DATE: Sunday, May 19, 2013

WHERE: San Pedro Beach

TIME: 4:00 PM-7:00 PM

WHO: You and your friends (Any young woman age 18-35)

SPECIAL NOTE:

• If you want to meet there, directions can be sent via email.

• If you would like to caravan with us from Alhambra, let me know and we will look for you before departing at 3:30 PM.

RSVP: For more information please call 626-300-8938 or e-mail

Beach Trip Flyer (PDF)

After Jesus’ Resurrection, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles were gathered in the upper room when “…there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:3-4). It was on Pentecost that the Apostles received the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Of the three persons of the Most Blessed Trinity, it is perhaps the Holy Spirit who is hardest to grasp. Most of us understand God the Father to be The Creator, the One who holds the entire universe in His hand, the Author of life. Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, is also “easy to define” as the eternally begotten Son of the Father, wholly divine, who became incarnate and is Savior and Redeemer. Then, there is the Paraclete – the Holy Spirit – who is the least comprehended and, dare I say, oftentimes forgotten person of the Most Blessed Trinity. For many, myself included, the Holy Spirit, as His name suggests, is more elusive and ethereal, harder to “pin down” than either the Father or the Son.

As a child, my first concept of the Holy Spirit was in the gentle representation of a dove, specifically with His placement on the center front of the canopy over the sanctuary in the church building itself. It was a few years later, in preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, that the Holy Spirit came into somewhat clearer focus.

It is the Holy Spirit who breathes life into the Church, and it is through the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit that we deepen the intimacy of our relationship with Jesus. It is through the Sacrament of Confirmation that Baptismal graces are made perfect and through which we become more fully-bound to the Church. Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit bestows upon us the sanctifying gifts (as enumerated by the prophet Isaiah and attributed to Christ) of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. By these treasures, we are filled with the promptings of the Spirit and begin to conform our lives more and more to Jesus’, aiding us in persevering throughout the course of our earthly journey.

However, it is a mistake to think that after this generous outpouring of gifts, the Holy Spirit departs and leaves us to fend for ourselves. Not so. In order to fully live out our Baptismal promises, the Holy Spirit stays with us and continually renews and strengthens our efforts in developing and living the kind of spiritual life that is necessary in order to combat the effects of the difficult times in which we live.

With the help of these gifts, the Apostles were able to make known the message of Jesus Christ even to the farthest corners of the world; and so it is for us, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit help us in leading a truly Christian life:

• “The gift of wisdom, by detaching us from the world, makes us relish and love only the things of heaven;
• The gift of understanding helps us to grasp the truths of Catholic faith;
• The gift of counsel springs from supernatural prudence and enables us to see and choose correctly what will help most to the glory of God and our own salvation;
• By the gift of fortitude, we receive courage to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that arise in the practice of our religious duties;
• The gift of knowledge points out to us the path to follow and the dangers to avoid in order to reach heaven;
• The gift of piety, in inspiring us with a tender and filial confidence in God, makes us joyfully embrace all that pertains to His service;
• Lastly, the gift of fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him” (New Advent Online Catholic Encyclopedia)

These most powerful gifts are bestowed freely by the Holy Spirit. He is present around us and more importantly, within us and that is part of the Holy Ghost’s mystery. Working within us, in a hidden manner, His presence is more subtle than that of the Father and the Son – not that the Holy Spirit can’t or doesn’t make His presence known in more obvious fashion! The Holy Spirit’s guidance is there simply for the asking, and when asked, He is known for His very prompt response. In living lives cultivated by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, we reap great benefits or fruits, as Saint Paul says in his letter to the Galatians: “But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity” (Galatians 5:22-23).

In sum, the Holy Spirit is always with us because Jesus told us so, and that is good enough for me. I believe, without coming anywhere close to fully understanding what it exactly means. Perhaps one way of understanding the role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives is that He defends us from the evils of this world and helps each of us reach our truest, fullest potential – if only we heed His urgings.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy love. Send forth thy Spirit, and they shall be created. And thou shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations.

Through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

She in turn answered, “Right there.” I looked down and about a foot in front of me was the largest diamondback rattler I had ever seen. Its head was well out on the path but most of its body was concealed in the grasses. I froze! Everyone stopped and I said, “That is a rattlesnake; back up slowly!” Everyone began taking steps backwards. When we were out of danger, I turned and the last Sister in line was nowhere to be seen. She is normally a very slow mover but we found her later by the van, a good distance away. We were very happy that she did not have the van keys or she might have left us behind! We doubled over laughing, not only because of her but because of the gentle sweet message we had received about the danger in our path.

