Mystery Creates History

"IS ANYTHING TOO MARVELOUS FOR THE LORD TO DO?" – Gen 18:14

Chester (7 of 14)

The Hermits of Our Lady of mount Carmel moved to Chester, New Jersey on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, August 15, 1980. On Wednesday, two days before the move,
I asked the man who was digging up an old oil tank in the convent lawn whether he made roads. He said, “Yes, do you need a road? How soon?” I replied, “This Friday, two days from now.” Two days later, I drove onto Carmel’s new land on our new road. “Is anything to marvelous for the Lord to do?”

Ah, the Land of Carmel! Ten acres surrounded by tall trees welcomed me. I asked Jesus to shine His Light in and around our Carmel. From the first moment on this holy land, I felt His presence, protection, and love in my spirit. With Mary, our Mother and Sister, I prayed with all my heart “Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Let it be done with me according to your word” – Lk 1:38.

Close to the entrance, a pop-up trailer had been installed, along with a small wire pen for the dogs. A few feet away, a cornfield ascended the breadth of the land to the base of our Mount Carmel. In the cornfield were four stakes with red bows to indicate the location of the chapel and main building. Across the top of the mountain in thick brush were four more sets of stakes to indicate the sites of the first four hermitages. Our friend, Abbot Melvin Valvano, O.S.B., of the Newark Abbey, had sent his surveyor, Al San Louis, to survey our entire property and help us apply for the necessary permits to build. The good man who made the road, continued to bring it to the top and there cleared the brush for construction.

From my hermitage-trailer, I wrote to Bishop Rodimer, asking his permission to build the first four hermitages. It was readily given. My gratitude to Bishop Rodimer for all he has done for us through the years is boundless; only with prayer can I adequately thank him.

Sarah Noll, an official of the Chester Township Planning Board, mentored me through each step of the construction procedure. We had no power, no water, no phone. Sarah mentioned Bob Stevens, a member of the Planning Board saying, “He works for Jersey Central; he might help with the power.” Shortly thereafter, a young woman, named, Joyce Marelli—she and her family were to become life-long friends—had heard there was a Carmel here and came to see it. When I mentioned our need to meet this man named, Bob Stevens, she replied, “He is my boss!” Bob Stevens came, saw the situation, waived the paperwork, and we had both electricity and a phone within a week.

Father Romano celebrated Mass daily. One day before returning home, he spoke of Sister Wilma Jean Hessner, a young religious, on retreat at Bethlehem. He said she was interested in Carmel and asked if I would see her. After meeting, we chatted and I took her for a walk up the mountain to the sites of our first four hermitages. Coming to the last one, I told Sister Wilma, “If Jesus calls you here, this will be your hermitage.” Before she left, I opened the trunk of the car and gave her my book, Friendship with Christ. The primitive conditions evoked no little humor.

After prayer, discernment, and consultation with her provincial superior, Sister Wilma began our pre-entrance program. On July 1, 1981, she came for a three-month live-in. October 24, 1981 Sister Wilma Jean of the Father’s Love received the habit of a Hermit of Carmel. We were awed and encouraged that Jesus would send us another Hermit so quickly.

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