Message for the Feastday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
I was delighted this week to welcome the new Carmelite Community who have settled very well into Kildare town. Fr. Manuel, Fr. Anthony and Br. Sebastian paid a visit to me at Bishops House on Wednesday last, July 13th. They arrived to our diocese only last March and received a warm reception at the Chrism Mass on the Monday of Holy Week.
On the feastday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, instituted by the Carmelite Order in the 14th century, which commemorates the anniversary of the day in 1251 when Our Lady gave the brown scapular to St. Simon Stock, I reecho the psalm refrain from the Mass of the day: “Lord, do not forget the poor” (Ps. 9:12b). Pope Francis reminds us of this very theme in every address and message.
I pray the presence of the Indian Carmelite Community will bring a greater awareness of the poor in all our midst and will bring great blessings on the people of Kildare town and throughtout the diocese.