Congratulations to our Spiritual Advisor Father Patrick Gavin, O. Carm! As of July 1st he will be the new Pastor at Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Church in Fairfield, California. We send our best wishes, and gratitude, to Father David Fontaine, O. Carm. who is officially retiring on June 30th.

Northern California/Northern Nevada Lay Carmelites Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary “With Joy you shall draw Water from the Fountains of Salvation” – Isaiah 12:3

“My spirit becomes dry when it forgets to feed

on You”. St. John of the Cross

A Publication of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel LCC 578 May 2020

IN THIS ISSUE 2 Attendance

3 Director’s Cut

3 Formation Focus

4 Treasury Report

5 Councilor’s Corner

5 Prayers

6 Birthdays

7 Gratitude Card

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

There will be a Virtual

Community Meeting via the

Lay Carmelite meeting room on

May 23rd. Please join

us: https://call.lifesizecloud.com

/286160

Click to call from Mobile (audio

only) United States: +1 (312) 584-

2401, 286160#

We are Lay Carmelites.

Prayer -It’s what we do.

Sheltered In Place: Our Prayer Cells Our world is forever changed from the COVID19 pandemic. We will be wearing personal protective equipment, PPE, such as masks and gloves when we go out in public places. This is challenging for a lot of people. For some, change is a difficult thing to accept. Our world is forever changed, and we have no control. God does, and He is good. We are Lay Carmelites, called to absolute and complete Transformation in our own Formation. We are called to Change.

Our Community is in flux. We have lost members, and are gaining new members in progress. This changes the dynamics of the group. We are called to serve in His name, to be examples, reflect, and humble ourselves to help others and to be good to each other.

Those who are eligible to vote for a new director should have received a ballot in the mail. Reflect upon your choice. Read Carmel’s Call for guidance. Mail you ballot now in if you have not already done so.

I have had the honor to serve you, and it has changed me forever. I humbly thank you for this privilege, and for your support and patience. It has truly been an honor.

Let us continue to pray and love each other, no matter what the world brings...

Prayers and Blessings to you all, Melody

Melody McCloskey, TOC. Director, Lay Carmelite Community Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Fairfield, CA

Lay Carmelite Newsletter

2020 Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Anaya Oralia 1 1

Bauer Cherie 1 0

Butsko Steve 0 1

Byerley Desi 1 1

Castillo Marietta 1 0

Cruz Dina 0 0

Devlin Mike 0 0

Dominguez Bunny 0 0

Estrella Annie 1 1

Guevara Celia 1 1

Guillory Seantelle 1 1

Hess Celina 1 1

Makinano Olivia 0 0

McCloskey Melody 1 1

Oribbello Claire 0 1

Obiacoro Anne 1 1

Pacheco Evelyn 0 0

Pacheco Jess 0 0

Perazzo Cindy 1 1

Quinn Tom 1 1

Ramos Valentine 0 0

Rillo Robert 0 0

Smith Teresa 1 1

Stahlbrger Marilyn 1 1

Terris Rosario 0 1

Torres Carmelita 1 0

Torres Irma 1 1

Williams Shelia 0 0

Zindel Mindy 1 1

total: 17 17 NA - SIP NA - SIP NA - SIP

ATTENDANCE: Please note your attendance record every meeting, AND let a council member know if you have to miss a meeting or will be late, so it can reflect in your record. If you leave before On-Going formation, you have not met formation requirements and will be marked as absent.

Director’s Cut Melody McCloskey, T.O.C.

ASSIGNMENT: Please review pages 14-16 of the Community Manual. Lately there has been confusion with interchanging the terms “Inquirer” and “Phase 1” Candidate. An inquirer is a visitor, looking into becoming a Lay Carmelite, and considered a Potential Candidate. Per Sister Libby, an Inquirer is not to join in the discussion during On-going Formation during the Community Meetings, when they visit. However, if they have been coming to the meetings as an observer for several months, and filled out an application form, they could possibly get the book, do the homework, and participate, but need to understand that their contribution in the discussions would be minimal. This could happen if they come after the Phase 1 classes have already started, and they have to wait a long time for the Formation Classes to begin new again.

After an Inquirer has submitted an application, been interviewed, and accepted, they are now considered Phase 1, and Candidates for Reception. They are no longer inquirers. They should have the Ongoing Formation book, do the assignments, and be allowed to join in the small group discussions. However, if they choose not to speak and want to observe, that is acceptable. They should not be pressured, as their own Phase 1 and even Phase 2 Formation assignments are their priority. Please also review Sister Libby’s latest document “Gumbo/Potluck Analogy – Ongoing Formation” which was sent to you in March regarding how Lectio Divina should be done.

