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Director Rev. Thomas Schrader, O. Carm. Gratefully inherlove, community prayer. intentions eachday at Mass and praying for you andyour special here andthroughout theworld are Carmelites. You are deeplyappreciated. the SocietyofLittleFlower andthe friendship andgenerosity ofspiritwith Please know that theCarmelites I thankyou for your continued 5 Rev. Thomas Schrader, O. Carm. Father BobColaresi, O. Carm. The Monastery ofMt.Carmel Society oftheLittleFlower Society oftheLittleFlower DIRECTOR OFSPECIALGIFTS Darien, Illinois60561-5340 friends of the Society of friends oftheSociety CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Father BernieBauerle, Director EDITOR/DEVELOPMENT Niagara Falls, Ontario Father Gerard Power, DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER 1313 N.Frontage Rd. A publication for the www.littleflower.org FAITH CATHOLIC GRAPHIC DESIGNER 7020 Stanley Ave. Schrader, O. Carm. ca.littleflower.org SUMMER 2020 Daniel Pritchard the LittleFlower Elizabeth Wesel Father Thomas 800.922.7622 800.621.2806 Mary Lambert Mary Lambert Paula Tomsky Patrick Dally DIRECTOR O. Carm. O. Carm. L2G 7B7

3 from the editor Lambert Mary Thérèse Between Friends of Between Editor Hundreds visited us every day. day. us every visited Hundreds as our mission has endured, Yet out clear: reach was quite Thérèse by the calls we been touched have We of been reminded have we Daily, walked since March have we The road been closed for months. Our regular Our regular been closed for months. as have stopped, Masses have weekday our retreats. was eerily quiet. our world Suddenly, of St. The core important as ever. was that of trust “Little Way” Thérèse’s life’s goodness. No matter in God’s sometimes and, indeed, circumstances, are we circumstances, of life’s in spite trust in the Lord. called to hand in Him, let Him hold your to He will hold tight. moments of fear, our friends. Perhaps from received have picked up one of those who were you and a ask for a prayer the phone just to reassurance. of word those is to how important St. Thérèse that the Be assured her. who love close intentions hold your Carmelites their hearts, remembering them at to and Mass each day. community prayer with twists and turns has been bumpy, But of the way. step seemingly every walked, perhaps have nonetheless, we time, time to with a glance back from .org littleflower Please send any suggestions Please send any you! hear from to I love or comments to: Mary T. Lambert, Society of the Little Mary T. to: or comments Darien, Illinois 60561-5340 Ro., 1313 N. Frontage Flower, We have been touched by your friendship. You have been have You friendship. by your been touched have We support as continue your to you In closing, I humbly invite but always holding on to our faith. holding on to but always of it all. faithful, in spite we you make, and on the sacrifices rely We means allow. your you can for those sacrifices. However grateful will be forever God bless for us. May of difference make a world help would always! you / www. 2020 Summer Between FriendsBetween / invites you to to you invites OF BETWEEN FRIENDS HIS ISSUE with St. share to continue we the journey explore

So much has happened in our world since then. Change has So much has happened in our world at the we own life, cope with the changes in your As you T

been forced upon us, and, for many, change can be difficult. upon us, and, for many, been forced also grappled with changes. have Society of the Little Flower have and SpiritualOur Shrine, Center Meditation Garden

CONTINUES The Journey of Our Mission Our Mission of The Journey Thérèse. Truly, in spite of the circumstances that have have that of the circumstances in spite Truly, Thérèse. does continue. our mission gripped our world, recently would have we than way different But in a dramatically ago. six months anticipated GETTY IMAGES/KASTO80 GETTY 4

