From Spanish Toque to French Toque: Carmel of St. Teresa, Schenectady, New York (already closed)

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The Carmel of Schenectady was the third foundation made by the Mexican Carmelites exiled from Queretaro during the Civil War.  The Nuns settled first in Grand Rapids, Michigan; then in 1920, a foundation was made in Buffalo, New York.  At the invitation of the Most Reverend Edmund F. Gibbons, Bishop of Albany, New York, eight nuns of the Buffalo Carmelite monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Little Flower of Jesus, left for Schenectady, New York on Monday, August 13, 2023.  These Nuns: Mother Mary Elias of the Blessed Sacrament, Sisters Mary Magdalen of the Holy Ghost, Mary of the Sacred Heart, Mary Teresita of the Infant Jesus (choir sisters); Sister Mary Terese of the Infant Jesus (choir novice); and Sisters Mary of the Angels of Jesus Crucified, Veronica of the Holy Frace, and St. Joseph of the Divine Child (out-sisters), arrived in Schenectady on the afternoon of the same day of 4 o'clock.

On November 15, 1923, the canonical erection of the monastery took place and the bishop appointed Mother Mary Elias as Prioress.

After a year, Mother Elias asked to be relieved of her office.  Believing that this would be best for the community, Bishop Gibbons acceded to her request and asked the Sacred Congregation for Religious for permission to secure two nuns from Boston Carmel, one to replace Mother Elias as prioress, the other to serve as mistress of novices.  The permission was given but the bishop was unable to obtain two nuns from Boston Carmel and so permission was sought and given from two nuns from the Carmel of New Orleans.  The archbishop of that diocese and the Carmel graciously gave their consent to the transfer of Sisters Teresa Francis of the Holy Name of Jesus and Immaculata of the Holy Spirit, to the Schenectady Carmel.  The two sisters arrived on March 27, 1925 and ere appointed by Bishop Gibbons as prioress and mistress of novices respectively.

Mother M. Elias and Sister Mary of the Angels returned to the Carmel of Grand Rapids, their original community.

Taken from a book on History of Carmelite Monasteries in the USA (the title, I forgot to copy)

 

Mother Mary Elias and the nuns who came with her wore the Spanish Toque, upon the departure of the Mexican Mothers and Sisters, they change the toque and veils to French style since Carmel of New Orleans foundation can be trace to France or Belgium.

 

 

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Book: Carmel in the United States, 1790-1990, published 1990

This book was published by the Association of Mary, Queen of Carmel, for the bicentennial of Carmel in America.

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this book is still available for purchase at: https://carmelite.org.uk/products/carmel-in-the-united-states-1790-1990-1748