Sister Laura Melancon with her 3rd Order Carmelites.
From the age of 18 to71 as a Sister of Mt. Carmel, I enjoyed my ministry in the field of education. The last several years I found myself the caregiver for my aged and sick mom. Once I retired from education and my mom passed away, I felt that I still had some energy to serve in a more limited capacity. I was fortunate to get a part time ministry as Minister to Ministers of the Sick and Homebound in St. Genevieve Parish in Lafayette, LA. and have been doing this for the last ten years.
This ministry involves getting Eucharistic ministers to bring the Eucharist to around 55 homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes. I have a few regulars that I visit weekly and then the others on a rotating basis.
Sister Laura visiting St. Genevieve.
This has been a most rewarding ministry and a perfect retirement ministry. I get very close to those to whom I minister. Most are very lonely and happy to have someone not only to bring them the Eucharist, but to have someone to visit them. It’s a most privileged ministry to be able to pray with them, to listen to their stories and to comfort them.
I’m also the spiritual assistant for the Lay Carmelite group in Lafayette. This is another ministry which is so rewarding. These men and women are striving to live the Carmelite way of life as lay persons and are an inspiration to me and I am so grateful to be associated with them.
God has truly blessed me in my elder years to be able to continue ministering and spreading my Carmelite charism in these two ministries. In January, I’ll be 83 and hope that God gives me the health and ability to continue to do these ministries for at least a few more years.