The Carmelite Heritage Room at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel showcases a rich collection of written materials – books, programs, newspaper articles and an array of photographs and artifacts, which chronicle the legacy of the Carmelite Order. These displays highlight not only the history of the New York Province of St. Elias, but also the lives and contributions of Carmelites, past and present, who have shaped both the Order and the wider world.
The current exhibit honors the life and legacy of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, O. Carm., Foundress of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. Through four thoughtfully curated display cases, visitors can explore her inspiring story, brought to life with historic materials from the Provincial Archives.
On June 7, 2025, a Mass of Thanksgiving was held to celebrate religious jubilees of our Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. Father Gerard Gordon, Principal Celebrant and Homilist, along with Reverend James Hess, O.Carm. as con celebrant. Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. was the Master of Ceremonies with the Carmelite Brothers from Saint Elias Province assisting at the liturgy. It was wonderful to share the day with families and friends, as well as with our Carmelite Sisters who traveled near and far to celebrate. Three of the Jubilarians could not be present for the celebrations and were especially remembered. Mass was followed by a reception and social gathering at Carmel Hall.
Reverend Gerard Gordon, Principal Celebrant and Homilist
Passages from Father Gordon’s homily:
“St. Paul writes ‘Do nothing out of selfishness or vain glory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interest but for others.’ Saint Paul must have had the Carmelite Sisters in his mind, looking far into the future when he wrote those words, because they speak directly to the good works that I and countless others have witnessed.
What makes this service possible, of course, is humility. Service is not possible without humility… St. Gregory of Nyssa tells us that of all the virtues, humility is the doorway to all the others. No other virtue is possible without humility…Humility is the mother of service… I’m thinking back on the life of our jubilarians here today. Cumulatively, you represent hundreds of years of service.
Every one of you jubilarians is here today because you have faithfully lived this commitment to God’s love for the vulnerable and the weak, those most loved by Christ himself… We’re not capable of thanking you sisters sufficiently for all you did. Only God has that capacity to reward you for all you’ve done, and that is called Heaven. And so, we are simply here to say our feeble thank you as we acknowledge and celebrate you very publicly. Thank you for all you have done for us, but most importantly, for the thousands of unknowns you have helped, held, and guided to Heaven, whose hands you have placed into the hands of God. Those countless ones who live now in Heaven and whose names we will never know, but they are known to God and to you.”
Sister Mary Paul Tenneson (25 years)Sister Francis Cecile Marcinak (60 years)Sister Anthony de Lourdes Veilleux / Sister Constance de Lourdes Richards (50 years)Sister M. Helena Therese of St. Joseph Horan (70 years)
Not Pictured:Sr. M. Patrick of the Assumption Traynor (75 years), Sr. M. Kevin Patricia of St. Joseph O’Brien (70 years), Sr. Maureen de Lourdes McDonough (60 years)
On April 21, 2025, the day after making his final public appearance to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis entered into his eternal rest. In the weeks following his passing, there was endless speculation about who the new pope might be. Would he be a liberal reformer or one who hewed more closely to tradition? Would he be a younger Cardinal, meaning a possibly long papal reign, or would he be an older, more seasoned Church veteran? Would he be another Italian (217 of the past 267 popes have been Italian-so Italians have been well represented!), or would he maybe come from a part of the world where the Church has experienced tremendous growth, such as Asia or Africa?
And yet, on March 8, after seeing the white smoke emanate from the Sistine Chapel, the world witnessed the first American Pope, Pope Leo XIV, step out from behind the velvet curtains. “American ?!” was likely the first thing many Catholics said. No one was really expecting an American to be the next successor of St. Peter, and of course, many wondered what it would mean to have an American in this position. Pope Leo’s “American-ness” is just one part of who he is; he is also an Augustinian friar, a Canon lawyer, a missionary who spent many years in Peru, and someone who is familiar with Vatican bureaucracy, having worked in the Dicastery for Priests and Dicastery for Bishops. And yet, something of his American upbringing and heritage will no doubt shape how he looks at the world and his approach to the challenges he faces as the new Pope.
