Carmelite nuns share stories with Judge students

Intermountain Catholic

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Carmelites Mother Maureen and Sister Therese spoke to students at Judge Memorial April 28. Courtesy photo/Alex Clark (Judge Memorial CHS)

SALT LAKE CITY — Two nuns from the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery in Holladay, Reverend Mother Maureen and Sister Therese, spoke to Judge Memorial Catholic High School students on April 28 about their daily life and religious vocations. They walked into the school in their simple black and brown clothing, smiling ear to ear, eager to talk to students. A smile, the students quickly learned, is the same in every language and every religion.

"The youth are the future of the Catholic Church," said Mother Maureen. "We’ve been to elementary schools throughout the diocese, but this is the first time we have come to a high school and spent the entire day. We left the cloister to simply share our story with the students at Judge."

"There is so much goodness in teenagers," said Sr. Therese. "All we have is a sincere heart and a spirit to be here with you today, and share our story."

The Carmelites talked about their call to religious life and how they chose the order of the Carmelites to serve God. Others, they said, may be called to be teachers or nurses, or perhaps to other walks of religious life. God sends vocations, both nuns affirmed, but young people may not be hearing or responding to that call. They visited, they said, "simply to fertilize the seeds God has planted in some young people."

"I entered the convent in 1950, and I couldn’t wait to graduate from high school to enter," Mother Maureen said. "For me, when I entered, everything was in Latin. Our life is basically a life of prayer, to live with the Lord in solitude. Our current society does not foster life through religion, a lifetime commitment. It is hard for young people to think of a vocation for life."

For Sr. Therese, who took her name from Saint Therese Lisieux, her journey to the Carmelites was a bit longer. "I was born in Vietnam and found great comfort in my faith," she said. "When I was young, my younger sister died and the only peace I found was with God. I came to study at the University of Utah and found such wondrous things here, such freedom. I urge you to not take for granted the freedom to practice your religion."

The Reverend Mother shared a little about the nuns’ daily life, including their commitment to praying the Divine Office. The Carmelites are dedicated to pray for the needs of the Church, the pope, bishop, priests, religious, laity, and especially for the diocese in which the Carmel is located. They pray for the return of lapsed Catholics to the faith, for the conversion and salvation of all peoples, and recommend to God their needs in all circumstances of life.

"Bells are essential to our structure of the day," Mother Maureen said. "The bells call us to prayer, to meals, to social time. Much like it is for you students at Judge, bells help us to organize our day."

In describing what the nuns do throughout the day, she listed prayer and going to choir, but also mentioned that the Carmelites eat together, have recreation, and work. "We bake the hosts for Communion and send them out to the parishes. It is extraordinary to realize that we are baking the bread that will be transfigured into the Body of Christ." Mother Maureen said.

Sr. Therese challenged the students on a number of issues, including asking them to think about how to practice their faith, how to practice prayer, how to balance the priorities in life with their commitment to God and how to find quiet in their busy lives.

"We all need faith when there is suffering, or trouble. We all need something to hold on to," said Sister Therese. "As Carmelites, and for me personally, I find peace and strength in the daily Mass."

The legislation of the entire Order of the Carmel has been updated according to the spirit and decrees of the Second Vatican Council. The balance between prayer, silence, solitude, and community life, which form the richness and the mystery of Carmel, have been retained.

Judge Memorial has long had a deep relationship with the Carmelite nuns of Salt Lake City. For years, the Judge football coaches and players have volunteered during the annual Carmelite Fair to assist the nuns in any way they can. This past fall, the nuns paid tribute to the team, saying, "The Carmelite Fair could not happen if Judge football didn’t provide the support needed."

Mary Catherine Neville is a senior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School.