Mystery Creates History

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

Our Carmelite Family (10 of 14)

Our relationship with the Carmelite Fathers that began with Father Robert Flaherty continued with Father Ashley Harrington in 1983. Fr. Ashley, the Eastern Commissary Provincial of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, delegated Fr. Charles Countie as our liaison with the Order. Fr. Charles celebrated the Eucharist on our Third Wednesday Desert Days; he also encouraged Fr. David McEvoy to befriend us, and Fr. David in his turn encouraged Fr. Gregory Houck to come to Carmel in Chester.

Fr. Charles brought the Most Rev. Father John Malley, Prior General of the Order, for a visit. Fr. John advised us to stay close to the Carmelite Fathers, and he assured us that we belong to the Carmelite Family. His words gave us joy and hope. Fr. Charles also brought Fr. Joachim Smet for a wonderful visit, as well as other Carmelites.

Fr. Morris Wells, during his term as Eastern Commissary Provincial, visited several times. On one occasion, he brought Frs. Paul Kirchner and Francis Blum. Fr. James Boyce gave us a lecture on the fruit of his Carmelite Liturgical Studies. Frs. Robert Wolfe and Eugene Bettinger came for our monthly Third Wednesday Desert Days for our Hermits of Carmel Guild members.

Currently, Fr. Leonard Gilman has joined our dedicated, holy, and heroic priests. Through correspondence, I met Fr. Redemptus Valabek of the St. Elias Province. One summer he stopped in briefly and as I was showing him the newly built Chapel, I said “Jesus did it!” Father Redemptus smiled, saying: “Yes, Jesus did it!” With heartfelt appreciation and prayer, Father Redemptus responded to every newsletter we sent him.

The words of Sirach beautifully express our experience of the Carmelite Fathers “Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one finds a treasure. Faithful friends are a life-saving remedy” – Sir 6:14,16.

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