Perpetually Professed Sisters
M. Mary Rosario Vega, Regional Superior
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Mary Rosario Vega, Regional Superior
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
M. Rosario was born in a beautiful colonial city called San Luis Potosi in Mexico. She is number 4 of 5 siblings and attended Catholic Schools since Kindergarten. She attended the Instituto Renacimiento, an Elementary and Preparatory school staffed by the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Mexico City where she learned about the Mercedarians’ life, felt strongly attracted to their way of living and responded to God's call.
Joined the community: July 1, 1972,
First Profession: August 14, 1975
Perpetual Vows: 1981
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Rosario enjoys her ministry as Principal and administrator because it gives her the opportunity to touch the hearts of the children and parents and lead the school to spiritual and academic excellence. The best part of each day is her time spent in front of the Blessed Sacrament to bring in front of Him all the needs of the school.
What Inspires Her:
She enjoys the time spent in community, sharing her life and apostolate with the 3 younger sisters in temporary vows who are under her guidance and care.
M. Jeanette Marie Estrada, Vicar Regional
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Jeanette Marie Estrada, Vicar Regional
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Mexico City, Mexico, the youngest of 3 children. I studied 11 years in one of our Mercedarian Schools in Mexico where I enjoyed playing games with the sisters during our recess time. I joined the community in my junior year when I was 16 years old. Mother General allowed me to do my postulancy as I finished high school.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
I have the honor of accompanying my sisters in their beginning of religious life as Mother Mistress. It is incredible how much Jesus has enlarged my heart by loving these young women who desire with all their mind, heart and strength to surrender their lives to Christ. I commend them daily to Jesus during my adoration time in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed in our chapel.
What Inspires Her:
I read the book In Sinu Jesu, which has reaffirmed me so much in the value of our adoration time and the power of intercession. God is really a Father to us, a Father that loves us to the end.
M. Dulce Maria Flores, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Dulce Maria Flores, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was sent to the Mojave Desert in California immediately after entering the community in Corpus Christi. I was sent to teach in the school and worked with the military personnel in catechesis. My final vows were November 1, 1963
Highlight Of Daily Life:
What I like about my daily life with the Sisters in my community is their deep spirituality that is shared in community along with the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There is a joy living and working with them.
What Inspires Her:
My greatest inspiration is a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

M. Teresa Gomez, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister
M. Teresa Gomez, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Teresa Gomez, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister
M. Maria Isabel Rodriguez, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Maria Isabel Rodriguez, Council Member
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Tijuana, Baja California Norte, México, the border with San Diego, California. I have four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. I received my first education in one of our Mercedarian schools and from there I felt Jesus calling me to Religious life.
I entered in the Community on August 8, 1986 when I was 17 years old. I celebrated my silver anniversary from my first profession on August 15, 2015.
Highlight of Daily Life:
What I enjoy the most is sharing my daily life with my community as I was doing with my family when I was with them and putting my gifts at Jesus’ service.
What Inspires Her:
I am really enjoying reading In Sinu Jesu. It is helping me to enter more deeply into adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and increases my desire to surrender my life to Jesus.
M. Dolores Muñoz
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Dolores Muñoz
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Corpus Christi, TX. I have 11 siblings and I am the oldest. I used to work as a nurse’s assistant in a hospital.
I entered in the Community 1958 when I was 20 years old.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
What I enjoy the most is time spent with my sisters in community
What Inspires Her:
The charity of my sisters to help me in my illness.
M. Guadalupe Rosales
Perpetually Professed Sister

