Carmelite fair fills monastery with festive environment

Intermountain Catholic

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Maria Stahla (Right) , her daughter Gina, and son George take a break from volunteering at the condiment booth and take a look at some of the items being sold at the Carmelite Fair, a fundraising event for the Carmelite nuns Sept. 20. IC photo/Priscila Cabral

HOLLADAY — The Carmelite fair, which is the annual fundraiser for eight Carmelite nuns at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery, was held on a beautiful sunny day Sept. 20 in Holladay. Many volunteers did not credit the pleasant weather to mother nature, but to the intercession of Mary, Blessed Mother.

"We started the day with Mass at 7:30 a.m. and it was kind of cold. We had to wear jackets. But we asked our Lady for nice weather and when we got out of Mass, it was sunny. It was very exciting because it was predicted it would rain," said Maria Stahla, volunteer and president of the Ladies Guild at St. Ann Parish in Salt Lake City.

Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald celebrated the early Mass for the volunteers and anyone else who joined in.

"We had breakfast following Mass and then off we go," said Sister Mary Joseph, the extern sister who serves as the link between the other seven cloistered Carmelite nuns and the world outside the monastery.

The fair represents the main source of donations for the livelihood of the nuns.

"It is the biggest amount of donations: 80 percent. It helps us take care of utilities, medical bills, insurance, and repair work" among other things, said Sr. Mary Joseph.

This year, the fair summoned around 4,000 people and featured the Utako Trisklariak Basque Dancers of Utah; the Pasion Flamenca Brazilian Dancers; the OPA Greek Dancers; Sil Lum Kung Fu Club, who performed the "Chinese Lion Dance;" and the Utah Pipe Band, who has been part of the event for over 40 years. Meanwhile, the Higher Ground Jazz Band livened up the dining area.

Speaking of dining, it was hard to find someone without a plate or glass in hand.

"We ran out of food. We had a great turnout and a lot of entertainment," said Stahla, who helped at the condiment booth.

The fair also had a great turnout of volunteers. Sr. Mary Joseph said that around 300 volunteers from different parishes, Catholic schools, and Latter-day Saints wards helped her with the fair.

"We don’t worry about denominations. They are good neighbors and have been helping the fair for years, especially during set-up," she said about the LDS volunteers.

While some volunteers have made assisting Sr. Mary Joseph a tradition or a family affair, others offered their help for the first time.

"It is very fun and I think it’s good to help the nuns raise money," said Dona Sansone, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Salt Lake City. Sansone helped with the live and silent auctions and said she would gladly do it again next year.

Among the live auction items were a statue and fountain of St. Francis and a scooter. But the highest bid went for a University of Utah basket that included an autographed football.

The fair also had a silent auction of 154 baskets of a variety of items. Diane Kirkpatrick carried around with a smile the Plan-it Party basket she donated for the auction. The basket included a customized set of plates, napkins, cups, and everything else you would need for a special occasion, even invitations completed and sent.

"This is the first time I’ve done it and I am excited to donate to the cause and see if I can help raise extra money for the nuns," she said.

But the most excited people were the winners of the prize giveaways.

Margarita Villalba was the winner of the 2009 Nissan Versa. Mari Valenzuela and Lee Taylor won the $2,000 and $500 cash prizes, respectively. Linda Marelli won the ladies wristwatch while Barbara Garcia won the men’s wristwatch. Francine Daeley now owns a fully furnished dollhouse and Michael Fuller a spoons and spice basket.

Sr. Mary Joseph called the winners and gave them the news.

"(Villalba) was absolutely thrilled to have won the car. She said she lives in a condo in Holladay but works cleaning houses in Park City. She drives an old car and said she is always concerned it won’t make it. She told me, ‘Sister, I bought the ticket and said a special prayer that I got the car.’"

She is living proof God answers prayers.

"The world certainly needs prayer," said Sr. Mary Joseph.

The Carmelite nuns dedicate their lives to prayer and the monastery usually has an ambiance of serenity and silence except for when the fair takes place. The monastery then becomes a place with sounds of celebration and activity.

When asked what is her favorite aspect of the fair, Sr. Mary Joseph said, "That it’s over," and then laughed.

"Actually, the people. The people are wonderful," she said.