Meet our New Vocation Director!

Sr. Mary O'Donovan, O.Carm.

I have been in Religious Life for the past 35 years.  I spent 16 years in New York after Final Profession of Vows and returned to Ireland to serve in Our Lady’s Manor, Dublin.  I spent 19 years working there as a licensed Social Worker and Psychotherapist.  Earlier this year I received a call from our Mother General asking me if I would be willing to take up the post of Vocation Director for our Congregation.   Like the disciples in the boat, I felt the fear mounting as the rough waters of transition loomed in the distance.  The task ahead is huge but I know that there is a power within me greater than myself and I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  I pray that in the days ahead the Spirit of the Lord may fall afresh on me, renew me, fill me and use me, so that I may become a source of living water where others can come and quench their thirst for Jesus. The great news about this work is that it is God’s work, not mine, and so “lower the nets for a great catch”.  Glory be to Him whose power at work in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or dream.

'My Call"

by Sr.Pia Ignatius de la Cruz, O.Carm

                                                    

I am first-generation American from the New York City metropolitan area. My father was from Germany and my mother is from Cuba of Spanish descent. My vocation experience began at an early age but at that time I did not know what it was. While I was preparing for First Communion, I began to pay more attention to the kids who were altar servers. Mass bored me and I never understood the homily so my mind wandered a bit. I was impressed by the robes worn by the altar servers and the attention they seemed to show during Mass. I approached Father Greg who was great with children. He made learning fun and genuinely made us excited to come to Mass. As I got older, my responsibilities grew. Parishioners ask for me by name to serve at funerals and weddings. My fellow classmates would get a bit jealous when I was pulled out of class to serve. What kid does not want to get out of class? You knew you made it as an altar server when you were asked to partake in midnight Mass. That's like the Super Bowl of Masses!

After my Confirmation, I became too old be an altar server. So the next natural step was to become a Eucharistic minister. Since Fr. Greg had now left, it was now Fr. Rob who taught me. He was overjoyed that several other classmates wanted to participate. Some time went by, and as my high school life became more stressed and filled with activities, I chose sleep over going to Mass. Some would say my spiritual journey ended, and at that time, I would have to agree. The Holy Spirit never stopped speaking to me. I just stopped making time to listen.

My twenties were filled with youthful interests and frenzied social activities. I always knew my life would be that of service but did not know the form it would take. I was all over the place and tried everything but rarely went to Mass. Lifeguarding was fun but it's not a career. Bartending was fun but not a career. Acting and dancing, any type of performing, were loads of fun. Making people smile is a great thing but not a career for me. Medicine! That is where I should go! I then went to school to become an EMT. After a few years of that I went to nursing school and got my LPN license. I jumped from various EMS agencies and police departments and lived a life of service and fun. My social calendar was always packed. But despite all these, I still felt something was missing.

From Dublin to Carmel- A Vocation Story

SR. MARY JOSEPHINE CROWE, O.CARM

My name is Sister Mary Josephine. I am one of the Sisters in temporary vows . The Lord has called me into the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm to grow into deeper love, knowledge and work for Him by praying, living and working daily in the care of His senior people, the elderly who need our care.

Could I have done this as a lay person? God knows that in my weakness I need the help of Community in my attempt to give my life totally to Him.

PERSONAL STORIES

                                                     Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm

I originally lived in New Jersey but moved to New York when I was four and a half years old.  Although my parents, John and Jo Ellen Maring, both attended the Methodist Church when I was born, it was after our move to New York that my mother felt called to return to the Catholic faith of her youth.  My father is a dairy farmer and supplies milk to the Chobani Yogurt Factory.  My mother has a quilt business and founded the New York Chapter of “Quilts of Valor”.  The Chapter awards quilts to wounded soldiers and veterans.  My mother also gives quilts to breast cancer survivors as she herself is a two year survivor.  My sister, Melissa, is a registered nurse who lives also in New York with her husband Scott and baby boy Jacob.  My family has been an amazing source of inspiration and faith throughout my entire life!

Before joining the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, I had three years at Suny Canton College to become an Occupational Therapist Assistant (“OTA”).  I love Carmelite spirituality, especially devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary.  I also love the elderly and working with them.  It is very easy to see Jesus in them.  I was drawn to the Congregation because the Carmelite Sisters seem to have very full and well-rounded lives!  I found out about them through their website and attended their vocation weekend retreat to further discern my vocation.  I eventually joined them on February 14, 2012.

                                          Sr. Maureen Paul Angeline, O.Carm.

 I am from New Mexico and raised Catholic in a family that was made up of both parents and five siblings.  I was especially close to my sister, Teresa Francis (“Teddi”), who was twenty four years older than me.  She died in April 2000.  I am the youngest in my family.  I have outlived both my parents and all relatives from their generation.  I have one sister living in Seattle and three brothers, two of them also live in New Mexico.  Before joining the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, I worked as a medical speech pathologist with twenty two years’ experience.  I have worked with geriatric patients and dealt with evaluating and treating swallowing disorders.  I have been heavily involved with end of life issues.

                                             

 I was drawn to Carmel because of its desert-hermit spirituality.  As I learned more about it I became enamored by the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.  But at the same time I have always known that I was created to work with the elderly and so a vocation to this Congregation seems to be right.  I learned of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm through VocationsMatch.com website.  This site then led me to the Congregation’s own website.  I joined the Congregation on February 14, 2012.