Olivia Lukaszewicz, now 37, was one of the hopefuls of Australian tennis in the mid-2000s. She even received a wild-card in the 2005 Grand Slam tournament in Antipozi, where she was defeated in the first round by Justine Henin, and the following year she made it through one round of qualifying. However, she decided to retire from tennis at just 22, and life eventually led her to the convent.
Olivia Lukaszewicz (right) with the sisters in the congregation. Photo The Catholic Weekly
The Australian surprised her fans and those who believed in her sporting destiny by choosing the monastic path. But before donning the clothes of a nun, Olivia Lukaszewicz went through several periods of turmoil. She retired from tennis after reaching the highest position in the WTA rankings, around No. 500 in both singles and doubles.
She explained her decision for a religious site: “In many ways, the decision to give up tennis was very difficult for me, but at the same time it filled me with hope, because my deepest desire has always been to get married and have a family. I wanted a marriage relationship and to be a mother very much. I could not understand why God would make such a good and beautiful desire as marriage so difficult for me to achieve. I was at a very low point in my life, I was going through an extremely difficult time and I was angry at God, as if it was His fault”.
Former player, when she was a hope of Australian tennis. Photo Schoenstatt.com
The former athlete found peace and her way after talking to a priest: “I went through a three-month period that will amaze me forever. Through His mysterious ways, God led me to understand that being a wife and mother is not just about the natural plane. God was calling me to Him, to receive Jesus Christ as the most beautiful Bridegroom possible, and to become a spiritual mother to more children than I could have born naturally.”
The former tennis player joined the Sisters of Mary Schoenstatt congregation: “In the end, I felt particularly drawn to the Sisters of Maria Schoenstatt because of my life story and the deep connection I had with the Mother of God. I started there and never looked back, despite the many sacrifices this path entailed”said Olivia Lukaszewicz.
