Carmelite Sisters ~ Celebrating 90 Years!
God’s providence in bringing good out of evil is truly awe inspiring. The violent religious persecution in Mexico in the 1920s, compelled our Foundress, Venerable Mother Luisita, to leave her homeland and the people she lovingly served to seek refuge in the United States. Although Mother Luisita was forced to leave everything behind, she brought with her, her most cherished possessions – her unwavering love for God and an ironclad confidence in His providence. Her trust would be well-rewarded.
For as it turns out, the dark days of fleeing the persecution were merely the planting of little seeds in the soil that would deeply take root, grow steadily and blossom into that which is Mother Luisita’s legacy today – blending the contemplative spirit of Carmel with active apostolic works. Today, the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angles continue her legacy of promoting a deeper spiritual life among God’s people through health care, education and spiritual retreats serving tens of thousands of people each year, across five states, six apostolic centers, and seven archdiocesan elementary and high schools.
Throughout 2017, we are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of our community in the United States. We invite you to join our celebration! We will be sharing a wide variety of information, trivia, history, videos – and perhaps even a surprise or two – on our website and across all our social media platforms. So please be sure to check back often and help us celebrate 90 Years with the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles!
For questions or to RSVP over the phone, please call (626) 289-1353 ext. 258
With Our Profound Gratitude
It was a hot, muggy day in June 1927. The train whistle announced its entry into the Central Los Angeles Train Station and billows of steam accompanied its arrival. The brakes screeched.
Three women, undistinguishable from the rest of the throng of passengers, disembarked and looked around, searching the faces in the waiting crowd. Not finding immediately the face they were searching for, they picked up their frugal parcels and began walking.
These three Carmelite Sisters were carrying a heavy load but the load was not the parcels; rather, it was the load of the memories of what they had just been through, the horrors of war and the atrocities during the systematic religious persecution of Catholics in Mexico.
Their journey was over. They were free. They were safe.
Although only three exiled Carmelite Sisters came to Los Angeles on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 24, 1927, there were scores more at the limit of their endurance awaiting their turn to come.
During 2017 – the year in which we are celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the arrival of the Carmelite Sisters in Los Angeles – we are eager to use this opportunity to say thank you. We want to express our prayerful gratitude to all of you who helped us when Mother Luisita, Mothers Margarita Maria and Sister Teresa arrived tired and feeling so very alone – exiles, refugees, and homeless.
From all eternity…
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord
and let your perpetual light shine upon them
80 Years in the Hands of God
In 1924, just a few years before she had
to leave her beloved Mexico in disguise as
a refugee from religious persecution…
Look to the future
Mother Luisita and two other sisters stepped onto
Los Angeles soil for the first time on June 24, 1927…
Interview with Sister Timothy Marie, O.C.D.
We haven’t seen much of you these past months,
Sister Timothy Marie. Is it true that you are working
on a manuscript of a new book?
Years of Collective Service
12 sites from California to Florida
Professed Sisters
Hailing from 11 Countries
Days of Collective Service
17 Novice, Postulants and Candidates
Avila Gardens
17 Years of Service
Marycrest Manor
60 Years of Service
Santa Teresita
86 Years of Service
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Hayden Child Care Center
50 Years of Service
Little Flower Educational Child Card
87 Years of Service
and serving in 7 Diocesan schools
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Sacred Heart Retreat House
76 Years of Service
St. Joseph Campus
19 Years of Service
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For questions or to RSVP over the phone, please call (626) 289-1353 ext. 258