Interview With Sr Maria Juanita of Jesus 
Sr Maria Juanita of Jesus (Joleen D’Souza), daughter of Mr John and Irene D’Souza of Pais Garden Ward, Bejai, was interviewed on the occasion of her final vows at Cloistered Carmel, Mangalore. We sincerely thank her for her availability and promise her prayers in her religious life. The interview was done by Mr Santhosh Rodrigues, Convenor, CWMC. We present the interview to our viewers.
Santosh: I have heard that the Carmel is derived from one or more previously existing Teresian Foundations. How ‘Carmel of Sacred Heart’ at Mangalore was founded and who took the initiative of the foundation?
Sr Maria: It is true that every Teresian Carmel must be derived from one or more previously existing Teresian foundations. The Carmel of the Sacred Heart at Kankanady, Mangalore has the honor of being the first Teresian Cloistered Carmel on Indian soil. This was planned by the last Carmelite Bishop of Mangalore Mgr. Marie Ephrem. It was then that he made arrangements with the Carmel at Pau in France that some of the nuns be sent to make a foundation in Mangalore.
Santosh: With how many nuns this foundation was started?
Sr Maria: The Carmel of Pau was ready to send six of its Religious for this mission. After making necessary financial arrangements for a new foundation in Indian Soil Bishop himself accompanied the six sisters on their long trip from Pau to Marseilles. The six Discalced Carmelite nuns were Rev. Srs Mother Elias (Prioress), Mother Mary of Jesus, Mother Mary of the Savior, Stephanie and Euphrasia and an Arab Novice, a member of Pau community later was known as Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified.
Santosh: When did they arrive to Mangalore?
Sr Maria: They arrived to Mangalore in March 1871.
Santosh: How were the expenses of founding Cloistered Carmel met?
Sr Maria: The Arab Novice, member of Pau community was rather extraordinary. She was asked to pray along with other sisters in a special way so that the problem of financing the project at Mangalore would be solved. Something extraordinary happened! A young girl appeared to Novice, telling her father George Count De Nedonchelle from Belgium was willing to finance the project in Indian Soil. When she reported this vision to her authority they made every efforts to verify who this George was and they found that the girl who appeared to Novice was Metilda who died some years ago and her father was willing to support the project in memory of his daughter.
Santosh: How were the initial days of Mangalore Carmel?
Sr Maria: For the first seven months, the Discalced Nuns as well as the ‘active’ sisters lived together forming a single community in St Ann’s Convent. Later they moved into separate apartments prepared for them. Only in June 1879 the site for the Kankanady foundation was purchased and the foundation stone was laid on 15, August 1880. The community was transferred on 18 March 1882 to Kankanady, and the new Carmel was solemnly opened on the feast of St Joseph on March 19.
Santosh: Are there any Carmels founded by Mangalore Foundation?
Sr Maria: Yes. Carmel of Mangalore founded the Carmel of Shembaganur in 1944, Carmel of Trichirapally in 1957 and Carmel of Hassan in 1992.The Extraordinary Novice, Mary of Jesus Crucified, on her return to France, pioneered the foundation of the Belhlehem Carmel in 1876.
Santosh: How many Carmels are there all over the world and how many in India?
Sr Maria: We have around 800 Carmels in the world and 33 in India totaling around 13,000 sisters.
Santosh: Coming to your community life you are the sisters of Prayers! What prayers you do here?
Sr Maria: We have daily two hours of Mental Prayers. We recite the Breviary (Divine Office) seven times a day. We pray the Rosary. We also pray silently throughout the day.
Santosh: Are there transfers between your Carmels?
Sr Maria: We don’t have transfers in Carmels. In time of need we may send a sister to help or for the reason of health there can be transfers.
Santosh: I heard it’s difficult to join the Clostered Carmel and are very selective when candidates come to you. Is it true?
Sr Maria: It is not difficult to join Carmel nor we are selective. Selection is done by Jesus. We are only instruments in his hands and he helps us to decide on candidates. The candidate must have a firm desire and determination to follow Jesus unconditionally and in a spirit of sacrifice. She must have an aptitude for prayer life, silence and solitude. First, there is “Come and See” period of 3 months, where candidate is allowed to come and stay with us and be a part of our life. Then she can decide ‘Does this kind of life fits for me or not?’ Later Postulancy for 1 year, Novitiate for 2 years, Juniorate for 4 years or more. 
Santosh: Coming to your yourself, you had choices to join various congregations that are active and serve our society. Why did you decide to join Cloisterd Carmel? What inspired you to join here?
Sr Maria: I had no interest for Apostolic life. It is God who chose me and I answered his call. I had great devotion to our Lady and it is through her that I entered Carmel. It is she who inspired me to read the article in the Rakno Weekly.
Santosh:Did your parents ever oppose your decision to join Carmel? How did you overcome it?
Sr Maria: Yes. They opposed my decision of joining the Carmel. So I was confused and I took one year to decide. During this period I prayed a lot asking God to show me the way and he gave me courage to face all oppositions. In the beginning it was hard for my parents. But now they are one of the happy parents on the earth.
Santosh: What message you want to give to the youth of today?
Sr Maria: Dear youth, I thank God for what he has done for me and for the wonderful vocation that he has given to me by bringing me to Carmel. You may ask what is that attracted me to CARMEL. It is nothing but Prayer, Silence and Solitude. Life is beautiful in Carmel. I know God called me out of his goodness.
It is true I have left my family but I have a bigger family in CARMEL. I always pray for my family even though I have left them. I entrust them into God’s hand and God takes care of them. So I request you to trust God. Nothing is impossible for him. God is always there in our joys and sorrows. Make prayer as your weapon and through that you can have what you desire (Not against God’s will). Unload your tensions, worries to him; he will take care of them.
Pray and ask God to show you the right way. If any of you want to know more about Cloistered Carmel you are most welcome. You have the option to ‘Come and See’ for 3 months
We have 2 guest houses in our premises where you can conduct your seminars and camps and you can know us better and we are always there to help you in your needs.
Our Address:
Mother Prioress, Sacred Heart Monastery,
Cloistered Carmel,
Kankanady, Mangalore 575 002
D. K., Karnataka, India
Phone : +91 824 2437552
Email : carmelmangalore@gmail.com
