In a historic move, six sisters from the contemplative branch of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity soon will live in and serve the Diocese of Orange….
While the diocese presently is home to several orders of active religious sisters, until now it has not had a contemplative order, says Joan Patten, AO, diocesan delegate for consecrated life.
“The sisters live a simple life of radical poverty,” Patten says. “It’s a beautiful way to serve the poor….”
As opposed to the more familiar Missionaries of Charity who are dedicated to meeting the corporal needs of the poorest of the poor, the order’s contemplative sisters focus on spiritual needs, praying with and for the poor in their neighborhoods, says Sister Ancy Kollikollavil, M.C., regional superior for the West Coast….
Strikingly, divine Providence – and St. Joseph – seem to have made the Missionaries of Charity’s move to Orange County possible. Work on their Santa Ana home commenced on the Feast Day of St. Joseph, March 19, and is expected to be completed by the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1.
The home now is being renovated and adapted to the sisters’ needs thanks to the donated services of developers and construction workers….
The above comes from an April 19 story in O.C. Catholic.
Why are they moving from Alhambra to Santa Ana? Only thirty miles away, when all they do is stay inside and pray? Why? Does the Archdiocese of Los Angeles also consider this move “historic” as the sisters will soon be leaving the Archdiocese? The news story doesn’t answer questions I want to know.
In the process of driving some of the contemplative sisters past the Christ Cathedral one day, Saenz says a discussion ensued about them possibly relocating from their current Alhambra home to Orange County. A conversation with Patten came next, and the little team set to work with prayers for the project.
“God willing the sisters will be in Santa Ana that day, on the May 1 feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, with their special focus on Eucharistic Adoration,” he says. “They walk in public places professing and sharing the good news in parks, on street corners, in jails. They go wherever the public is to pray with them, not just for them.”
From the linked story
Wonderful news, CA needs as many real Catholics as possible. What a hopeful presence they bring when going into communities in their habits. Their prayers and work are most welcome.
This doesn’t add to the number of “real” Catholics in California. The sisters are already in California. They are in Alhambra. Just moving to Santa Ana.
What does the suffix “AO” after Ms Patten’s name refer to? Forgive my ignorance.
Apostolic Oblates
https://occatholic.com/committing-her-yes-to-god/
santa ana has 2x the poverty rate, more poor to be aming there. alhambra is basically LA, just 8 miles out. better fora contemplative group to be a little farther away from planet- damaging hollywood operations streaming with productions that offend heaven in every way( disney,netflix,google,studios). heaven occasionally has a seismic intervention to purify things. God’s will discerned in prayer is the best answer for why they are there
Santa Ana won’t be immune from The Big One.
Please have the sisters reach out to me ?
I used to visit the sisters in Alhambra, I was shocked to learned they have moved to Orange county. Been looking for the sisters more than two years , I missed them, would love to get in touch with the sisters again ???
Especially sister Lucy