Tag: Blog

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A Visit From Mossend Scotland

At Mother’s gravesite
Warm welcome from the Sisters
With Regine Lambrech in the archives
Interviewing and Recording for documentary

John Mallon and Brian Timmons are the co-founders of a Video Production Company Based in Lanarkshire, Scotland specializing in Catholic Church Videography. In 2016 they started by filming short videos and documenting the history of their parish church, The Holy Family in Mossend. Over time, their team has grown to include various contributors who help produce a wide range of content including documentaries and live streams covering significant religious sites and events such as important Church and charity events, pilgrimages, and celebrations; interviews featuring prominent figures in the Catholic community; and educational videos exploring topics related to Catholic teachings, history, and contemporary issues Their content is available on platforms like YouTube and their official website, http://www.sancta.tv.

In January, John and Brian traveled to the United States to cover the March for Life in Washington, DC. They then traveled to Avila (Germantown, NY) and New York City to produce the definitive story of Mother Angeline’s life through her birth in Ireland, youth in Scotland, years of formation in France, and work in America.

Many Sisters were interviewed for their memories, anecdotes, and stories about Venerable Mary Angeline. John and Brian were able to visit the archives at Avila and were able to see photos from Scotland and Ireland that they had not seen before. They also visited the Mother Angeline Heritage Center, and the Heritage Room in the Motherhouse. At Mother’s gravesite John said, “…it’s very moving to be here, coming all the way from Scotland to see the grave of someone who is a normal Mossend person just like us growing up on the same street as us, going to our school, to our church, yet the legacy here you see the size of the grounds and the Sisters that have joined her order and the legacy of kindness and care for the elderly she’s inspired across the United States and beyond. That legacy continues today. We felt very warmly welcomed by the Sisters and we’re very moved to see her resting place.”

To complete their trip, John and Brian were able to visit two nursing homes. “Our impression of the residents in the homes was one of a deeply caring and professional environment… in Mary Manning Walsh Home and Ozanam Hall, residents were interacting with staff and religious in a warm and friendly manner. We were given a preview of the new dementia unit in Ozanam. It is a well-designed and clean space which will help (these) residents”

From one of their Facebook Posts: “Only when you visit the States where she developed most of her work and spent her time do you realize the immense legacy of this ‘wee lassie’ from Mossend, Venerable Mother Angeline. A complete visionary, kind, humble and Holy. Everyone in @holyfamilymossend should be proud of her.”

To watch the video documentary, visit our YouTube channel “Remembering Venerable Mary Angeline” https://www.youtube.com/@CarmeliteSisters4Aged

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE!

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Celebrating the Eucharistic Congress 2024

The National Eucharistic Congress took place in Indianapolis, Indiana July 17-21, 2024, as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative sponsored by the Bishops of the United States. The purpose of the revival was to inspire and prepare the People of God to be formed, healed, converted, united, and sent out to the world through a renewed encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist. Activities focused around cultivating a greater understanding of and love for the Eucharist. These activities included daily Mass, general sessions, breakout sessions, Eucharistic processions and adoration, and musical performances. 

Nine sisters represented our Congregation and promoted The Mother Angeline Society. They joined their fellow pilgrims (roughly 60,000) in welcoming Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist to Lucas Oil Stadium. What a gift it was to be here for that historic moment! Know that the Sisters carried you in their prayers during these days of Eucharistic Revival. 

A few comments from the sisters who attended:  

“It has awakened in me the privilege we have every day to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and despite our humanity, he gives us the strength to overcome our faults.” 

“My thought is one of gratitude, the energy, enthusiasm, and power of the Holy Spirit will stay with us for a long time. The Emmaus encounters, the many people we meet on the way. The Youth had such a strong witness of faith, I was in awe of that. One of the bishop’s said to the youth, ‘you are not the church of the future, you are the church of now.’”   

(L-R): Sr. Mary of Jesus, Sr. Theresa, Sr. Peter Lillian, and Sr. Lois Wetzel.

The Sisters with thousands in attendance

Eucharistic Procession into the Stadium

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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.” 

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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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Teaching Religious Sisters Around the World How to Age Well Together

by Shane Cooney, AIG Head of Education

Above: Sisters from around the world with AIG Director, Sr. M. Peter Lillian Di Maria, O.Carm., and AIG Faculty and Staff, Deacon Tony Silvestro, Phillip McCallion, and Shane Cooney.

Communities of religious women in many countries around the world are facing the challenge of how Sisters can provide the appropriate care and support for their aging members. Unfortunately, many Religious Congregations have neither the funds nor the support systems in place.

In 2022, the Avila Institute of Gerontology and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm discussed options to answer these needs. The Avila Institute was blessed to receive a $720k grant to develop Sisters Aging Well Together (SAWT), a Congregational eldercare enablement program offered as a pilot program to 12 Sisters from different Communities representing Mexico, India, Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia. The goal of this program is to provide an opportunity for the Sisters to learn more about how to care for their aging Sisters. They will then be charged with sharing this information and teaching their own Communities and other Communities as the eldercare networks in these countries continue their development.

Beginning in March 2023, the 12 Sisters began receiving formative education on various concepts and practices in gerontology, person-centered care, and care of the aged in the Community setting, based on Mother Angeline’s philosophy of being “kinder than kindness itself” and treating each of our cherished aged and infirm as a unique human being. They attended classes with AIG faculty twice per week via video conference in the AIG Learning Center to complete 50 hours of education, assignments, and evaluations.

In July 2023, 10 of the 12 Sisters were able to come Avila for one month and had an opportunity to tour the Teresian House in Albany, New York. During this time, the Sisters were also able to attend in-person classes that allowed for additional opportunities for discussion, information sharing, and relationship building. A considerable amount of time was given to exploring care plans and being introduced to the AIG Care Transitions Tool, which is an instrument designed to help Sisters assess the readiness to care for the aged in their Communities.

At the end of their visit at Avila, the Sisters spent more time at St. Patrick’s Manor, where they were able to see how the Carmelite Sisters operate a long-term care Home. Once the Sisters return to their homes in August, AIG will continue to meet with them to assist with the implementation of the Care Transitions Tool and to provide ongoing support. In this way, AIG will continue to be with the Sisters each step of the way as they plan for their future—one in which they will age well together.