Love, the Reason for the Season: An Inside Look at the Work of Sr. Diane & Sr. Kevin of the Carmelite Sisters

Sisters M. Kevin Patricia Lynch and Diane Mack of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm embody a profound dedication to caring for God’s elderly.

Rooted in the vision of their foundress, Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, their mission prioritizes compassion, hospitality, and the sanctity of life. In this insightful interview, they discuss their vocational journeys, the challenges of modern elder care, and the vital role of prayer in their daily lives.

They also reflect on the importance of community support and volunteering to enrich the lives of residents, emphasizing that their ministry is defined by one powerful truth: The Difference is Love.

Can you tell us about the mission of the Carmelite Sisters and how it influences your daily work?

Sr. M. Kevin Patricia Lynch, O. Carm.: “With zeal I have been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts.” 1 Kgs. 19:14. In every generation God raises up holy persons sensitive to the spirit who gently leads them to recognize and respond to the needs of their times. Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory (1893-1984), foundress of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, was one such person. (Loretta Pastva SND) In the words of Mother Angeline Teresa, “Our apostolate is not only to operate up-to-date homes for the aged … We bring Christ to every person in our care. Bringing Christ means giving people care — his warmth, morning, noon, and night. It means inspiring the lay people who collaborate with us to give the same type of loving care.” When one begins to think of one’s own calling to religious life, memories seem to surface. Often it is not just one aspect but rather the influence or example of a religious sister or priest who quietly provided guidance or direction. The call to religious life is just that, a call from within that will continue to surface until we respond. As we journey in life, we realize that things do not just happen but rather are all part of God’s divine plan.

What inspired you, Sr. Diane and Sr. Kevin, to dedicate your lives to this vocation?

Sister Diane Mack: Being exposed to the mission of the Carmelite Sisters in one of our homes in Brooklyn in the late 1960s inspired me to dedicate my life to this vocation. Growing up in Brooklyn I spent 12 years in Catholic Schools taught by religious sisters. I was blessed to know my maternal and paternal grandparents and they were an important part of our lives growing up. The joy of the sisters and their compassion in caring for God’s elderly was genuine and heartfelt. Working with them in this facility for a number of years grew the call of God within me.

Sr. M. Kevin Patricia Lynch, O. Carm.: My parents had much influence on the faith foundation of my sister, brother, and myself. They made sure we attended Mass, church retreats, confession, received instructions and the sacraments. During my high school years, I volunteered at St. Patrick’s Nursing Home in the Bronx. It was my first exposure to the care of the elderly. This was a great experience in so many ways as I learned many things about what was needed in the care of the elderly. That was a long time ago and many rules and regulations have increased and have had an impact on the nonprofit facilities. The other volunteers (Carmelettes) learned future careers and others realized that the Lord was calling them to serve as religious.

How do you define the concept of love in your ministry, and how does it guide your approach to serving others?

Sister Diane Mack: Ours is a mission of caring for God’s elderly in accordance with our Core Values of Compassion, Hospitality, Shared Commitment, and Sanctity of Life. We believe that all life is sacred from conception to natural death. It is with this always in our minds and hearts that we endeavor to instill this experience of mission within our staff. It is more than a job; it is a mission of caring. We help our staff to know and believe that they make a difference in the lives of our residents and each other every day.

What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your work, and how have you overcome them?

Sr. M. Kevin Patricia Lynch, O. Carm.: Challenges come in big and small packages. Some we can see coming, others come as a surprise. In caring for the needs of the elderly it is complicated based on the many requirements from the various regulatory agencies that we need to comply with. Maintaining resident census and staffing patterns are key in providing for resident care needs and meeting financial requirements. Attracting staff can be very difficult at times. It varies by location and benefits that are provided. Residents and families learn of us by reputation, location and if they are looking for a Catholic facility. It is important to maintain a homelike environment and quality care at all levels. The sisters and management staff also try to be involved in the community and attend various functions during the year.