Knowing our human nature Teresa uses an image that is repulsive for most of us: snakes and poisonous creatures – not because they are bad in themselves – but because they can become a danger to us if we do not understand what we are dealing with and do not take the necessary precautions. Teresa tells us that these creatures live outside the castle in their normal habitats, but they can manage to squeeze into the castle when we enter, just as creatures which live in our yards manage to find their way into our homes.

The creatures to which St. Teresa refers here are “worldly things” – whatever can be an occasion of sin or a danger for us. In the first mansion we are less aware of the danger before us since we are just beginning a serious life of prayer and not as spiritually attuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit. This room is also cold and dim and our spiritual eyes do not recognize the perils around us. Progress is slow but if we stay with it, allowing God to do His work in us, we gradually enter the second Mansion. But a number of these “pesky reptiles” manage to come in with us.

Both the first and the second mansions are “rooms of humility”. If Adam and Eve could so easily be convinced by the reasoning of Satan then our wounded nature can undoubtedly be misled. Although the second mansion is not as dark and cold as the first, the hard work required here, the discouragement and impatience with ourselves, our self-condemnation can cause us to look back and try to return to the previous room. We are still too close to the “world” and its allurements and comfort levels can entice us back. If Satan can induce us to return to the First Mansion then it will not be too long before he convinces us to leave the castle altogether.

These two rooms of humility are also the rooms of self-knowledge. Unless we know ourselves well we are not in a position to recognize the menaces that can endanger us and draw us off the right path. The difficulty in recognizing what becomes for us an occasion of sin is the proficiency with which we rationalize our choices and behavior.

The second mansion requires great determination and determination is the resolve to move. But to move we must take a step in some direction. A holy card I have shows a newly hatched fluffy chick standing and looking forward. The verse beneath it states, “Trust is at the beginning of everything: it precedes every step and at every step lights up the way.”

Will we trust God sufficiently to keep our gaze looking ahead, to step forward courageously, and to tune out all voices which are not in conformity with His?

Just as a loving mother desires the best for her children, the Blessed Mary desires all that is good for the whole human race, which ultimately is eternal union with her Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that Mary was conceived without sin and was completely sinless her whole life. She only did good on earth and only does good in heaven, which means she desires to lead us closer to her Son! We ask our Blessed Mother to pray and intercede on our behalf because we believe that her prayers are powerful. When we are going through a difficult time, what do we usually do? We ask people to pray for us, especially faith-filled people. Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense for us to approach the Mother of God, she who is without sin and so very close to our Lord, with all our petitions? We should approach her throne as so many young children approach their earthly mothers, with great love and trust in her care.

On this Mother’s Day, we can also think of ways that we can offer small gifts to honor our Blessed Mother. I remember on one occasion, my younger brother decided to give a gift to my mother. He went to the dollar store and was extremely proud because he personally selected the gift. Much to our surprise, my mother opened the gift and unwrapped a bottle of dish soap. My brother said excitedly, “Mom, I knew that you would like it because you use it so much!” In spite of the humor, I knew that my mom appreciated this gift because it came from his heart. We are also given the opportunity to give small gifts from our hearts to honor our mother, Mary. Whether it is a kind deed for someone else, praying a decade of the Rosary, or singing a song to honor her, we can give her small gifts to show her our love and devotion.

Many Catholic churches and communities also have special celebrations to honor Mary during the month of May. Because our Blessed Mother holds such a venerated place in the Church and in our hearts, we may celebrate with a May Crowning ceremony or a community Rosary. Whatever the celebration may be, the focus should be to honor Mary, our Mother, who will ultimately lead us to her Son. We pray that we may be able to imitate her life of faithfulness and trust in the Lord so that at every moment of each day we may be given the grace to gently say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

While some are called to live the contemplative life of a Carmelite priest, nun or sister, most are not. However, it is still possible for those of the faithful who choose to respond to this special call of God to live out their baptismal commitment according to the spirit of the Carmelite Order through its Secular branch. The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites welcomes those lay persons who, while living in the world, freely commit themselves to “live an evangelical life of fraternal communion imbued with the spirit of contemplative prayer and apostolic zeal according to the example and teaching of the Carmelite saints” (OCDS Rule). Secular Carmelites come from all walks of life – they are men and women, business owners, retirees, students, married and single, young and old. They strive to live their lives in the world but not of the world.

