Although it has taken some time, we have finally gotten the photos posted from the meeting five of us attended from our Carmel. A historical gathering of close to 170 Discalced Carmelite Nuns from the US, a few from Canada and one from Finland took place the last week in April in St. Louis. The purpose was for reflection and discussion on the new Apostolic Constitution “Vultum Dei quaerere – Seeking the Face of God“ which was issued by Pope Francis on 22 July 2016 regarding women’s contemplative life. Even though the specific norms and regulations have not yet come out and were to be a main topic of discussion by our Father General, the material presented to us was deeply enriching, not to mention we were able to see so many of our sisters in Carmel. Enjoy the photos!
SOME OF THE NUNS FROM COVINGTON, LA CARMEL DROVE UP, JOINED US FOR A COOKOUT, SPENT THE NIGHT, AND WE CARAVANNED TO ST. LOUIS THE NEXT DAY.PIT STOP AT ARKANSAS WELCOME CENTER AT BORDER OF MO.HERE WE ARE! THIS IS ONLY A PORTION OF THE ROOM OF CARMELITES!OUR THREE PRESENTERS: FR. RAFAL WILKOWSKI, SECRETARY TO FR. GENERAL AND DELEGATE FOR ALL THE NUNS OF THE ORDER, FR. DANIEL CHOWNING, GENERAL DEFINITOR, AND FR. GENERAL SAVERIO CANISTRA.MEALS WERE TIMES OF SHARING, MEETING NEW SISTERS, AND REUNITING WITH FRIENDS.SR. MERCIA MARY STANDING BEHIND FR. RAFAL AND FR. GENERAL.WE FOUND THE WORKOUT ROOM IN THE HOTEL. AFTER SITTING AND LISTENING TO INTENSE CONFERENCES, WE NEEDED THIS!YES, NUNS CAN DO THAT, TOO (AT LEAST SOME NUNS CAN)!SR. CECILIA, SR. STEPHANIE AND SR. MERCIA MARY TOOK A VERY QUICK EXCURSION TO ST. LOUIS CARMEL.A BEAUTIFUL MONASTERY, IT IS THE SECOND CARMELITE MONASTERY IN THE US.FR. RAFAL WITH SR. ANU MARIA TO HIS RIGHTTHESE TWO LOVELY NUNS ARE FROM LORETTO, PA CARMEL, OUR “MOTHER CARMEL”.ALL CARMELS ORIGINATED FROM MOUNT CARMEL IN HAIFA, ISRAEL!ALL THE CARMELS IN US. MOST WERE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING!AROUND 170 CARMELITE NUNS AND SOME OF OUR FRIARS SAID GOODBYE.NEXT WE VISITED SR. MERCIA MARY’S FORMER COMMUNITY WHO HAVE THE MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL NURSING HOME IN ST. LOUIS.THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF THE MARTYR ST. GEORGETHE SISTERS’ PROVINCIAL HOUSE IS IN ALTON, IL, CLOSE BY ST. LOUIS, WHERE WE STAYED OVERNIGHT BEFORE RETURNING HOME.MOSAIC IN MAIN CHAPELTHE ADORATION CHAPEL AT THEIR CONVENT IS OPEN ALL DAY UNTIL 8:30 P.M. WITH TWO ADORERS BEFORE OUR LORD.SR. PETRA – FRONT LEFT AND SR. CECILIA – FRONT RIGHT, AS WE JOINED THE SISTERS IN PRAYER.AFTERNOON COFFEE, JUST LIKE OLD TIMES.SR. CECILIA, SR. PETRA, SR. MERCIA MARY, AND SR. ANU MARIA (SR. STEPHANIE FLEW HOME)A WONDERFUL GIFT TO HEAR SR. MARIE THERESE, FSGM PLAY VIOLIN AGAIN. WE HAD A BLESSED TIME, AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SISTERS’ HOSPITALITY.OUR DRIVE HOME AT THE TIME OF MAJOR FLOODING IN MO AND ARALL THE WATER YOU SEE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DRY LAND!WE MADE IT SAFELY HOME, AND PRAYED FOR ALL EFFECTED BY
