Four sisters in the Children of Mary religious order made a profession of vows on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the order’s motherhouse located outside of Newark.
Bishop Earl Fernandes presided over the profession of vows and celebrated Mass that day, recognized as the feast of the Presentation of Mary on the Church calendar.
Sister Maria Caritas, CM made her perpetual vows while Sisters Teresita Maria, CM and Lillian Emmanuel, CM renewed their junior profession of vows. Sister Anastasia Rose, CM made her first profession of vows.
The Children of Mary’s motherhouse and retreat center in the diocese is home to the order of semi-contemplative sisters who were founded more than 20 years ago. The order also has a daughterhouse in Cincinnati. The sisters have a prayer apostolate and an active apostolate, in which they host retreats and work with the poor and elderly.
Sister Maria Caritas, one of seven children, was raised in a Catholic family in Batesville, Indiana. Growing up on farmland, she was instilled with the values of hard work and a strong community life.
She received an associate’s degree in business administration from Ivy Tech College in Indiana. Her pastor challenged her to pray for an hour each day, which she said changed her life. She joined the Children of Mary in 2019.
Sister Teresita Maria, who renewed her junior profession of vows this year, grew up in a Catholic family in Virginia. She discerned a calling to religious life during college and left to answer the call. She entered the Children of Mary on Jan. 31, 2017 at age 19.
Sister Lillian Emmanuel, who also renewed her vows this year, made her first profession of vows last year. She grew up in Queens, New York and converted to the Catholic faith in high school after her step-father led the family to the Church.
She attended college and graduate school for acting. She worked in theatre and in the television and film industry in New York.
Sister Lillian Emmanuel said she began experiencing a call to religious life as her relationship with the Lord deepened. She befriended Catholics who introduced her to a life rooted in Christ: prayer, self-gift and an all-encompassing love for God and neighbor. She entered the Children of Mary on May 1, 2021.
Sister Anastasia Rose, the second daughter of 10 children, grew up in a military family and lived in Germany and several places in the United States. She first met sisters belonging to the Children of Mary at Fiat Camp, a girl’s discernment retreat, in Emmitsburg, Maryland and later visited the convent and discerned a call to the community.
She entered the order on Jan. 1, 2022. She received a new religious name – Sister Anastasia Rose – last year before making her first profession of vows this year.
There are typically several stages of formation for women in religious communities before making a final profession of vows. Consecrated religious life begins with postulancy for newcomers, which typically lasts one to two years.
Postulancy is followed by the novitiate, which prepares an individual to live a vowed life. At the end of the novitiate, an individual professes temporary vows, which are renewed during a period of time before making perpetual or final vows.