reclaim the day. Most of us, like me, don’t deal well with setbacks that postpone or Tulips and Daffodils destroy our hopes or plans! OK God, we know you are UR LITTLE FLOWER was fascinated by how the seasons of unpredictable, but this is ridiculous! Everything on the Darien campus was nature reflect the seasons of God’s love affair with us. In the Seasons of Life closed. What am I going to do every second half of my life, I’ve come to appreciate this. Nature day? This was a strange new season. OK, Ois God’s first self-revelation. But this past spring, which is usually a Jesus was in the tomb a few days, but time of renewed life and hope, blossoming flowers and possibilities, this new season of isolation turned into weeks and months. Jesus did not seem to and the wonder of being embraced by the sun, especially here in the appear breathing “Shalom” through the Upper Midwest, was confusing. locked doors of our fear! The stall in the blooming process was frightening. We had a mild but long winter. In Then there was a calm, as if we were The stall forced me to slow down. March, some warm days arrived: bulbs returning to normal. The tulips and Even as back spasms returned and started to peak out of the ground, daffodils recouped. More growth was forced me to cancel two pilgrimages I flowering trees started to bud, and slowly happening. was to lead later in the year, it provided the grass actually turned green. Such Then, out of nowhere, this surprising time to rest and recuperate. I had been hopeful signs! and mysterious spring tornado of the hoping that the painful experiences of But suddenly thunderstorms and COIVD-19 pandemic blew in. Everything the last few years would disappear and gusting winds blew in, causing stopped and changed within a few days. heal. The reflective stall awakened me damage and returning cold. Tulips and We were isolated and social distancing that they should be revisited, so I learn daffodils were shivering in disbelief. was the norm. Our economy collapsed to forgive more. Then it felt like late fall, Our magnolia trees had started to and we were cloistered. In disbelief, we when the leaves were dying and falling, blossom (always a beautiful sight) – and had to restructure our lives. So many because I lost my creativity and passion suddenly their petals were blown away, unemployed. Nowhere to go! Many to get things done. It felt like dying! It is barren before full blossom. Doesn’t God deaths were happening, including people interesting what nature reveals. surprise us at comfortable times in our we knew. Everyone seemed contagious Gratefully, our small Carmelite lives? Mother Nature does the same. We – and we were afraid. The cold winter of community was able to go to the were living in hope. discontent and isolation had returned to National Shrine of St. Thérèse to Between Friends / Summer 2020 / www.littleflower.org 5

celebrate Eucharist each day. But it felt so different: the nine of us spread out in the large chapel. We more intensely prayed for our friends and benefactors – their absence made them more present in our prayer. They helped us from collapsing in self-pity amid our isolation. We knew we belonged to something bigger: the Church, the Society of the Little Flower, the Carmelites – to God. We experienced the constancy of God’s love and presence, and that “it isn’t about me.” Jesus is about us connecting with everyone and the whole creation. Eucharist celebrates this inclusive, expansive reality. Jesus’ mandate of “love one another” is expressed in our social Father Bernie Bauerle, O. Carm., Director distancing for the common good. It was appalling when some people were demanding to have everything opened ‘I Will Always Be With You’ up, without necessary precautions, N ALL HIS ACTIVITIES, Jesus reveals to us the Love of God. The greatest because they felt inconvenienced or their I example of this love comes to us in the reception of the Body and Blood of personal freedom limited. Sometimes, Christ. Here we are reminded of the Lord’s promise: “I will always be with you.”

people think religion is about Jesus and feature story me – so individually focused. This stalls As we have been facing the coronavirus pandemic, we have a powerful the full blooming process. example in St. Thérèse who herself struggled with tuberculosis and eventually As you read this, spring has died because of it. In the National Shrine Museum of St. Thérèse there is a wood continued and hopefully our hearts are carving that presents us with a special moment in St. Thérèse’s life. opening with renewed hope and maybe Three months before her death, the chaplain and the religious superior of the a transformed way of life. The warmth Carmelite community had to tell St. Thérèse that she could no longer receive the and beauty of summer are returning. Body of Christ. St. Thérèse had developed consumption (the frequent spilling Hopefully, we don’t return to normal – of blood). For St. Thérèse this decision was the last straw. Receiving the Body we are awakened to the mysterious ways of Christ was the last hope of the Lord’s presence. But was it? St. Thérèse never God’s love affair with us is reflected forgot Jesus’ promise. What was still available to her was “Spiritual Communion.” in nature. Please know that your love, Who would have thought that in our lifetime you and I would have to face a presence, and generosity continue to be similar situation? Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we have been restricted to a source of spring hope to all the people our home and cannot participate in the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ. the Carmelites serve. In this season of And yet, we, too, can follow the example of St. Thérèse by uniting ourselves with “everything is grace,” like St. Thérèse, the Lord like she did. She never gave up her trust and confidence in the Lord. your name is written in heaven – you In a practical way, when the priest lifts the Host and Chalice during are deep in God’s heart! consecration, we, too, can pray, “My Lord and my God” or the final prayer of St. Thérèse before she closed her eyes: “Oh, my God, how I love You.” May St. Thérèse intercede for us and bring us closer to the Lord.

We invite you to unite with us in a Spiritual Communion each day as we celebrate Mass at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. Recordings of the Mass at the Shrine are posted Monday through Friday after 1 p.m. (central time) on the National Shrine website at saint-therese.org. I hope this time of spiritual communion will be both a solace and an anchor for your faith. In July, we plan to celebrate a virtual Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. If you would like to receive updates about this and other special events here, please sign up to receive our Campus Updates at https:// saint-therese.org/campusupdates/.

