On July 8-12, 2025, Sister Helena of Mary, traveled to Naperville, IL to do some vocation-related projects. The two projects were to do a vocation awareness video recording and the invitation to video record a talk on Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity. The video clips will be featured on "Why is there no Saint Carmel?" video series about 15-20 minutes long. It was very humbling to join the ranks of several other invited Carmelite speakers who had already contributed to the ongoing series. There were several wonderful opportunities of encounter during this visit. I met with a group of young adults which is called "Jucar" The "Jucar Youth Religion Movement", which began in 2013 in Spain, inspired by Pope Francis's call to live the gospel in the streets, and has grown to have a presence in various cities in Spain, Europe, and America.  JuCar is short for Juventud Carmelita, which means Young Carmel . While new in the United States, JuCar has communities worldwide for kids, teens, and youth. JuCar centers on fraternity, service projects, and contemplative prayer in the Carmelite Tradition. They were very excited to see a Carmelite Sister since they have not seen one! They extended an invitation for a parish vocation talk as soon as permission from their Pastor is obtained. At the Lay Carmelite Convocation recently held in Washington, D.C, Jucar members were invited to give their testimonials on the impact the group has made in their lives. There was also an opportunity to update our vocation materials, explore other ways to digitalize brochures and flyers, to network with Father Michael Joyce, O.Carm., vocation director of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province for collaborative efforts, and to visit the Carmelite Retreat Center on the grounds of the National Shrine of Saint Therese for possible future use.

Many thanks to Sister Anthony and Sisters for their hospitality at Saint Patrick's Residence during our stay in Naperville, IL  and to Sister Joachim Anne and Sisters for their hospitality at Garvey Manor in Hollidaysburg, PA as we returned to Germantown, NY. Special thanks also to Ken Pino of the Carmelite Media who was very helpful in both the video recording and graphics work.

JUCAR TESTIONIALS