By Julie Godfrey Miller
Catholic Herald

Carmelite hermitage in Amery celebrates 25 years

AMERY -- On July 16, the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, people gathered for a special Mass at the Mt. Carmel Hermitage in Amery. In addition to honoring the patron saint of the Carmelites, the Mass was also a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the hermitage.

Bishop Raphael M. Fliss presided at the Mass, held under a tent on the grounds of the hermitage. Fr. John Spanjers, a retired priest of the diocese, concelebrated, and Deacon Bud Heiser, of St. Joseph Parish in Amery, assisted.

In his homily Fliss recounted a bit of the hermitage's history. He said it was his predecessor, Bishop George A. Hammes, who issued the decree establishing the hermitage, where the sisters would live lives filled with profound contemplation. Fliss said such consecration has long been viewed by the church as a second baptism, entering into a more radical identification with Jesus. Fliss added that the hermitage was a blessing for the local church.

The hermitage was founded in 1980, and four sisters moved in on Thanksgiving Day to follow a life of solitary prayer. The hermitage suffered some ups and downs, and the sisters left for a time, replaced by an order of priests who ran a retreat center. In the 1990s the hermitage was returned to the sisters.

Editor's note: The Carmelite Hermit Sisters offer private retreats in small individual hermitages on 80 wooded acres. Spiritual direction is available. For information or reservations call 715-268-9313.

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