Mother M. Angeline Teresa (Bridget Teresa McCrory) was born on January 21, 1893 in Mountjoy, County Tyrone, Ireland. When she was seven years of age her family migrated to Scotland and at the age of nineteen she left home to become a Little Sister of the Poor, a Congregation engaged in the care of the destitute aged. She made her Novitiate in La Tour, France and after Profession she was sent to the United States.
In 1926, Mother Angeline was appointed Superior of a Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in the Bronx, New York. During an annual retreat in 1927, she felt an urge to reach out to do more for the aged for whom she cared. She felt that the European way and many of the customs in France did not meet the needs or customs of America. She also felt that old age strikes all classes of people, leaving them alone and frightened. Being unable to effect any necessary changes in her present situation, Mother Angeline sought advice and counsel from Patrick Cardinal Hayes of New York. Not only did he encourage her, but he likewise felt more could be done for the aged people in the New York area. Eventually, this need was recognized in the United States.
In order to accomplish what she felt called to do, and with the blessing of the Cardinal, Mother Angeline and six other Sisters withdrew from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor and were granted permission from Rome to begin a new Community for the care of the aged incorporating Mother Angeline’s ideals.
Thus, through the inspiration Mother received from the Congregation dedicated to the aged poor, she was now able to further develop this needed apostolate with new methods. From the very start, the Carmelite Friars in New York took a deep interest in Mother and her companions. In 1931 the new Community became affiliated with the great Order of Carmel and became known as “Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm.”
On January 21, 1984, Mother Angeline Teresa the Foundress, went to her eternal reward. She had the great consolation of seeing the Congregation beyond her expectations. Her daughters in Carmel remember her by her famous words: “If you must fail, let it be on the side of kindness. Be kinder than kindness itself to the old people.” Mother Angeline Teresa is laid to rest in the Congregation’s cemetery at St. Teresa’s Motherhouse in Germantown, New York. On June 28, 2012, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, authorized the Promulgation of the Decree of Heroic Virtues. She is now known as Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, O.Carm.
BIOGRAPHICAL TIMELINE
Birth; second child of Thomas and Brigid Taggart McCrory.
Registers St. Brigid’s Parish School
Family moves to Carfin, Scotland
Confirmed: takes name Teresa
Enters Convent School, Bothwell
Father dies, industrial accident
Enters Little Sisters of the Poor, Glasgow, Scotland
Sent to Paris to improve French
Enters novitiate, La Tour St. Joseph, St. Pern, France
Receives habit and name, Sr. Marie Angeline de Ste. Agathe
Professed at St. Pern, France
Assigned to St. Augustine’s Home Brooklyn, New York
Sails on the ship, New York USS Harvard for the USA
Prepares for Perpetual Vows, La Tour St. Joseph
Makes Perpetual Vows
Assigned to Home in Pittsburgh
Named Superior, Our Lady’s Home, Bronx, New York
Struggles to adapt the Home to a more comfortable American lifestyle.
Superiors in France do not approve new ideas.
Requests Rome for dispensation from vows with approval of Cardinal Hayes
and superiors in France.
Dispensations granted.
Leaves with six companions for temporary quarters with Sparkill Dominicans
at St. Martin of Tours Convent, Bronx, NY. They leave in habits that the
Dominican sisters helped them make.
Founds Congregation.
Profession of Vows
Affiliation with Order of Carmel
First Postulants receive habit.
First Motherhouse, St. Patrick’s Home, Bronx, New York
Perpetual Vows as Carmelites
Avila on the Hudson, Motherhouse blessed.
Silver Jubilee (28 Foundations)
Sacred Congregation of Religious approves Order.
John XXIII: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award
Golden Jubilee (40 Foundations)
National Award of Honor, American Association Homes for Aging
Honorary Degrees: Doctor of Humane Letters, Siena College, Loudonville, NY;
Papal Award: Benemerenti Award
Dies (59 foundations)
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