Father Bob Colaresi, O. Carm. GETTY IMAGES/KIRILL4MULA For further information, fullbrochure, andregistration form, please contact: Carmelite SpiritualCenter, 2020 8419 Bailey Rd., Darien,Illinois60561 ‑630.969.4141 –[email protected] P of grima s e ag m i r lg i F aith

Led byFather BobColaresi, O. Carm. (double occupancy). our Jewish heritage. Cost: $4,500 of Christianity, thelife ofJesusand powerful experience into theheart Philippi, andMountTabor. A Mount ofBeatitudes, Caesaria Sea ofGalilee,Capharnaum, Jaffa, Nazareth, Cana,Caesaria, the Gedi, andEmmaus.Then, onto Masada, JudeanWilderness, Ein Way oftheCross, Western Wall, of Olives, Bethlehem,EinKarem, in reflect ontheScriptures. Starting We return to ourspiritualhomeand November 1 Jerusalem, we visittheMount Holy Land Mount Carmel, , visitingMountCarmel, Galilee - 12, 20 20 7 from someone you should meet

MATT WATTERS There is a peace is a peace There and happiness over comes that trust us when we have God. You what it. That’s I have I believe with this found of special group donors. .org We agree that one agree We also miss We of the hardest things is of the hardest not seeing our families, close are the ones we live but who don’t to in stay with us. We by talking on touch the phone and texting, writing letters. or even being miss But we hug each other, able to or seeing the faces of when love those we something share we amusing. I miss seeing face when I my mom’s her a joke. tell littleflower But now we miss the Eucharist, which is so But now we Thanks for sharing these thoughts with me. It patience and wisdom. It is for your Thank you / www. 2020 Summer going to Mass. Lots of you are watching Mass on watching are Mass. Lots of you going to tried various things, we’ve At our home, television. homilies Mass and playing including livestreaming enrich to fantastic ways These are downloaded. we our Spiritual Communion. Catholics. I admit that I did not us important to because our at first. Maybe feel this strongly embraced the isolation began during Lent, we we are sacrificial part of it. Now that it is Easter, gift of Jesus Christ in for the precious yearning the Eucharist. each work is a big part of why I enjoy coming to learn at the Society here to is more There day. What will you. and from of the Little Flower that I about St. Thérèse me today a donor tell know? What new thing will l learn about didn’t What small detail will Spirituality? Carmelite I see out walking on our beautiful campus at What new noticed before? lunchtime that I never through insights on the Gospel will I gain today of St. Thérèse? the words you. serve my privilege to Between FriendsBetween / Special Gifts Administrative Assistant Administrative Gifts Special FROM SOMEONE YOU SHOULD MEET SHOULD YOU FROM SOMEONE TOMSKY PAULA Some years later, I later, Some years welcoming a very Our Special Gifts donors are the our current situation due to to regard With reported to work here work to reported for the first time on December 1, 2014. be I was happy to and hoped myhere agricultural economics accountdegree, management, and service customer would background a donor carry into over services environment. Somehow it did. After asa time, I served the Monthly Giving for our Coordinator of Roses” “Circle I became the Then last November, program. of our Special Gifts Department. member newest warmly felt more ever I’ve believe I don’t group! I primarily in a new position! speak accepted on, I got the early with our annuitants. Very had some sort of wonderful, sense this group is this feeling of being part There secret. shared This has nothing to group. of an extraordinary do with the size of the gifts, but with the trust make such gifts, the to be required that may is a peace and happiness There “leap of faith.” have trust God. You us when we that comes over found with this I have believe what I it. That’s of donors. special group taking it pandemic, most donors are COVID-19 with the isolation. all in stride and coping well some are circumstances, age or other Due to a certain over are homebound. If you already the first This isn’t a thing or two. seen age, you’ve experienced faced. As a Nation, we’ve crisis we’ve wars, sickness, food and fuel shortages, and We’ll them. through We lived financial setbacks. this. get through I saw the Society of the Little Flower. I was finding my way to a way my finding I was the Society of the Little Flower. TIME I saw FIRST I REMEMBER THE Shrine and Museum the National from the street across is directly that local junior high school in my remain job and would a previous me during to assigned was school This Thérèse. of St. Little Flower would see the Society of the I company. was with the I years the five for portfolio there?” work get to you how and think, “I wonder 8

Continuing the Mission in UNPRECEDENTED IN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, each person often has a symbol to mark things they use. In the Carmelite Convent, Thérèse chose a reed to mark her belongings. It came from Isaiah, “The reed shall bend TIMES but not break.” (Is 42:3) It was the story of her challenging life.

