Thursday, July 23, 2009 FEATURE Southern Cross, Page 5 1958: Carmelites come to Savannah 2009: Their mission remains the same he more things change, the more they are the same,” wrote nine- “Tteenth-century French journalist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr. Certainly, aspects of Our Lady of Confidence, the Carmelite Monastery founded at Coffee Bluff in 1958 near the Forest River have changed. Just as certainly, goals of this prayerful foundation remain the same. In 1957 when Thomas J. McDo- and prayed. As today, people were nough, Auxiliary Bishop of the seeking answers to questions not Diocese of Savannah, invited only about the Carmelites, but also Carmelite nuns of Philadelphia to about faith. Yet, some of what they establish a monastery in his diocese, saw at the “open house” must have he had two goals in mind: prayer seemed totally strange to them. for vocations to the priesthood and First, there was the idea of the prayer for the people of his mission “turn”—a barrel-shaped device split diocese. By October 5, 1958, Our in half lengthwise—that allowed Lady of Confidence Monastery was conversation with a shrouded officially established and formally Carmelite behind a screen or per- enclosed. mitted delivery of packages or Months earlier, six nuns from donations to the monastery. There

Philadelphia, led by Mother was an iron grille in the “speak Photo courtesy of the Diocesan Archives. Magdalen of Jesus, travelled room” separating visitors from Monsignor Andrew J. McDonald (later Bishop of Little Rock) and Bishop by train for over twelve sisters. It was true, visitors Thomas J. McDonough welcome the Carmelites to their new monastery in hours to reach their new learned, that the Carmelite Savannah in 1958. home in Georgia. The June sisters heard Mass through cifixion. The dignity of the human Carmelites have touched the lives day in 1958 on which they choir grilles without seeing person was emphasized. of many, and have influenced some arrived in Savannah was the altar or outside chapel, Gone were their old traditional of their neighbors to convert to probably hot. Although wool receiving Holy Communion habits. In their place is a modified Catholicism. habit. Gone were doctors’ house Recently, Our Lady of Confi- habits they wore must have Rita H. DeLorme through an aperture in one been uncomfortable, the of the grilles. calls, supplanted by office appoint- dence Monastery has experienced Philadelphia Carmelites were not Following the “open house” ments. While funding is always a a healthy change; notably, the deterred. Welcomed and assisted by tours, there was silence again at the concern, at one point it became a addition of Carmelite sisters from local Sisters of Mercy, they attend- Coffee Bluff establishment, broken problem and it was necessary for Africa who have brought new life ed their first Mass in their monas- only by ongoing sounds of wor- one of the sisters to work outside to the Coffee Bluff monastery. The tery chapel on June 5, the day after ship. The sisters did not leave their the monastery for a time. Yet, with community now numbers eight and their arrival. monastery. Busy with daily duties all the changes, the Carmelites were maintains a close relationship with Photos of the “open house” of —making Communion hosts for the same: prayerfully ready to come south Georgia’s Catholic commu- October 3-5, 1958, that preceded various churches, cultivating their to the aid of a confused society. nity. the monastery’s formal enclosure garden, or fashioning handwork Over time, Our Lady of Confi- Fifty years after their arrival, they appeared in the Bulletin on 0cto- and vestments—they glided once dence Monastery became a spiri- haven’t really changed. They are ber 18, 1958. Pictured were the more through the hours of each day tual landmark in south Georgia, still in our midtst in the silence of car-clogged road to the monastery silently and prayerfully. Then came a place of consolation for those their monastery, praying for the and the seemingly endless lines of the 1960s and the Second Vatican with troubles or ill health. Frances fractious world beyond their mon- people awaiting a tour. So new to Council. Carmelites were encour- E. Emmons and others quoted in astery gates, and proving that “the Georgia were the Carmelites and aged to be more more relevant to The Southern Cross (September more things change, the more they their way of life that one nun was the world while living up to their 13, 1984) expressed appreciation stay the same.” told by a visitor that, as a child, ideal of prayer, fasting, solitude, for the Carmelites: “I believe that Columnist RITA H. DELORME she thought sisters had horns. silence and community. The sisters through the love and grace of God is a volunteer in the Diocesan The charism of the Discalced endeavored to integrate other val- I have had an experience of life, death, and heaven in the beauti- Archives. She can be reached Carmelites—their silence, their ues, influenced by a greater aware- at [email protected]. continuous prayers—drew throngs ness of the humanity of Christ, of ful friendship with the Carmelite to the quiet setting where they lived his resurrection as well as his cru- Sisters,” Emmons wrote. The

New Life Prayer Community celebrates 30 years he New Life Prayer Community recently celebrated it 30th anniversary. The Tcharismatic prayer community began in 1979 when two couples committed to meet weekly for prayer. Soon others asked to participate and thus a prayer community was born. The New Life Prayer Community meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month on Saint Simons Island and on the second and fourth Tuesdays in Darien. Contact Mina Marrs for information, 912-638-9603. Right: Members of the New Life Prayer Community are: (seated, from left) Barbara Jean Shadron, Joy Hall, Mina Marrs, and Ann Delea; (standing) Beverly Jurick, Bob Jurick, Sr., Denise Lonergan, Jose Rivera, Anna Marie Morris, Paisley Rivera, Roger Frobe, and Taylor Schoettle. Photo by Marie Schoettle.