January & February 2010 Clothings

In January and February 2010, we celebrated 2 clothings at St. Helen's Catholic Church during the Morning Prayer. Kim & Carole asked to be admitted to the period of formation in the community and received the scapular and the constitution of the secular order.

January 2010 Monthly Reflection

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." - Luke 8:16-18

December 2009 Christmas Party

We had our Christmas Party on December 12, 2009. In this meeting, we also recognized Dora and Lois for their dedication in establishing our community. Hope you enjoy our photos!

December 2009 Monthly Reflection

The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:5-9

October Meeting

Our monthly meeting was graced with Father Walter Carr giving us a talk on the topic "Prayer".
Father opened the presentation with the statement that prayer is both natural and necessary.

Quoting St. Agustin, "Prayer is the soul breathing". "Those who cease to breath die". Breathing is natural and healthy and Father compares this, breathing, with prayer. "Prayer is Love" and to love is to want the happiness of others. We can accomplish this through prayer. We heard many scripture passages taken from Acts telling us that the early church was in continual prayer. "Pray without ceasing" as Carmelites. Thank you Father for your inspiring words.

October Reflection:Our Good Example

"Each one of us ought to act as though the perfection of the Church depended on our personal conduct." St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

These days we hear so much about ecumenism and how to make the Catholic faith understood and appreciated by non-Catholics, but in the end we are Our Lord's best message, and the example of good Christian lives will draw more souls to Him than any number of dialogues. We are His hands and His feet and His lips. What does it matter what we "say" about our religion, if our actions belie our words? What if our feet are not following His pathways but going after dubious pleasures? What if we follow the latest extreme fashions in nclothes instead of dressing with Christian modesty? What if the jokes to which we listen and the books we read are sometimes shady? What if our business deals are not quite open and aboveboard? What if we scorn another's race or religion?

As Carmelites it is our vocation to bear witness to Christ and our love of His Blessed Mother. Our Lord told us to let our light shine forth before men. We should so live that our belief in the teachings of our Catholic faith shows plainly in all our words and actions. Then, indeed, we can be certain that Our Lord's message will be clear to all the world.
Love/Peace

Dora Zavala ocds

September Reflection

The Measure of our Love

"Our Lord does not so much consider the greatness of our works as the love with which we do them" St. Teresa of Jesus

So often when we look back over our lives, we feel that we have accomplished so little for Our Lord. Others have built churches, schools, written books, or even given years of their lives to the missions, while our state of life and responsibilities keep us tied down to a humdrum existence while we long to do great deeds for our Bless Savior. Yet all He asks is that we abide in His Love.

"At the evening of life we shall be judged by love," said St. John of the Cross. That is the only measuring stick that Our Lord will ever use when we stand before His throne. How much have we loved Him and how much have we loved our neighbor? The helpless invalid, patiently going the way of the cross; the busy housewife, united to Him in her daily tasks; the working man who does his work cheerfully for the love of God; all can transform their smallest actions by love into deeds that are great in God's sight. If we fail to be saints, we have no one except ourselves to blame.

September 2009: Meeting

Dear Carmel friends,

A reminder about our gathering this Saturday September 12th. Please join us for morning prayer at 8:00 am followed by mass and the class.

Vi will do the final review on the Spiritual Doctrine of Little Therese for the on-going group. Lansing will do the Definitive group. This Saturday will be the last time for lessons. See you all on Saturday. Have a great Labor Day and week. God bless each one!

Love/Peace
Dora Zavala
Formation Director

August Reflection: Prayer

PRAYER

"Prayer is the door to great graces. If this door be shut, I do not see how God can bestow them." St. Teresa of Avila

Our Lord said, "Pray always." He was not speaking only to a few disciples, but to every Christian throughout the ages, and He never commands the impossible. As Carmelite, He will give us special graces to fulfill this precept, for our vocation is to be persons of prayer living in the world. In spite of all the distractions in our state of life, we must firmly believe that we can pray always----not trusting in our own power, for what we have none, but fully confident in the power and mercy of Our Lord.

In what does "praying always" consist? St. Teresa, our spiritual Mother, said that prayer is a loving conversion between the soul and God "Whom we know loves us," This loving colloquy can be carried on during the day, even at the times I am working, at home with or family, or going to a party. We only need to turn our soul to God Who is within us, and unite our actions to His holy will, telling Him that we do them for love of Him and with HIm. Then all our actions, our whole day, becomes a continual prayer. With St. Teresa, "Let us beseech God to give us the grace and resolution to strive for this blessing with all our might."

2009 Professions

On the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel , July 16, 2009, the "Triumph of the Cross" Carmelite Study Group of Georgetown, Texas held the Rite of Definitive Promise during the 6:00 pm mass at St. Helen's Church of Georgetown ,Texas with their Spiritual Assistant Msgr. Louis Pavlicek as celebrant and a reception follow afterwards. The three members were Claire Bloodgood, Lansing Prescott and Carolyn (Birdie) Ehrenfeld.

The study group now has 22 members, There are now 9 Definitive profess, 5 that are at the end of their 3 years of formation of their first promise and are now eligible for Definitive profess. There are 3 on their first year formation going into their 3 years for Definitive and 3 that are clothed and are on their first year formation going into First Promise and 2 first year aspirants. The Georgetown Study Group has been together since the Year of 2001.