“We must not allow ourselves to lose confidence or to be gripped by fear. This

experience may lead us to reflect on how powerless we are, despite all our

progress. At moments like this we realize more clearly that without God, we can

do nothing. ... praying more, one with Mary the Mother of God who kept all these

things and pondered them in her heart.” Míceál O'Neill, O. Carm. Prior General It still is! Prayer is a conversation with God. "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid, My Peace I give to you, says the Lord."

Annie Castro, T.O.C. Formation Director Our next book is “Holy Thirst – Essentials of Carmelite Spirituality” by Paraclete Press. It is free from the Council, and will be distributed following social distancing protocols.

Formation Focus Annabelle Castro, T.O.C.

Treasury Report Jess Pacheco, T.O.C.

NOTE: Please remember to pay the Provincial Dues $55 and Local Dues $15,

for a total of $70, to Jess Pacheco as soon as possible. You can mail your

checks in to him. This is one way we support the Lay Carmelite Office

in Darien, Illinois.

Lay Carmelite Community #578

Treasurer's Report

April 2020 2020 Prov

General Fund Dues

Pre-Payment Total

Plan Beginning Balance 544.11 385.00 347.25 1,276.36

Receipts:

Love Offering - Regular 0.00 Pre-Payment Plan 0.00

Provincial Dues 275.00 275.00

Local Dues 60.00 60.00

Total 60.00 275.00 0.00 335.00

Disbursements: 0.00

0.00

Total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Ending Balance 604.11 660.00 347.25 1,611.36

“The Call to Carmel is as unique as each soul who makes the journey.

What links us is the deep desire to marry contemplation and action in the world.”

CarmelNet.org

FROM THE COUNSEL OF COUNCILORS:

THE COUNCILOR’S CORNER

Our ministries are on hold until the world opens up again, as we have not received any donations

because of Shelter in Place orders, and no meetings in person were allowed. There are plans to donate

to St. Vincent de Paul and to purchase at least a couple of books for the Sanctuary prayer room behind

the altar at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, in the future.

Anne Obiacoro, TOC, Councilor

Irma Torres, TOC, Councilor

and Rose Terris, TOC,

(Special Assignment)

Sub-committee for the Councilors

Homebound Ministry: Celina Hess, Leader

PRAYERS Please keep Fr. David, Claire Oribello, Celina Hess, Brenda Pacheco, Inday and

Robert Visda, and all of our Lay Carmelite members and their families who need

our special prayers, including the Clergy and Religious First, Second, and Third

Orders in all of our prayers.

Some resources to visit during our time of quarantine from the OCarm Website::

CARMEL RESPONDS TO COVID-19

Today people feel a helplessness that they have never felt before. In the face of a

virus that spreads rapidly and has led to the death of many thousands of people

throughout the world, we are caught between fear and hope, given that along

with those who have died, an even greater number have been cured. The

General Curia, by means of this website, wishes to offer a space that will help

people to pray, for themselves and for the people they love.

1) We offer a daily Lectio Divina: a prayerful reading of the Word of God,

2) Links to websites: streaming the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and

weekdays,

3) A reflection corner: casting a Carmelite eye over all that is happening and bring

to peoples’ attention some areas that we risk neglecting in the desire to deal with

the frontline of the pandemic.

https://ocarm.org/en/

Saint Simon Stock, an Englishman who lived in the 13th century, was an early prior general of the Carmelite religious order. Little is known about his life with any historical certainty. The Blessed Virgin Mary is traditionally said to have appeared to him and given him the Carmelite habit, the Brown Scapular, with a promise that those who die wearing it will be saved. Thus, popular devotion to Saint Simon Stock is usually associated with devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Cindy Perazzo

Mike Devlin

A Thank You card from Fred Bissel and Family:

Find Us Online

Website: https://our lady ofmtcarmelfairfieldca.or/lay-carmelites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lay-Carmelites-of-Fairfield-CA-442874132765260/ Wordpres: https://lcc578.wordpress.com/

LAY CARMELITE OFFICE OPEN POSITION, Provincial Delegate Cindy Perazzo, Provincial Coordinator Sr. Libby, O.Carm, Associate Delegate Desi Byerly, TOC and Dennis Price, TOC -Regional Coordinators

COUNCIL

Melody McCloskey Director Annabelle Estrella Formation Director Jess Pacheco Treasurer

Anne Obiacoro Councilor Irma Torres Councilor Rose Terris Assistant Councilor

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church 2700 Dover Avenue Fairfield CA 94533

Lay Carmelite Community Homebound Members Address