Carmelite nuns elect new leader
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted June 20, 2002

A June 11 vote by the nuns who have taken their final vows at the Carmelite monastery in Sioux City elected Sister Kateri Marie of the Eucharist as the community's new prioress.

Mother Kateri will serve a three-year term with an option for reelection of another three years. After six years, they elect a new leader. The late Mother Therese had served in this capacity for the last six years.

Having just completed her sixth consecutive year as prioress, an election was supposed to take place in March but was postponed due to the late prioress' illness. Mother Therese died June 7.

With the Carmelite provincial on hand for the June 10 funeral, the nuns asked to have the election on June 11 as she was required to be present and it saved a return trip.

"Being elected prioress is a rather awesome experience," noted Mother Kateri. "It is a life of service and one has to be attentive to the others more than themselves. I think one can be a good, loving and effective prioress to the extent that she is able to empty herself of self so that God that use her as an instrument to do God's will."

The Carmelite constitution states that the prioress is placed at the head and governs the community. The constitution is quick to add that she does this in a role of service.

"Everyone who knew Mother Therese realized that she certainly was a servant to the sisters," said the new prioress. "In that role, you become a bond of unity and charity. You lead and guide them in this path of our vocation."

She pointed out that the prioress has the help of counselors so not all of the burden is placed on her shoulders. Sister Joseph is the first counselor, Sister Peter Marie is the second counselor and third is Sister Jean Marie. The new prioress had served as first counselor under Mother Therese.

Even before entry into the monastery, serving God's people was in her blood.

A delayed religious vocation, she entered the Sioux City Carmel in 1989 after serving for several years as a lay missionary with the Glenwood Missioners. Working as a home health nurse to support her missionary work, she taught religious education classes and helped the poor in various capacities mainly in southern United States.

Eventually, she explained, the Lord drew her to a deeper prayer life.

"I felt a deep call to a contemplative lifestyle," Mother Kateri added.

She took her time in selecting a religious community, visiting Sioux City and another monastery for a live in. Mother Kateri, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, noted that for 18 months she lived as a hermit, but realized she wasn't at peace there.

"The prioress had told me to follow my heart. I prayed and prayed and I said to myself, my heart is in Sioux City," she explained.

The foundress of the Carmelite community, St. Theresa, referred to the Carmelite sisters as hermits in community.

"She wanted both of those aspects in our lives. That is why we have our own cell in which we are to pray and to be in solitude, but we also want that balance of a healthy, wholesome and happy community life," said Mother Kateri.

Currently, the monastery has eight nuns who are solemnly (fully) professed; two are temporarily professed with final profession slated for July 20 and there is one novice.

"If I don't get in the way (of God's will) everything will be all right," said Mother Kateri. "He is the master of the house and I am just his instrument."