St. Jude the Apostle to host Definitive Promises of local women into contemplative order May 11

St. Jude the Apostle Parish will host two local women Saturday, May 11, taking their Definitive Promises into the Carmelite Third Order. The Third Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel is an association of lay people who promise to live the Gospel in the spirit of the Carmelite Order and under its guidance. Pam Becker of St. Jude The Apostle Parish and Jeanne Danko of St. Ann’s Parish in Bethany Beach are the candidates.

From 12th century crusaders who became hermits on a mountain in the deserts of northern Palestine to the founding of communities in Europe and eventually in the Americas and around the world, the history of the Carmelite Order is intimately connected to the lives and stories of individual souls who sought out prayerful solicitude together in the world.

From the beginning, the Carmelites assisted groups of lay people who desired to live a better Christian life through their devotion of Our Lady, their prayer, their charity. Two very well-known saints of the Carmelite Order are St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese Lisieux.

St. Jude the Apostle Parish invites people of all religious faiths to join in this rare celebration. The ceremony and Mass will be at 11 a.m. at St Jude’s Church, and attendees are cordially invited to attend a light reception following the Mass in the Parish Life Center adjacent to Route 1 just north of Five Points. Father James Hreha, pastor,  will officiate at the Mass; Deacon Ed Danko will preach; and Brother Brian of the Carmelite Order, Washington, D.C., will conduct the actual Definitive Promises ceremony.

This ceremony is in the middle of a very special weekend for St. Jude as 16 members of the parish community will receive their Confirmation Friday evening, May 10, and Sunday, May 12, will be Mother’s Day.