Newsletter #32 - Dec 2021

Dear members of the Auxiliary,

J.M. + J.T.

We want to wish you a very happy Advent! Expectation fills the air, the decorations are beginning to come out of storage, and we’re dreaming of a white Christmas up here in the foothills. The baking started early this year. Thanks to Patty and Jim MacEgan, the driveway and front of the monastery are already decked in red bows and icicle lights, truly celestial when the sun goes down!

Our happiest news this year is that Sister Pia Therese of Mary, the Mother of God, became a permanent member of our community in October. Sister came from the Carmelite Monastery of Erie, Pennsylvania, which had to close. Her temporary transfer became finalized, to everyone’s mutual satisfaction. “Good things come in small packages,” the saying goes, and Sister Pia proves it. She doesn’t stand much taller than five feet, but she’s a hard worker, has a lovely laugh, and impresses us with egg rolls made from scratch. (Hint: they’re very different than frozen ones!)

Adding to the happiness is our new resident chaplain, a retired priest named Father William Ryan. He started last February. We are pleased and grateful for his prayerful ministry to us.

And fortunately, we have a couple of hopeful young ladies discerning a vocation with us, so perhaps by next Advent, there will be more of us to help with the decorating!

You members of the Auxiliary have supported us in so many ways that we’ve lost count. Donations find their way to us, food items, paper goods, fresh produce, big bags of rice, cleaning products...oh my goodness, we joke about making an extra storage room for everything! Thank you for “being there” for us. Even to the point that our entire Thanksgiving dinner was donated to us...generosity over-and-above the call of duty!

For our part, we promise that we do keep you in our daily prayers. We have a Mass offered once a month for the Auxiliary members. We look upon you as “family.” Although the coronavirus is still very much a part of our daily landscape, it helps to have faithful friends that we can take delight in knowing. Thank you, everyone, for being part of our Carmelite family. You’re invited to our Christmas Midnight Mass, anticipated at 8:00 PM instead of midnight, and Christmas Day Mass, at 8:00 AM.

We’ll meet you spiritually “around the Crib,” to greet our newborn King! God bless you, and have a Merry Christmas!

Mother Mary Bethany and Sisters

Dear Auxiliary Members,

A very Happy Advent to you! The anticipation builds as we get ready for the birthday of Our Savior! Last week Jim and I, along with some elf helpers, decorated the Monastery exterior for Christmas. The lights are hung, the bows are fastened to the lampposts, and the creche is set up. The Christmas trees in the chapel go up on the 18th. Come up for a visit! As always, I encourage you to remember the Sisters on Christmas. You can donate to the Sisters on our website or mail them a check at:

Carmel or the Holy Family and St. Therese, PO Box 4210, Georgetown, CA 95634

The Auxiliary could use your help as we prepare for our next luncheon. I need a publicity chairman, someone who can help me advertise about the Auxiliary events. I am not good at this! I need someone to take this over, and soon. Our next luncheon is Feb 12, and people need to get it on the calendar. Our Lady would not leave us high and dry without a publicity person.

Next, we need things for both the Auction and the Raffle at the luncheon. Please, nothing used; only new items. We have 1 1/2 month to collect these items.

All-new Raffle items are small items like bath sets, religious items, knick knacks, toys or games, flower arrangements, or even jewelry. Use your imagination, but remember, no used items please. Henry Luckie is the contact person for all raffle items. He will come to your house to pick things up.

Auction: we just need items to add to the following baskets:
• Chocolate basket: anything chocolate! Or a candy dish, or chocolate liqueur. Think Saint Valentines Day.

  • Baking Basket: Flour, sprinkles, cookie cutters, rolling pin?

  • Movie Night basket: popcorn? Movie tickets? DVDs? Valentines movies?

  • Beach Basket: Towels, sunscreen, beach chairs, inflatables

  • Outings basket: Tickets to ballgames, museums, zoo, miniature golf, etc.

  • Bath Basket: A donation of soap dish-toothbrush holder-kleenex cover set in light gray
    Connie Torres is the contact person for anything you would like to contribute to one of these Auction baskets.

Thank you for your time in reading this. I hope you have a lovely Advent and a Merry Christmas!

In Christ,
Patty MacEgan

Patricia MacEgan