“It was the divine Heart that captivated this soul…” ~ St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Sr. August Mary of Our Lady of Divine Grace, PCPA became a Novice on June 6 in Tonopah, AZ.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

These past few weeks have been packed with visitations and events to promote vocations to the Consecrated Life. I would like to first share a poem written by St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, a cloistered Carmelite nun from Lisieux in France who entered the Carmel when she was 15 years old and died at the age of 24. Her “Little Way” of completely trusting in God’s love and Mercy is very inspiring. Her humble spirituality of “The Little Way” is to have absolute dependency on God, Our Merciful Father.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was just last Friday on June 12th, and I would like to share with you St. Thérèse’s poem which she wrote for the Feast of the Sacred Heart in 1894. This tender and simple poem gives us a glimpse of why a young woman would surrender her life to God as a Religious:

Poetry of St. Thérèse, OCD

The Portrait of a Soul I Love

Marie of the Sacred Heart

M I know a very loving heart, a soul

A Gifted from Heaven with a sublime Faith.

R Nothing here below can delight this ardent soul:

I There is only Jesus whom she calls her King.

E In short, this beautiful soul is great and generous,

D Both sweet and lively, always humble of heart.

U A far-off horizon…a bright star

S Are often enough to unite her to the Lord

A I used to see her loving her independence,

C Looking for pure joy and true freedom….

R Spreading good deeds was her delight,

E And forgetting herself, her only wish!…

C It was the divine Heart that captivated this soul,

Œ The work of his love, worthy of the Creator.

U One day I shall see her, like a pure flame,

R Shining in Heaven close to the Sacred Heart.

The heart of a grateful child

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Carmelite Fathers in Phoenix Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Fr. Charles Kurgan, OCD

Fr. Charles Kurgan, OCD celebrates 50 Years as a Priest!

Fr. Charles Kurgan, O. Carm. celebrates 50th Priestly Anniversary

Saturday, May 23rd at St. Agnes Parish in Phoenix, the Carmelite Fathers along with many friends and family members celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Fr. Charles Kurgan, OCD who served many years not only as a Religious Priest of the Carmelite Order but also as a teacher appreciated by his students, including the homilist who was inspired by Fr. Kurgan and realized a vocation to the Priesthood.

The homilist was one of Fr. Kurgan's students.

The homilist was one of Fr. Kurgan’s former students.

The following is the description of the spirituality of the Carmelite Order which began in 1206 AD: “As Carmelites, we live our life of allegiance to Jesus Christ and to serve Him faithfully with a pure heart and a clear conscience through a commitment to seek the face of the living God (the contemplative dimension of life), through prayer, through fraternity, and through service (diakonia). These three fundamental elements of the charism are not distinct and unrelated values, but closely interwoven.”

TEACHERS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

I had the joy of giving my vocation testimony to several groups of children ranging from ages 3-18. First on May 12, I visited St. Mary-Basha Elementary School in Chandler where I visited the 4th Grade.

Fr. Daniel McBride, Pastor of St. Mary’s in Chandler, taught the children about Consecrated Life.

Fr. Kurt Perera invited me to visit his classes at Bourgade High School.

Fr. Kurt Perera invited me to share my story for his classes at Bourgade High School on May 15.

We had a great Vocation Panel at St. John Mary Vianney School in Goodyear on June 1.

Sr. Joy, SOLT is new to the Diocese of Phoenix!

Welcome to Phoenix, Sr. Joy, SOLT!

This group of kiddos were part of a Mission School at Gift of Mary with the Missionaries of Charity!

I visited these children gathered by the MCs on June 4.

June 4 – I visited these precious children. Each shared with me what he or she wants to be when he or she grows up.

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SHARING THE SPIRITUALITY OF ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX

The Missionary Carmelites of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus from Puebla, Mexico

On May 27th, I visited the Misioneras Carmelitas de Sta.Teresita del Nino Jesus from Puebla, Mexico who are serving both at St. Anne’s Parish in Gilbert and St. Daniel’s Parish in Scottsdale. Their Mother General, Hna. Virginia and Bursar, Hna. Maria del Socorro were on Visitation. I had the delightful experience of visiting all of them gathered at their convent in Gilbert. They were founded in 1940 by Fray Bernardo de Santa Maria in Puebla, Mexico. Below are photos of their convent and our visit: