There is a fascinating group of women living here in our community that many people don't even know about-- the sisters of the Carmelite Order-- cloistered nuns, whose monastery is in Holladay.

They have not allowed reporters and photographers inside their enclave until now. Religion Specialist, Carole Mikita, has the story of their lives.

I'm inside the monastery in the parlor. If you were to come here to visit one of the sisters, and you are not a relative, you would have to talk with her through this grille, and she would be behind this curtain.

But for the first time, we had a look inside, to see how they live, how they work, and how they worship.

"clapping sound, then she says 'PRAISE BE TO JESUS CHRIST, THE VIRGIN MARY, HIS MOTHER... COME TO PRAYERS, SISTERS... COME TO PRAISE THE LORD..."

A wooden clapper awakens the sisters of Carmel each morning at 5:30 in Holladay, Utah-- the same way nuns of this order have greeted the day for centuries.

After dressing in habits that have not changed in design since the Middle Ages, they begin their day with prayer. It is not simply an act of reverence. The vocation of a cloistered Carmelite nun is to pray for all who need it - in fact, everyone in the world.

Sister Mary Magdalene: "TO THE WORLD NOW THAT MAY SEEM STRANGE, BECAUSE THEY THINK OF AN ACTIVE WORK AS BEING MORE IMPORTANT. BUT AGAIN, CAROLE, I REALLY BELIEVE YOU CAN TOUCH SO MANY MORE SOULS."

Sister Mary Joseph: "I THINK PEOPLE FEEL THAT PRAYER, TOO, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE EXPRESS THAT... THAT THEY FELT THE TANGIBILITY THAT SOMEBODY WAS PRAYING FOR THEM AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO."

Their rooms are bare, with a bed, a shelf, small table and a chair. They spend hours in private prayer and reading.

Breakfast is simply a slice of bread and cup of coffee. They stand for this --dinner at noon is the big meal but they don't eat meat.

Then some chores. Each one is assigned to a specific office or job. Sister Mary Magdalene is the vestiere. She takes care of the clothing... sewing, mending and washing.

She is a mother, grandmother and had a career in California's Silicon Valley. Three and a half years ago, she entered the monastery to live her remaining time on earth devoted to prayer.

"THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THIS WORLD BEING ABUSED THIS VERY MINUTE. I KNOW, I WAS ONE OF THEM AS A CHILD. I CAN STAND THERE AND HANG THAT LAUNDRY AND SAY, 'LORD, MAKE THEIR HEARTS AS FREE AS THIS SHEET HANGING ON THE LINE.'"

They also bake sacrament bread and press it into wafers, then send them to Catholic Churches throughout the West for use during Mass.

The nuns spend six years living in the monastery, wearing white veils, in preparation for taking final vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, after which they don black veils.

They may not leave the grounds, that's what cloistered means. Family members visit them here... outsiders, only with permission.

One of them is an exterent, or out sister. Sister Mary Joseph travels to the store or pharmacy for them all.

Carole Mikita reporting/"The sisters say, it can be a life of solitude... but it is not one of loneliness."

They are silent much of the day, but there are two hours of recreation, during which their joy and enthsusiasm rolls forth.

"YOU'RE NOT DRIVING ME TO THE AIRPORT, ARE YOU?"

"PRETTY SOON THE DOORBELL RINGS... IT WAS DAD (LAUGHS)... HE WAS KINDA MAD."

Eight sisters live here. Some have for more than 40 years. Others are just beginning.

And Donna Nicola has been a live-in at the monastery for three weeks. She is from Staten Island, New York and found the Utah nuns on their website. She is still considering this life of prayer.

Donna Nicola, visiting monastery: "IN THE END, WHEN WE'RE CALLED TO SEE GOD FACE-TO-FACE, I BELIEVE OUR ETERNITY WILL BE SPENT WITH HOW CLOSE WE BECAME WITH HIM IN THIS LIFE. AND I WISH TO DEVELOP THAT INTIMACY NOW, SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES, IT'S LIKE 'I KNEW YOU ALL ALONG.'"

The Carmelites have a contemplative life, in an atmosphere which they decribe as a balance between silence and sharing. They call themselves "Christ's little flock."

The sisters have eight acres here in Holladay. They have been here in Utah since 1952. They host a fair here on the grounds, once a year in Sept. and sell items they have made. The proceeds are what they live on for the year.