History of the Monastery of Our Lady of Confidence

The Carmelite Nuns came to Savannah in June of 1958 from the Carmel of Philadelphia at the invitation of Bishop McDonough for the express purpose to pray for priests and the needs of the "mission" diocese.

J.M.+J. T.
Savannah, Georgia

Foundation date: June 4, 1958

In September, 1957, the director of the Propagation of the Faith in Philadelphia, asked the Carmelite nuns of Philadelphia, through Father Vincent Martinez, OCD, if they would consider making a foundation in Savannah, Georgia, the diocese of his brother, the Most Reverend Thomas J. McDonough. They had a full community and enough volunteers for the foundation and so the initial response was positive.

On the feast of our Holy Mother Teresa, October 15, 1957, Bishop McDonough sent a formal invitation for a foundation in his diocese, stressing his long felt wish for this grace and the many needs of the Savannah diocese, which comprises the entire southern half of the state of Georgia - more than 35,000 square miles with less than two percent of the population Catholic. He wrote, “The presence of the Carmelite sisters in Savannah will be a spiritual boost to our priests and people, and the source and occasion for a stronger faith in all. There is so much to be done in this portion of the Vineyard, which work will fructify only if dedicated with prayers and sacrifices.”

In December, Mother Magdalen of Jesus, foundress of the Savannah Carmel and Sister Thomas Aquinas, her companion, came to Savannah to look at available sites. The Bishop himself with the chancellor of the diocese, Msgr. Andrew J. McDonald, together with Mr. Joseph Hutton, assisted the nuns in finding a suitable location. The property situated in the Coffee Bluff area, overlooking the Forest River (a tidal river) in the southern part of the city was chosen for the new monastery.

As part of the preparations for the new Foundation, Sister Magdalen determined that the patroness of the Chapel would be St. Teresa of Jesus. However, Sister asked Father Albert Bourke, OCD what he would recommend as the title of the new Monastery. Father told Sister Magdalen that he felt there was a great need among people of the current times for the gift of hope. He recommended Our Lady of Hope as the patroness of his choice.

When Sister Magdalen researched the area of Savannah, she learned there already was a Mission called Our Lady of Hope on the Isle of Hope. Father Albert then recommended the title of Our Lady of Confidence, saying she was the patron of the Roman Seminary. This was particularly appropriate as Bishop McDonough in his invitation to the Philadelphia Carmel had said he especially wanted the Sisters to pray for priests in the diocese. (The first apostolate for all Carmelite Nuns is to pray for priests.)

On June 4, 1958, the train carrying the six nuns from Philadelphia, under the leadership of Mother Magdalen, arrived in Savannah after a ride of over twelve hours. The next day, June 5, feast of Corpus Christi, the first Mass was offered in the chapel dedicated to our Holy Mother, Teresa of Jesus.

Since renovation of the house was not yet complete, enclosure was not established. This gave an opportunity for the people of Savannah, Catholic and non-Catholic, to meet the nuns and become acquainted with their way of life. Hundreds visited during the “formal’ days of open house on October 3, 4 and 5. On the final day the nuns were officially enclosed. Shortly after, Mother Magdalen was elected first prioress.

In the early sixties, two additional adjoining properties were acquired and a third in the late sixties, furnishing much needed expansion in buildings and grounds. The encircling huge live-oak trees and adjacent river enhance the beauty of the five-acre site and provide for the “apartness” for our life of prayer.

In the mid-sixties, the original founding community became greatly diminished in number because of illness and departures. Through the instrumentality of Father Thomas Kilduff, OCD, personnel was obtained from Louisville Carmel. In July 1965, Sister Angela of the Eucharist arrived to assume the office of prioress and later in the same year, Sisters Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross also came to assist. In 1968, all three became permanent members of the Savannah community.

Continued