The Carmelite charism is deeply grounded in the kind of prayer which draws one nearer to God; it is a journey which leads a person to experience an intimacy with Jesus Who dwells within the soul. We see this in the example of Saint Teresa. This intimacy helps one discover God’s presence in every facet of daily life. It means constantly reflecting on the soul’s personal love for the in-dwelling Jesus in every undertaking, no matter how insignificant or mundane. Over time, as this intimate friendship matures, conversing with Him and lovingly listening to Him becomes the normal way of life. Prayer is also a most efficacious means of asking for and receiving God’s grace and infinite mercy.

It is a tremendous blessing to be called by Our Lord to deepen your loving friendship with Him through prayer in the manner of the great Carmelite saints. So, if you find yourself intrinsically drawn to prayer, perhaps your soul is hearing the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and deepen your friendship with God in the Carmelite manner. Listen to Him – as nothing compares when our frail human heart is enveloped by the loving mantle of His Most Sacred Heart.

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” – Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

There are some lovely events in her life that reveal her trust in God’s mercy. On May 28, 1897, Thérèse was ill, feverish and very tired, but not yet confined to bed. Sister John the Baptist approached and asked her to put the finishing touches to a painting. The daughter of a jeweler and lace maker, Thérèse was expert in doing delicate work with the paintbrush. Mother Agnes (Pauline) tried to dissuade the nun from bothering Thérèse, but the nun insisted. In her weariness, Thérèse got annoyed and showed it. Mother Agnes, who by this time was aware of the holiness and wisdom of Thérèse, was writing down all the sayings of her young sister. She was shocked to see Thérèse’s impatience. That night, Thérèse wrote Mother Agnes a letter that is a classic of Christian spirituality (Letter 230).

Thérèse told Mother Agnes that she is glad Mother saw her impatience and weakness. Now she will understand what Thérèse has been saying all along – that she is a weak, human person to whom God has been infinitely merciful. Thérèse saw Mother Agnes as a mirror of God’s mercy and compassion and so expected understanding and forgiveness.

Thérèse saw Sister John the Baptist as a mirror of God’s severity and justice. When Sister John the Baptist came by Thérèse later that day, Thérèse expected a scolding but was delightfully surprised. Sister John the Baptist embraced her, saying, “I felt sorry for you. I do not want to tire you out. I was wrong.” Thérèse returned to her cell and reflected on what had happened. Thérèse saw that God’s mercy and His justice are one. Because God is just, He takes our weaknesses into account and is merciful. Her trust in God’s mercy is based on His justice. No longer does she fear His justice for He is merciful.

Thérèse realized that her infinite desires to love and trust God are genuine and based on God’s love and His promises. Her trust is based not only on her faith and on the big promises of God to his people, but on her experience of His mercy in the little moments of her life. God’s loving mercy embraces the whole span of Thérèse’s life and every moment of it.

There is another incident in the life of our saint that again reveals her trust in God (Photo Album of St. Thérèse, photos 41, 42, 43). On June 7, 1897, the nuns knew of Thérèse’s illness and that they would soon lose her. It was a month before she moved to the infirmary. Desirous of getting a good, definitive photograph of her, Sister Genevieve (Celine) brought Thérèse out to the sacristy courtyard to take her photo. Thérèse was in her habit and mantle. She held a picture of the Holy Face of Jesus and another one of the Christ Child. These were iconic symbols of her name and her spirituality.

Celine had Thérèse kneel down on the ground. Then, like any photographer, she directed her model on how she should look and hold herself. Thérèse did not like to be photographed, but even though she had a fever, she went through it for the sake of her community. She posed for two photos, holding her pose for the long exposures. Celine used a large format view camera that took two exposures with one magazine.

Letting Thérèse free, Celine went into the darkroom to develop the negatives. She was disappointed with the results. In the first photo, Thérèse looked sad. In the second photo, she had moved, which caused a blur. Celine wanted a second session. Poor Thérèse dressed up again and knelt down. A gardener heard her say, “Hurry up, I’m exhausted.” Celine once more directed Thérèse. Both got angry.

These strong women clashed and tried to control each other. It is interesting that Celine took only one photo this session instead of the usual two which used both sides of the magazine. She left somewhat angry. This photo was successful, and in it you can see Thérèse’s utter exhaustion and fatigue.