M. Guadalupe Rosales
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
My father died when I was eight years old, and my mother placed us in boarding school in order for her to be able to go to work. I lived very happy with our Religious Sisters. When I graduated from grammar school in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, the principal of the school told my mother she could put me in a boarding school run by the same congregation in Corpus Christi, Texas. After I graduated from High School, I joined the sisters in San Antonio, Texas where they had the house of formation and I entered the congregation June 20, 1953.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
I love teaching and also Adults and CCD school.
What Inspires Her:
I thank my congregation for sending me to college to get my degree in Education.
Sr. Patricia Rodriguez
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Patricia Rodriguez
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Pleasanton, TX. I worked for a doctor and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I was engaged. A priest asked me if I wanted to be a nun. I told him I had never thought about it before. I joined the Legion of Mary and we would pray the rosary, visit families and hospitals and I loved it. I spoke to the same priest that had asked me if I wanted to be a nun and he told me: “you need to make a decision.” He said, “do you want to spend the rest of your life with one man and have a family? Or would you like to consecrate yourself to God and serve many people? I knew I wanted to give myself to God.
Joined the community: July 26, 1965 when I was 24 years old.
Date of First Profession: September 24, 1968
Date of Perpetual Vows: September 24, 1971
Highlight Of Daily Life:
I love my adoration time. I love that. I love being with Jesus.
What Inspires Her:
M. Dolores inspires me. She was already a professed sister when I entered. She’s very intelligent. She was always willing to help us and especially the other sisters who had recently arrived from Mexico. She sacrificed her own studies to help the sisters.
Sr. RoseMary Rocha
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. RoseMary Rocha
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in San Antonio, TX, and grew up in a carefree, happy, and fun environment with 11 brothers and sisters.
I entered in the Community in 1960 when I was 14 years old.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
I love that you can be as close as you want to the Lord. He’s there for you as long as you reach out to Him.
What Inspires Her:
People who suffer; how they can find happiness despite their suffering because they are open to God’s graces. They have found God in their suffering. That’s inspiring.
Sr. Gloria de Maria Medina
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Gloria de Maria Medina
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Michoacan, MX and I have 6 siblings.
I entered in the Community 1947 when I was 16 years old.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
What I enjoy the most is serving my community.
What Inspires Her:
Congregation in my community.
Sr. Lucy Sánchez
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Lucy Sánchez
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Jalisco, MX and I have 13 siblings. Some of my sisters are even Sisters too!
I entered in the Community in 1961 when I was 17 years old.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
What I enjoy the most is praying the rosary.
What Inspires Her:
Having the opportunity to take care of one of the elderly sisters in my community.
Sr. Paula Garcia
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Paula Garcia
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Leon Guanajuato, MX. I have 5 siblings and I am the oldest.
I entered in the Community in 1943 when I was 18 years old.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
What I enjoy the most is spending time with the Blessed Sacrament
Sr. Mary Rodriguez
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Mary Rodriguez
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Detroit, Michigan Jan 16, 1931. I have 6 siblings and I used to play piano.
I entered in the Community on April 4, 1944, when I was 14 years old.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
What I enjoy the most is praying throughout the day and watching the Spurs’ games.
What Inspires Her:
To be visited by my Sisters in Formation.
Sr. Mary of the Angels Correa Reyes
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Mary of the Angels Correa Reyes
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
I was born in Mexico City and I have 5 siblings. I was a very happy girl, kind of outgoing, and I liked to dance and sing. I also used to study Medicine.
First Profession: September 24, 1963
Final Profession: December 25, 1968.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Well, God. He’s my all.
What Inspires Her:
God always inspires in one way or another.

Sr. Martha Mendoza
Perpetually Professed Sister
Sr. Martha Mendoza
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Martha Mendoza
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Rosa Erlinda Pocasangre
Perpetually Professed Sister
Sr. Rosa Erlinda Pocasangre
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Rosa Erlinda Pocasangre
Perpetually Professed Sister
Sr. Demetria Castro
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Demetria Castro
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
My father brought me to the community after he had been informed of what community life is and what convent they would be sending me to. I entered the congregation April 8, 1964 in San Luis, Potosi
Highlight Of Daily Life:
My greatest joy has always been to celebrate the Eucharist with my Mercedarian family.
What Inspires Her:
Dulce’s ministry, how God uses us human beings to get closer to His people.
Sr. Stella Contreras
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Stella Contreras
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
Anything going on at the Church, I was there. I was all the time at the Church. One time, I was going home and my sister met me at the door with a luggage so I could stay there because I was always there! One night, I was praying and I said, ‘Lord, I give you three days so you can tell me if I really want to follow you.’ But the next day I said, if I get married, I’m not going to be able to go to Church everyday. So
the next day, I was ready. I didn’t need the three days. I told my family that friday night. Saturday, I got everything ready, and I went to the convent on that Monday.
Final Profession: September 24, 1966
Highlight Of Daily Life:
I love the prayer. That really called my heart when I first visited the sisters.
What Inspires Her:
Community prayer has been inspiring me lately!

