Carmelite sisters make final profession
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted July 25, 2002

Two Carmelite sisters received their black veils as a sign of their final, solemn profession made during a July 20 Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo. The double solemn profession was held on the Feast of Elijah in the chapel at the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City.

"One of the most meaningful parts of the service came when we were kneeling before the bishop - hearing his words of consecration after the prioress received our vows," recalled Sister Marie Therese of the Precious Blood, the former JoLee Carney of Anchorage Alaska.

For Sister Mary John of the Heart of Jesus, the former Patricia Stern of Greensboro, N.C., two things in particular stood out during the ceremony. First, when the deacon called her by name and she answered, "Lord Jesus, with great joy, I answer your loving call." She found it to be a profound experience to profess that statement before the bishop, her family and the entire congregation.

Even more so than the call, after they professed their vows, Sister Mary John recalled when the bishop said, "Come spouse of Christ."

"Hearing the bishop say it in the name of the church and in the name of our Lord Jesus made me feel - here I am Lord, I am yours. Take me to yourself," she said. "Every fiber of my being knew that this is what God wants of me. That's a great grace."

The sisters professed their vows as they knelt and held the hands of the Carmelite prioress, Mother Kateri Marie of the Eucharist.

The ceremony, for both sisters, brought forth a great sense of gratitude for their call and for the vocation to religious life.

"There is such fulfillment in this life," said Sister Marie Therese. "Just as people get married and find fulfillment in each other, we are fulfilled in our marriage to God."

Now that Sister Marie Therese has made her final vows, her goal is to go more hidden in Christ.

"More hidden from the world and more hidden from myself, especially." She explained, "Any call that a person has to go deeper into God requires them to let go of their own will, their own things and their own self love because they can get in the way of God."

She pointed out that the black veil was a symbol of death and added that she has heard religious professions described as both a wedding and a funeral - as they are wed to Christ and die to self.

Sister Marie Therese, who entered the monastery on Nov. 21, 1996, acknowledged that she is relieved that her solemn profession is over.

"As much as there is a new beginning, there is also a finality to the temporary," she said. The day also represented full acceptance by the Carmelite community.

Now that Sister Mary John is fully professed, she wants to continue what she has been doing for the last five years but do so with all of her heart and in a deeper way. She plans to continue to give of herself and to the church, live a life of prayer and be completely available to God.

She referred to Bishop DiNardo's homily when he spoke of the Scripture reading where Elijah heard the whispering of God.

In his homily the bishop said that that Carmelite sisters are not sisters of earthquakes or fire, they are sisters of the whispering voice of contemplative prayer.

He commented that this was the first profession of vows he had led.

The bishop noted that the word "come" was frequently used in Scripture. With the sisters making their final profession he said they were at a stage where they were saying yes "in response to this come."

"God gives the grace to us to say yes," noted Sister Marie Therese. "He also gives the grace to the community to say yes to us, too."

Having full support of their families meant a lot to the sisters.

According to Sister Mary John, the final vows represented her biggest "yes" to God. As she prayed prior to the ceremony, the Carmelite sister prayed to Mary asking that her yes be united with that of the Blessed Virgin so that Mary could offer her to God.

"I wanted to be one with our Lady and have her give me to her son that day," she explained. "After I prayed, I felt great. I felt her presence."

Both of the sisters commented that their initial attraction to the community came through a Carmelite advertisement featuring Sister Ruth looking over the grounds of the monastery. (This same photo runs in The Globe on a weekly basis. See page 6.)

"It was just her and God," described Sister Marie Therese. "To me it spoke of silence and solitude. That is what inspired me to come here because in my response to God I believe that is what he wants of me."

When Sister Mary John contacted the Carmelite monastery, she said she appreciated their joyfulness and the simplicity of the community. The sisters' genuine love for each other was apparent during her visit.

"I knew then that they would love our Lord very much and I wanted to be a part of it," she said. "I feel very blessed to be here. Each Carmel has it's own spirit and they say that you are called to a particular Carmel. I very much believe that to be true."