Sister Mary John
of the Transfiguration (Schik), O.C.D.

Words of gratitude or anything you’d like to share?

Any celebration, in this case a jubilee, allows one the pause needed to reflect on the many blessings one has received over the years. First and foremost, I am grateful to God and His fidelity. It is impossible to live any vocation without His grace and mercy. I am grateful to my parents. They lived a simple and yet deeply profound faith. They saw the hand of God in all circumstances whether blessings or challenges. I am grateful to my beautiful sisters, brothers-in-law, niece, nephews, extended family, and friends who embraced this mysterious journey with me and all the sacrifices it entailed. I have also been most blest to share this consecration with my sisters in Carmel. Their love and wonderful example of fidelity has been a daily source of support and encouragement. Thank you, God, for being able to serve your Church alongside the men you have called to be priests. The countless Masses they have celebrated for me, and the mercy of God showered upon me through the sacrament of confession.

What first drew you to Carmel?

Isn’t it amazing how important moments in our lives remain etched in our memories like they just happened yesterday. God’s call to me to live a consecrated life in the Church has many such moments. For me, it was a process and as I grew in my relationship with God coupled with self-knowledge “Carmel” resonated in my heart and not any Carmel but the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.

There are two memories of my journey that I would like to share. First, was my call to religious life. I felt so strongly that I was called to be a wife and mother (a mother of ten to be exact). Once I understood that a religious sister was still a spouse and mother, I was filled with joy and peace. There was no contradiction with the desires of my heart and religious consecration.

Second, I needed to discern where God was asking me to serve Him. What religious community? I visited the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles as suggested by my spiritual director. While visiting, a wise Sister was speaking to a group of us young women. She said a Carmelite is at the heart of the Church and we are called in a particular way to pray and sacrifice for priests. Those words resounded in my soul – what a gift and honor to be at the heart of the Church and support our priests through a life of prayer and penance.

When you hear the word Authentic, what comes to mind when you think of your vocation to this religious family?

Sometimes when we are trying to define something, a good place to start is to identify what it is not. The opposite of authenticity is duplicity, unreal, false, pretend. Authenticity means to be real. To be authentic or real is certainly a process. It takes time because it coincides with the journey of trust, trust of God and others. It is the grace to accept the gifts God has given you but also to admit areas one fails to love each day. It is the process of being real with God, yourself, your sisters in Carmel and those you serve. I think authenticity means to fight the temptation to hide the dark side – those feelings of anger, jealousy, loneliness, failure, fear, etc. When striving to become more authentic, we allow God, self, and others to love and accept us right in those dark places. An authentic life allows the truth to shine in all areas of our life – the truth that God loves us infinitely. Carmelite spirituality is a thirst to be in relationship with the living God. Therefore, this journey demands authenticity while at the same time makes us more real each day. It is demanding and not for the fainthearted.

Please share some blessings received as you look back on your religious life.

Blessings received…

• To be called “the Bride of Christ,”
• To be on this journey of love in Carmel with my sisters in Christ,
• To experience the painfulness of letting go of my family and friends only to have them returned in a deeper way, a closeness only God can give,
• To experience the hundred-fold and persecution and suffering as well (Mark 10:30),
• The beautiful “sisterly” relationships I share with my fellow Carmelites, their support, encouragement, example of fidelity,
• The many priests who have administered the sacraments, led me on retreat, given me wise counsel,
• My parents, family and friends who have embraced this mysterious journey with me,
• The countless co-workers that I have had the privilege to serve and to share our apostolic mission,
• The many students and their families – thank you for your trust and desire to grow in holiness.