By Josh Low
The Discalced Carmelite community were filled with in October this year as they welcomed Sr Marie-Chrissie of the Trinity OCD, who made her Profession of First Vows to the Order.
Held at the Carmelite Monastery in Nedlands on 29 September, Mass was celebrated by Fr Gregory Burke OCD and concelebrated by the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, St Charles’ Seminary Rector Fr Phillip Fleay, Vocations Director Fr Mark Payton and Frs Greg Donovan, Mark Baumgarten and Mariusz Grzech.
In his homily for the occasion, Fr Burke said Sr Marie-Chrissie, through her profession of vows, was answering God’s call to come to this Theresian Carmelite community, and within it, to follow Christ.
“This is a way of life that is more vulnerable; it’s a ‘little way’ which is more mystical – where the gifts of all are valued at every level.
“This community is called to be a community of hope; of refusing to despair and give up. A people who, within the limits of doing what we can where we are, are called to be witnesses of hope and to be part of, through prayer, work and love, helping the Church in its mission today,” he said.
“Sr Marie-Chrissie, we pray for you today, rejoice with you today, and we ask God’s blessing upon you on this day and every day of your life.
“We also ask God’s blessing on your sisters in this community, that the Lord may strengthen them, enhance their numbers and that their witness may be ever bright, and that their contribution to the Church in this place be one that gives life and strength, hope and confidence to all of us here in the Archdiocese of Perth,” Fr Burke concluded.
Born in Sabah, East Malaysia, Sr Marie-Chrissie explained to The Record that even though her journey with the Order is in its early stages, she felt the call to religious life from a young age.
“I was inspired to become a religious sister from young. My mother used to read to me about the saints, and taught me to pray and love Jesus.
“I was so delighted and fascinated by religious communities that I decided to write and ask to be admitted to the religious life at the age of 12, thinking I was old enough to serve God like them,” she said.
“They told me to continue my studies but what inspired me were their words of encouragement and that they were praying for me. It meant a lot to me at the time to know the religious sisters were praying for me.”
As time went by, Sr Marie-Chrissie explained that she felt her call to religious life become stronger, but was also discerning which religious community to join.
“When I visited the Carmelites in Malaysia, I felt there was something special there in the life of the enclosure. There is a sort of power inside that flows out and I could feel it. This hidden life to me was something beautiful.
“I think I’ve always felt that call from God to be His servant in Carmel, and I felt that it was what I was being called to in the future,” she said.
“The Carmelites’ life of prayer was what I found very attractive from a young age. There are so many religious congregations but Carmel gave me this aspect of prayer which I related to and found so important.
“It’s a part of their life, where they’re not just living and saying prayers every day, but living the Gospel through their own lives as a community, where in each moment they offer their service to God and the Church.”
Sr Marie-Chrissie explained that that is what she loves about being with the Carmelites; helping the Church with a life of prayer.
She added that though they may be a small community, how they live their lives more closely to the Gospel by loving God and neighbour, is at the heart of the community.
“We know that through our life here living in prayer, we can offer something to the Church. Not just locally, but to the wider Church in the world.
“Just like the example of St Thérèse of Lisieux and her little way – doing simple little things with great love, and having the intention of doing everything for Jesus, no matter how small, because there’s a value in everything; that’s how we contribute to the Church,” she said.
“We are a small community and our daily life is the same every day, but the crucial part is how we live our life more closely to the Gospel, by loving God and neighbour.
“We’re still human of course, but we try to live out the Gospel in concrete ways. In how we deal with each other and live together, and it’s amazing to see how God works in each person in a different way.”
For young women discerning religious life, Sr Marie said taking the first step in reaching out to learn more about religious communities is a good start.
“It’s very challenging process and needs a lot of discernment, as well as understanding how the gifts you have been given is compatible with the way of life.
“It’s not something that can be forced; you have to look at whether you’re able to match your personality to the charism of the community,” she said.
“But I would encourage young women to visit religious communities just to see what it’s like; to talk with the sisters and get to know about them, as well as to find a spiritual director to discern their vocation.
“In my experience here, we really live the sisterly life in our relationships and how we work together, and I feel so comfortable with them – Being here I really feel like a part of a big family, one that helps me to grow also to live out the Gospel values each day,” she concluded.
Sr Marie-Chrissie will continue to live in the Discalced Carmelite community, professing temporary vows each year for the next five years before her Profession of Final Vows.