What Carmel Means To Me

The text below is from a letter we recently received at Carmelite Media from George C. (Bede) Hendrickson. He sent a framed picture that his mother painted 60 years ago and asked if it could be used as a vocations tool.  The letter explains the meaning of the picture and how it came to be.  The text of the letter follows:

Dear Sal,

Hendrickson Painting

In response to your recent letter asking for information regarding the picture I sent you, my mother attended art school but only painted for her won amusement and gifted her works to family and friends. She was widowed at a young age with four children, me the oldest, during my second year of high school at Mt. Carmel, Niagara. A bachelor uncle took over responsibility for financially supporting the family and insisted I return to the seminary where I remained until time for my final vows in D.C. After counseling, I left for home and found a job sorting checks for a local bank (PNC) but found my classical education did not provide me with the skills required in the world of business. So I attended night school classes in accounting, law, etc. In brief, I remained there for some 40 years and retired 20 years ago as a Senior Vice President in charge of all corporate lending.

Mother painted the picture while I was a novice during my year at New Baltimore and it is me she tried to portray on the occasion of taking my simple vows.

God has been to me all of these years, providing me with a wonderful wife and seven great children plus sixteen grandkids. Unfortunately, my health has been poor recently and I ask for the prayers of my fellow X Carms for strength during this period.

Yours in Carmel,
George C. (Bede) Hendrickson
X Carm