Our patron and heavenly friend, St. from God. She had been taken to the Thérèse of the Child Jesus, suffered infirmary, isolated from the community a lot of darkness, disease, and because of her tuberculosis. Holy disappointments in her life. Being Communion was denied her because hyper-sensitive, a perfectionist, and she couldn’t keep it down. This was spoiled, she was easily wounded. She the last tangible sign that God was had to learn to accept each moment as reaching out to her. It was her deepest a gift from God and to grow from the darkness! In the absolute emptiness, she disappointments. shared her deepest teaching: “Everything

cover story The strength of her spirituality and is grace!” She came to understand the surrender to Jesus were most apparent revelation that God is present within about two months before she died. every breath, experience, joy, sorrow, She had been going through about pain, fulfillment, and disappointment. 16 months of a “dark night of her There are a lot of parallels to our St. Therese’s clog with the reed soul” – feeling or experiencing no real experience the last few months with symbol from Isaiah. connection or consolation of presence the COVID-19 pandemic and social

BY FATHER BOB COLARESI, O. CARM., SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR Between Friends / Summer 2020 / www.littleflower.org 9

distancing and shutsdowns. We long for resurrection and new life. It is always interesting to remember that the first appearance of the Risen Lord Jesus came when the disciples were locked up because of fear. This unprecedented time of isolation may be a time of renewed life and expanding growth in our faith. Possibly it is an awakening to our true mission – of continuing to be a light of God’s presence and justice in our world. At the beginning of the biblical covenant, did not God tell Abraham to form a people who would be “a light to the nations”? Jesus reiterated that same mission which is the heart of our faith – the reason we are here! The cloistered isolation, as I call it, shook up and transformed so much of our lives. Is this God waking us up? Jesus, whose living Body we are. It is In this time of crisis, we must commit So many of us think that we can only a time of conversion ­– a time to make ourselves to contemplative prayer and find God in Church buildings or the choices and heart-felt decisions to truly a more sensitive heart that opens us to Blessed Sacrament or the Sacraments, understand and accept who we are as deep trust and connection with God. instead of within the holy land of our God’s beloved and blessed daughters Only then can we hold the reality of story cover life experience. The God Who spoke His and sons. what is happening ­­­­­­– both the tragic name as “I am” is always at the heart of and the transformative. We can get our being and existence – the source of angry at what is deprived us or we can our life. God is truly and really present – The God Who spoke His name listen more closely to the whisper of God calling us closer, to deeper trust, Jesus is truly and really Emmanuel. as “I am” is always at the heart Yes, we lost the ability to gather as intimacy, and surrender. a Church, and that is significant. But of our being and existence – the This experience has been a real we have not lost access to the Divine source of our life. God is truly challenge for an extrovert like me. I Who is always present and inviting us and really present – Jesus is need people. I’m energized by their presence. Just as this isolation and to deeper intimacy. Jesus’ teaching on truly and really Emmanuel.” prayer, recorded in the Matthew Gospel, quarantine started to happen in mid- says clearly: “When you pray, go to your March, the challenges started. inner room, close the door and pray to For many years, we have gathered your Father in private ... do not rattle We have to continue our faith, even as followers of Jesus and friends of on like the pagans who think they will though our lives, world, and society St. Thérèse to pray the Stations of the be heard by the sheer multiplication of have been radically changed. In no way Cross at the Meditation Garden on words.” (Mt. 6:6-7). If Jesus were teaching do we believe that God caused this the Carmelite campus here in Darien, today, He’d probably use the term pandemic as a punishment. God is not Illinois – near the new National Shrine “Divine DNA.” And say, “Go to the core cruel! But God, Who is vulnerable to of St. Thérèse. It is always the last of who you are in God!” human choices, decisions, detours, and Friday before Holy Week. We have been It is simply a matter of centering mistakes, journeys with us through inspired and energized by the 350 to and being quiet, communing with everything, sustaining us. 500 people who have come regardless and listening to God already dwelling Who would have ever thought we of the weather. deep within us. It opens the eyes of the would ever live through and experience Because of COVID-19, we had to “inner recesses of our soul,” as the Little the social distancing, cloistered isolation cancel this prayerful gathering in Lent Flower described it. We should say and shutdowns of our lives! This of 2020. Like many of you, I felt so fewer word prayers and listen more to mysterious virus came upon us like sad that we were not able as a faith God revealing, alluring, and loving us. a surprising spring tornado. This has community to celebrate the Passion, This time during the pandemic was been an unprecedented “dark night” – Death and Resurrection of Jesus. not to shrink, squeeze, or break us, but and we’ve been helpless and powerless, It all felt empty because of missing rather to expand us to be like God in except to live in the present moment the powerful and symbolic Roman Whose image we are created, and like each day. Catholic services of Holy Week with 10 cover story for me.Iwashonored to beasked.The outtoturned beastrangeexperience couldparticipateour friends athome of theCross virtuallysothatmanyof wrestling withfog. relationship withGodisattimeslike Transfiguration! Entering into this clouded, asonMountSinaiandthe yet real way! God’s presence isalways permeated inamysterious, intangible, proclaimsthe Christ thatallcreation is Truly Risen! of joyto myeyes. isRisen!He is Christ tears myheart and soul,bringing stirred Handel’s –italways AlleluiaChorus on Easter Sunday asthechoirsang I remember otheryears standing God’s love wasnotproperly manifested. thefullnessof universalityChrist, of and thankGodforoursalvation in personal ways to communewithJesus werecommunity gathering missing. The physicalityofourSacramentsand gathering. the fullerBodyofChrist So ourdecisionto dotheStations Our faithintheResurrection ofJesus While we allcertainlydeveloped all that my ego was trying toall thatmyego wastrying control videoing thatthis wasreally challenging. water