OH HAPPY BEANS! FILL US WITH THE LIGHT OF DAY...

The Grandma tasting Natalia Bean's pizzas

This morning, The Beans have visited Deloris Van Cartier, aka Sister Mary Clarence, and Miriam Bond in San Francisco. Before visiting them, the family has revised a new theme of English grammar: the Present Perfect and its clues For & Since.

Natalia Bean and Paqui Bean have surprised all the family with some delicatessen and the family has participated in a contest to choose its best speakers: Antonio, Edgar and Óscar Bean have won the little contest although it hasn't been easy because of the great competence of the rest of the family.

More information: Present Perfect

After a personal reading of Christmas Carol, the family has continued talking about interesting and deep themes that affect everyone and about how to confront them. Without any kind of doubt, a good aptitude and a strong trust in us are good options to overcome these difficult moments that one day or another are going to appear but meanwhile enjoy every day with your loved people like if it was the last of your life.

Antonio Bean's old selfie in Saint Paul Church

Antonio Bean has contacted with Deloris Van Cartier, an old friend, whom he hasn't seen since 1993 and whom has worked with him for many years helping people who needed another chance in Saint Paul Church, in San Francisco.

Deloris Van Cartier has offered her help to The Beans. She's going to be their musical director in the new song that the family is going to compose to introduce it in the next Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.

More information: Since-For

Ok, Beans! Relax. Ok?

Take a deep breath. Be fine.

Don't worry. You're ready?

Sister Mary Clarens / Deloris Van Cartier

In 1968, Deloris Williams was a young girl who attended a Catholic school. Her wisecracking and disobedience exasperated the nun, who warned her that people like her tended not to do so well.

By the early 90s, Deloris Van Cartier was divorced and working as a lounge singer in Reno. She was carrying on an affair with casino owner Vince LaRocca. When Vince gave her his wife's fur coat she decided that she had enough of Vince and went to break up with him. 

Deloris, her chorus, Antonio Bean and The Grandma

In Vince's suite Vince was interrogating his young driver and confirmed that he had spoken to the police. Vince had the young driver executed right as Deloris came in to the suite.  

Deloris managed to get out a few words of apology for an earlier argument before exiting the suite. Vince decided he couldn't have her as a witness and had his soldiers chase after her. Deloris managed to escape and took a taxi to police headquarters where she told the police what she had seen. Lt. Eddie Souther revealed that Vince was a major mob figure. 

He asked Deloris if she would testify against Vince, but she was too frightened to do so. Souther told her that if she agreed to testify he would hide her in the last place on Earth Vince would ever look for her.

The next day the pair arrived in San Francisco. To Deloris's considerble horror, she realized that she was going to be staying in the convent attached to St. Katherine's Parish. The Reverend Mother was none too thrilled about the prospect, but the pastor Msgr. O'Hara said that the convent would have law enforcement protection, and that the Reno police department was giving them a considerable donation.

Reverend Mother took Deloris in. After telling her not to smoke and having her dress in a habit, Reverend Mother informed Deloris that while she was in the convent she would be known as Mary Clarence.

More information: Sant Paul Catholic Church

At first Deloris had a rough time adjusting to the structure of convent life, of having to get up before dawn, of small and plain meals, and of working in the church and convent. She found the convent closed off from the neighborhood. The choir at St. Katherine's was in sad shape. Despite the difficulties of having to conform to Catholic communal living she did make friends with many of the nuns there, especially the shy Mary Robert and the boisterous Mary Patrick.  

Antonio Bean with Saint Paul's Choir

Deloris snuck out to a bar one night followed by Mary Robert and Mary Patrick. Coming back they were caught by the Reverend Mother. She nearly called Souther to ask him to make alternative arrangements for Deloris, but decided instead that for the remainder of her time there she would sleep and sing. Within minutes of arriving in the choir room everyone realized that Deloris had an excellent grasp of music theory, and former leader Mary Lazarus agreed to step aside. The following Sunday the choir sung Hail Holy Queen in the traditional manner followed by a fast paced rock and roll performance of the hymn. People in the street overheard the choir and came in to see what was going on. 

The Reverend Mother was quite unhappy and was going to have Mary Lazarus resume her leadership of the choir. However Msgr. O'Hara stepped in and said that the music was heavenly, and it was bringing people in to church. Deloris convinced him to let the nuns go out in to the neighborhood, helping to clean up the area and make it much more liveable. On Sundays a church that had only had a dozen or so attendees at Mass was filled to capacity. Deloris was nearly exposed when a TV crew visited, but Vince had been distracted when she appeared on TV for a few seconds.

More information: People

Meanwhile Pope John Paul II was visiting the states and heard about St. Katherine's choir. He decided to make the time to visit the parish. Upon the decision of the choir to let Deloris select the music instead of a traditional program for his visit, Reverend Mother decided she had enough and was going to hand in her resignation. Deloris offered to go in her place but Reverend Mother still was planning to resign.

Tate, a corrupt officer on Vince's payroll discovered where Deloris was hiding. Vince sent his men Joey and Willie to bring her back to Reno. After Deloris was kidnapped, Reverend Mother revealed the truth to the convent that Mary Clarence was not a nun, but a singer named Delores Van Cartier. The nuns of the convent all flew to Reno to rescue Deloris.

Antonio Bean with Deloris Van Cartier

Vince confronted Deloris, who faced her former lover calmly and without any outward signs of fear. The Deloris they faced now was nothing like the woman who fled a few motnhs ago. Vince tried to have Joey and Willie murder Deloris, but they found they couldn't do it, fearing their souls in jeopardy for killing someone who might have actually become a nun. Deloris managed to knock over both Willie and Joey and escaped through the casino. Vince chased Deloris through the casino as the other nuns of the convent arrived. As a group they tried to escape but Vince cornered them. Before Vince could shoot Deloris Lt. Souther shot him in the arm. Vince cursed her as he was being dragged away by cops, Deloris simply responded with, Bless you.

More information: Charactour

The Reverend Mother found a renewed sense of purpose and since Deloris would soon be leaving decided she needed to stay. Deloris returned with the nuns to St. Katherine's where in front of a packed house they performed for the Pope, who was quite pleased with what he saw. Deloris directed the choir at several concert engagements in the coming months. 

Nowadays, Deloris is going to direct The Beans in their next goal: be the winners in the 2018 European Song Contest. 

Let's go Beans! We can do it!

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,

drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness.
Fill us with the light of day.

Henry Jackson van Dyke Jr.