By Georgia Bulletin Staff

The Sisters of the Cenacle have joined the congregations of priests and religious ministering full-time to the people of the archdiocese.

Two members, Sister Susan Arcaro, r.c. and Sister Clara Mahoney, r.c., are ready to share their gifts through days and evenings of prayer, spiritual enrichment programs, individual spiritual direction and retreats.

“We’ve come down specifically to do the ministry entrusted to our congregation,” Sister Arcaro said. “We feel privileged to be here.”

The two sisters are making their home at 5913 Jackson Trail Road in Hoschton, Barrow County. This is a farmhouse restored by Fred and Virginia Hedges, who own the 300-acre property which is also the site of Carmel Retreat Center.

The sisters will pursue their ministry at the farmhouse, in parishes and in private homes. They can book the retreat center for days or evenings of prayer, as can members of the general public.

“We’re very independent of Carmel Retreat Center,” Sister Arcaro said. “Fred and Virginia Hedges have been absolutely wonderful to us. Basically we are renting the home from them.”

The Cenacle ministry in the archdiocese actually began in December, 1991, with the sisters directing days and evening of prayer in a few parishes and giving retreats at the Hedges home in Hoschton. Then on Nov. 21, 1992, Sisters Arcaro and Mahoney began their resident ministry in the archdiocese.

Sister Arcaro, who coordinated the mobile ministry begun in 1991, with the warm approval of Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, came here from the Cenacle Center for Spiritual Renewal in Vienna, Va. Sister Mahoney came from the Cenacle-at-Dedham, a spiritual renewal center near Boston.

The congregation was founded in 1926 in the mountains of southern France by Saint Therese Couderc and Father Stephen Terme. Through their spiritual ministry they help people discern the presence and action of God in their lives and in the world. They came to North America in 1892 and are active in 16 states. They work in 15 countries.

Sister Arcaro has a bachelor’s degree in education from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., a master’s in spirituality and spiritual direction from Fordham University, and a diploma from Association Montessori Internationale. She has done considerable work with parents and also with pre-schoolers, “introducing them to God.”

She is a liturgist-musician guitar and sings.

“My particular interest is prayer, praying with imagery and music, as well as spiritual direction,” she said.

Sister Mahoney is a graduate of Radcliffe College, has a master’s degree in adult education and administration from Boston University and a certificate in theology and spiritual direction from Washington Theological Union in Silver Spring, Md. A former teacher of sociology and psychology, she has experience in spiritual formation programs with adults emphasizing leadership formation and self-image. She has worked frequently in spiritual direction with men.

Groups or individuals who would like to meet with the Cenacle sisters may contact them at (706) 654-3460.