walk in a room you see that person as the Father sees that person. That individual is His child, His daughter or His son. When you engage them and encounter them you love them the way Jesus loves them, and when you speak, you speak what the Holy Spirit says to say. We give what we have been given.’

In God’s Providence this simple priest has traveled from Ohio shaped and formed as it were, by the spirit of Mother Angeline, to celebrate with you a Holy Mass where we approach God is all mystery, all love, and we dare to thank Him for all of the gifts He has given to our Jubilarians.”

October 21, 2024April 6, 2025

Celebrating 95th Anniversary of Congregation

September 3, 1929 – September 3, 2024

Mother Angeline’s Journey in Faith

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm follow the example and vision of their Foundress ministering to Christ in the person of the elderly.

After her childhood spent in Ireland and Scotland, Bridget Teresa McCrory, at the age of nineteen, left for France to become a Little Sister of the Poor.

In 1926, she was assigned to a home for the aged in New York but felt the European customs did not meet the needs of the American elderly. Her efforts at change were not agreed to by her Congregation so she sought the advice of Patrick Cardinal Hayes. To accomplish what she felt God was calling her to do, and with the blessing of the Cardinal, Mother Angeline and six other Sisters made the very difficult decision to withdraw from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. They were granted permission from Rome to begin a new Community incorporating Mother Angeline’s ideas.

When established in 1929, The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm was the first American Community of religious women founded solely to care for the aged. Today Carmelite facilities are in Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Dublin, Ireland. Our communities offer an array of senior care services, including skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living and rehabilitation services.

January 21, 2024January 21, 2024

Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa: 40th Anniversary of Death

On January 20, 2024, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm gathered at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse Chapel in Germantown, New York to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa’s entrance to eternal life. The actual date was January 21, 1984 when she passed away. It also fell on her birthday which would have made her 131 years old today!

The Holy Mass was celebrated by the principal celebrant Most Reverend Gerardo Colacicco with Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. as the Master of Ceremonies and homilist. At the altar were other invited members of the Clergy- Rev. James Donlon, Rev. James Miara, Rev. James Hess, O.Carm., Very Reverend Patrick Keating and Reverend John Moyna. The Carmelite Brothers of Saint Elias Province assisted at the liturgy. Also present but not concelebrating was Reverend Von Erick Maria Sandoval, O.Carm. Other invited guests were the McCrory family, Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, Sisters for Life, Little Sisters of the Poor, staff members of the Avila Institute of Gerontology, Carmelite System, Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse dietary department and other special guests. The celebration concluded with a special reception in Carmel Hall. It was a beautiful day to remember and honor the life and legacy of this woman of faith, who in her lifetime, exemplified a deep love and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. As the Universal Church continues her celebration of the Eucharistic Revival, may the example of our Foundress also awaken in us a deep spirit of love and holiness, and a renewal of life that comes with our union with Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. The theme of this year’s anniversary celebration is “Strengthened by the Eucharist.”

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