SISTER MARIA URSULA INFANTE

Vocation Story

I come from a very devote Catholic family. My mother has a great devotion to our Blessed Mother which she also instilled into her children along with the devotion to the Sacred Heart. She told us that she entrusted her children to God the Father and to simplicity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of my favorite pastime as a child of five was to play ‘nun’. I would put a towel or piece of cloth over my head and enjoyed looking into the mirror and seeing myself as a religious, although I did not know much about the religious life at that time.

We received a Catholic education when we were in high School; I got acquainted with the Augustinian Recollect Sisters. However, at that time I was set on becoming a doctor of medicine because of the influence of my friends. I was fortunate, for my parents were very supportive in everything—financial, moral, and emotional and especially in my pursuit of spiritual goals, aspirations, and in my career objectives. While my sister took Business Management courses I graduated with Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, the best preparation for medicine in our country.

My sister has a devotion to St. Joseph, thus, while away at school, my sister invited me to go with her to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. It was there that I felt a great sense of peace and very much at home. My homesickness was gone when I was there. We also had devotions to the Mother of Perpetual Help and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus while we were in studying.

After finishing my studies my eldest sister got married and it was then that my mother asked me to be her partner in our small business. God showered me with blessings materially and financially, but I still felt unhappy and an emptiness in my heart, searching and longing the deepest love of Jesus Christ. I couldn’t understand myself. I remember one of my best friends told me she always prayed for me because she felt that I was close to God. I was wondering why she said that to me, now I understand. I asked my mother if I could enter a cloister community (my eldest sister was still alive during that time) but she wouldn’t allow me because I am the youngest daughter and she would miss me too much since we are emotionally attached to each other. I felt discouraged so then I decided to help seminarians, priests and religious sisters financially.
It was at that time, when one of our neighbors, Trinidad, first cousin of Sister Helena Marie, who is a member of the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, told my mother that my vocation was to become a religious sister. My mother asked me if this is what I wanted to do. “If it is His will” I prayed. I don’t want to regret later the decision that I made or change my mind once I entered. It was tough decision that I had to make. America is so far away. However, my parents gave me all the encouragement and support that I needed in this decision.

I had finally found the hidden treasure that I was seeking—Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. At the present time I am one of six novices preparing for my first vows. On September 12th I was one year in the United States of America. My love for Jesus, Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and Our Mother Foundress, Blessed Maria Teresa of St. Joseph, grows deeper each day as I learn the ways of Carmel. I love the quote of our Mother Foundress “See God in all, Serve God in all, Love God in all. To be a religious sister is the greatest vocation for me; my life now is more meaningful and wonderful in the charisma of Carmel which is the spirit of prayer.

I am so grateful to God that He has called me to serve Him as a Carmelite Sister of the Divine Heart of Jesus.

Sister Maria Ursula Infante