Category: Anniversary

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Celebrating 50, 60, 70 and 75 Years of Religious Jubilees

On June 3, 2023, nineteen Carmelite Sisters celebrated their, 50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th religious jubilees. A Jubilee Eucharistic Celebration was held at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse with The Most Reverend Gerardo J. Colacicco of the Archdiocese of New York who served as the principal celebrant and homilist. Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. was the Master of Ceremonies and Reverend Michael Kissane, O.Carm., Reverend Mark Zittle, O.Carm., Rev. James Sullivan and Rev. Jim Hess, O.Carm. were con-celebrants.

The Jubilarians celebrated with loving remembrance and gratitude to the many special persons who helped them come to this time of joyous celebration. All their many years of service to God and His elderly, of those present and those who were unable to attend, you are deeply acknowledged and appreciated! Congratulations dear Sisters.

Highlighted excerpts from the Homily of The Most Reverend Gerardo J. Colacicco:

“… On the feast of Pentecost Jesus entered that upper room… and breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit… He gave them the power of this resurrected life which we know to be the Holy Spirit, the power to live our lives faithfully… joyfully… in truth and goodness and beauty… To those who have consecrated their lives for the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He grants a blessing in silence, in the quiet of the world, in this little corner of the world. He grants a tremendous blessing. And He says to us, “Look here. Pay attention here. Look at these my brides, look at the joy they give to my Sacred Heart. Look at the joy and hope that they give the world.  Pay attention here, for this is the most beautiful, this is the most truth, this is where I move and live and act in them, and through them, and with them to show my goodness to the world. For this, my dear Sisters, we give you thanks.”

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Commemorating 39th Anniversary

Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa
Rev. James Donlon

On January 21, 2023, the 39th 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: Exemplar of Hope.’ The Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Friars of the Saint Elias Province in Middletown, NY served as the principal celebrant. Concelebrating with Father Mario were Rev. James Donlon and Rev. Timothy Ennis, O.Carm. The event was attended by invited members of
the clergy, members of the McCrory family, friends of the Congregation, and The Carmelite Novices and Friars of the Brandsma Priory Novitiate in Middletown, NY. The Mass was live streamed to the public via the Carmelite Sisters website.

Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm.

Excerpts from Fr. Mario’s homily:
...in working on Mother’s Cause for so many years, and looking at her in the context of today, our Commission could not fail to notice that Mother Angeline, though certainly possessing the virtues of faith, and charity and compassion to an heroic degree, also excelled in the virtue of hope....A person of hope believes that God’s plan as revealed in Christ will not fail, and a hopefilled person relies on God’s grace to step by step reveal that plan, God’s will, and give the strength to carry it out....From those who knew her, it was clear that her most obvious and foundational virtue was faith – faith in God, in Our Lord Jesus Christ, faith and trust in the action of the Holy Spirit and Mary. She also had faith in the Church and its leaders, bishops, and priests....And what was next? Hope. ...Mother Angeline looked at Mary, Our Lady of Hope, as a model for herself and her Sisters....This hope is part of the charism and spirit of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and their ministry. Even when times are challenging, we have a grace-filled hope that God is with us, will direct us, and help us as he did Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa. The cross is a symbol of faith and the heart a symbol of charity. The precious symbol of hope is the anchor, which I didn’t always understand. When the anchor is sent off the ship, it must and does find a secure place on which to rest. The anchor holds the ship in place, giving stability and grounding....My sisters and brothers – Mother Angeline was grounded in the anchor of hope, Christ our Lord – his promises, his presence, his grace to help in all things. Hope must grow in us as well. Where are we anchored? I would guess in moments of anxiety and fear, the anchor may not be in the right place. Mother Angeline can remind us to be sure we are anchored in the right and secure place, our dear Lord, whose promises are always trustworthy. As the Letter to the Hebrews announced: ‘Let us rouse one another to love and good works” always anchored in Christ.

