Sister Isabel struggled leaving her mother, now dedicated to spiritual mother

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Sister Isabel López, PCI

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One of the hardest decisions that Sister Isabel López, PCI had to make was to leave her mother and become a Pax Christi Sister. She felt called to be a Pax Christi Sister when she and a friend went to a mission to visit and pray with the sisters near her home in Veracruz.

Sister Isabel was 24-years-old when she informed her mother of her decision. Her mother cried and asked her not to leave her. She and her mother were very close, so the decision to leave was not an easy one.

“I told God to give me a sign and he made me strong to decide,” Sister Isabel said.
Born in Veracruz, México to Juana and Francisco López, Sister Isabel was the third of four children. When she was a little girl she saw a group of nuns and knew she wanted to be one.

The first few years were hard. She missed her family and every time she went to visit them her mother was very sad.

Sister Isabel went through formation in Queretaro, México, where she received a degree in social work. From Queretaro she was assigned to a mission in Guanajuato, México.
Twenty years ago, the mission—which was situated in the mountains—did not offer much in the way of transportation, so the sisters traveled on horseback or rode on the back of a donkey to evangelize.

She went through her novitiate in Corpus Christi and made First Profession on June 4, 1990 in Corpus Christi. She studied English at Del Mar College and spent her summers in Puerto Rico learning theology.

For six years she was assigned to Front Royal, Virginia, preparing Spanish-speakers to receiving the sacraments. The following two years she was assigned to Michoacán, México.

She has traveled to Europe with Mother Teresa Santoyo, founder of the Pax Christi Institute, and went on pilgrimages to Greece and Rome.

For the past few years Sister Isabel has been the primary caregiver and companion to Mother Teresa, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago.

She and Mother Teresa have become very close. “She is a beautiful person, a peaceful person. She was always there for us. She gave all her life for us. Mother always told us, ‘to see God in all of us and in all people’,” Sister Isabel said.

“Sister Isabel is devoted to Mother Teresa Santoyo and cares for her 24-hours a day in the Motherhouse,” Mother Maria Elva Reyes, Superior General of the Pax Christi Sisters said.

It was not until 2013, while visiting her family on vacation, that Sister Isabel’s mother was finally able to let her go and give her the blessing she had longed for.

Sister Isabel said that her mother gave her a “strong hug” and said, “I pray for you to continue doing what you’re doing.” Her mother passed away a couple of months later.
Sister Isabel will celebrate 25 years of consecrated life at the Pax Christi Chapel on July 19 at 10 a.m. with a Mass and reception.