At St. Vincent de Paul, nun discusses the Carmelite way

Friday, Oct. 31, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Sister Terese, a Carmelite nun, visited Saint Vincent de Paul School in the middle of October to speak to students about life in the monastery in Holladay and about St. Teresa of Avila, founding member of the Carmelites, whose feast day is Oct. 15.     

Sr. Terese was the youngest of six children. She moved to the United States from Vietnam when she was 16 and attended Highland High School and the University of Utah. After graduating she followed her calling to religious life and moved into the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary monastery, where the first few years were very hard, she said, but she loves her vocation and the power of prayer.  

Sr. Terese explained how each nun in the Carmel has different tasks so the monastery runs smoothly. Sr. Terese is in charge of the accounting, scheduling prayers, and cooks all the jam, caramels and fudge that they sell.  

“I just finished the last batch of jam this weekend,” she told the students. “Many of the other sisters helped wash and cut the donated fruit. I am the cook and create the recipes.”  

The monastery relies solely on its proceeds from the Carmelite Fair, their food item sales, and general donations for its survival. Over the next several months, many of the homemade goodies will be sold at parishes around the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Patrons can also stop by the monastery to purchase the jams, caramels, and other items.      

Sr. Terese brought a statue of St. Teresa of Avila that she referenced as she spoke about the Carmelite founder. In her remarks, Sr. Terese stressed to the children that God loves them. The students were surprised and impressed that the nuns spend six to seven hours a day in prayer.

Most of the time during the presentation was reserved for questions. One kindergartner asked why the statue of St. Teresa had no shoes. Sr. Terese explained that Carmelites traditionally wear sandals showing their feet as a sign of poverty. However, in Utah they are allowed to wear shoes when outside because of the cold weather. 

A middle school student asked what Sr. Terese would want most if she could have anything in the world. Some students thought she would say a cell phone, but Sr. Terese surprised the students by saying, “More humility and more charity.”  

For the Carmelite monastery, students at Saint Vincent de Paul School collected $750 during the Mass held on the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila. 

Please pray for the Carmelites who spend their days in prayer for all of us.

Courtesy of Saint Vincent de Paul School