A short time later, Mother Agnes passed by and found Thérèse weeping. Was it because Celine had hurt her or because she had hurt Celine? Thérèse just pointed to a hen with its chickens. She said that she was weeping with gratitude and joy because of the way the chicks were sheltered under the mother’s wings. That was how God had sheltered her all her life. She left her experience of weakness in the hands of God and moved on with her life.

Thérèse wrote in her autobiography around this time, “I must bear with myself, such as I am with all my imperfections.” On the other hand, Celine seems to have been distressed all that day because of the way she had treated her little sister who was dying. That evening, Celine received a letter from Thérèse (Letter 243) in which Thérèse suggested that the cause of Celine’s distress is disappointment in her own lack of virtue. Her impatience was revealed, and she was disappointed with herself. Thérèse encouraged her to accept her weakness and rejoice in her failings. Through them, she will know the power and the goodness and mercy of God.

We have seen through two incidents in our saint’s life that her trust in God reaches to small, passing events. Nothing, big or small, will hinder her trust in God and in His loving mercy. She tells us that it is the blind hope that she has in His Mercy that gives her strength and courage and is what pleases God (Letter 197 to Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, her own sister, Marie).

The last words of Thérèse’s autobiography tell us that it is not because God has saved her from serious sin that she goes to Him with confidence and love; it is because God is merciful love and loves us in our weakness.

Although cleaning a house or an office can be an overwhelming task, have we ever thought about other areas of our life that might need “spring cleaning”? Oftentimes, this type of clean up can be more difficult and daunting that the physical spring cleaning because it requires more determination, thoughtfulness, and resolve to change. A messy cabinet can be easily solved with a box, a trash can, and a rag with soapy water. Our relationships, moral life, and spiritual life, on the other hand, are much more difficult to renew, but the rewards are great in the end.

The three areas mentioned above–our relationships, moral lives, and spiritual lives–all have their foundation in love of others, our Lord, and the laws set forth by our Lord. We know that the Blessed Trinity is the source of all that is good, of all that is pure, including love. Therefore, it is only fitting for us to approach God and ask Him to enlighten our minds to see the areas He wishes to make clean again. As hard as we try to correct our mistakes or make improvements, our efforts are fruitless without His grace. Therefore, we should first approach Him in prayer. During this time of prayer, we can feel confident and safe revealing all areas of our life to Him. Remember, He already knows everything about us! “He has even counted the hairs on your head”! And yet, we sometimes pull back and do not allow Him to enter, to see us for who we really are.

I once heard a talk by a gentleman who described this type of situation. He said that when we invite people over for dinner, we make everything appear to be perfect; we push all of the children’s toys in the closet, we light a candle to make the room smell nice, and we put out the most interesting magazines on the table to fit the person we would like to appear to be. Yes, we have all been there before. Our Lord though, is unlike other guests. He is willing to enter into our lives, as broken and messy as they may seem, in order to reveal the depth of His love for us. He came to this earth and ate at the houses of sinners and associated Himself with the lowly. He showed to us that He is more powerful than any illness, any sin, any fear. If we understand the magnitude of His love and power, why are we afraid to reveal all to Him?

When we learn to approach Him and reveal all to Him, we will begin to more clearly see the direction that He wishes us to follow. For each of us, our spring cleaning will take different forms. For someone, it may mean making a lifestyle change in order to live a moral life. For others, they may need to begin a regular prayer life or return to the sacrament of Reconciliation. Still others may need to find healing and forgiveness because of a previous situation. Whatever the situation may be, our focus should be on the Lord and His gentle movements in our lives. Keep remaining patient and steadfast. Does a thorough, physical spring cleaning take place overnight? This does not usually happen. Instead, it requires dedication, persistence, and determination, but we can hope and pray that one day we will be able to echo the words in Saint Paul’s second letter to Timothy, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Let us turn to Him and let the cleaning commence.

On the vigil of Good Shepherd Sunday, we experienced a spectacle of grace at our Family Faith Festival at Santa Teresita in Duarte, California. I can only think of St. John’s words in the readings for the Mass: “the Lamb will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving waters” (Rev.7:17).

The day was a visual portrait of many hearts united across our Carmels, apostolic centers, across miles, and time zones.

And the result? An AVALANCHE of grace!