Realizing that Americans are “different” was one of the reasons that Mother Angeline founded the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. When Mother first arrived in the United States from France, she soon saw that the style of care implemented in the nursing homes was not really best suited for the American residents. The institutional approach used at the time was not in keeping with the American value of personal independence. She also wanted to celebrate uniquely American holidays like the 4th of the July and Thanksgiving, which were then not permitted, and welcome those who were middle class, not just the financially destitute (as was the custom of the time). These changes, which do not seem terribly radical by today’s standards, were not encouraged by her religious superiors. Thus, Mother Angeline and her six companions felt that to be faithful to their vow of hospitality to the elderly, they would have to leave their beloved congregation and begin a new one that was more in keeping with this new vision of care for the aged.
Since 1929, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm – along with their dedicated lay staff- have faithfully carried out the mission that Mother Angeline started. Innovation and creativity are qualities intrinsic to the American spirit, and qualities that Mother incorporated into her nursing homes. But Mother always insisted that, while new methods may be more efficient, we must be sure that the goal is to treat the residents as Christ would treat them.
Mother was deeply proud of her Irish heritage, and she recalled with great fondness her formative years spent in Scotland with her family. But in 1933, when she became a United States citizen, she embraced wholeheartedly her new American identity. We may hail from the United States, or from some other country, but as St. Paul writes “…our citizenship in is heaven,” and our task is ready ourselves for the return of Jesus Christ. Let us pray for our new Pope, that he may be given all the graces necessary to lead and inspire the Church.
“There is no joy, there is no hope, there is no love, without the cross… Let Christ be your solace, your model and your support.” — Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa
On March 19, 1915, Sister Angeline was professed, and assigned as a Little Sister of the Poor to the Community in Brooklyn, NY. The Atlantic was a perilous battleground, with the tragic sinking of the “Lusitania” still fresh in memory when she set sail on the ship “The New York” on October 15, 1915; she arrived safely in New York City on October 31.
Over time she felt that the focus of her order exclusively on the destitute, was neglecting elders of all social classes. With the encouragement of Cardinal Hayes, she started a new congregation. In 1931 this congregation was recognized as the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. “Our Apostolate is not only to staff and operate up to date Homes for the Aged. As religious, it is to bring Christ to every old person under our care. Bringing Christ means giving them His compassion, His interest, His loving care, His warmth – morning, noon, and night!”
A meaningful parallel emerges between Mother’s faith-filled path and the Jubilee Year of Hope. The logo of the 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope represents unity, faith, and hope with four figures, symbolizing humanity, embracing each other.
The leading figure holds the cross, showing faith and hope. The waves below them represent life’s struggles. The cross extends into an anchor, symbolizing stability in tough times. The journey is shared, moving together toward the cross, which reaches out to humanity.
Mother Angeline is beautifully described in the booklet “Mother to the Aged and Infirm” by Rev. Redemptus Maria Valabek, O.Carm.: “Genuinely holy people are revolutionaries. They take the Gospel seriously…and they are so overwhelmed by the personality of Jesus Christ that they strive to make Him present in their world, no matter what the sacrifice.”
Sister M. Fidelis Therese O.Carm. went home to the Lord on September 30, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Manor, Framingham, MA, in the 35th year of her religious life.
God blessed her with multiple talents in music, art, photography, and computer graphics. Sr. Fidelis created prayer cards, theme posters and Mass booklets for the January 21st celebrations, and designed several gift items for the Mother Angeline gift shop. She also helped compile the booklets, Ven. Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, O.Carm. – Mother and Friend to Priests and Model of Vocation. Sr. Fidelis Therese played the accordion and melodica, wrote music, songs, and poetry, and was always very generous in using her gifts whenever and wherever they were needed.
Sister Fidelis Therese was full of love for her Community and she will remain forever close in our minds and hearts.
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