Mother Maureen celebrates 60 years in a contemplative life of prayer as a Carmelite

Christine Young

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Carmelite Mother Maureen leads the Carmelite sisters in praying the Office at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery.

HOLLADAY - Mother Maureen Goodwin celebrated her 60th jubilee at a Mass for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with the Discalced Carmelite Nuns July 16 at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery.

"I have experienced a life of peace and joy," she said.

Mother Maureen could hardly wait to get out of high school to join the Carmelite Order in 1950. She was taught by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Glendale, Calif., but chose Carmelite so she could pray for the whole world.

In 1952, she was the youngest of five Carmelites to arrive in Utah to make a new foundation in the Diocese of Salt Lake City at the request of Bishop Duane G. Hunt. "It was exciting," she said. "When we came, the diocese was officially missionary territory, and remains spiritually missionary territory today. Bishop Hunt knew his diocese had need of the benefits that flow from our contemplative life of prayer."

Any call to a vocation is beautiful, she said. "The call to Carmel is not necessarily unique, but contemplative vocations are not numerous. It's a joyous life of service. Usually younger people enter, so they are full of energy. The ups and downs we have are normal just like in anyone's life. If you accept everything as God's will, it's beautiful."

Most people don't realize that a religious community can be fun, she said. "Families enjoy each other's company and have a good time. We're the same; we're a family. We have fun during recreation. When we were living in a small house on 200 South in Salt Lake City before moving to Holladay, people would drop in during recreation and be amazed at the fun we were having. We would usually be on the patio and the neighbors would climb the fence to see what we were doing. Then, at other times, we enjoy the quiet because it is our life to live in solitude with the Lord."

The nuns have plenty of work to do and are usually short of hands, but they manage, said Mother Maureen. They care for the chapel and the sacristy, sew, do house- and yard work and bake and distribute altar breads. They used to take orders for sewing, but now they don't have enough sisters to keep that up, although some sisters continue to make items for the Carmelite fair.

"It's a life of work and prayer," she said. "But our real work is apostolic. We are here for the Church and mainly for our priests, from the pope down to the newest ordained priest."

When Saint Teresa of Avila reformed the Carmelite order in 1562, she wanted the sisters to pray especially for priests. Saint Theresa of Lisieux, also a Carmelite, reinforced this directive after she went on a pilgrimage and could see that priests are human beings and in need of prayers.

"We have a very fulfilling life," Mother Maureen said. "People ask us for prayers and very often they have tremendous crosses. Sometimes we see results, but mostly we live by faith. But that's alright; God knows and people know. We know that the people in Utah appreciate our contemplative life. It's a great witness and a great support, and we feel honored to be part of this diocese to do our little part."