Sr. Teresita Paz
Perpetually Professed Sister
Sr. Teresita Paz
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Teresita Paz
Perpetually Professed Sister
Sr. Rita Pinedo
Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Rita Pinedo
Perpetually Professed Sister
Background:
After a beautiful experience with the Lord during my First Communion, I felt called to give my life to God. Seven years after, at 14 years old, I entered with our sisters. I knew them because we went to their school. Two of my sisters are also Sisters in our Congregation!
Highlight Of Daily Life:
My communion with Christ during Mass and silent Adoration with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
What Inspires Her:
My community that is full of love and charity!
Temporary Professed Sisters
Sr. Katherine Marie Chiara McCloskey
Temporary Professed

Sr. Katherine Marie Chiara McCloskey
Temporary Professed
Background:
I could never shake this insatiable desire for "something more," though I was living a life that most people would see as "successful"...everything changed when I had a profound encounter with God on Pentecost 2012.
Joined Community: July 29, 2014
Entrance to Postulancy: September 24, 2014
Entrance to Novitiate: September 29, 2015
First Profession of Vows: August 14, 2017
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Growing in and living from my true identity as a beloved daughter of the Father and a spouse of Jesus Christ.
What Inspires Her:
The following dialogue between one of my homeroom students and myself sums this up:
Me: Are you going to help your mom out this weekend?
Student: I don't know my mom...
Me (slightly horrified that I didn't know this about this student's family situation): Oh, I'm sorry
Student (interrupting me): But that's ok! Because I have you as my spiritual mom!
Sr. April Marie Josefina Candelaria
Temporary Professed

Sr. April Marie Josefina Candelaria
Temporary Professed
Background:
Sr. Josefina is originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, is the middle in a family of five children, and grew up mostly in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Sr. Josefina arrived with Sr. Chiara in Cleveland on July 29, 2014. They became postulants on September 24, 2014, and novices on September 29, 2015. They made their First Profession on August 14, 2017, and their Second on August 12, 2018.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Josefina loves to laugh with her beloved Sisters and to make them laugh! She also enjoys times of silence and solitude with her Beloved.
What Inspires Her:
The idea of denying one's self in order to put others first has been very helpful to Sr. Josefina as of late as she discovers more about the Mercedarian charism, which is to lay down one's life for those in danger of losing their faith.
Sr. Inés de Jesús Soto
Temporary Professed

Sr. Inés de Jesús Soto
Temporary Professed
Background:
Sr. Ines was born in a little town in Mexico to a big family, and always liked to be involved in church. She joined the community on January 30, 2014, and made her first vows on April 17, 2018.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Ines de Jesus enjoys her ministry because it gives her the opportunity to share God's love with the little ones and bring back their needs to our Lord during her adoration hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
What Inspires Her:
One thing that has been inspiring her lately is reading the book, "Roses Among Thorns" by St. Frances de Sales. It is truly revitalizing her spirit.
Sr. Yvelyne Marie Bernard
Temporary Professed

Sr. Yvelyne Marie Bernard
Temporary Professed
Background:
With three older sisters, Sr. Yve Marie is the baby of Haitian immigrants. She arrived at the convent on January 10, 2015, and on February 2, 2015, was officially received. On August 15th, 2018, she made her First Profession.
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Yve Marie loves fellowship with the community especially during Lectio Divina shared on Saturdays in preparation for the Sunday Mass. She also enjoys sharing time with priests and other friends from the Diocese.
What Inspires Her:
Consecrating the World by David Fagerburg (A book assigned for a class at the seminary this semester.)
Sr. Kathryne of the Holy Trinity Cornista Lopez
Temporary Professed

Sr. Kathryne of the Holy Trinity Cornista Lopez
Temporary Professed
Background:
Sr. Trinity grew up moving around a lot being in a Navy family. She had a significant encounter with the Lord in college and resolved to give her life to Him before she knew that this would lead her to become a sister.
Joined the community: August 5, 2015
Entrance to Postulancy: August 15, 2015
Entrance to Novitiate: September 24, 2016
First Profession of Vows: August 15, 2018
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Trinity loves that the community's daily life is centered around the Eucharist and follows a Eucharistic rhythm that begins the day with Holy Mass so that the sisters may bring Jesus into the world, then they come back from the apostolate to go to adoration and bring the world to Jesus - it's a total consecration of the day.
What Inspires Her:
Lately, Sr. Trinity has been inspired by the children she teaches in Catholic Doctrine classes because they lead her to come to a deeper awareness and growth of her spiritual motherhood.
Sr. Lourdes of the Holy Eucharist Rebecca Furnells
Temporary Professed

