My name is Sr. Julie McCarthy. I am the second of three girls in my family. I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My family moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1987 and I moved to the same city in 1988 when I obtained a job at St. Rita’s Home for the Aged, one of our Carmelite facilities.
I learned of the Carmelite Sisters in October 30, 1988 when Sr. Peter Lillian, a Carmelite Sister for the Aged and Infirm, hired me as an Activity Aide in St. Rita’s Home. What attracted me to work there was the Carmelite Sisters’ Mission and Philosophy of Care. My previous job was at a for- profit assisted living facility. It was a struggle to do for the residents all the nice things that I wanted to do because of the for-profit environment. What I came to realize at St. Rita’s Home was that all those nice things were the ingredients of the Mission and Philosophy of Care which permeates the work of the Carmelite Sisters. I knew then that I found the place I would want to work. I was asked to attend the Single Women's Retreat held at Avila. I attended this retreat twice, both of which were a week long. After seeing and experiencing the spiritual aspect of the Congregation, I decided to enter in 1991.
I currently work in ministry with the Carmelite System, Inc. which is a network of the Carmelite Sisters’ sponsored works. I am currently the Vice-President of Mission. In my work I travel to our different facilities to conduct in-services for the Staff on the Mission and Philosophy of our Foundress, Mother Angeline Teresa, Servant of God. In the course of my Religious life, I have been asked to serve the Community in many other ways. Among them were nurse’s aide, unit-coordinator in one of the nursing floors and Admission Director.
I would like to encourage those who think that God may be calling them to Religious life. Listen and follow that “nudge” that you feel in your heart. Trust it and you’ll do okay.
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Sister Julie McCarthy, O.Carm