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

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

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. 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

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

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.

M. Cristina Andrade Gaytan

Perpetually Professed Sister

Background:

I’m from Mexico City. My parents educated me in the Christian faith. I’m the youngest of four siblings. I studied for several years with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco). When I was eight years old I witnessed a profession of a Franciscan Sister. Her profession really impacted me and ever since that day, I felt attracted to consecrated life without having a clear idea of its significance. After studying and working for some years, when I was twenty-one years old, I joined the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Highlight Of Daily Life:

For me, to be in adoration is a gift. I reflect on the fact that many people would love to be able to adore our Lord in this way; however, they are unable to due to their obligations.

What Inspires Her:

On many occasions, I have asked myself, why am I so attracted to the Blessed Sacrament? I rejoice in being able to be in His presence, even though I am not worthy, I understand the mercy of God for me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. Carmen Medina

Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Martha Mendoza

Perpetually Professed Sister

Sr. Rosa Erlinda Pocasangre

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

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. 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!

Sr. Ana Galvan Monrreal

Perpetually Professed Sister

Background:

I was born in a small town call “El Chino” growing alongside 4 brothers and a twin sister. Having a big family taught me to be in community. I joined the community in 2002, took my First Vows in 2008, and took my Perpetual Vows in 2015.

Highlight Of Daily Life:

I love bringing God to others in the form of ministering young people in any way my capacities allow me.

What Inspires Her:

Living with my sisters (M. Teresita Paz and M. Rita Pinedo) has been and is so inspiring every day.

Ashley Santora

Postulant

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: Aug 13, 2018
Entrance to Postulancy: Aug. 15, 2018

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.

Monica Waters

Postulant

Background:

Joined the Community: January 8, 2019
Entrance to Postulancy: January 9, 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.

Mikala Edenfield

Postulant

Background:

I was raised in the rural, deep south of Lake City, Florida. Attending Catholic education from kindergarten to eighth grade, I started to form that deep desire for the Eucharist. With not being baptized Catholic and my family not being Catholic, I made the decision as an adult to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and entered fully into the Church at the Easter Vigil of 2016. Teaching and Jesus are my passions and I graduated from Saint Leo University with my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in April 2019.

Joined the community: August 8, 2019
Entrance to Postulancy: August 14, 2019

Highlight Of Daily Life:

Spending time with Jesus through spiritual reading and being involved with the community life with the sisters.

What Inspires Her:

Learning to live moment by moment with Jesus, “one prayerful step at a time.”