Sr. Philomena Anne of Divine Mercy, O.Carm.

I am from Lynchburg, VA where I lived my entire life. I have two younger siblings, my sister Kelly who is married and lives in New Jersey and a younger brother Tony who lives in California. My parents are both living. I am close to my grandparents who live in Tennessee.

I always had an interest in religious life since I was 13 years old. So back in 2007, I looked into an Order that took care of the elderly since I was attracted to the idea of caring for the elderly. I inquired with the Little Sisters of the Poor and travelled back and forth on weekends and days-off to see them. It proved to be too much for me and eventually decided to find another religious community. My father helped me find the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm through the internet. I fell in love with what I saw and read about them and wanted to pursue joining them. My father’s love and support during my religious discernment helped me tremendously.

I did not know how to look into religious life since we really have no religious orders close to us. I only had a limited Catholic background and learned only by way of Sunday school and what my dad taught us. I knew that if God wanted me in religious life I would need a lot of help growing in my relationship with God. I called Sr. Maria Therese who was vocation director for the Carmelite Sisters at the time and came up to visit their Motherhouse in 2011 during the Rosary Rally. It was a lot of fun! She sent me vocation packets and had telephone conversations. I continued contact with them by attending the various Discernment Retreats held at the Motherhouse. Sister Maria Therese encouraged me to find a spiritual director. I am very grateful to her for helping me tremendously during my difficult times of discernment.

I entered the Congregation on May 31, 2015 and made my First Profession of Vows on June 9, 2018. I am currently missioned at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor in Columbus, OH.

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