Our Junior Sisters sing beautifully to commemorate the day

A CELEBRATION OF RENEWAL: JULY 2, 2008

We have so much to be thankful for here in our Provincial Motherhouse in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

We are joyful to announce that our 3 Junior Sisters (Sister Paula Marie of St. Joseph, Sister Mary Brigid of Jesus and Sister Mary Michael of the Holy Family) have renewed their vows on this day.

We are also equally happy that our 3 Postulants have become Novices. They are now privileged to wear our Carmelite brown habit and wear the white veil. Postulant Ursula is now known as Sister Maria Ursula, Postulant Jorelyn is now Sister M. Carmelita and Ana will now be addressed as Sister M. Teresa Margaret.

All glory and praise to our gracious God for giving us Sr. Pauline Therese. Today she is celebrating her 50th anniversary as a Carmelite Sister of the Divine Heart of Jesus.

Our new Novices share their joy in song

We celebrate with and are thankful for these precious stones. Our dear Mother stated in one of her letters, He built this little new sanctuary for Himself, this little side Chapel in the gigantic cathedral of Holy Church. At what great care and patience did He gather the first stones and shape them to make the foundation. We are so privileged to be a part of this magnificent edifice attached to Carmel and the Holy Catholic Church.

On July 2nd the Retreat Master Father Donald Blaeser, OFM and Father Ralph - Elias Haddix, OCD concelebrated the Holy Mass. Father Blaeser gave a wonderful sermon based on the Book of Samuel Chapter 3.

He stated that just like little Samuel, we were not experienced in the ways of God and did not understand how God talks to us. It is not only through prayer and books but also in our interaction with others. The most important aspect of all of this is that we listen and then do the will of God. Little by little we mature in the ways of the Lord.

After Holy Mass there was plenty of time for more celebration. The food was so delicious and tastefully displayed, the singing was so heavenly, the recreation so entertaining and the Chapel was fit for a King - the KING of KINGS! We all are grateful for all the loving labors of the Sisters.

In an interview on July 2, 2008, the new Novices expressed these thoughts about how they felt becoming a first year novice.

Sister Maria Ursula stated:

"Today for me everything is a fulfillment--to see Gods love in every person that I meet. Our dear Mother's motto says it all, 'See God in All, Serve God in All and Love God in All. I feel overjoyed today. For me, that is the reason that I came to this Community."

Sister M. Carmelita says:

"This is it Lord! I felt nervous but I also felt like I was surrounded by fire. I am warm and hot. No words can express what I feel. I am so thankful to God; He is so good. Before getting the veil, I needed water. I was so excited with each prayer."

Sister M. Teresa Margaret replied:

"I am very excited and very happy. I feel that my heart is overflowing ... like floating on the clouds. I never thought that this day would come. I feel a deep union with God."

In a letter written by our dear Mother Foundress, she states perfectly our own sentiments:

"I belong to You. For you I love. For you I die. Be it today or tomorrow--it is all the same to me. I have told You a thousand times: "You are my treasure, You are my all! Into Your hands I commend myself. Thy Will be done."