May Crowning

On Mother's Day, we had the May Procession and Crowning of Our Blessed Mother. This is a yearly tradition in our monastery. We make a procession in our gardens, praying the rosary and singing Marian hymns. This year, at the end of the procession, our newest postulant, Myriam Saint-Vilus, did the honor of crowning Our Blessed Mother.

We thank Sister Grace and all of our Sisters in formation for planning and doing all the necessary preparations to make the event a wonderful occasion honoring Our Blessed Mother and praying for all mothers.

New Roads Youth Group

Several young women, members of the Youth Group at St. Mary's Parish in New Roads, Louisiana, came to our monastery on May 9. Most of them met Sister Edith and Sister Grace during the Youth Festival at St. Benedict Abbey earlier this spring. A few of them are discerning vocations to the religious life and all of them wanted to know more about Carmel and the contemplative life.

The visit started with an opening prayer by our Prioress, Sister Joan. This was followed by an exchange of introductions between the Youth Group and some members of our community. Some of our Sisters and our  two Postulants shared their vocation stories and answered a few questions from the group. Around noon, the group had a brown bag lunch by the pond. Afterwards, the young women recited Mid-Afternoon prayer led by Sister Edith in our Chapel and concluding with a final prayer and blessing by Fr. Bonaventure Sauer, OCD.

Thanks to Emily Froeba, their Youth Director, arrangements  for the trip were made possible and the group was able to "come and see" where we live and pray. A few of these prayerful young women have expressed a desire to return to our monastery and further discern a Carmelite vocation. Let us keep all of them in our prayers that they may receive God's guidance to discern their vocations well.

New Vocations

We are happy to introduce to you our new postulants, Lidia Martinez (Left) and Myriam Saint-Vilus (Right).

Lidia had spent several months with us previously and returned to our community last January, entering as a postulant.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, Lidia has held various senior management positions within the banking industry in the areas of Technology and Operations Improvement. Most recently, she worked as Director of Quality and Process Improvement with an international health care management firm in Miami.

While discerning her vocation to the religious life, Lidia taught Religious Education at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Macclenny, Florida and was involved in Parish Prison Ministry. She also served as a Eucharistic minister in her parish and, since 1999, was a Secular Discalced Carmelite.

Born in Cuba of Spanish parentage, Lidia grew up in Spain and in Miami. She is fluent in Spanish and English.

Myriam entered as a Postulant at the beginning of May. She was living in Tallahassee, Florida when she started discerning a religious vocation. Actively involved in her parish before her entrance, Myriam was a Co-Spiritual Director for the Christ Renews His Parish Program at Blessed Sacrament Church in Tallahassee.

Her undergraduate studies was in the area of Computer Science and Information Technology but she later earned a Masters Degree in Health Services Administration. Myriam worked as a Human Services Program Specialist for Home Care for Disabled Adults and Community Care for Disabled Adults with the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Although Myriam and her family moved to Florida many years ago, she was born and raised in Haiti. Thus, she is fluent in French and English.

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