andcomplainedto whoever was a fewtimes,even stopped to some drink together. Icoughed Butitwasastruggle. His Passion, DeathandResurrection His significant,salvificwalk through was aboutusallwalkingwithJesusin about meandmystyleofspeaking.It Church community. Thiswasnot Communion ofSaints,andthelarger the indwelling DivinePresence, the That took areal actoffaithin them. and listening, even ifIcouldnotsee the manypeoplewhowere watching That presence connected mewith powerful thanmyneedforpeople. and apresence deepwithin,andmore I hadto draw from aresource offaith Talking to feltweird. anemptyShrine a fewpeopleto sitthere andlisten? powerful, beautifulwindow. would bewatching over mefrom the ofStThérèse,Shrine IknewSt.Thérèse itwasrecordedmorning intheNational Thankfully, theyedited itanderased Why didInotthinkofasking through humanhistory! Theextrovert from AdamandEve – areal descent going to thedepthsto reclaim everyone makes suchanissueofJesus formula like “thedescentinto hell.” Ourcreedal the isolationanddisciplineof thatwere as days became weeks and then months, paralyzing pandemic.Formany ofus, sentiments inourownwords? sometimes uttered thosesameprayers or Haven’tI commendmyspirit!” we He prayed: “Father, into Your hands ofHislifeebbingaway,experience unimaginable pain,andthedarkening we doalone!AsHesurrendered to depth ofHissoul!Dyingissomething abandoned me?”Hescreamed from the “My God,mywhyhave You and deathsoflife.Yet Hewassoalone! disappointments, betrayals,struggles, all we includingthepain, experience, by becominghumanandexperiencing us thatJesuscameto save everyone, fromreminds GethsemanetoIt death. grabs mysoulisthelonelinessofJesus cup from Me!”Onethingthatalways Him saying; “WhythisFather? Take this was fallingapart.OurScripturesreport in GodasHislife and deepeningHistrust what Hewasgoingthrough –stretching than hadever attended. on theinternet, amuchgreater number 1,200 peoplewatched andparticipated totrying squeezeitinto mystyle.About all! JesuswasgivingHislifeandI God working in,through andforus and notseeingthebiggerpicture of It allconnectsinthereal world ofthis Just walkingwithJesusreminds usof 11 cover story (53:5.) Alone yet one with everyone and one with everyone Alone yet as the connected are we Therefore, St. Thérèse admitted that she had admitted St. Thérèse were All humanity and all creation everything! Certainly, we become more become more we Certainly, everything! deeply believe of and more aware individually and that God dwells unconditionally in each of us and all of us. God is truly “Emmanuel” (God with awakened, us) and Jesus has mirrored, of our us in the reality and reclaimed graced world. the Christ Who has saved Universal pains, loneliness, Our aches, world. and isolation will not diminish the fear, all that we of His Resurrection reality alive, be more go within to We share. like extroverts Even and whole. holy, me who dislike the invisible and need the tangible, sensual, and physical are believe. to challenged and empowered immersed are feel alone, but we may We by the Universal in and permeated of God, Presence Christ, the indwelling and the Communion of Saints, of which shines brightly! St. Thérèse our beloved This is how our mission continues in time. this unprecedented “the inner recesses of “the inner recesses to inward she went hearts where of our the crevices the soul,” When they longings reside. our deepest conscious might consider them surface, we is always a part of us, But prayer prayer. the spiritualand it is manifested by fruits of generosity, peace, forgiveness, – joy, our lives hearts and souls –faithfulness. Lifting our themselves, crevices including the cracks and the – is what our brokenness which reveal asks of us.” Lord asked what When pray. to no words Jesus amid this paralyzing she said to simply sighed: “I say she darkness, Jesus; I suffer and I simply nothing to It became a wordless, Him.” love communion in God. contemplative by God and reclaimed returned to in Jesus’ surrender and death. The of what He did speaks universality community of the the universality to In His aloneness was the He revealed. Christ us as God reclaiming Universal He proclaims: Isaiah all. As the prophet He was for our transgressions, was pierced crushed our iniquities; the punishment for us peace was on Him, and by that brought healed. are we His wounds .org littleflower / www. 2020 Summer The reality that most of us could not The reality She experienced the “absence of God” While God certainly did did While God certainly cause this coronavirus not has pandemic, He certainly trust to us inward been inviting become – and to Him more and mindful creative more out to reach we the ways of others.” gather and celebrate the Eucharist the or gather and celebrate in which God’s the Sacraments as ways with and shared is revealed Presence and her us of St. Thérèse us reminds isolation. Those last 18 months she experienced and terrifying darkness emptiness. with no consolation. Rather than rebel, more – and to become more creative creative more become – and to more out reach we of the ways and mindful experience this we The more others. to within the graced Presence to awakening with know and connect we us, the more The ways. else in significant everyone and connects withGod within me sees else. Carmelite the God within everyone us how teaches St. John of the Cross and learn from through maneuver to – so that they become nights” the “dark clarifying light. Between FriendsBetween / This has been a time of quarantine a time of quarantine This has been isolation became This cloistered St. of Avila, St. Teresa Carmelite in me felt imprisoned, as I’m sure many imprisoned,in me felt as I’m sure did. of you that the It is interesting – an isolation. the Latin from come have seems to word of the 40 days regarding or Italian word in the desert and Jesus’ 40 days exodus alone discerning His messianic identity. reflection, times of isolation, Both were Israel and thoughtfulness. revelation, and engaged refined, being courted, and love, of life by God in a covenant with the different and Jesus wrestling others triedmessianic identities to being were impose on Him. Both and their true selves to awakened beloved. identity as God’s remembered for me. I reflective mantra and symbol: “Bend Thérèse’s The frustration break!” was but don’t let go of my spirit.breaking I had to my frustration; channel this energy the indwelling to lots of listening into me? Spirit: was happening to What What am I afraid of? much do I How trust really God? What am I supposed this? learn from to us that if namesake, teaches Thérèse’s seriously the explore going to are we God Castle of our soul, where Interior first “know ourselves.” to have we dwells, While God certainly did not cause this pandemic, He certainly has coronavirus trust Him to been inviting us inward Parish Life During a Pandemic

