Call to religious life as a child springs forth

I thank God for calling me to the Carmel of Mary, where I have more opportunity to pray for our families, friends, and benefactors, especially at this time when the world is confronted with the pandemic which is taking many lives. We know that God is right here with us, helping people through dedicated doctors, nurses, researchers, and first responders. They risk their lives to care for us. What about me? What should I do to help? Fervent prayer for them is the answer, and the need contributes to my own prayer life. I personally pray for my own conversion every day, for all others to be able to endure this difficult time, and for an end to this global pandemic.

I was born in Vietnam. A few days after graduating from high school, my mom, younger brother, and I escaped from Vietnam by boat as did many other Vietnamese who were searching for human dignity and freedom of religion which could not be found in a Communist country. In 1989, we were fortunate to arrive in Pulau Galang Refugee Camp in Indonesia. In 1993, we left for the United States and lived in San Francisco for eight years with my other brother, sisters, and relatives who had come to the United States before us.

I am the second to the last of five siblings. My parents have two boys and three girls. My younger brother Martin Maria Nguyen, O.P. is a Dominican in the Order of Preachers Regional Vicariate of Saint Vincent Liem, O. P.  My faith as well as my brothers’ and sisters’ faith was strongly developed because of my mom’s faith. Moreover, Our Blessed Mother Mary helped me with my vocational discernment and showed me how to love Jesus more and more. Besides her, I am also lucky to have my mom, brothers, and sisters who helped me to say yes to my vocation as a religious sister. What a great gift from God!

I worked and lived in the medical world for a while. I earned a two-year Associate degree in General Biology and a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology in San Francisco. In 2002, I worked at the University of Texas Medical School for three and a half years and later at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for seven years.

I had the opportunity to meet many friends and so did not pay much attention to the call to religious life that I had experienced at a much younger age. Occasionally I reflected back to that younger age and asked God “Are you really calling me?” With God’s help, I realized more clearly what path God has chosen for me.

In 2013, I entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province in Houston and remained until 2018. In the month of May, our Blessed Mother’s month, I asked through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph to make known God’s will in a clear and visible way. One day I went to the internet to look into religious communities, and I sent out several emails. Carmel of Mary was the first community to respond. The clear and visible sign I was hoping for became clearer after talking to Mother Madonna on the telephone. I came for a visit on July 14, 2018 and decided to stay because I felt “at home.” I was accepted as an Aspirant, then as a Postulant on May 13, 2019 and a Novice on Nov. 14, 2019 when I received the religious name of Sister Theresa Marie of the Eucharist. I thank God for my mom, brothers, sisters, relatives, priests, and religious who constantly prayed for me.

The change from active sisters to contemplative sisters is obviously clear. The first choice of contemplative life in my younger years came back to me. Each day is a grace from God. Now I love what God has inspired me to do, striving to have zeal for his face like St. Elijah and for pure love like Mother Mary.

May God and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother of Mount Carmel, St. Joseph, and all the saints continue to bless the Carmel of Mary with many vocations because it is “good to be here!”