Madonna Hall housed the Year of Faith Art Gallery which featured numerous art pieces made by our students and residents across our apostolic centers. Each of them reflected the theme of faith through a variety of media and techniques: paints, foil, cellophane, sand paper, pastels, sequences, yarn, rhinestones, etc. We even had a 3-dimensional church with hand-made stained glass windows prepared by the 2nd grade teacher and students of our very own St. Joseph School. The Art Gallery was breathtaking!

In addition, we had nearly 50 tri-fold displays created by our students, featuring the contribution of the Catholic faith to human and world culture across the centuries. These included the portraits, life, and works of great Catholic Composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, Josef Haydn, Franz Liszt and many others. Advances in science as well as medicine’s contribution to human life through Catholic physicians like Saint Giuseppe Moscatti, Saint Gianna Mola and servant of God Jerome Le Jeunne were also featured. The displays meaningfully portrayed the contribution of literary masters such as J.R.R. Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton and others. Philanthropic efforts like those of Dorothy Day, Catherine Drexel, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta were highlighted. Artists from numerous parts of the world, as well as professional athletes were meaningfully presented in the context of their Catholic faith.

Our schools and apostolic centers also prepared displays featuring the year of faith in pictures as lived out at their respective apostolic centers. These were set-up with brochures and information from the apostolic centers. Each of these gave a visual representation of our charism in the heart of the Church. People spent prolonged times at the displays inside Madonna Hall, as if trying to take it all in.

Early Saturday morning, we began full-speed ahead blowing up colorful helium balloons, decorating the entrances with colorful and festive flags, signs, and balloons, setting up activity booths, tables, carnival games, backdrop for the festival of praise performances, etc… The opening prayer and kick-up celebration was scheduled to begin at 11am. We finished setting up at 10:59am.

There were about 300 people present for the outdoor opening prayer and kick-off celebration. Just after Father Patrick said “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” the backdrop which we had set-up for the festival of praise performances fell apart. Everyone took it in stride and waited in good spirits, while our sisters and some of our dads helped to take it down. So our backdrop became the clear blue sky over the vibrant green grass which was decked with glorious springtime blossoms. It could not have been more beautiful!

After the opening prayer the children from each of our schools and our elders from Avila Gardens, Santa Teresita Manor and the Good Shepherd Cottage lead us in a Festival of praise. Chick-fil-A was our meal sponsor, and Menchie’s Yogurt provided soft serve frozen yogurt and toppings. The owners had asked me how many people we were anticipating. I told them that we were estimating about 500 people. They said they would plan for 500 people and would be prepared to deliver more food if need be. 

Apparently, our Lord’s invitation list was much bigger than ours. He gathered a larger flock than our puny expectations, and it was clear that he was feeding his flock in a way far better than we could have imagined. I didn’t hear a single complaint from any of the families, nor did our guests ask “when will the lunch get here?” Spirits remained joyful and peaceful. Many played games, visited the art gallery and displays, made rosaries and bookmarks, decorated cookies, and enjoyed cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones while they waited for their meal. We were able to keep everyone hydrated on this bright and warm spring day, thanks to the help of Sister Mary James who secured a donation of nearly 1000 drinks for the event.

The day was marked by a spirit of joy as well as a sense of awe and wonder over the treasures of our Catholic faith.

We were projected the various multi-media presentations which several of our schools prepared. These were beautiful, inspiring, and delightful. The Holy Innocents School 8th Grade teacher worked with her students on a musical power point presentation which captured the faces and names of Catholics throughout history whose faith inspired their achievements in art, music, science, literature, music, medicine, philanthropy, etc. Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School sent us a power point presentation featuring a montage for Year of Faith activities and significant moments at the high school. They also prepared a music video presentation. Our sisters and candidates also prepared media presentations on the Year of Faith.

We had three priests hearing Confessions throughout the day under the beautiful oak tree outside of St. Joseph Chapel. The line for Confessions was steady. There were individuals who returned to the Sacraments after many years, and experienced the joy of being reconciled to the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Some time around 2pm the crowd seemed to have diminished. It surprised me, but I didn’t think on it any further until I walked into Madonna Hall and saw about 150 people sitting and standing throughout Madonna Hall, watching the Religion Bee Competition. Some people were even standing in between the displays. Families, guests, and residents listened in attentive silence as the religion finalists from St. Philomena, St. Joseph, Holy Innocents, and Loretto Schools fielded questions on the Catechism. The questions were asked by Mr. Richard Veras. Sister Benedicta Marie and Sister Marie-Aimee were the judges.

