Eowyn Posted July 30, 2013 Posted July 30, 2013 Yes. The monastery in Christoval is the daughter house of the North Dakota monastery. They will remain under North Dakota until they have 8 solemnly professed sisters. Then they will be autonomous. The O.Carms only have 4 monasteries throughout the USA. That's not much considering how many the OCDs have. Wow, I'm only about an hour away from the North Dakota Monastery. I didn't know the two were connected.
ACS67 Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 Wow, I'm only about an hour away from the North Dakota Monastery. I didn't know the two were connected. Are you really? The nuns are all from that motherhouse except Sr. Theodore. They all had to adjust to the weather in Texas. That is quite a change! Some could not take it and had to go back to North Dakota. It's been tough for them to establish themselves in Texas. They certainly have the support of the locals and the bishop of San Angelo though. I would freeze in North Dakota! I would go if God was calling me there but it would be rough. One Sister told me that one winter in North Dakota they had snow up to the roof of the monastery! I cannot imagine that much snow! The power was out for a few days she said! I would be freezing! I do not do well in cold temperatures. I don't know how I made it nearly 5 years in Chicago! Oh I have to tell everyone that the rock the monastery is built out of is entirely from the local area...Christoval, Texas. There are so many rocks there! Big boulders! The land is practically uninhabitable except for wildlife. The Sisters have to import top soil for their gardens. It is truly rugged out there.
Totally Franciscan Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 ACS67, thanks for all your info on this community. You brought up a good question. Do these sisters recite the Liturgy of the Hours in English or Latin? I am not good with cold weather either. As you had been in Chicago for 5 years, you must know about Joliet. When I was a postulant there, I had to shovel the snow off the sidewalks to the college - at 7:00 am!
ACS67 Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 The Liturgy of the Hours is chanted in English, Gregorian chant. Just some of their hymns are in Latin. The Te Deum, for instance. That was beautiful. I had never heard that chanted in Latin before. It was great! Yes! I had heard of Joliet while living in Chicago. Snow! Oh boy yes, and 30 below zero wind chill. My lungs felt like glass! I have never felt anything like that in my life nor since then have I. I lived in an apartment that was "all bills paid" which means the landlord controlled the heat! I wore so many layers of clothing to keep warm I looked like the Michelin Man! :)
Totally Franciscan Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Had to laugh at that visual of you as the Michelin Man! Thanks for answering my questions about the Carmelites. I will give them serious consideration.
inperpetuity Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Thank you sharing this great news! How wonderful you have possibly found "your place". I look forward to seeing the pictures and reading about your journey to Carmel!
Golden Years Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 I am so happy that you have found a community! How cool to be discerning with a real "desert" Carmel! Many blessings! :smile2:
Eowyn Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 Wow, I'm only about an hour away from the North Dakota Monastery. I didn't know the two were connected. Are you really? The nuns are all from that motherhouse except Sr. Theodore. They all had to adjust to the weather in Texas. That is quite a change! Some could not take it and had to go back to North Dakota. It's been tough for them to establish themselves in Texas. They certainly have the support of the locals and the bishop of San Angelo though. I would freeze in North Dakota! I would go if God was calling me there but it would be rough. One Sister told me that one winter in North Dakota they had snow up to the roof of the monastery! I cannot imagine that much snow! The power was out for a few days she said! I would be freezing! I do not do well in cold temperatures. I don't know how I made it nearly 5 years in Chicago! Oh I have to tell everyone that the rock the monastery is built out of is entirely from the local area...Christoval, Texas. There are so many rocks there! Big boulders! The land is practically uninhabitable except for wildlife. The Sisters have to import top soil for their gardens. It is truly rugged out there. See, I would die in the heat, don't really do well with it at all. The convent that the sisters have up here is out in the country a bit, so the snow builds up more. Town - not so bad. Next time you see the sisters, tell them "Hi" from North Dakota. :) There is a pilgrimage out to the monastery every year around the feast of the Assumption. I'm hoping to get there this year.
Benedictus Posted August 5, 2013 Posted August 5, 2013 I wonder if the sisters have close relations with the Hermits of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Christoval, Texas They had a solemn profession on July 20th :winner: and the community looks like its doing well.
ACS67 Posted August 6, 2013 Author Posted August 6, 2013 I wonder if the sisters have close relations with the Hermits of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Christoval, Texas They had a solemn profession on July 20th :winner: and the community looks like its doing well. The Sisters said they see them every now and then. The hermits live about 25-30 minutes away from the Sisters. The hermits are much closer to town (what little town there is! :) Christoval only has roughly 500+ people in it! LOL). I heard they (the hermits) make great jams.
Eowyn Posted August 6, 2013 Posted August 6, 2013 I'm going to put this out there for anyone who might be around the North Dakota Minnesota border. The Carmelites of Wahpeton (the mother house for the Christoval Carmelites) are having a pilgrimage in honor of the Assumption on Sunday 8/11/13. More information here
Benedictus Posted August 8, 2013 Posted August 8, 2013 The Sisters said they see them every now and then. The hermits live about 25-30 minutes away from the Sisters. The hermits are much closer to town (what little town there is! :) Christoval only has roughly 500+ people in it! LOL). I heard they (the hermits) make great jams. If only they were on my side of the planet :sad:
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