Easter Newsletter 2024

MARCH FOR LIFE

[(From left): Brs. Vladimir, John Mary, Jonathan, Isaiah, Joseph, Ambrose & Moses; John Mary & Ambrose joined them in DC.]

In January, five of our students went to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., despite the weather.

With their tests finishing up before the Easter break from St. John’s Seminary, four of our students volunteered to report on their other activities here at the monastery in Brighton.

REPORT FROM BR. JONATHAN:
Cardinal Arborelius’ Visit

The Swedish Cardinal came to visit the community, on February 19th to the 21st, as part of a longer trip, where he was visiting family. Fr. Michael, with Brs. Joseph Teresa and Jonathan Maria, went to the airport to pick him up. After a long, but easy journey, the group went to get some food and then headed to the monastery to retire for the night.

On February 20th, the Cardinal celebrated the community Mass and gave a beautiful homily about being silent before God so He can speak to us. He spoke about the importance of silence as a remedy for all the noise and distress in the modern world. After Mass, the friars went about their usual duties and the Cardinal went to visit local Cardinal O’Malley.

[Cardinal Arborelius and Br. Jonathan Maria with our Prior, Fr. Bonaventure (in front).]

Later that day, Cardinal Arborelius joined the community at dinner, and Br. Jonathan Maria had a chance to speak his native Danish with the Cardinal, who spoke his native Swedish, reflecting on the Catholic Church in Scandinavia.

After night prayer, Cardinal Arborelius was so kind as to join our Book Study Group in the ministry room and he shared about the nature of the Catholic Church in Sweden and his hopes for the Church going forward, talking as well about the strengths and weaknesses of the Church in Sweden.

He happily took time to take some pictures with the group and revealed that his pectoral cross was given to him by St. Pope John Paul II. At the end, he blessed the group with a relic of St. Teresa of Jesus and then he retired for some prayer and eventually for the night.

On the morning of the 21st, he concelebrated at the community Mass, had breakfast with the friars, and then went to visit his family, after which he departed for Sweden once again.

His visit was a cause of joy and should he choose to visit any time soon, he would be welcomed with open arms. Until then, we at the monastery, will keep him and the Church in Sweden, in our prayers.

REPORT FROM BR. VLADIMIR

On Saturday, March 2nd, the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Roxbury, MA held a Carmelite Day of Recollection for Women. Fr. Michael Berry (Student Master) gave the day of recollection while our prior, Fr. Bonaventure, as well as Fr. Leonard, assisted with confessions. The theme was: St. Teresa of Jesus: Prayer as Healing Intimacy and a Summons to Love Boldly.

Almost seventy young women attended the event — some coming from places as far as Maine, New York, and Connecticut!

One of the students, Br. Vladimir Guadalupe, was on the coordinating team and some of the other student friars helped by serving at Eucharistic Adoration and Mass. Some of the other members of the planning team are participants in the Carmelite young adult group that meets weekly at the Brighton monastery.

Members of the OCDS (Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites) volunteered for the event as well — it was a gift to have all three branches of the Order together!

Pray for vocations for our nuns in Roxbury!

REPORT FROM BR. NATHANAEL

With the winter as mild as it was, we had more opportunity to pull out pickaxes and spades than snow shovels! Our task of taming the wild gardens of Carmel continued throughout the colder months. Bushes dormant but ground thawed, conditions were perfect for transplanting. We set to work at the back entrance of the monastery, where rhododendrons had grown out of proportion after some pines were felled five years ago. Some bushes we hauled up the hill to plant near the statue of our Lady that watches over the monastery.

Talk about the ascent of Mount Carmel! Others were relocated to the fringe of the woods, where their flowers will grace the view from monastery windows.

We shifted the bushes that remained to make them symmetrical, covered the bare ground with periwinkle, (vinca-minor, creeping-myrtle) now the project is near completion.

When Lent came around, our focus returned to the Stations of the Cross, recently rescued from jungle. After grading the area in a final preparation for grass seed, we are now at work pruning the azaleas and mountain laurels, whose branches had been strangled by vines.

When spring weather fosters new growth, they'll hopefully regain shape before long. I thank all the brothers for their generous work!

Report from Br. John-Magdalene: DIGITAL MEDIA EVANGELIZATION

This format offers several advantages over the ancient scroll, including compactness, ease of storage, durability, accessibility, and annotative possibilities. With new forms of media in our own day, the Church urges “all the children of the Church [to] join, without delay and with the greatest effort in a common work to make effective use of the media of social communication in various apostolic endeavors, as circumstances and conditions demand” (Vatican II).

Everyone is called to discern how to employ different forms of media in service of the Gospel, acknowledging both the opportunities and challenges they present, especially for those living a contemplative life. Despite these challenges, the emergence of new technologies should not overshadow the exciting possibilities they offer for advancing the Kingdom.

In light of this, when I was approached last Advent to film and edit the seasonal Carmelite retreat videos, I was enthusiastic. I view my role as shaping and enhancing the spoken word, ensuring it resonates effectively. Everything from framing the shot to the editing style flows from the meaning of the friar's talk. In a way, I act as a translator, striving to maintain the original meaning while converting audio into video

While nothing can replace genuine personal contact, digital media provides new avenues for reaching people. I am eager about the opportunities for evangelization: digital media is accessible, global, and facilitates revisiting helpful messages. Those who cannot physically attend conferences, such as the homebound or the sick, can still watch online. Additionally, videos have a broader reach beyond a single nation.

Finally, online videos enable viewers to easily return to helpful segments. I have personally benefited from replaying sections that really spoke to my heart and helped lead me closer to God — and I hope others can experience similar benefits through our work on the ICS YouTube channel."

MASS & PRAYER REQUESTS

Thank you for your help in supporting these young Carmelites and us old-ones as well.

MASS SCHEDULE

You are welcome to attend Mass at the Monastery at 7:30 AM Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday. We changed the time for the Saturday Mass recently.

PRAYER INTENTIONS

We will remember your personal intentions. We keep your intentions in a book at the door of the chapel so that the friars can remember them in their prayers. If you wish your intentions to be remembered, please send them to us HERE.

MASS CARDS & PERPETUAL MASS UNIONS

We now offer convenient online ordering for requesting Mass, Mass Cards and Perpetual Mass Unions.

FROM THE PRIOR’S DESK

Greetings to all in this Easter Season.

May Our Good God Bless you and your families drawing you all into the Paschal Mystery! Let us continue to meet one another in the Heart of Our Good God in prayer! Have a Wonderful and Holy Easter Season!

Friar Father Bonaventure, O.C.D.

(Prior of The Espousal of Mary and Joseph Community)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

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Visit our Website brightonfriarsocd.org to learn more.