At the reception following the ceremony, a parishioner offers a farewell message to Father Clement

Inspired by Thérèse, Clement Laurendeau Professes First Vows

On the Feastday of the Little Flower, Friday, October 1, 2004, Father Clement Laurendeau professed his Simple (First) Vows in the Carmelite Order at Saint Joseph’s Church in Bogota, New Jersey. Father Gregory Battaforano, O.Carm., presided at the Mass and Father James Boyce, O.Carm., was the homilist. Father Klaus-Rudolf Schenkelberger, O.Carm., the General Delegate for the Carmelite Delegation in France, received his vows.

The liturgy was multi-lingual, conducted in English, French and German. Father Boyce noted that it was fitting that Father Clement was professing his vows on the Feastday of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux since she has been such an inspiration to Father Clement in his vocation both as a priest and as a Carmelite.

Father Clement signs his vows

Father Clement was born in Montreal in 1940 and was a priest of that archdiocese until receiving permission to enter the Carmelite Order. He did his pre-novitiate in Nantes, in France, and began his novitiate last October at Saint Joseph’s. Father Terrence Cyr, O.Carm., has been his novice director. After a brief visit home to Montreal to visit family, Father Clement will travel to France and begin residence at the contemplative community there.