‘Great adventure’ continues for Surrey man making perpetual vows

Brother Frank Sharma has taken a big step in his “great adventure.” The Sri Lankan native who grew up in Surrey made his solemn profession of vows as a Carmelite Sept. 18.

Brother Sharma left home in Surrey to enter the novitiate with the Carmelites in San Jose, Calif., in 2016 and made his first profession of vows at St. Edmund’s in North Vancouver in 2018.

By making perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience at the monastery of Santa Maria della Scala in Rome, the Carmelite hopes to continue his training in hopes of becoming a priest. 

Below he reflects on his vocation journey. 

All in God’s timing

At times I wonder how did all this come to be.

As much as I admired religious life, I did not think I had a vocation to be a religious. I was ready to say yes to the priesthood, but I didn’t want to enter religious life. Now here I am today, wearing the holy habit of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf the Grey says, “A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.” In a similar way, my path to Carmel was not a direct highway and it was long. 

At times I hear people say that am a “late vocation.” I think that my vocation was not late but came precisely when God intended. Yes, it was a roundabout way, a winding road, but truly beautiful and scenic. As long as we’re open to it, God uses every opportunity to teach us and draw us closer to him.

During these past few years in religious life, what touched me and what I experienced the most was God’s profound humility and unfailing faithfulness to a mere creature and his unconditionally lavishing his graces upon me. I learned that we’re called to religious life not only to love and serve God and our neighbour, but above all to be loved in a particular and a profound way.

It is a love story, but not a fairy tale. As in married life spouses are called to participate in each others lives intimately, in good times and in bad, so is a soul that dedicates itself to Jesus. To participate in his glory we must participate in his cross, too.

Just as Our Blessed Mother was there constantly in the life of Christ, particularly during his Passion, she is always with us to encourage us and to point the right way. I’m much obliged and eternally grateful to her constant intercession, companionship, maternal love, and guidance. As St. Therese of Lisieux said, “She’s always more mother than queen!”

I’m also very grateful to all those who pray for us. It is their support that encourages us to go forward.

I would like to say to anyone who feels discouraged in their vocation, or who feels lost at times: do not give up. Do not lose heart. As long as you’re with the Lord and his Church, you are not lost. It is through the experience of the Cross that we come to perfect union with him; and if we are willing to grow on the soil where God plants us, we will bear much fruit.

I have no proper words to sing the mercies of God except to take them from the heart of Mary and to say: “He who is mighty has done great things for me and Holy is His name, and His mercy extends from generation to generation upon those who fear him.”

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary keep us faithful to our vocations and form all of us according to the heart of her son, Jesus!