Our Lord Himself provided some special moments, as these photos demonstrate!
Northern Lights, feast of St. Agnes Northern Lights, feast of St. PhilomenaRainbow, feast of the AssumptionStorm clouds over the monasteryFull moon showing silhouette of our new tower!
The last of our current postulants received the holy Habit on the feast of Christ the King in October 2024. We expect 2025 to be a year without ceremonies, because our aspirants are just beginning their own journeys. Our seamstress nuns are relieved to slow down the pace of their production for a while!
Preparing for the ceremony; in the foreground: the holy Habit awaits the return of the postulant after the first part of the ceremony.
Procession to the chapter room.
Receiving the cincture and Rosary
Most little boys dream of becoming priests… so did the Royal Child Jesus on this occasion!
The decorated cell
The summer of 2024 marked several milestones for our novitiate sisters: a first profession, two clothing ceremonies, and the “graduation” of our senior novice to the professed side of the monastery.
The profession was a private ceremony in the Chapter Room.
The newly-professed was symbolically reclothed in the holy habit, just like the new novices were.
The Divine Bridegroom was dressed for the occasion!
The postulants wore wedding dresses at the beginning of their Clothing ceremonies.
The dresses were gifts to the nuns, or their own mother’s dress on loan.
Each was led in procession from the novitiate to the chapter room.
A lock of the postulants’ hair was symbolically cut off.
The Sisters lay prostrate in the form of a Cross as a sign of their dedication.
Each was sprinkled with rose petals as a sign of joy. The new novices were first covered with Mother Teresa Margaret’s own mantle!
Each Sister’s cell was decorated with flowers on the day of the ceremony.
A trail of rose petals led to their cells!
The remaining rose petals were given to Our Lord by the novitiate.
The new novices’ hair was arranged as gifts for their families.
The novitiate recreation room decorated for our senior novice’s farewell party.
Â
A Solemn Profession, September 8th, 2022
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
In June 2022, we celebrated a Clothing Ceremony.
Wearing her mother’s bridal gown, the postulant is readied for the ceremony.The Sleeping Infant in the novitiate oratory wears rose, the color of joy.The Clothing ceremony takes place in the Chapter Room.A lock of the postulant’s hair is cut off.The new novice receives the cincture.The holy Scapular is added.The new novice is clothed in the mantle.Prostrate in the form of a cross, the new novice is covered with the mantle of the Mother Foundress.After receiving her religious name, the new novice is embraced by all.No worldly adornment can compare with the Holy Habit of Carmel! All is gladly left behind.
In May 2022 we celebrated a First Profession with a Solemn High Mass in the presence of our Bishop, Most Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh.
In the Novitiate Oratory before the ceremony.Bishop Walsh examines the novice’s intention and resolve.Sister makes her vows.Receiving the book of the Holy Rule and Constitutions.Bishop Walsh blesses the newly professed.Sister prostrates in the form of a cross while the community sings the Te Deum.Receiving her Spouse in Holy Communion.Solemn High MassThank you, Bishop Walsh, for joining us!
In October 2021 we celebrated a First Profession Ceremony. Father Brian Austin, FSSP was the celebrant for the festive Mass.
Carmelite Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague 