On January 27, 1999, our Sister Helen was informed of the death of Sister Therese Elie (Zhou Shu-Ying). She had died in the Labor Correction Camp in which she was sent to be "rehabilitated" after her release from prison where she had spent 30 years of her life.
Our Sister Helen was able to visit Sister Therese Elie November 18-20, 1993, while Helen was visiting relatives in China. At that time Sr. Therese Elie was 85 years old.
Though she had been freed from the Labor Correction Camp in 1987, she chose to continue living at the camp in order to continue serving the local people. For her, the camp had become her Carmel. She called it the Carmel of the Farm.
She was greatly loved by those whom she served.
When Helen met her, she noticed the coarse brown vest she was wearing. Sr. Therese Elie had made it from her old habit. It had survived the Cultural Revolution and house raids. Sr. Therese Elie had given it to her niece and someone ripped out the seams so it had become unrecognizable. Many years later she found the pieces at the bottom of a trunk.
Our Helen was the first Carmelite Sr. Therese Elie had seen since she was incarcerated and she was full of joy. She wanted to know everything about Carmel now. For instance, she had never heard of Edith Stein.
In 1998, she wrote to our Sister Helen with this instruction: "During this past year, I have felt my energy diminishing daily. But this is normal with old folks so please do not worry. I only pray that our Blessed Mother of Mount Carmel would help me to remain faithful to God's love and to joyfully complete my final journey. I have no other needs, and I only ask that you pray for me, pray for me... However, I do want to beg of you that after I die, would you please relate the following to the superiors of our Carmelite Order:
- Zhou Shu-Ying - Born in October 1909, was baptized Teresa
- 9 July 1933 - Entered Carmel of St. Joseph in Tou-se-wi, Ziekawei, Shanghai
- 27 October 1934, Solemnity of St. Joseph - Reception of holy habit, became Sr. Marie de S'Elie
- 18 April 1935, Feast of Christ the King - First Profession
- 25 December 1940, following Mid-Night Mass - Final Profession,changed name Sr. Therese Elie de l'Enfant Jesus
- 19 September 1958, was arrested and sentenced to prison for 10 years
- 7 January 1970, was transferred from prison to "Carmel of the Farm"
What she referred to as her "Carmel of the Farm" was actually the Bai-Mao-Ling Labor Camp in Anhui Province where she and many religious from Shanghai were confined for "thought re-education". It was her choice to remain there after her release in 1987.
She said she had never left Carmel because she always carried Carmel in her heart. She was indeed, like Teresa, a true daughter of the Church.
The Epilogue
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 16:15:38 -0700
From: Carmelites of IndianapolisSubject: Carmel in China, the Epilogue
Several months ago I wrote about Sr. Therese Elie (Sr. Zhou ) who remained a faithful Carmelite nun during her 30 year imprisonment in a prison labor farm in China. When she was released she opted to remain to serve the people, living in a small hut where employees of the farm also lived. When she was diagnosed with colon cancer, she was prevailed upon to go to Shanghai for treatment. Many came to visit her and talk to her, but after two days she lapsed into a coma and died on 27 January.
At her request, she was cremated. She wanted some of her ashes to rest with her former Sisters who were now in the Lucena Carmel in the Philippines and the rest to be spread at the Shrine of Zose (we are not certain what this is).[Web editor: This is the name of a Catholic Shrine near Shanghai; there is also a seminary on this site.] A priest in Shanghai saw to it that some of Sr. Therese Elie's ashes were sent to the Lucena Carmel.
The following are quotes from the letters our Sr. Helen received:
"Yesterday we received a letter from a priest of Shanghai which relates the last days of our dear Sister. Included, we found a small package with some ashes of Sister. You can guess how much we felt touched and happy. Saturday evening we shall watch with her and Monday we will have a Mass and we will conduct her to the "Catacombs" (the crypt) where she will take place among our departed foundresses. She is truly our dear big Sister.
We are very grateful to you, dear Sister (our Helen), for all the pain you have to take to locate our Sisters still alive, to find our what has happened to the former Carmel...."
So Sr. Therese Elie is again with the members of her community and an inspiration to us all.
photos of Sister Therese Elie Zhou
In the vest she made out of her old Carmelite habit.
A friend made the walker for her out of wood.
