February 2009: Meeting

February’s meeting was held on Saturday, February 14th, Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius. We started our day with Morning Prayer and Mass.

During our business meeting we welcomed four visiting members of the Carmelite community in Waco. For our on-going formation, Maron lead us in a discussion on Renunciation, Sacrifice and Abandonment from Chapters 7 and 8 of the Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese.

In addition to our monthly formation meetings, our community will be staying very busy in the next couple of months:

On Saturday, February 21, 2009 some of our members will join the Schoenstatt Movement led by Victor and Olga Alegria for a pilgrimage to the shrine in San Antonio, TX.

On Friday March 27, 2009, we will participate in the Evangelization dinners organized by the Knights of Columbus at St. Helen’s Catholic Church. Our community will have an information table and members will be available to answer questions about our community and Carmelite spirituality.

Our annual silent retreat will be held on March 20-22, 2009 at Cedarbreak Retreat Center in Belton, TX. Brother Joel Giallanza, CSC will be leading the retreat. He serves as the Vicar of Religious for the Diocese of Austin, TX and as Director of the Institute for Spiritual Direction. The theme for our retreat will be on the Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila.

Also, two of our members will also be attending the Dallas Workshop being held at the Mount Carmel Center in Dallas, TX on April 23-26, 2009.

Some of our members will also be participating in the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, May 11th to the 18th, led by our Pastor, Msgr. Louis Pavlicek.

Finally, our community is planning a summer picnic with our families on Saturday June 27, 2009 at St. Helen’s Catholic Church.

Our next meeting will be Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00 AM. Diane will be leading our discussion on Simplicity and Oblation to Merciful Love from Chapters 9 and 10 of the Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese.

If you have any questions, please call Lois at 512-863-3124.

"Outside of the Divine Will, we can do nothing for Jesus or for the salvation of souls" - St. Therese of Lisieux

2009 Clothings

On January 10, 2009, we celebrated 2 clothings at St. Helen's Catholic Church during the Morning Prayer. Lydia & Marianne asked to be admitted to the period of formation in the community and received the scapular and the constitution of the secular order.


Holy and merciful Father, you call us to holiness in Christ in order that our life might be a spiritual oblation. Look with favor on these your children. They desire to live in the world and to walk in the light of the Gospel in the spirit of Teresian Carmel and under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant that they may come to know your will and to follow your inspirations with filial and generous love. We ask his thru Christ Our Lord. Amen.

2008 Professions

On December 14, 2008, feast of St. John of the Cross, we celebrated 3 professions at St. Helen's Catholic Church during the 5 PM Mass. Steve and Cindy made their first promise and Lois made her final promise. Afterward, we went to the priest's residence for a celebration.

2009 Meeting Schedule

8:00 am	Morning prayer
8:30 am	Mass
9:00 – 9:30 am	Coffee social and visit with each other. Information table/sign in Prayer name box Check out/in library books Money bag/month collection dues Pick up lessons, information, etc.
9:30 – 9:45 am	General business meeting
9:45 – 10:30 am	Ongoing formation classes for all members, inquirers and visitors
10:30 – 10:45 am	Short break Pass out prayer names Visitors and inquirers may leave now All other members (ASPIRANCY, FIRST PROMISE, DEFINITIVE PROMISE groups) need to stay for the next formation lesson groups.
10:45 – 11:30 am	Break into 3 groups. The formation classes for ASPIRANCY, FIRST PROMISE AND DEFINITIVE PROMISE programs
11:30 – 11:40 am	Classes over. Help put room back to proper place. Room and kitchen clean, etc.

2009 Calendar

2009 Calendar: Meetings, Formation, Feast Days and Special Events

January 10, 2009: Meeting and Formation

February 14, 2009: Meeting and Formation

March 14, 2009: Meeting and Formation

March 20-22, 2009: Retreat

April 11, 2009: Meeting and Formation

May 9, 2009: Meeting and Formation

June 13, 2009: Meeting and Formation

July 11, 2009: Meeting and Formation

July 16, 2009: Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

July 20, 2009: Feast Day of Saint Elijah, Prophet and Our Father

August 8, 2009: Meeting and Formation

September 12, 2009: Meeting and Formation

October 1, 2009: Feast Day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

October 10, 2009: Day of Reflection

October 15, 2009: Solemnity of Saint Teresa of Jesus

November 14, 2009: Priest Talk

November 14, 2009: Feast Day of All Carmelite Saints

December 12, 2009: Christmas Party

December 14, 2009: Solemnity of Saint John of the Cross

2009 Schedule: Ongoing Formation

2009 Schedule: Ongoing Formation

Revised 01/05/2009

January: Complete Spiritual doctrine of St. Therese chp. 5/6
February: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 7/8
March: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 9/10 & Retreat
April: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 11/12
May: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 13

June: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 14

July: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 15
August: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese chp. 16
September: Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese Review
October: Day of Reflection
November: Priest Talk
December: Christmas

2009 Schedule: Formation for Aspirants

2009 Schedule: Formation for Aspirants

January: Profile of an OCDS
February: Constitution
March: Lectio Devina
April: Mary and the Scapular
May: Carmelite Spirituality in Teresian Carmel
June: Retreat
July: Catechism
August: Lumen Gentium
September: Carmelite Spirituality in Teresian Carmel
October: Day of Reflection
November: Priest Talk
December: Christmas Gathering

2009 Schedule: Formation for First Promise

2009 Schedule: Formation for 1st Promise

January: Community/Growth chapter 3
February: Apostolicam Actuositatem
March: Lecto Divina
April: Counsel of Obedience
May: Counsel of Poverty
June: Retreat
July: Counsel of Charity
August: Review of Beatitudes
September: Way of Perfection
October: Way of Perfection
November: Day of Reflection
December: Christmas Gathering

2009 Schedule: Formation for Definitive Promises

2009 Schedule: Formation for Definitive Promises

January: Ascent Book 1
February: Ascent Book 1
March: Retreat
April: Ascent Book 1
May: Ascent Book 1
June: Land of Carmel
July: Land of Carmel
August: Chrlstefideles Laiei
September: Redemptoris Mater
October: Day of Reflection
November: Priest Talk
December: Christmas Gathering

Christmas Party 2008

Our December meeting was held Saturday December 13, 2008. The day started with Morning Prayer and Mass. After a short meeting, our community had its Christmas party. Enjoy the pictures!