A large statue of the Sacred Heart along with a Little Infant of Prague statue, were seen being carried out of the Carmelite Monastery in Royal Oak in Auckland by a man and a woman who were caught on CCTV before 7.00 am last Friday.

Sister Johanna's familiarity with social media seems to have challenged the image many people have of what a contemplative nun is like.

RNZ described her as someone "who helps out at the monastery".

She had been hard on the case since the heist, running the CCTV footage through software to get clear shots of the couple before posting them to Facebook.

"Sadly, during this time, our chapel was empty, and we were about to begin our Morning Prayer. The Police have been notified. As you can see the car license plate is LKL441 - 1994 HONDA, please keep an eye out at flea markets or online. Thank you"

The statues were eventually found in a nearby cemetery the next day.

It may come as a surprise to many that according to the Daily Mail, "The monastery has owned the statue since 940AD" Johanna's post, however, makes a more modest claim: "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus which has been with us since 1940."

Johanna does not hold anything against the couple, but she hopes they might find God in the process.

"No, I don't have any angry feelings towards them, just empathy. I feel sorry - I know you're a young couple, but you've got a whole life ahead of you," she wrote.

"I pray that perhaps that this is a grace for them that perhaps they might find the Lord in their lives, so there is a reason."

Source

• tvnz.co.nz
• dailymail.co.uk
• rnz.co.nz
• tvnz.co.nz
• facebook
• Image: screenshot tvnz.co.nz

She is a hermit and she has not spoken for 16 years.

What is her message? We can read it in her publications and learn about it from those who have met her? Read more

Canadian-born, Cam McLaren spent six months documenting the lives of the contemplative nuns based at Mt Albert's Carmelite Monastery earlier this year. Continue reading

Last Thursday there was a Mass and blessing ceremony in Apia.

The Chairman of the Samoa Charity for the Carmelites Foundation, La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fossie Schmidt, told Talamua that the money has already been sent to Tonga.

But they felt it was important to inform the public of how much they contributed through several fundraising activities held over the past months.

"We acknowledge everyone, especially our church members who supported our fundraising," he said.

Speaking for the Carmelites, Sister Antonina Maria thanked the committee for their generous support.

"We are very grateful for the donation, not only in Samoa but also in American Samoa, New Zealand and Australia. We continue to pray for God's blessings for our country."

The Foundation has branches in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, all fundraising to assist the Carmelite Missions.

The first steps towards the construction of the new building began in March with a groundbreaking ceremony.

La'auli said some members of the committee will be travelling to Tonga this week to show their support for the completion of the first phase of the project.

The Carmelites first came to Tonga on 19th March 2011.

Since then they have been living in temporary accommodation at Fahefa.

The building is a leaky one. When it rains they have buckets all over the place.

There are seven sisters in the community; four from Tonga, two from Samoa and one from New Caledonia.

Source

• Talamua
• Samoa Observer
• Kavina Tonga
• Image: Talamua

Dear Friend,
I commend highly your desire to find the "right time to pray." During a retreat, a priest shared that each person has a built-in clock. We have expressions to confirm his statement. People say, "I'm not an early morning person" or "I do my best work at night when everyone else is asleep." So, your question is a good one.

The important thing is that you want to pray. You yearn to spend some time with God in prayer. Each person has to find the "islands of prayer" in the sea of our frenzied activity so apparent in our culture. I know a person who works in downtown Los Angeles and parks his car several blocks away from where he works so that he can walk and pray both going to and from his job.

I know another person who has made it a habitual practice to consciously drive by his parish church on the way home from work and spend fifteen minutes in the adoration chapel before driving home. I know a mom who locks the bathroom door and prays.

St. Teresa says, "We need no wings to go in search of God, but only to find a place where we can be alone and communicate with Him, who dwells within us." Continue reading

Sources

• The Integrated Catholic Life
• Image: What Christians Want to Know