In early March, life began to change in our parishes. First, we had to end any physical touch during the “Sign of Peace” at Mass. Then Holy Water had to be removed from our churches. It wasn’t long before everything had to be sanitized after Mass. Then daily Mass had to have people sit at least six feet Y THE TIME this reaches your apart. And the saddest part in the evolution of ecclesial pandemic change was B hands, it will be months since we when all churches had to be closed, and all Holy Week and Easter liturgies cancelled for the public. have been self-isolating and keeping I remember my heart dropping. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought of the a physical distance from others. This crowds that would come out for Palm Sunday, the gateway into Holy Week. virus has taken a toll on everyone. I thought of the powerful symbols and the Procession and Adoration of the The Society of the Little Flower office Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday, the crowds listening with sacred devotion to the Passion on Good Friday, and the Veneration of the Wood of the Cross. And in Niagara Falls remains physically then the Mother of all Liturgies, the Easter Vigil, and the joys of Easter Sunday. closed to the public, but that hasn’t So what does a Carmelite do? Move up to the challenge. Due to the echoed stopped our ministry. Our staff is sound in an empty church, and access to wifi, I set up an altar in the rectory dining keeping quite busy on the Little room. I took, from our safe, the original altar stone from 1895 and placed it with great reverence and dignity on the table. And it started from there. Father Marc Flower website, and the telephone Bell, O.Carm. our associate, and I wanted to fulfill all the Mass intentions that were calls for intentions keep coming in. requested. Father Marc has been celebrating Mass in his family home in Sarnia. Some are requesting special Masses Word went out, and Mass and services went live every day on Facebook. And and prayers for an end to COVID-19; the faithful participated at home. Carmelites know, where there’s a will, there’s a way. It’s been a true joy to be able to continue celebrating Mass, united with the for a vaccine to be developed; for parishioners in their homes. After all, the Church is the People of God. It’s been persons who are ill with the virus; for a challenge and also a joy, setting up the liturgical environment with different those who have succumbed to the colours in the dining room every day. virus; healing and comfort for families; for those in the medical field; and for front-line workers. Our donors and benefactors have great faith and trust in the intercession of St. Thérèse. Thérèse herself lost her battle with

Canadian corner tuberculosis (consumption) in 1897. This was an epidemic throughout Europe in the mid-19th century, and at the time of Thérèse’s death, this was the peak of the outbreak in France. May she “Shower Roses” of healing across our world!

