Carmelite Fair will have a new look this year

Friday, Sep. 11, 2015

HOLLADAY — The annual Carmelite Fair will be held Sept. 21 at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary monastery in Holladay.

As volunteers and committees prepare for the event, construction workers are completing the extension that has been added to the public entrance of the monastery. Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum donated fill dirt to the construction site.

“It was dirt from one holy, consecrated place to another,” said John Curtice, director.

Since the 1970s the Carmelite nuns have tried to adequately complete the monastery because higher superiors in the order were concerned with the proximity of the silent cloister area to the monastery’s public area. They recommended creating an adequate cloistered living space for the sisters, and providing a space for public activities, but limited funds have delayed the construction, said Sr. Therese Bui, a monastery spokesperson.

“After much prayer and inquiry, we decided that adding a large activity room to the front of the monastery hopefully would accomplish our goals in a relatively simple manner,” Sr. Therese said. “We desire that this change in the appearance will be inspiring and very welcoming to everyone, since our very existence in Utah is to extend God’s caring love, mercy and protection to all. Fortunately, the extra addition will also be useful the day of the fair on which we are so dependent for our survival.”

The annual Carmelite Fair raises a significant portion of the monastery’s budget.

The monastery’s new reception area will be the site for the silent auction this year; previously the auction items were placed on tables in the open air.

“It will be air-conditioned and we won’t have to worry about the rain,” said Carol Ernst, silent and live auction committee member. 

The silent auction is still in need of donations or baskets of new items; “we don’t accept used items,” said Ernst. The deadline is Sept. 13 for items; gift certificates will be accepted any time.

The live auction will have items such as a Utah Jazz basketball signed by former Jazz players John Stockton, Carl Malone, Mark Eaton, Jeff Hornacek and former coach Jerry Sloan. There will also be a quarter beef, Colosimo meat, and a trip to Disneyland. The committee is in need of high-end restaurant gift certificates and other live auction items.

A prize giveaway of a 2015 Kia Soul, 50cc Maui Dreamer 4-stroke Moped Scooter, Apple I-Pad and $300 will take place.

The fair also will include entertainment by Venezuelan, Basque, Chinese, Flamenco and Greek dancers, the Utah Pipe Band and Higher Ground Jazz Band.

This year, the fair on Sunday, Sept. 20, will begin with the 6th annual “Run for the Nuns” 5K run/walk, which is open to all ages, fitness levels and abilities. For registration information, visit facebook.comRunForTheNuns, or call 801-675-8593, or email RunForTheNuns@gmail.com.

The fourth annual “Golf for the Nuns Tournament” will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, at Mountain Dell on the Canyon course, with a scramble format. Lunch and an awards ceremony will follow the tournament. The deadline to register is Sept. 15. For information, contact Joe Orifici at 801-272-2373 or 801-414-8911. 

Orifici has benefited personally from the monastery, he said. After attending daily Mass there, his faith was renewed and “I found what my responsibilities are as a Catholic,” he said. “Helping the nuns is important to me. The most golfers we’ve had is 48; the most we’ve raised is about $3,000. This year our goal is to raise $10,000 through golf. We are so lucky to have the nuns praying for us and for all souls.”