Left: Sr. Anahyd Mariam:
Left: Sr. Anahyd Mariam: “Science has brought me closer to God.” Above: Taking her vows from Mar Shlemun Warduni. a spiritual scientist Meet St. Peter’s newest nun, Sr. Anahyd Mariam BY GIAVANA KASSAB Born and raised in San Diego, Sr. Anahyd Mariam Arabo, 27, has always been close to home. Her parents, Majida and the late Isam Arabo, immigrated to California from Baghdad in 1979 with the hopes of starting a new life for their young family. Sr. Anahyd, who has four older brothers — Auday, Kusay, Steven and Mark — always held a special place within her family. “God has blessed me greatly with my family. They were the first people to show me not only who God is but how much He loves us,” she said. “They’ve helped make me the woman I am today.” When she was 17, her father passed away, leading her through a unique journey past the confusion and anger she initially felt. “As heartbreaking as it was for me to lose my father at 17, it led me to face the reality of my own mortality and it lead me not only to Him who rose Lazarus from the dead, but it led me to Him who Himself defeated death,” she said. “It led me to finding Christ in a more intimate and real way.” She began discerning at 19 and at 20 entered the Convent of Our Lady of the Fields, the Workers of the Vineyard, the convent of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle. She took her final vows as a nun in May. “I would have to say that two of the most influential people within my life and vocation have been Bishop Sarhad and Fr. Andrew Younan,” she said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without their constant guidance and support.” During her time in the convent, Sr. Anahyd continued her education and graduated with a bachelor of science in general biology from the University of California, San Diego, in 2012. She hopes to continue her education in biology, which she calls “her first love.” “Science has brought me closer to God – it has invited me to get to know Him on a different level, through the very nature He has created,” she said. Last spring, she taught the Natural Science course at John Paul the Great Catholic University. “It was an amazing experience and opportunity,” she said. “I look forward to teaching it again this next spring quarter.” Sr. Anahyd encourages people to be true to themselves. “One of the biggest misconceptions people have is this cookie-cutter image of who they are and what they are supposed to be. There is no mold — there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter father, mother, brother, sister, priest, monk, nun, etc. Christ, when He calls all of us, calls us – with our personalities, our nonsinful desires and quirks. He calls us to change the world, not necessarily who we are. I’m a firm believer that God puts those desires within us to help us discern our vocations and see what our talents are. It’s like a map to our happiness, which comes from fulfilling our vocations. By doing so, you become more of who you are; it comes out organically from within you. You do not have to change who you are to enter religious life – God knows whom He has chosen.” Wherever your path takes you, said Sr. Anahyd, keep God front and center. “My biggest piece of advice to anyone, discerning or not, is to keep your eyes on Christ, be faithful to Him and spend as much time as you can with Him,” she said. “He is your foundation and whatever you may be going through, He will get you through it.” 38 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2016
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