Father Gerard Power, O.Carm. is the new Director in Canada of the Society of the Little Flower. Father Gerard was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and raised in St. Mary’s Bay. He joined the Carmelites in Washington, D.C., in 1993, professing his simple vows in Middletown, New York, in June 1995. He professed his Solemn Vows at Mount Carmel Monastery Chapel in Niagara Falls in 1998 and was also ordained to the priesthood at the Monastery Chapel in 1999. He was the last Carmelite ordained in the last millennium. Father Gerard Power, O.Carm. Father Gerard currently serves as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Niagara Falls. He also serves on several boards and commissions within the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. He has been a Civilian Inspector and Auxiliary Chaplain with the Niagara Regional Police Services since 2009. 13

Carmelite Ministry Prayer to during a Pandemic St. Thérèse

St. Thérèse wrote, “My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far Dearest St. Thérèse, better than words, I know it by experience.” How true is that, Our sister in Carmel, especially during this pandemic experience. Visiting the sick You promised to send from heaven became very difficult. So two of us had to do a crash course with a shower of roses. the Region’s Infection Control, in order to respond to emergency You told us with great joy, “My vocation is love!” hospital calls. And then the funerals. Perhaps the saddest part of If there was ever a critical time in history, this whole experience. To have a crisis is one thing, but to lose a as we know there has been many... loved one and not be able to be at their bedside, or have all the we need your Love and Roses now. normal services and rituals, was very painful. May God be with all those who are grieving. Just as Thérèse longed for the beatific Intercede to our God of Love for us. vision, and to be eternally present with Him, we make the same We are in the midst of a brutal storm, prayer for all who have died during this pandemic. This Covid-19 Pandemic. After the closure of our schools and most businesses, it And now a wave of tragedy soon became evident that many families in our downtown has washed over the Shores of Nova Scotia, neighborhood would be in dire need. Our Carmelite parish put And pierced Canada’s heart. out a call to the people to assist with food and household items. Evil reared its ugly head In less than 30 minutes after posting a request, cars started as people were isolating, lining up in our parish driveway, dropping off food items and taking 22 innocent lives. There is so much grief, suffering, pain and fear. gift cards. So much food and supplies were coming in that we Canadian corner had to set up four large tables in the garage. It was a sight to behold. We were able to feed so many families in time for Easter, For those who are ill, and all throughout the Easter season. It was one thing to pray shower down Roses of healing; unceasingly during this pandemic, for the intercession of all the For those who are dying, saints to end this storm, but that prayer must get translated into shower down Roses of God’s mercy; action. Our parishioners provided the answer to so many prayers For those who are grieving, of single moms and hungry families. Thérèse said, “Souls thus on shower down Roses of comfort; fire cannot rest inactive.” And the fire didn’t stop there. For those struggling to make ends meet, shower down Roses of Hope; For the poor and homeless, Help for the Homeless shower down help and mercy; For children who can’t grasp what’s happening, Before long, we received word that shower down love and understanding; some “tent cities” were being set up For persons with mental illnesses, throughout town by the homeless. shower down calm and peace; One was right in our neighborhood. For those worried about their employment, Shelters were full. Some refused to shower down Roses of strength; go into shelters out of fear. This was For those putting their lives at risk, heartbreaking to learn. I drove by the so that we may be safe, nearest tent city, to take a look. My shower down Roses of Protection; heart dropped. Action was needed immediately. Let the people For those on edge and getting on of God know! And that we did. Thérèse wrote to her cousin Maria, each other’s nerves, “LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else.” shower down Roses of Patience Well, that love ignited, and before long, word got out ... and and Understanding; we had food, clothing, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, For our government leaders, and personal hygiene products coming in. The Gospel was put shower down Roses of Wisdom. into action. Prayers were answered. Nothing less should be As you spend your heaven doing good on earth, expected from Carmelites and those with whom we minister. shower all of us with your roses... The coordinators of the homeless project were able to share scented with the beauty of God and Mary. the supplies throughout other areas of the city. Praise God Amen. from Whom all blessings flow! And may St. Thérèse continue to shower us with Roses of Gospel Action. Father Gerard J. Power, O.Carm. 14

Our spiritual campus here in Darien, Illinois, home to the National Shrine of St. Thérèse, is alive with natural beauty and new places for prayer and reflection that many of you have also helped to make possible.

