Latest News from Kilmacud Carmel

2009 News from Kilmacud

1st Oct '09	Mass for the Feast of St Therese
	A larger than expected crowd packed our little chapel for a special Mass in honour of St Therese at 5pm. We even needed to run and find extra chairs from all corners of the monastery!! The beautiful Mass was celebrated by Fr. Peter Cryan, who emphasised Therese's prayer for priests during his inspiring homily .This was particularly appropriate during this Year of the Priest. He also spoke about the important role of parents in nurturing vocations and in fostering holiness - saying that when many priests and nuns reach Heaven they will see their own parents in the places of honour! After Mass, roses were blessed in honour of St Therese.
8 Sep - 13 Oct '09	Visitors from Africa and USA
From 8th September until 12th October we had the joy two sisters staying with us from Zing Carmel, Nigeria - Sr. Catherine (Prioress - previously of Malahide Carmel) and Sr. Esther on her first visit to Ireland. It was a time of joy and enrichment for everyone and we shared our experiences and life in Carmel. From 8th - 13th October we were joined by Sr.Pat from USA on her way to join a Carmelite Community in Cameroon. It has been wonderful for us to have such a link with Africa during this month of October dedicated to the Missions!
14-18 Sep '09	Carmelite Sisters of Ireland Assembly, Dromantine, Co. Down
	Two members of Kilmacud Carmel are attending the Assembly of Irish Carmelite nuns in Dromantine Retreat centre. This meeting is held every three years, and a Council elected to represent the Irish Carmelite Association. On Tuesday 15th September Sr. Maire of Knock Carmel was elected as the new President. Her councillors will be Sr. Monica (Delgany), Sr Brenda (New Ross), Sr. Veronica (Firhouse) and Sr. Maria (Roebuck). We wish them well and assure them of our prayers, and we also extend a big Thank You to Sr. Clare and the outgoing Council for all their hard work over the past three years. The Assembly was facilitated by Sr. Briege O'Hare, and much interesting and lively discussion ensued. Additional input was provided by Br. Pat Mullins, Fr. Jim Noonan, Mark Davis, Sr. Moya Hegarty and Sr. Philomena (President of British Association).
23 Aug '09	Visit of Definitor Fr. Albert Wach
	We were honoured again with another VIP visitor from Rome! This time Fr. Jim Noonan brought us Fr. Albert Wach from the Krakow Province. He is 2nd Definitor and will have responsibility for the nuns in Europe. Fr. Albert has been studying English here in Dublin and has made great progress in the few months. He was delighted when Sr. Mary Fionnuala greeted him in Polish and later told him of her participation in the famous pilgrimage to Jasna Gora. It transpired she must have passed through his villiage "Paradise" (Przystan) on the way! Sr. Mary Gabriel's experience in Pastuva Carmel, Lithuania, was another topic that greatly interested him It was just a flying visit but we look forward to the next extended visit with our lovely newly-discovered brother in Carmel!
1 Aug '09	Visit of new General Saverio Cannistrà
	We were delighted to welcome our new Father General, Fr. Saverio Cannistrà OCD, accompanied by Fr. Provincial, Fr. Jim Noonan OCD, for a short fraternal visit. Fr. Saverio is in Ireland to improve his English and is making good progress. We were impressed by his lovely spirit of joy and friendliness. Our prayers accompany him as he takes up his onerous office. May the joy of the Lord always be his strength! Click here to see a picture of our Community with Fr. General
16 Jul '09: Launch of the new Kilmacud Carmel Website!
	The Kilmacud Carmelite Community are proud to announce the launch of their new website on this beautiful feast of the Patroness of our Order - Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We hope that these pages will make our Carmelite life more accessible to a wider audience, particularly the young. We welcome your comments and feedback, and we hope to build up more parts of this site gradually over the coming months. We are particularly grateful for the assitance of Rob O'Connor who helped with the initial design, for others who provided advice in various ways, and for our benefactors who support our internet access. We include all of you and your intentions in our daily prayers.
9 July '09: Sudden death of our Community Confessor - Fr Michael Fitzgerald OCD
	We were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of our Carmelite brother and confessor to our Community - Fr Michael Fitzgerald OCD. Fr Michael spent many years on the missions in the Philippines and in Africa, only returning in 2007 when he was made Prior of the "Avila" Community in Donnybrook, Dublin, and also took up the duty of our confessor. He was with us the afternoon before his death, so it was a huge shock to hear of his passing. May God grant him eternal rest and peace and comfort his family and all his Carmelite brethren and many friends. You can read his full obituary on the OCD website here: www.ocd.ie
24 Apr '09: Irish Carmelite on new General Council of the Order
	Fr John Grennan, OCD was elected onto the new General Council of the Order on Friday, April 24. He was Provincial of the Anglo-Irish Province from 2002-2008. He will have responsibility for the Carmelite Provinces in US and in English-speaking areas of Europe.
20 Apr '09: New OCD General elected
	Father Saverio Cannistrà of the Sacred Heart, Provincial Superior of the Italian Province of Toscany, was elected on April 20th as the new General Superior of the Discalced Carmelites. The election took place during the General Chapter of the Order in Fatima, Portugal.
4-6 Apr '09: Visit of the relics of St. Therese
	The relics of St Therese made their second visit to our Carmel on Saturday 4th April. The opening ceremony was conducted by our Parish Priest Fr. Liam Lacey. Many people came to visit throughout the day and we were very grateful for the assistance of many friends and volunteers all over the weekend. On Palm Sunday morning, 5th April, a beautiful mass was celebrated by our Provincial Fr. Jim Noonan, OCD. On Sunday evening some young people from CYC came to lead a special "Youth Hour" with prayer, readings and music. The departure ceremony at Midday on Monday 6th April was conducted by our local curate, Fr Joseph Doran who gave a very moving and personal address. The sisters had a few final moments to gather around the reliquary before Therese departed Kilmacud again, on her journey to the nearby Hospice of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin in Blackrock.
March '09: Sr. Mary Brigeen elected new Prioress
	Sr Mary Brigeen of the Holy Spirit was recently elected to suceed Sr. Mary Carmel as Prioress for the next three years. The Community is very grateful to Sr Mary Carmel for her faithful service to us over many years. Sr Mary Noeleen was appointed as new Novice Mistress.
6 Jan '09: Sr. Mary Fionnuala makes first Profession
The Solemnity of the Epiphany was a day of great joy and celebration in our community, as our novice Sr. Mary Fionnuala Joseph of the Eucharist made her First Profession. The beautiful liturgy celebrated by Fr. Jim Noonan, OCD was attended by some members of her immediate family and four other priests concelebrated. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues her formation for the next few years as a Junior Professed Sister.