written by Sister Philip Marie, DCJ
Was there a specific time you remember feeling the praiseworthy goodness of God among the faithful? A grace filled day trip using the Father’s providential roadmap as you simply follow along? Society would call that a “perfect day”, but unlike society’s schedule, we followed God’s Will not ours. It was a full day of adventuring. Time set aside by Him Who holds our hearts as a pray (or play) date. A van of Carmelites from our Grand Rapids convent enjoyed just this on the tail end of last month. All we drew up was a light sketch and the details of our outing were penned in for us. This is the day the Lord has made...in our own words.
July 29th we headed to Detroit, Michigan to join in celebrating the sixty-first anniversary of death and the very first feast day of Blessed Solanus Casey OFM Capuchin. How nice it was to simply enjoy each other’s company on the ride together sitting in the same place for more than one quick conversation. A number of side-stops powdered our main route as well along the drive. The first stop was to greet a small community of Passionist nuns just inside the Diocese of Lansing where one of our Sisters was warmly welcomed earlier that week on account of her successful CNA exam. These women of prayer are cloistered, elderly nuns from Guadalajara, Mexico. They have thirteen sisters in the United States. Please say a prayer for Sr. Maria in Lansing; she is getting weaker by the week from stage four cancer. Before leaving these most hospitable nuns, we visited the parish of St. Therese of Lisieux Church. It is part of their apostolate in Michigan to reserve charge of it.
Next we made a point to visit and pray for our dearly departed Sisters at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Farmington Hills.
It is located about a half hour out of Detroit. Eleven of our Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus rest at this grandiose place. The 350 acres of space offers a reflective place for living and deceased alike. The main mausoleum resembled a capitol building. God’s providence met us again in the form of a woman praying among the dearly departed. This faithful daughter shared with us her personal and devotional ministry, prayer intentions and brief story. She is a Catholic convert from atheism. When she was adopted into our faith family through RCIA formation, she was drawn to the intercessory work of departed souls. She joyfully explained she always prays by the Carmel DCJ Sisters’ graves and Franciscan Religious. Squinting at us in the warm sun, she said, one day she prayed at the cemetery for over six hours. Around Divine Mercy Sunday, after interceding for souls, she pondered in her heart if her work was moving any – that night tiny roses appeared in the beads of her glass rosary. What a lovely gift from Heaven! This talented Catholic recited to us one of the beautiful poems she wrote in the wake of the 9/11 U.S. terrorist tragedy in honor of JPII, the pope at that time. How beautiful to meet this trusting, devoted layperson of Mother Church. Our Heavenly Father’s gaze seemed to rest evermore warmly on us gathered there in the light of that glorious summer weather.
After a lovely packed picnic there, we continued onward to the Divine Liturgy honoring the saint-to-be at St. Bonaventure Monastery Chapel and the new Solanus Casey Center.
The place was teeming with young families, religious and laity of all classes. Fellow Michiganders and supporters as far south as Florida flocked to witness the commemoration of this man of remarkable holiness. At the televised Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, eight presiders were at the altar – two of whom were active bishops of Detroit. Also present at the event was a Panamanian woman who was the credited miracle approved by Pope Francis for the benefit of the canonization process. What were we expecting at such an honorable occasion? The experience was nothing less than God’s magnificent glory shining through hundreds of praising hearts like crystal prisms. How wonderful are His works! In comparison to John’s Gospel of the multiplying of bodily food to thousands, we reflected during the homily, of Solanus Casey’s humble intercession with God to growing numbers praying to this blessed even before his earthly title was elevated. We have much to draw from this holy person: simple life of “open-hearted recipience” to God’s direction, and true presence of Christ all under a fine exemplar of religious vows. The simplex priest “prayed himself into service”, elaborated a hosting Capuchin friar to the audience. Just imagine, from the very streets of this Detroit neighborhood he served, Solanus is simply a local saint now… and when the world is ready for his next stage, it will happen. America, meet your homegrown saint-to-be, this “Porter of Mercy”. 
The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed refreshments and relics. With zealous inspiration, people combed through the wonderfully done, state-of-the-art museum of the lowly friar. Those of us Carmelites who went, prayed at the displayed tomb for numerous intentions from spiritual guidance to physical healing. It was an incredible pleasure to mingle with such unified persons of faith. Some new (or renewed) acquaintances include: Fr. Jerome from the Netherlands who served the Vogelenzang Diocese and is acquainted with our sisters in Sittard, an animated Franciscan from India, young Magdalene Casey (a relative of the blessed) fostering a religious vocation, Dennis the secular Carmelite directed by Fr. Healy when we were still present in Detroit and many more. How edifying to be surrounded by those hearts on fire! Father Solanus’ own words seemed to underline our day’s extravagant schedule to the tea: “Let us pray to be guided according to God’s Holy Will at all times and in everything, meritously resigned to the same.” He would also say, “One of humanity’s greatest weaknesses is setting a limit to God’s power and goodness.” Last quote is one of the Sisters’ favorites, “Thank God ahead of time”.
The beautiful journeying still hadn’t ended there. After all, what trip isn’t complete without a top off at Dairy Queen? The next big stop was 4800 Cadieux Road, Detroit MI, our former Carmelite home. It was a bittersweet, even challenging, visit – especially to the Sisters present who had a hazy image of the convent in its heyday and to those who were stationed there longer. Any other local would see just another rundown but still functioning brick building among the landscape of other dilapidated homes. Driving through the poorer pockets of Detroit offer no more than unkempt landscape, cracked pavement featuring the latest weeds and vandalized structures. To us of course, it represents much more. It is part of our history. 
A home that held years of tender service of every need all under one patched roof. It seemed to resemble a tired mother pelican that gave everything it had to her children until there was nothing left. Behind the veil of His mysterious ways we try to see the reasons for closed homes. But definitively, as Bl. Mary Teresa of St. Joseph may say, “If you come, I will come.” We were blessed with a very short look of the chapel. Yes, the spirit of Carmel most certainly lingers in the atmosphere (and décor) of the sacred space. The grill, color scheme and statues still sit, though peeling with age. Reminiscing and stories of things moved or recorded there echoed off the chapel walls as our Mother Foundress looked on from her portrait leaning in the corner on the floor by a side altar. What holy Masses this place had seen, what earnest prayers it must have heard back in the day.
This providential outing had transformed into a day of teaching. In turn, we hear Christ’s plea, “Go out and proclaim the Gospel.” Isn't life too short to keep to ourselves? Under the example of Bl. Solanus Casey, give your whole heart and soul to God’s kingdom on earth in anticipation of our heavenly reward. See God in all. Serve God in all. Love God in all.