| Dear Friends,
We need your help to help you! Young
vocations, whose only desire is to give themselves to
God in a life of prayer and sacrifice for you and
countless other souls, face the possibility of being
turned away for no other reason than for lack of space.
The world needs these vocations! We are begging
your financial assistance to build on to our Monastery.
With war looming and an unsettled, drooping economy,
perhaps these are bad days for us to be asking for even
a penny from anyone! Still, in another sense, in a
spiritual sense, maybe these are the best days to be
asking for alms. How many of us look at world events and
the matters of our own personal lives, only to feel how
greatly we need God and His merciful help?
Several weeks ago, we were shocked to hear
that the estimated cost for what we have been planning
to build is $400,000! And this is after we have
eliminated many of our first hopes for the addition. Our
plans include nothing elaborate. It is a 37 ft. x 40
ft., three-floor extension, with a 10 ft. walkway to
connect the buildings. This new space will provide us
with additional monastic cells, a much-needed larger
kitchen and refectory (dining room), and a Chapter Room;
workrooms, including a larger sewing room for the great
amount of sewing we do: vestments, altar linens,
religious habits for four communities; and a library.
Other costs include a furnace and a new septic field.
It might help you to better understand our
need if we tell you that we had to empty the small old
library to make room for our new Korean Sister. Where
could we put the books? Eight large sets of bookshelves
are now in our upstairs hallway! About nine young women
are now seriously contemplating the Carmelite vocation
to our Monastery. One we have already accepted, but
cannot give her a certain entrance date. Another feels
strongly that she will be ready by April, if accepted.
Of course, we must delay her vocation until we have
room. The heartbreak of having to wait to enter is most
difficult. As you can see, our need is immediate!
Thanks to the fatherly help of St. Joseph and
the generosity of many of you who have already
contributed to this project, we are happy to tell you
that we have almost reached the half-way mark of
$200,000.
So here we are, in the midst of the season of Lent,
begging for another $200,000! Lent is the Church's time
of penance, and the Church tells us we can satisfy our
need for penance through prayer, fasting
and almsgiving. Please make our Carmel the
grateful recipient of your Lenten alms!
"Hide your alms in the breast of the poor,
and the alms itself will pray to the Lord for
you…" ~Ecclesiasticus
You and your loved ones are always in our prayers.
In Christ, Your Carmelite Sisters
Please click the button above or send your
donation to: Carmelite Monastery 8540 Kenosha
Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80908
Please help us
by forwarding this newsletter on to others you think may
be interested in assisting us. Thank
you! |