[AKA Elena]

My sister, a Carmelite in a teaching order holds two Master's degrees in education and administration. I recently had a chance to stay with her and her Sisters in Christ and I asked particularly about the crisis of so many Orders working independently to support their Motherhouse, instead of being contracted to the schools.

The answer I got was not too surprising, given the aura of today and may not hold true of ALL teaching Orders. They, in particular are unable to reconcile the parents influence and the stricter philosophies that they embrace.

In particular, my sister brought a rural Catholic school from virtual intellectual obsolescence to one of the finest Catholic schools in Louisiana. She was written up in the papers as some kind of Golden Gift to be treasured by all.

After a long and stressful "battle" with parents over the misconduct of some of her students ... she resigned as Principal and within weeks all of her fellow Sisters from her convent also left that school.

The wonderful convent of which she was Superior as well, a gift of an old family in the town, was given back to the lady and the teachers who lived there left that town. They thought it unfair not to have the house used by someone working in the Parish, which grounds virtually surrounded the convent.

She went back to teaching in another town and then was called home to California to care for my Mom until her death.

She is now a vibrant (although ill right now) committed Sister ... and both she and the other ex- Principal with whom she now lives have the same attitude and complaint ... they cannot compromise morals and faith with the parents in order to serve.

Perhaps someone else knows of other situations which are like this.

BTW, before my Mom needed full time nursing, my sister did some substitute teaching in California. Her most positive experience was when she was able to go to St. Catherine's Military Academy in Anaheim (taught by my high school teachers, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Ca) where discipline and right thought was never questioned.

[Domestic Church]

"Perhaps someone else knows of other situations which are like this."

There was a womens college, St.Joseph's near Mount St.Mary's in Emmittsburg Md, that closed several decades ago because the good Sisters would not compromise either.