Jubilee joy as Carmelite Prioress renews her vows
By Wendy Shaw
The Prioress of the Carmelite Monastery in West Launceston was filled with gratitude, peace and joy as she marked 25 years of religious profession.
Family and friends from interstate, parishioners and priests joined Mother Teresa Benedicta of the Cross OCD and the Carmelite Sisters at a Jubilee Mass at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 8 November.
“The Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving was very beautiful as we celebrated the feast that day of the young Carmelite St Elizabeth of the Trinity, a wonderful model of intimacy with God …
“More than anything, I wanted the Jubilee to be an opportunity to renew the gift of my whole self to the Lord for the sake of the Church in Tasmania, and this was summed up for me most movingly through the renewal of vows.”
The Prioress explained that while she was filled with youthful enthusiasm 25 years ago, she now felt “even more deeply humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for what He has done in my life and my complete unworthiness”, a quarter of a century later.
“This has blossomed into a deep joy that spurs me on to continue the journey with fresh desire and zeal, the most important part of which journey is yet to come,” she added.
Leading up to the jubilee day, Mother Teresa Benedicta made a ten-day silent retreat in the small hermitage in the monastery grounds to pray and reflect on the ‘tremendous gift’ of her call to Carmel.
Mother Teresa Benedicta had a happy childhood in Kyneton in Central Victoria, the elder of two daughters. She grew up in the ‘beautiful context of a prayerful and practical faith’ and enjoyed school, sport and reading.
She sensed a possible call to religious life when she was 14. This grew stronger during her tertiary studies due to the joyful witness of a number of young religious and seminarians; and a feeling of being drawn to prayer and longing for greater silence and solitude for this reason.
Her parish priest suggested a visit to the Launceston monastery for further discernment.
“I knew I had found where I was meant to be,” Mother Teresa Benedicta recalled.
She entered the monastery 27 years ago, and made her profession two years later.
“The greatest source of joy for me as I look back over these 25 years of religious consecration is the Lord’s fidelity, His love and mercy in my life that have enabled me to grow and flourish humanly and spiritually.
“I derive tremendous peace and joy from the knowledge that through my vows I belong entirely to Christ, that He continually meets me in my weakness and struggle through prayer that transforms that weakness, and that this journey of prayer is leading me into ever deeper intimacy with Him.
“But not only for my own sake; that this relationship of spousal love flows into prayer for others, especially priests, is also a great joy. I tried to summarize these sentiments by using a quote from Psalm 72 on my Jubilee commemorative card: ‘To be near God is my happiness’.”
Mother Teresa Benedicta is thankful to her parents for their faith and unwavering support and to the older Sisters who nurtured her vocation and taught her to follow Christ as a Carmelite.
“I was the first to make vows in our community for 18 years and I give thanks at this time of jubilee joy that those Sisters were so faithful in living the charism and praying for vocations during those long years of vocational drought. I pray I will be as faithful and generous as they were.”
For those sensing a call to follow Christ more closely in Carmel, Mother Teresa Benedicta says “don’t be afraid” but “trust in His love and in His choice of you, and step out in faith”.
Her advice is to speak to a priest or religious who is joyful and strong in their vocation and spend time in silent prayer, listening to the Lord.
“And take a leap of faith by getting in touch with us at Carmel to begin learning more about a call to Carmel,” she added
Mother Teresa Benedicta explained that the Carmelite seeks to live with and for God alone, but in so doing, she is deeply inserted into the very heart of the Church’s mission to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people.
Carmelite prayer has an apostolic focus, praying for the Church, the Holy Father, the Archbishop and priests, and the needs and intentions of all people, especially in Tasmania.
Mother Teresa Benedicta thanked the Tasmanian priests who concelebrated the Jubilee Mass with Fr Bernard; and the many friends of Carmel, especially in Tasmania, who have encouraged her vocation over the years through prayers and expressions of support.
In his homily, Fr Bernard spoke of the important role Mother Teresa Benedicta has in God’s church.
He said: “Mother, over 25 years ago you entered this Carmel which became your home your family life, your little piece of heaven in this corner of Launceston …
“Thank you, well done, good and faithful servant and now we look to the next 25 years of blessings and good health and grace as you continue to walk this wonderful journey which is Carmel.”
Launceston Parish Priest Fr Leonard Caldera also congratulated the Prioress on her jubilee.
“We wish Mother God’s choicest blessing as she continues to live out her consecration in service to the church and our parish,” he said.