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

On June 4, 2022, eight Carmelite Sisters celebrated their 25th, 50th, 60th and 70th religious jubilees. A Jubilee Eucharistic Celebration was held at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse with Reverend Monsignor Joseph Hendricks of the Diocese of Columbus as the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. Present as Con-Celebrants were Very Rev. Mario Esposito, O.Carm. as Master of Ceremonies, Right Reverend Austin Murphy, OSB, Reverend Paul Denault, O.Carm., Reverend James Donlon, Reverend Peter West, Reverend James Hess, O.Carm., and Brother Gregg Durham, O.Carm. who assisted in the liturgy.

L-R: Sr. Helena of Mary, O.Carm. (25 years), Sr. M. Teresa Stephen, O.Carm. (60 years), Sr. M. Teresa Kathleen, O.Carm. (60 years), Sr. M. Kathleen John Immaculate, O.Carm. (50 years)

The Jubilarians celebrated with loving remembrance and gratitude the many special persons who helped them come to this time of joyous celebration. All their many years of service to God and His elderly, of those present and those who were unable to attend, you were deeply acknowledged and appreciated! Congratulations dear Sisters!

Sr. M. Teresa Robert Nekoranec, O.Carm.
Sr. M. Teresa Lucy Bolognese, O.Carm.
Sr. M. Teresa Monica Toussaint, O.Carm.
Sr. Suzanne Marie Ronan, O.Carm.

Poignant excerpts from the Homily of Monsignor Joseph Hendricks:

“…as the Sisters who are present today and to celebrate Jubilees, they know, and have been serving, knowing, that the Lord has never abandoned them even in the midst of their struggle—even in the midst of their joys. They find a home in His heart and have taken themselves to His heart… I continue each day to be amazed by your courage, your mission-driven service that you have given in my home diocese of Columbus, Ohio at the Villas of St. Therese… and Mother Angeline McCrory Manor…

…As I reflect on your work and the women who do it, I find that each one brings to the Church so many precious and caring gifts. You have become the hands and feet and the touch and voice of Jesus Himself when you go out on your daily work, often unnoticed, but always deeply appreciated. I see it in the eyes and hearts of those you touch each day… You do unique, marvelous and genuine work in proclaiming the gospel of Christ by your service… This is indeed a day of joy for you…”

Monsignor Joseph Hendricks
Visiting Priests with Council
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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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Celebrating Religious 75, 70, 60 50 Years of Jubilees

On June 5, 2021, Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse at Avila-on-Hudson celebrated with our Carmelite Sisters who commemorated their respective 75, 70, 60 and 50 years of religious jubilees.

The principal celebrant was Monsignor Drake Shafer from the Diocese of Davenport. Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. was the Master of Ceremonies, assisted by the Carmelite Brothers of the Saint Elias Province in Middletown, New York.

The Jubilarians are Sr. M. Xavier Frances Marchiony, O.Carm. (75 years), Sr. M. Robert of the Infant Jesus Romano O.Carm. (70 years), Sr. M. Lois Joseph Baniewicz, O.Carm., Sr. M. Titus Joseph Ramsbottom, O.Carm., Sr. M. Jacqueline Joseph Wagner, O.Carm. Sr. Barbara Francis Higgins, O.Carm. (60 years), Sr. Marie Richard Carmel Brusca, O.Carm. and Sr. Diane Marie Mack, O.Carm. (50 years).

On this day, our Jubilarians renewed their religious vows first made many years ago, in the presence of their families, invited guests and fellow Sisters. It was a beautiful and inspiring testament of mutual love and fidelity – God’s and his chosen soul.

We offer our gratitude to all the Jubilarians who have given so many years and so much of themselves to the service of God, the Church and our Community. May God bless each of them abundantly and may Our Lady of Mount Carmel enfold each in her mantle and draw them ever closer to her Son.

Below: Jubilarians; 75th Jubilarian: Sr. M. Xavier Marchiony; 70th Jubilarian: Sr. M. Robert of the Infant Jesus Romano; 60th Jubilarians (L-R): Sr. M. Lois Joseph, Sr. M. Titus Joseph, Sr. M. Jacqueline Joseph; 50th Jubilarians (L-R): Sr. Diane Marie Mack. O.Carm., Sr. Marie Richard Carmel Brusca, O.Carm. Monsignor Drake Shafer,
principal celebrant