Sister Colette: Willing to share talents generously wherever needed

Sister Colette Brehony, IWBS comes from a family of women that embraced religious life. Three sisters—Sisters Catherine, Rita and Maria Elizabeth, two aunts and three cousins were members of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.

“I was blessed with the faith, love, example and support of my family,” Sister Colette said. “I treasure the memories of the happy times, the joys and the sorrows we all shared.”

She was born Agnes Josephine, the seventh child of John and Catherine Anne McDonagh Brehony, of Riverstown, County Sligo, Ireland. She received her early education at National Elementary School and Mercy Secondary School in Sligo and joined her sisters, aunts and cousins in Corpus Christi in 1952 to pursue her dream as a religious sister.

Sister Colette was accepted as a candidate of IWBS on Sept. 2, 1952 and began her novitiate on June 3, 1953. She took her first vows on July 31, 1954 and made her perpetual vows on Aug. 17, 1958.

Sister Colette received her bachelor’s degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, majoring in history and social studies. She completed graduate work at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, where she earned a master’s degree in education, with a concentration in administration. Sister Colette continued educational pursuits, enrolling in courses from the Pastoral Institute at St. Thomas University in Houston, St. Mary’s University and Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio and Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Her ministry experience in the Catholic school system includes work in Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Laredo and Goliad. Her assignments led her to a number of schools, including Incarnate Word Academy in Brownsville and St. Patrick, Sacred Heart, Cathedral School, Central Catholic, Christ the King and Incarnate Word Junior High in Corpus Christi.

Sister Colette held the position of principal at Blessed Sacrament School in Laredo, as well as schools in Corpus Christi, including Cathedral and Sacred Heart–and Central Catholic after these two schools merged, Christ the King and Incarnate Word Junior High School. During her tenure at Christ the King School she was a member of the Finance and Parish Councils. In Laredo Sister Colette served on the school board of Blessed Sacrament School and in Corpus Christi she served as a board member of Incarnate Word Academy for many years.

She was Director of Religious Education at St. Gertrude Parish in Kingsville for 12 years, and was also commissioned as a Eucharistic Minister in the parish. She was also active in various state and national education groups, such as, the Texas Catholic Conference, National Catholic Educational Association, Pax Christi and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Membership in commissions and committees of the Congregation, including those of education, ministry, justice and peace and on-going formation, exemplify Sister Colette’s willingness to share her talents generously wherever she is needed. She has served as a delegate to the General Chapter of the Congregation and served on the planning committee for the chapter at various times. She was elected to the Leadership Team of the Congregation in 1992 and again in 1996, serving two four-year terms. During that time she was an active member of the Regional Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

After her service at St. Gertrude Parish in Kingsville, Sister Colette retired from the DRE position and moved to Corpus Christi where she was appointed sister-in-charge at Incarnate Word Motherhouse.

“It has been a great privilege to be a member of a religious community dedicated to Jesus, the Incarnate Word,” Sister Colette said. “My life is doubly blessed with my community sharing and the loving support I received in my work in parishes and schools. I always enjoyed my ministry, in whatever I was doing or wherever I was sent. It has been a great journey.”