By virtue of Baptism, all Christian faithful are called to a life of holiness. This universal call to holiness is carried out in a deeper and special way through religious life, where we dedicate ourselves completely for the service of God through the three vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty. Religious formation includes four main stages: candidacy, aspirancy, postulancy, and novitiate.

Sr. Deanna Therese

My name is Sr. Deanna Therese, and I belong to the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel, an active Carmelite Congregation in the Syro Malabar Church. Prior to entering religious life, I worked as a high school teacher and Campus Minister in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I speak English and Spanish, and I am currently attempting to learn Malayalam. God has blessed me with several international experiences, including traveling throughout Latin America, attending World Youth Day in Brazil, and going on a mission trip to Africa. I recently returned from India where I was able to travel throughout Kerala, learn more about my Congregation, and visit the tombs of several Indian saints, including our founder father, St. Chavara, St. Alphonsa, and St. Euphrasia. The roots of my vocation were planted by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Francis, who taught at my Catholic grade school, but it took me many years to respond to God’s call. I made my first profession of vows at the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Cathedral in Chicago on August 16, 2020, and I am currently working as a high school teacher in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I am so delighted to be a CMC sister and feel incredibly blessed that God called me to this life of prayer and service.