NEW HOME IN BROOKLYN

FOR CARMELITE SISTERS

 

            

           When in l997 the Discalced Carmelite Sisters closed the monastery in Prospect Heights that had been the contemplative order’s home for 90 years, hope lingered that some day they would return and resume their prayerful presence in Brooklyn.

 

            Members of the Carmelite Monastery of the Little Flower in Buffalo, particularly three who came from the Brooklyn Carmel after it closed and have since died, were eager to re-establish a monastery in the Diocese of Brooklyn, but that possibility was seen as remote because they had formed a new foundation in South Dakota.

 

            At the same time, representatives of the Diocese, who shared the wish, questioned whether they could find a suitable location for a monastery in Brooklyn or Queens.

           

Now, after more than a year of planning, the Carmelites have, in fact, returned, this time to a monastery in East New York, which will accommodate five perpetually professed Sisters and one temporarily professed, ranging in age from 25 to 42.

 

            Until this month, the Sisters were members of the Carmelite community in Buffalo. In Brooklyn, they will comprise the Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph community, living at 361 Highland Blvd. in a building formerly occupied by Lithuanian Franciscan Fathers.

 

            The contemplative Sisters told Msgr. Otto L. Garcia, the Vicar General, that prayer and sacrifices for the people of the Diocese, especially for priests and priestly vocations, will be their principal ministry.

 

Msgr. Garcia represented the Diocese in arranging for the community’s return, first on behalf of Bishop Thomas V. Daily, now retired, and then for his successor, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

 

            During the years the earlier group of Carmelites resided at the Prospect Heights monastery, they developed a strong relationship with clergy and laity in the New York area, who entrusted them with requests for prayers for special intentions.

 

            Msgr. Garcia said the “association through prayer” would be able to resume now, observing that persons who wish to have the present Sisters pray for their intentions may contact them at the new address. He said an open house at the monastery is planned for the Fall, before the chapel is dedicated and the enclosure is “sealed.”

 

            Mother Maria Luz of the Blessed Trinity, born in Brooklyn of parents from the Dominican Republic and baptized at St. Matthew’s parish, Crown Heights, will lead the community until a canonical election takes place at a later date. She was confirmed in her position at a Mass Bishop Daily celebrated at the monastery Aug. 7, the day after the Sisters arrived from Buffalo.

 

            Two in the community are natives of the Dominican Republic: Sister Maria Altagracia of the Cross and Sister Ana Maria of the Child Jesus. Sister Mary Angela of the Blessed Sacrament is from Westbury, L.I., while Sister Mary Immaculate of the Eternal Father and temporarily professed Sister Mary of the Eucharist come from Georgia and Buffalo respectively.

 

Three Sisters who resided at the original monastery until l997 and became members of the Buffalo Carmel, “were warmly received there,” Msgr. Garcia said. They have since died. Mother Jeanne Marie Ange of the Infant Jesus, who had been a prioress, is now at the Carmel monastery in Dallas and Sister Maria of the Holy Spirit returned to a Carmel in her native England.

 

Mother Maria Luz said the Carmelites who died---Mother Maria Virgine of the Heart of Jesus, Sister Mary Regina of the Angels and Sister Aimee of Our Lady of Mount Carmel---had “a great desire” to see the community return to Brooklyn.

 

“They were a great inspiration to the younger Sisters who are here now and they wanted to fulfill the desire of the older Sisters,” she said.

 

The prioress said the new community would welcome women who may wish to consider following a vocation to join the Brooklyn Carmel.

 

            Msgr. Garcia said: “I knew the Sisters at the Buffalo Carmel were eager to re-establish a presence here,” adding that “they believed that they would be a source of special graces for the people of our Diocese. I know that this will be a blessing for us.”

 

            He noted that Bishop Daily took great interest in the Carmelites when he was the diocesan bishop and said the interest would continue with Bishop DiMarzio “because I know that the Bishop has a deep devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”

 

            Founded in Spain in 1562, the Discalced Carmelite Sisters live an enclosed spiritual life, following the strict rule of their foundress, St. Teresa of Avila. The first American Carmel was established in Maryland in 1790. Today, there are 64 U.S. monasteries in 34 states.

 

 

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8/17/04

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