All Part of a Special, Please know that the Office of Special Gifts is a resource for you to explore how you can Prayerful Community continue St. Thérèse’s mission through your giving now and in the future. Below are some IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE to talk with many of you over the past weeks. opportunities that may interest you: Thank you for sharing your prayers of well-being for the Society of the • Creating a charitable gift annuity, which Little Flower and the people we serve, your prayer requests, and your provides fixed payments for life to one or two donations for Carmelite ministries and the education of seminarians. individuals, with the remainder supporting the St. Thérèse Endowment Fund. At uncertain times such as this, it is especially • Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution

Director of Special Gifts the Director From important to know that we are all a part of the from your IRA or other retirement plan. This special, prayerful community centered around direct distribution to charity is excluded St. Thérèse. Many of you have shared that from a donor’s taxable income. prayer is sustaining you while we are physically • Providing for the Society of the Little Flower separated from loved ones and our Church through a gift in your Will or Living Trust. Elizabeth Wesel communities. Please know that today, and every • Naming the Society of the Little Flower Director of day, the Carmelites are remembering you and as a beneficiary of a retirement account, Special Gifts your special intentions in their community commercial annuity, life insurance policy, or prayers and Masses. other financial account. You have the Carmelites’ deep gratitude for • Providing a naming gift of $1,000 or your continued support of their worldwide more to help complete the funding of the ministries to nourish the spiritual and physical enhancements to our spiritual campus, home lives of those most in need, and for the of the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. education of seminarians who will continue St. Thérèse’s mission into the future. Our spiritual Please call us at 1.888.996.1212 if you would campus here in Darien, Illinois, home to the like to learn more about these or other special National Shrine of St. Thérèse, is alive with gifts opportunities. If you live in the Chicago natural beauty and new places for prayer and area or plan to visit, we would love to meet you reflection that many of you have also helped to in person and give you a tour of campus. May make possible. Thank you for all you do! God bless you and your loved ones! 15

before the statue. Her head was deeply bowed – you could feel the pleading of her heart. At the woman’s side, her daughter, mid-40s in age, moved anxiously. It was clear that her daughter had a mental impairment. Unable to speak, the daughter began to groan and cry out. Her mother tried to quiet her, but she would have none of it, crying out even louder. Touched by the moment, I walked over to the two of them, inviting them to enter Thérèse’s cell. I thought the mother might find some solace in that holy space. The elderly woman, deeply grateful for the invitation, knelt on the floor of Thérèse’s cell, with one hand touching Thérèse’s door. Her eyes moved quickly across the room, seemingly in an from the special gifts office attempt to capture the experience in her mind so that she might return to the memory often. Her daughter was offering a different type of prayer. Once again, I heard her groans and cries, coming from deep within. In a flash, like a little child, she leapt onto St. Thérèse’s bed and grasped the pillow close to her chest. She had found her peace. Prayer comes in many forms. But one of the keys to prayer, as Thérèse pointed out, is to come to that prayer with the A CHILD’S innocence of a child. Children express themselves in many ways: often they chatter on, other times they cry out, and sometimes they simply lift their LEAP OF FAITH eyes in wonder. LTHOUGH IT HAPPENED EIGHT YEARS AGO, I doubt I’ll On that day of dedication, so many years ago, the daughter of that A ever forget the day. distraught woman taught me a lesson The National Shrine was overflowing with St. Thérèse’s friends. We about prayer that I will never forget: were dedicating the re-creation of her cell (room) on our campus. words are often unnecessary. What is The cell is something to behold. Among many other features, we were important is a child’s courageous leap of faith, a leap that will always land us in blessed to receive from the Carmelite Sisters in Lisieux the original the arms of our loving God. floor tiles that Thérèse walked on and the door that she opened each day. At the dedication, our saint’s presence was unmistakable.

But the most touching moment of interrupted in a way that will stay with that day happened late in the afternoon. me for a lifetime. There was a peaceful presence in the Near the entrance of the Shrine there Shrine. A few visitors lingered. In the is a beautiful statue of St. Thérèse, quiet, I treasured being alone with St. and it holds a first-class relic of hers. Thérèse. But that quiet was soon to be An elderly woman knelt in prayer Daniel Pritchard