The Corpus Christi Carmelite Congregation, indigenous to the Caribbean, launched its celebration of 100 years of service to the region and beyond.

“Thank you for your presence, witness and ministry,” chief celebrant and homilist Archbishop Edward Gilbert told members of the Congregation at a Mass to open the centenary year, held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception last Monday. “Your presence has been a quiet power that has touched the lives of many people. Your ministry lifts people up.”

Bishop Gabriel Malzaire of Roseau, Dominica, Bishop Francis Alleyne of Georgetown, Guyana and Bishop Emeritus Sidney Charles of St George’s, Grenada joined the Archbishop for the celebration.

Msgr Cyril Lamontagne of Grenada and some 20 local priests also concelebrated.
Corpus Christi Carmelite postulants Theresa Sio and Sarah Waterman walked at the head of the procession bearing a large framed photograph of the Congregation’s foundress, Mother Mary Ellerker of the Blessed Sacrament, known as “Little Mother.” More than 50 Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters and postulants from across the region followed.

Among the overflowing congregation were a large number of lay Carmelites, known as Tertiaries. Dignitaries included former President Sir Ellis Clarke, former Senate President Eammon Carter, one-time Education Minister Cuthbert Joseph, former Arima Mayor Rose Jannierre, Prof Courtenay Bartholomew, and General Secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches, Gerard Granado.

Tunapuna parish priest Fr Reginald Hezekiah delivered the formal welcome address. He thanked God for the work of the Carmelites saying they were the embodiment of the “Good Samaritan” with their “ministry to those forgotten, neglected, or abandoned by society.”

He commended members of the Congregation for continuing to respond to the needs of the Church and the world, and called on those gathered to remember those who have gone before, and to continue to trust in God’s providence.

The first and second readings were done by Sir Ellis and Sr Petronilla Joseph, respectively. Parish priest of Mucurapo, St James Fr Gerard Tang Choon O Carm proclaimed the gospel.

In his homily, the Archbishop said every religious community had peaks and valleys in its journey, adding that it was essential to the formation of new members that they understood the history and the theology of their religious community. He noted that this played an important role in helping to restore fidelity to the specific charism of the community.

Carmelite Sisters pray the Our Father at the Mass on July 16.

Archbishop Gilbert greets Corpus Christi Carmelite Superior General Sr Antoinette Dickie after the Mass. Looking on is Sr Adriana Noel.

The Archbishop traced the congregation’s history from Mother Mary Ellerker’s stay stay in another order, Our Lady of Compassion.

He recalled that she was a Dominican Tertiary in the 1900s and that when she first arrived in Trinidad at the invitation of then Archbishop John Pius Dowling, she stayed with the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny.

She attempted to become affiliated with the Dominican order but was told their charism was not compatible with that of the Dominican order.

In 1928 the group became affiliated to the Carmelite order and that same year the mother-house was canonically erected in Trinidad.

Archbishop Gilbert said just as the first reading told of Elijah encouraging others to choose God, “the ministry of the Corpus Christi Carmelites says the same thing in a quiet way”.

He said the Congregation dealt with people who were dignified children of God, and brought them more deeply into the mystery of salvation.

He noted that the Carmelites have also given and continue to give service to this archdiocese and dioceses in the Caribbean, the United States, the United Kingdom and in Liberia, Africa, working with the poor, sick children and aged, the mentally challenged.

“Their pastoral service is faithful to their charism,” he said. He also highlighted their involvement in ecumenical ministry pointing out that they served on the Christian Council of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Archbishop remarked that from a secular point of view, the Carmelites had a tough ministry “but sustained by prayer, you serve and serve well”. 

Sr Adriana Noel expressed thanks and appreciation at the end of the Mass, after which the Sisters and guests assembled at Crowne Plaza for a gala dinner.

The festive dinner was a continuation of the Eucharistic celebration. So said Msgr Lamontagne as he blessed the meal. The beautifully decorated ballroom was filled with Carmelite sisters, benefactors, friends, well-wishers.

Emcees for the evening were Raymond Edwards and Peter Timothy. Sr Antoinette Dickie, Superior General welcomed all especially Archbishop Gilbert and the three other bishops who had made a special effort to be present for the occasion.

Sir Ellis Clarke in his short address said that Bishop Brindle had warned the foundress and her group of three women that they would be “poor and despised” but only half of what he had predicted was true – the Carmelites might be poor but they are certainly not despised as the presence of so many both at the Cathedral and at Crowne Plaza showed.

In raising a toast to the Carmelites Gerard Granado, Secretary General of the Caribbean Conference of Churches used the image of the Pieta – Mary with the broken body of her Son – to recall the Corpus Christi Carmelites’ charism.

The Sisters’ life work involves looking after the broken and battered, who are the Body of Christ, but the Body of Christ is also the broken body of divided Christendom. He recalled Pope John Paul II words in Vita Consecrata exhorting religious to pray for the Church and for the work of ecumenism.

The ambience of the evening was enhanced by the beautiful singing of Wendell Constantine, Raymond Edwards, Stephen Furlonge, Juditha Fitzwilliam and Srs Alphonsa, Adriana and Katrina.

Sr Petronilla Joseph, Regional Superior had the last word, thanking all who had contributed to the celebration in any way.

Corpus Christi Carmelites

A special kind of witness