Sr. Lourdes of the Holy Eucharist Rebecca Furnells
Temporary Professed
Background:
Sr. Lourdes grew up in Florida to a Puerto Rican family where faith was the constant that would guide her decisions and lead her to answer a call to love as Christ in the deepest way she could.
Joined the Community: August 2, 2016
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Lourdes enjoys seeing and serving the Lord in her sisters each day through small favors, and especially through time in prayer for those in the apostolate.
What Inspires Her:
Lately, Sr. Lourdes has been inspired by the profundity of silence, which draws her into deeper unity with the Trinity and community in a mysterious way.
Sr. Raquel of the Holy Spirit Gutierrez
Temporary Professed

Sr. Raquel of the Holy Spirit Gutierrez
Temporary Professed
Background:
Sr. Raquel was born in Modesto, California and was raised in Riverbank, California. Her parents are originally from Mexico. She is the youngest of six siblings. In the midst of daily life, she felt a resounding call to leave everything behind in order to respond to God’s call.
Joined the Community: July 27, 2017
Highlight Of Daily Life:
The highlight of Sr. Raquel’s day is her daily Holy Hour with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. There she enters the realm of heaven, in the presence of the angels and communion of saints.
What Inspires Her:
Recently, Sr. Raquel is coming to the understanding that the Bible is God’s love letter. The more we pray, study, and contemplate His Word in Sacred Scripture, the more we can recognize His voice when He speaks to us.
Sr. Tonia of the Heart of Jesus Borsellino
Temporary Professed

Sr. Tonia of the Heart of Jesus Borsellino
Temporary Professed
Background:
Sr. Tonia was born into a classic Italian home and was always driven by a passion to search for the truth in all things, which eventually moved her to choose religious life over a career in Broadcast Journalism.
Joined the community: July 28th, 2017
Entrance to Postulancy: August 15, 2017
Entrance to Novitiate: September 24, 2018
First Profession of Vows: August 15, 2020
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Sr. Tonia loves the intellectual formation she's receiving in classes every day because it has opened her heart to understand more fully God's love that is fully present in the Church and in her life.
What Inspires Her:
Reading the lives of the young Carmelite saints (Sr. Teresa of the Andes, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. Elizabeth of the Trinity) who were heroic in their love for God.

Novices
Sr. Ashley Santora
First-Year Novice

Sr. Ashley Santora
First-Year Novice
Background:
Ashley Santora is the oldest of five and having gone to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the school run by the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, she developed a strong sense of community and reverence for the faith which brought her to discover a deeper call to serve the Lord. She is the first student to enter with the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in the United States.
Joined the Community: August 13, 2018
Entrance to Postulancy: August 15, 2018
Entrance to Novitiate: September 24, 2019
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Ashley loves working with the children and being able to share the love of Christ with them.
What Inspires Her:
One thing inspiring me lately is Lectio Divina.
Sr. Monica Waters
First-Year Novice

Sr. Monica Waters
First-Year Novice
Background:
Monica Waters is the second oldest of four, and was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. While delving into her faith more intensely, she discerned the Lord calling her to give of herself completely and to enter religious life.
Joined the Community: January 8, 2019
Entrance to Postulancy: January 9, 2019
Entrance to Novitiate: September 24, 2019
Highlight Of Daily Life:
I love getting to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as well as celebrate daily Mass in community.
What Inspires Her:
Trusting completely in God as my Savior and Creator, and learning to surrender completely to His love.
Postulants & Aspirants
Chelsea Parza
Postulant

Chelsea Parza
Postulant
Background:
Chelsea was born and raised in Florida within a close-knit Catholic Filipino household. Through a gradual strengthening of her faith in God’s tender mercy, she was able to recognize the call that God had placed on her heart to become his bride. After participating in college ministries, becoming a registered nurse, and continuing to strive for holiness, she chose to surrender to God’s plan.
Joined the Community: August 13, 2020
Entrance to Postulancy: August 14, 2020
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Chelsea cherishes her daily alone time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for one hour (after her cup of coffee, of course!)
What Inspires Her:
The laughter, singing, and community of the sisters reminds her that holiness is full of abundant joy in the Lord.
Grace Kupiszewski
Postulant

Grace Kupiszewski
Postulant
Background:
Grace was born in Orlando, Florida as the middle child of three. She has always had a desire to serve others in whatever way she could. This desire led her closer to God, the ultimate source of help, and to go from a career in physical therapy to religious life.
Joined the Community: August 13, 2020
Entrance to Postulancy: August 14, 2020
Highlight Of Daily Life:
Grace enjoys watching all the sisters file into the chapel to pray the Divine Office four times a day, and praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
What Inspires Her:
The daily reminder of God’s mercy and love in calling not just her to this vocation, but all her religious sisters.
