Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory
Brigid McCrory, was born on January 21, 1893 in Mountjoy (now Brocagh) in Northern Ireland. Her family migrated to Scotland where her father found work in the Clydesdale Steel Works. While there, Sisters from the Little Sisters of the Poor frequented her home collecting support for the aged poor. After encouragement from Fr. Cronin pastor of Holy Family Church, she entered the Little Sisters of the Poor in Glasgow. She traveled from there to the Little Sisters in Paris, and then to the Motherhouse of the Little Sisters of the Poor in La Tour St Joseph, France.
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During that time, she received her habit and her religious name of Soeur Marie Angeline de Ste Agathe. In 1915, she was appointed Councillor by the Motherhouse of the Little Sisters of the Poor and assigned to St. Augustine Home in New York. After nine years there, she returned to France to make her perpetual vows and then became an Assistant at a home in Pittsburgh in May 1925. By age 36, she was named Superior of Our Lady's Home in the Bronx, where she was responsible for 18 Little Sisters of the Poor and 230 elderly residents.
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Unable to serve the needs of older Americans with European-type services, Mother Angeline and other Sisters were dispensed of their vows as Little Sisters but remained Consecrated Women of the Church. Through the efforts of Cardinal Hayes, the seven Sisters moved into the old rectory of the St. Elizabeth's Parish in NYC. Four days later, they took in their first four elderly residents.
Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm
Nearly a Century in Existence
With the assistance of Very Reverend Lawrence Flanagan, O. Carm., Provincial of the New York Province of the Carmelites, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm became the first Congregation in America to be dedicated solely to the care of the aging in America. Between 1931 and 1978, Mother Angeline oversaw the service of her Sisters in caring for the elderly and opened 50 new homes. Currently, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm sponsor 13 nursing homes, independent or assisted living facilities; co-sponsor two others; staff three more belonging to various dioceses and internationally, one in Ireland.
Since Mother Angeline's Death
Mother Angeline died on January 21, 1984, at age 91. In 2007, nearly 11,000 pages of documents were sent to the Congregation of Sacred Causes in Rome as part of the Cause for Beautification and Canonization of Mother Angeline. Pope Benedict XVI declared Mother Angeline to be Venerable in 2012 after Rome determined that she had lived a life of heroic virtue. At present, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm are seeking the miracle that would enable Mother Angeline to be declared Blessed.
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To further develop Mother Angeline's vision of loving care practiced in facilities, several programs were created to enhance the outreach of the Congregation:
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The SALT Service Program
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The Mother Angeline Ministries of Care
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The Avila Institute of Gerontology
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Roots of Caring.
Mother Angeline's Vision of Care
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THE SALT SERVICE PROGRAM
SALT participants learn about the Mission of Mother Angeline and strengthen their faith through service to the elderly, prayer, conferences and discussions. They join residents in their daily activities and have one on one conversations with them.
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Ministries of Care
The Mother of Angeline Ministries of Care is a volunteer parish outreach program that promotes the ideals of Mother Angeline and brings Christ to the homebound and the sick of the parish community. Outreach volunteers are trained to mirror Mother Angeline's spirit of kindness, joy, and prayer; they allow each person they visit to feel the compassion and love of Christ in a deeply personal way.
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The Avila Institute of Gerontology
The Avila Institute of Gerontology was initiated to respond to the growing complexity of geriatric health care. As the educational arm of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the institute offers education, training and consulting that helps meet the needs of all long-term care professionals and caregivers.
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Roots of Caring
Roots of Caring is a leadership program for leadership staff employed at facilities served by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. Education focuses on the mission of the Sisters, Catholic health care and topics of leadership formation.
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