Sister Benedicta Marie and Sister Teresa Margaret had prepared bout 700 challenging questions on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The students were VERY well prepared, and competed exceedingly well – a real testimony to the beautiful work that is being done by all of our Sisters and lay teachers. Parents cheered as the students responded to some very challenging questions. The winners were ceremoniously awarded medals. Afterwards, several guests requested information on our schools and asked about the possibility of enrolling their children. Great job, Sisters!

At 3pm we gathered in the chapel for a time of praise and worship before the 3:30pm closing Mass, celebrated by our dear Norbertine friend – Father Gregory Dick. Having been a long and warm day, we had expected that some people would leave before the closing Mass. However, when Mass began, St. Joseph Chapel was filled, even along the side aisles, into the sisters’ choir, the choir loft and the chapel vestibule. They wanted to stay!

The Gospel for the Mass of the Good Shepherd read: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me…No one can take them out of my hand… and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand…” This celebration gave the families a vibrant opportunity to know, love, and celebrate their faith unabashedly.

They didn’t want to leave.

Many of them said they want to do this again next year.

“To affirm and defend the beauty, the purpose, and the sacredness of all human life,” is part of the mission of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. To the sisters, care is not a business; they call it “serving our cherished and loved elders.”

To that end, this Catholic order constructed a new assisted living residence, the $5.9 million, 20,000-square-foot Good Shepherd Cottage at Santa Teresita in Duarte, California. The home is part of an evolving 12-acre campus (or “Neighborhood of Care”) and the first phase of a redevelopment of much of the property. Once completed, the neighborhood will “create interrelationships between indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as other buildings, that facilitate interactions among residents, their families and staff,” according to Joyce Polhamus, vice president and director of SmithGroupJJR‘s Senior Living Practice, who oversaw the Good Shepherd project.

The Carmelite’s approach to aging—that while physical capacities may diminish over time, the individual does not—drives the operation. This belief struck a chord with Polhamus, who wrote in the project’s narrative, that “we have capacity to continue to grow in vibrancy, interior beauty and to experience an inner fullness every moment that we are alive.” This idea inspired much of the design.

The Cottage’s concept follows the household model, with the belief that “the uniqueness of each individual…comes to its fullest fruition in the context of community,” according to Polhamus. Rooms for 26 residents (singles and doubles) on two floors are located at the perimeter of the building, providing outdoor views, as well as direct contact to the social spaces. Those central areas on each floor feature semi-separate areas—a living room, kitchen, dining room and den. Residents have the opportunity to take part in daily meal preparation in the communal kitchen. There are even counter stools so residents can visit while staff or friends cook. The 2013 Design Showcase jurors found the common areas to be a highlight of the project, lauding the “great flexibility of spaces,” and noting that “The scale of the common living areas—and really all of the spaces—is great.”

Welcoming and familiar touches were designed to make the Cottage look like home. They include a two-sided central hearth, full-height windows and built-in bookshelves. A dining room connects to the kitchen and shares the central hearth of the living room. The hub—the living room—features a view of the surrounding landscape and natural light. Polhamus says this is her favorite feature of the Cottage. “You get the light from many different perspectives at different times of the day, as you would in any private home,” she says.

Socializing also happens outside on a first floor patio, and upstairs on an outdoor deck with mountain views. On the patio, raised gardens, a gas grill and picnic tables encourage activity and engagement. Of the walking paths that lead to existing and future campus destinations, one juror remarked: “The exterior gardens and walking path are superb. I want to live here!” Polhamus’s design includes thoughtful private spaces as well. Rooms are equipped with kitchenettes and sitting rooms for private entertaining.

Polhamus says it was the sisters who suggested the Craftsman design that blends in with their Los Angeles neighborhood and reinforces the residential feel of the Cottage. The theme is carried indoors, as well with relatable, understandable interiors. A residential-style foyer, for example, leads to the rest of the house and allows residents and guests someplace to put their coats. Simple lines and a mix of stone, wood flooring, exposed wood structure and warm colors, and residential cabinetry and furniture contribute to the “home” feel. “Honestly,” says Polhamus, “the kitchen cabinets are something I would want in my own house.”

Polhamus credits her client with much of the project’s success. “The sisters were very thoughtful and committed, and always ready to go,” she said. “That’s why all the details worked together, because of their time and energy.”