From Convent to Community: How Life at Lisieux Redeemed My Story

By Anne Sweeney

When I officially moved into the Lisieux house in May 2024 it would only be a few short weeks until the girls could easily distinguish the many screams of ‘Anne’. Screaming that there’s a bug in her room, a bug in the kitchen, ants in the shower, being startled that someone came behind her without her knowledge, and finally, the pitiful scream of a new stain on her clothing. They have heard it all. Despite my best efforts, I still find myself screaming during these occasions, as I received this gift from my mother. It truly keeps everyone in the house on their toes.

Screams aside, I will share my own background prior to moving into the house. During my senior year in college I felt called to religious life. After my graduation, I entered a Carmelite community in California. After staying with the Community for about two years, the Lord in His mercy, made it clear that was not to be my home any longer. I came back to my hometown in Washington and began a new life away from Carmel. In my time of transition and healing, I wanted nothing to do with community life. Nothing. 

When the Lord put it on my heart to add my name to the waiting list, I did so, hoping my turn would never come as I was certain the list was long and that by then, surely, the Lord would stop bothering me about it. However, the time came and as the first on the waiting list, I was called. I agreed to see it through. When I visited the house, I thought it would be heartbreaking to live in a convent again but not live in it according to the way of life I was called out of. Instead, the Lord in His mercy made it a beacon of healing. How else could He heal me from the convent, but to provide me with a new convent to live in? A convent filled with young laywomen boldly seeking to follow the Lord. I was inspired by their faith. They each lived as laywomen and yet, I saw the same joys I had seen when I was with the Sisters. This taught me that holiness is still attainable, and as Fr. Marcin (our house spiritual director) would encourage, even more available for the laity. St. Therese also chimes in saying that “Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be”. 

The community life I had lived in the convent, if you could imagine, is much different than living with the women I live with now. Not ever would one be asked as a Sister to go to a haunted corn maze, and yet, I was asked. I only went making sure that everyone knew it was out of love for Kamryn and nothing else. Needless to say, I screamed the entire time. I held nothing back, as I never do, however this time it was recorded and you can see how it went on our instagram page @lisieuxhouseseattle. 

On another occasion, we all were in the kitchen discussing what movie we would watch that evening. To take note, I am a real movie buff. I grew up in a family well-versed in the history of movies and knowledgeable about which ones were deemed "classics."  I knew the best movies for any occasion. We had decided on the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and were all getting ready to move into the movie room. As I finished gathering my things, I entered the movie room and what I found playing on the television was not the movie we picked but another movie…”The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. All I could say was “Oh, we’re watching this?” - “Yes, Anne, is that alright”?. I said nothing. I walked away into the kitchen. I was astonished. Not only did they change the movie without asking me, but they picked a movie I do not like at all. It truly was a moment of conversion - I prayed with my hands on my hips “Lord, I love those girls more than I love my movie choice. Help me to go back there and support them.” I continued on praying until I gathered the strength to walk into the room, sit down and watch the movie with them. They all knew of my feelings. Unfortunately, I am not one to hide them, easily wearing my feelings on my sleeve. The redeeming part of the story is that not only was my pride broken, but without the change of the movie choice, one of my roommates wouldn't have had a healing experience. She shared that this movie was a vessel healing for her, especially as we watched the movie all together, it was unifying our own sisterhood. 

As the days continue on, screams and all, with my opinion being stomped on occasionally (all for the better), I can say that this House has been a beautiful gift during this season of my life. The Lord knew that this would be a restful place for my soul - to grow, to be pruned and loved by the most beautiful and faithful women, all on the journey to Heaven.