Sister Diane Mack: Our challenges mainly come from outside forces such as reimbursement issues and the regulatory process. We continue to do more with less and instill in our staff a team spirit to do what we have to do to provide care. Our residents in the skilled nursing area present with many degrees of illness or infirmity, and are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We also provide Assisted Living and Independent Living and meet the needs of those we serve as individuals and assist all in ways big and small. We look upon challenges as opportunities, embrace our differences and recognize what each individual beings to the mission we serve.

What role does prayer and spirituality play in maintaining your connection to your mission, especially during the busy holiday season?

Sr. M. Kevin Patricia Lynch, O. Carm.: Our prayer life is very important in so many ways, and it is important to our residents and staff. It starts our day, it provides a sense of peace, balance, and helps us to stay focused on what may be before us. We have payers in common as well as privately (pray on our own), which helps us to have a rhythm in our day, we come together three times a day. We attend Mass with the residents and families, we celebrate holy days and feast days as well as daily Mass. Religious services are scheduled for our Christian and Jewish residents which enhances their quality of life. It is common to have the residents or staff ask us to pray for a special intention or need and we do the same in return. The elderly are powerful with their prayers.

Sister Diane Mack: The Carmelite Sisters life of prayer gives us strength to meet the challenges of the day. The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm participate in a daily communal prayer life. We draw strength from each other in union with God. Prayer brings a sense of calm to a sometimes stressful day. We make it a practice with our staff to pray before each meeting, asking the Lord for guidance and wisdom to make sound decisions for the good of all. “The Difference is Love.”

How do the Carmelite values resonate with the broader community, and what impact have you seen locally?

Sr. M. Kevin Patricia Lynch, O. Carm.: There are so many ways that the community could get involved in our mission. The Carmelite Sisters have always promoted activities and involvement of the residents in various events both in the facility and in the community. Following COVID, it seemed that many volunteers and visitors stopped coming for different reasons. Presently we are in the process of encouraging people to return and help to be effective in the lives of our residents. We have many programs and services, but we could use more hands to help provide programs that will enhance the lives of our residents. Keeping them active and involved is important for their daily lives. We could use more hands to help to transport residents to activities, and have the gift shop open more days … It would be good for the volunteer to know that they are making a difference in the lives of our elderly.

How does the theme of love manifest in your programs or initiatives, particularly around Christmas?

Sister Diane Mack: We believe that all we do is accomplished with love for our residents and each other. This is what makes our facility more than a building, but a home. This love provides safety and security for our residents and a feeling of peace for those who entrust their loved ones to our care. That is not to say that everything is always perfect, but we do our best each day, empower our staff, and care compassionately for our residents.

What message do you hope to share with people about the true meaning of the holiday season?

Sister Diane Mack: The Christmas season can bring out the best and the worst in people. It can be chaotic, and we can lose the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord. Our religious services throughout Advent and Christmas reflect on the peace and joy of the season. Many of our seasonal activities for our residents include children, who bring a sense of innocence and a wondrous spirit to the holidays. We as a facility participate in activities in the broader community such as the Thanksgiving drive through the Palm Beach Food Bank, and the Giving Tree in conjunction with the Salvation Army. Our residents and staff are able to stay connected to those outside of our immediate facility. We are grateful for the assistance from the students from Palm Beach Atlantic College, who come each year to help with our Christmas decorations in the facility. It is a tremendous endeavor in a facility of this size and their help is eagerly anticipated and very much appreciated. We believe that the gift of ourselves reflects the meaning of Christmas when the birth of our Lord is seen as the ultimate gift. We are always looking for volunteers to help us continue our mission of caring for God’s elderly. Volunteers provide extra visits to others who may be lonely, especially during this time of year. There are activity opportunities for volunteers to help with at all times during the year. We appreciate and value any and all volunteer assistance.

How can the community get involved in supporting the work of the Carmelite Sisters or carrying forward your mission of love?

Sister Diane Mack: There are many ways to support the ministry. To give of your time, financial support and service, all belongs to the care of the elderly.

Sr. M. Kevin Patricia Lynch, O. Carm.: God has blessed us since the beginning of our congregation in 1929, to have been supported by family, friends, associates, and volunteers who have helped to make the homes of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, welcoming, warm, and caring to the elderly. We have been blessed and we know that we will continue to have the support of those who want to make a difference and the Difference is Love.

PARTNER CONTENT