December 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture Verse-Luke 1:26-27-Thank you, Kathleen
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary!“

March 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture-Thank you, Kathleen
Psalm 36:10
“For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.”

-Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“A mistress at the Abbey asked me once what I did on holidays, when I stayed at home.  I answered timidly: ‘I often hide myself in a corner of my room where I can shut myself in with the bed curtains, and then I think.’  ‘But what do you think about?  Said the good nun, laughing. ‘I think about the Good God, about the shortness of life, and about eternity: in a word, I think.’”

Prayer:
“St. Therese, be a model for us to take time each day to slow down, embrace the silence, and reflect on our lives.  In that silence, let us find peace from external and internal noise and just sit with Christ and his message.”

-Discalced Carmelites, Our Lady of the Incarnation Monastery-Carmelite Nuns Sioux City, Iowa- website:  https://www.siouxcitycarmel.org/

Within you dwells your God.
Enter within.
Look at Him.
Talk to Him.
Listen to Him.
Stay with Him in your heart.
-St. Teresa of Jesus –

April 2024 Newsletter

Scripture-Thank you, Kathleen
Psalm 4:4
“Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one; the Lord hears me when I call upon him.” 

Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“When something painful or disagreeable happens to me, instead of a melancholy look, I answer by a smile.  At first I did not always succeed, but now it has become a habit which I am glad to have acquired.”

Prayer:
“St. Therese, your example of greeting situations with kindness and a smile is a powerful reminder for us to focus on what is truly important during this Lenten season.  May you be a daily inspiration for us to smile in the face of frustration.”

-Discalced Carmelites, Our Lady of the Incarnation Monastery-Carmelite Nuns Sioux City, Iowa- website:  https://www.siouxcitycarmel.org/

“Indeed we have heaven within ourselves for the Lord of Heaven is there.”
-St. Teresa of Jesus –





May 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture Verse-Thank you, Kathleen
 John 6:27
“Do not work for food that perishes but for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”

-Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“A brother who is helped by a brother is like a strong city.”  St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer:
“St. Therese, inspire us to care for our fellow brothers and sisters in the best way possible. Remind us that we are all members of the Church family and, therefore, must care for one another, reserving judgment in the process.”

-Discalced Carmelites, Our Lady of the Incarnation Monastery-Carmelite Nuns Sioux City, Iowa- website:  https://www.siouxcitycarmel.org/

Never was the contemplative vocation more precious or more relevant than in our modern restless world.”      St. John Paul II


July 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture Verse-Thank you, Kathleen
Exodus 24:3
“We will do everything that the LORD has told us.”     


Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“It is better to leave each one in his own opinion than to enter into arguments.”  St. Therese of
  Lisieux

Prayer:
“St. Therese, help us to remember that we are all God’s children, each with our own perspectives and experiences.  Encourage us to use our voices for the glory of God and to create harmony rather than division.”

August 2024 Newsletter

Scripture Verse-2 Corinthians 12:9-Thank you, Kathleen
“ My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“Sometimes when I am in such a state of spiritual dryness that not a single good thought occurs to me, I say very slowly the ‘Our Father’ or the ‘Hail Mary,’ and these words suffice to take me out of myself, and wonderfully refresh me.”  St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer:
“St. Therese, your words remind us to lean on the foundations of our faith when we are struggling.  Help us remember that any act of faith is important, no matter how small.”

September 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture Verse-Amos 5:6
“ Seek the Lord, that you may live…”

Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts.  Neither intelligence nor talents.  He cherishes simplicity.”  St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer:
“St. Therese, open our eyes to the beauty of simplicity.  Help us to reframe our focus and look deeper into our hearts and souls, rather than at the image we are projecting of ourselves to others.”


October 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture Verse-Ephesians 4:22-24-Thank you, Kathleen
“ Put away the old self and put on the new self created in God’s way.”

Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“If the way of spiritual childhood became general, who does not see how easily would be realized the reformation of human society.” Homily of Pope Pius Xl at Therese’s Canonization Mass

Prayer:
“St. Therese, help us to follow your example of embracing the transition of this season, all the while remembering to maintain our focus and anticipation on the true reason for gratitude.”


November 2024 Newsletter

-Scripture Verse-John 14:23-Thank you, Kathleen
Whoever loves me, will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. 

Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese   Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns.

“Charity took possession of my heart, making me forget myself, and I have been happy ever since.” St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer:
“St. Therese, give us the heart of a child who wonders at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm.  Teach us your delight in God’s ways so that divine charity may blossom in our hearts.  Little Flower of Jesus, bring our petitions (mention in silence here) before God, our Father.”

December 2023 Newsletter

-Scripture: Thank you, Kathleen

Matthew:7 verses 13-14 enter by the narrow gate.  
“Enter through the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life and those who find it are few.”

-Quote of a Carmelite Saint-St. Therese of Lisieux-For the 150th anniversary of the birth of St.Therese 

Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux-Susan Hines-Brigger, Franciscan media (adapted for the current liturgical season). Thank you, Carmelite Nuns. 

“I am a very little soul, who can only offer very little things to Our Lord.”  St Therese of Lisieux

Prayer:
“St. Therese, your little ways are a shining example to all of us that we too, can live as God wants.  Help us to remember that in our own little ways we are helping to build up the kingdom of God.”

Discalced Carmelites, Our Lady of the Incarnation Monastery-Carmelite Nuns Sioux City, Iowa– website:  https://www.siouxcitycarmel.org/

“To become an enclosed Religious is not, as many think, to selfishly escape from the world’s burden. On the contrary, it is to take up the world’s burden. The Carmelite retires from the world in order to work for the world more effectually. Her motive is the very opposite of selfishness, for it is self-giving love — love of her Divine Lord, and love of all the world. Her work is to cooperate with the Passion of Christ offering herself with Him and in Him for the salvation of sinners. It is ‘to love for those who do not know how to love, to pray for those who do not know how to pray, and to suffer for those who do not know how to suffer’.”
Fr. G. J. MacGillivray