FSSP Vocation Days in Nebraska

The Confraternity of St Peter is in the early stages of planning a vocation camp for May 2010. The details will develop over the next few months, but for now we would like to hear from any family interested in participating.

The idea is that families who come for ordinations on May 22 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary might stay for a couple of extra days. Their children can then participate in activities either at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary (for boys) or the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Valparaiso (for girls). It would end on Monday evening with a talk for all given by one of the Priests.

Details have yet to be finalised, but we are looking at some places where fathers and sons and mothers and daughters might "camp" to keep expenses down. Of course you can stay at local hotels if you prefer.

If you would like to put your children on the list or receive more information as it becomes available, email Tish Gallagher at tish5 at surewest.net, or call +1-916-223-3112. This will be a really wonderful opportunity for young people to spend some time with Priests and religious and learn about life in the Seminary or Convent, and also have a lot of fun at the same time.

(reproduced from Cum Petro, the periodical of the Confraternity of St Peter, Winter 2010)

Elysburg Carmelites Enclosed

The Discalced Carmelites, were enclosed in their Elysburg convent on August 25th, 2009. This event joyfully took place on the 447th anniversary of St. Theresa of Jesus founding of her first reformed Carmelite convent. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter has been very involved with the sisters since their founding in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Fr. Joseph Howard, FSSP celebrated a Solemn High Mass with many faithful present, including Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The nuns relocated due to an increase of vocations. Fr. Howard will be the chaplain for the sisters and will provide daily Mass for the convent.

A detailed article along with photos, originally published in the Catholic Witness, may be read on the Diocese of Harrisburg website.

Prayer intentions can be sent to the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at 430 Monastery Rd., Elysburg, Pa., 17824 or given via phone at 570-672-2122.

Discalced Carmelites

The Carmelite Rite, or the Rite of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is the liturgical rite of the Roman Catholic Church, distinct from the Roman Rite, employed during the crusades by the the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre, Hospitallers, Templars, Carmelites and the other orders founded within the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Today it is specific to the Carmelite Order.

After considering the question carefully at its General Chapters of 1965, 1968 and 1971, the Calced Carmelite Order decided to abandon its traditional rite in favour of the Mass of Paul VI. The old carmelite rite is still in use today by two Carmelite communities in the United States: the Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Wyoming and the Discalced Carmelite Nuns - Valparaiso, Nebraska.

The nuns of Valparaiso are served by the Priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter.

Contact:

• Rev. Mother Teresa of Jesus, O.C.D., Prioress
  Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
  9300 W. Agnew Road,
  Valparaiso, NE 68065,
  United States of America.
  website