The newly re-founded Carmel of Hawaii, standing from left, Mother Tessa Agu, Sister Mary Francis Apordo, Father Daniel Chowning, Sister Mary Elizabeth Sedo (first councilor), Sister Ann Therese Ocampo, Sister Mary Angelica Guevarra (second councilor), Sister Assumpta Macapanas and Sister Elizabeth de Jesus. Seated, Mother Agnella Iu and Bishop Larry Silva. (Photo courtesy of the Carmelite Monastery Hawaii)
Five sisters from the Philippines enable the re-founding of Hawaii’s Carmelite monastery
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Five Carmelite sisters from the Philippines have given Hawaii’s Carmelite monastery a new life, saving it from closing.
Hawaii’s Carmel of the Holy Trinity was re-founded Aug. 9 with the reception of the five new permanent members and the election of a three-person governing body — the prioress, the first councilor (mother sub-prioress) and second councilor.
Presiding over the election was Bishop Larry Silva and U.S. Carmelite Father Daniel Chowning, a “definitor” or delegate of a Carmelite superior general in Rome.
Mother Agnella of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Spirit, the only nun remaining of the original seven who came from Hong Kong in 1973 to found Hawaii’s Carmel, was elected prioress.
Elected as first councilor and mother sub-prioress was Sister Mary Elizabeth of the Trinity Sedo. Elected second councilor was Sister Mary Angelica of God the Father Guevarra.
Before the arrival of the Filipino sisters, Hawaii’s monastery at St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe had only three members — Mother Agnella Iu who was fully professed, Sister Elizabeth de Jesus who had only made temporary vows and Sister Therese Veronica Wilson, a novice — well short of the six permanently vowed sisters required to have a fully functional Carmelite community. The other six original Chinese nuns had died over the years.
According to Carmelite rules, without the required number of nuns to make proper decisions, new members cannot receive approval to advance in their vows. Without the capacity to grow, a convent must close.
Now, 46 years after its original founding, Mother Agnella and the Philippine sisters, most of whom are in their early 40s, have again established a full-fledged monastery.
According to the new prioress, the rejuvenation of Hawaii Carmel went through a path of “gradual preparation” followed by a “smooth transition.” The arrival of the first three new Filipino sisters last November “prepared the way to communal and cultural integration.”
With the arrival of two more Filipino Sisters in May, “monastic practices became more regular,” she said.
The new sisters are Sister Mary Angelica of God the Father Guevarra from the Carmelite Monastery in Lipa City; Sister Assumpta John Theresa of the Risen Christ Macapanas from Carmel of St. Therese, Quezon City; Sister Mary Francis of Jesus Crucified Apordo from the monastery Cagayan de Oro Carmel in Cagayan de Oro City; Sister Mary Elizabeth of the Trinity Sedo from Carmel of Mati, Mati City; and Sister Ann Therese of the Immaculate Heart Ocampo from Carmel of Davao, Davao City.
Although the new sisters all come from different houses, they are all familiar with the one universal Carmelite Rule, or discipline of life, that is centered on allegiance to Jesus Christ, contemplative prayer, silence and solitude, enclosure, Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, vowed life and community life, work and asceticism.
According to Mother Agnella, the convent’s liturgical celebrations have been enriched with singing accompanied by guitars, a contribution of the Filipino sisters. The Divine Office is now chanted instead of recited. The sisters have a more regular schedule which includes weekly meetings, more activities in the garden, recreation and community interaction.
The prioress said that, “from our in-depth sharing, we have discovered communal growth, while keeping the good Carmelite traditions in the spirit of simplicity.”
Final vows
The re-founding will also allow Hawaii-based Sister Elizabeth de Jesus to make her permanent vows now that her community has the necessary quorum of voting members to approve her advancement.
Sister Elizabeth will profess her final vows on Oct. 15, the feast of the Carmelite’s Holy Mother, St. Teresa of Avila. She will be the first islander to become a permanent member of Hawaii’s Carmelite community.
The novice, Sister Therese Veronica, left the community in July.
Only two years ago, it looked like the monastery would close. That had been the recommendation of Father Chowning, who was charged with evaluating the monastery’s state of affairs. The only alternative was to find at least five sisters from other monasteries willing to make a permanent move.
Bishop Silva and Sister Agnella took up the challenge, turning to prayer … and the Philippines.
The Philippines was a good bet. The Diocese of Honolulu had many Filipino contacts and the Philippines had plenty of Carmelite convents — 22.
Helping recruit sisters for the islands was Carmelite Sister Mary Bernard Tescam, a member of Carmel of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
After a long process of screening, discernment, and consultation, she found five candidates.
In preparation, the recruits attended a 20-day training “mission” seminar, and visited each other’s monasteries.
Sister Mary Bernard then accompanied them on their flight to Hawaii and stayed awhile to help with their orientation.
Also assisting in the re-founding was Mother Tessa Agu of the Association of the Carmelites in the Philippines who has been advising Mother Agnella regarding the formation of future postulants and novices.
Mother Agnella is happy with the rejuvenation of her community.
“It is indeed a springtime experience for all of us to be part of this emerging new community,” she said. “We can tangibly feel the workings of the Holy Spirit among us. It is proof that the re-foundation is indeed God’s work.”
Mother Agnella said that she and her sisters are “deeply grateful for all our friends’ prayers and loving support.”
“We would like them to be aware that they are truly one with us — the contemplative community and cloistered nuns,” she said.
Quoting Pope Francis, she said, “The one who prays is consumed by the desire to encounter God” and the sisters are “a living testimony to this insatiable desire present in the heart of all men and women.”
Mother Agnella said that the pope, speaking at a Carmelite monastery in Madagascar this month, described the monastery as “a space where people consumed by the pain and sorrows of this world can come and find healing.”
“Our intercessory prayers expresses that we are one family in God’s sight,” she said.
Visitors welcome
Mother Agnella invites the public to join in the Carmelites’ eucharistic celebrations, especially Sunday Mass.
Women discerning their vocation in life, and who feel the call to the cloistered life of prayer, may write or visit the Carmelite Monastery at 6301 Pali Highway, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744.
Mass schedule
- Daily: 7:30 a.m.
- Sundays: 9 a.m.
Visiting hours
- Monday-Saturday: 9:30-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.
- Sundays: 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.
