Newsletter #19 - Easter Season

A Letter from Mother Mary Bethany

Dear Members of M.A.R.Y.,

Greetings to you from your Sisters in Georgetown in this lovely month of Mary! Having Eastertide, Spring, and Mary all together just makes everything special. If you can bear with me, I want to start my reflection with a corny Irish joke.

Murphy walks into the hardware store and says to the clerk, “I’d like some nails please.” “Certainly,” says the clerk, “how long would you like them?”
“Forever, if it’s all right with you!”

What does that have to do with Easter, you may ask. Well – everything! When Our Lord rose in a glorified body, that put the seal on the Father’s love for human beings. Our humanity is now present with the Godhead in heaven; the Father embraces human nature forever. There’s no way out of God’s loving glorifying arms, now that His Son has risen from the dead and opened the way for us – a way home that we shall all walk some day. It’s a joy to say “alleluia” after the icy days of winter and Lent, and to know that death does not have the final word.

Looking towards the future, we have a few exciting events to tell you about. On August 24th, the anniversary of the founding of San Jose de Avila by Saint Teresa, which Carmelites call their “Foundation Day,” we’ll celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Profession of our Sister Ann Marie of Christ. She’s originally from Lahaina, Maui, and the last we heard, all of her family and lots of her friends are coming to Georgetown: a Hawaiian invasion! Later, on October 7th, feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, we’ll celebrate the Silver Jubilee of our Sister Veronica Rose, who hails from Sacramento. To those of us who can remember them both as postulants, these happy events will make us feel very- uhm, mature. You’ll all be welcome to attend, once we settle on the times for the liturgies!

Again, we express our renewed appreciation for each one of you, and the multiple ways you support us and keep us going. We feel your support and love, and assure you of our prayers. We have a Mass for you every month. Let us keep our eyes on Christ, and keep on going. With Our Lady and Saint Joseph to guide us, we shall surely “run the race” and arrive at our Father’s house where “nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Amen, alleluia!

In Christ,
Mother Mary Bethany & Sisters

Auxiliary News

Happy Easter Season to you all! We want to remind you to SAVE THE DATE for September 28 for the Carmelite Luncheon at St. Mel’s! The time will still be 12-3, with doors opening at 11:30. We need the following:
• Help with the luncheon this year, set up, take down, organization

• Donate new items for the raffle
• Donate big ticket items such as trips, cabins, golf outings, etc. for the auction If you can help out in any way, email me asap.

The Quilt is incredibly beautiful and nearly done for this year’s raffle. The design is by Jinny Beyer, a popular quilt designer, and is called “Echoes”. It is in shades of blue, aqua and violet.
We need your help to come to your parish to sell raffle tickets. This is how we make the most money on the quilt, by being at your parish on Sunday mornings. Please help me get a date at your parish! I will do all the hard work but I need your help to secure permission from your pastor and a date. Call me if you can help.

Want to go on a mini-retreat at the Monastery? On Saturday May 18 the Board will host a retreat in the St. John Villa at the Monastery in Georgetown. We will begin with Mass at 8:00, but if you can’t make that, join us after Mass at 9:00 for a three hour mini retreat. We will be done by noon, but the chapel is open for prayer all day. Please contact me if you want to join us on May 18.

In Christ,
Patty MacEgan

Carmelitehelpers@gmail.com