‘Sister Patrice has a beautiful, thoughtful and kind spirit’

Sister Mary Patrice Floyd

"God’s call to consecrated life offered me the opportunity to spread the love of the Incarnate Word throughout the various areas of Texas,” said Sister Mary Patrice Floyd, a sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. “God has blessed me, as a sister, to help bring the people I meet and work with closer to him and his most holy mother.”

Her parents, Franklin Jay and Rita Gollihar Floyd, named her Joyce Ann. She was born in Corpus Christi and was baptized at the old St. Patrick Cathedral. She received her elementary education at Incarnate Word Academy and Christ the King, the family’s parish, and Incarnate Word Academy High School, graduating in 1957.

She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on Sept. 7, 1962, and made first profession of vows at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi on June 5, 1965. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 2, 1969.

Sister Patrice studied at Del Mar College, at St. Louis University in Missouri and Texas A&I University in Kingsville. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in 1965 and a master’s degree, with a major in education, in 1975. She did post-graduate work in counseling and theology at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

Sister Patrice served in three different dioceses, including Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Fort Worth. In Corpus Christi she served as a teacher and administrator at Cathedral, Christ the King, Most Precious Blood, St. Pius X, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart and Incarnate Word Junior High School, which she was instrumental in opening.

In the Archdiocese of San Antonio she served as principal of St. Ann’s School and in the Diocese of Fort Worth she was Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and interim principal of All Saints School. Sister Patrice was also instrumental in opening St. Matthew School in San Antonio and South Arlington Catholic School, now known as Holy Rosary School.

In 1985, Sister Patrice was awarded the National Award for Excellence in education while she was principal at St. Patrick School in Corpus Christi. She was nominated for top 100 USA Principals in Today’s Catholic Teacher. Sister Patrice also served as accreditation chairperson and team member for schools in Rockport, Alice, Dallas, El Paso and Corpus Christi.

Sister Patrice has served as chair and member of numerous committees and commissions of the congregation, and as an elected delegate to the congregation’s General Chapter. Presently Sister Patrice volunteers her services as seamstress for the sisters and takes her turn in the front office for phone duty at the motherhouse. She also does volunteer work at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi.

In January 2013, Sister Patrice was elected parliamentarian of the Corpus Christi Driscoll Children’s’ Hospital Auxiliary Council and Recording Secretary of District 3 Auxiliary Hospitals Council. Once a month she meets with the Theresians, a group of ladies who gather at Incarnate Word Convent for Mass, spiritual classes and faith sharing.

Reflecting upon Sister Patrice’s gifts and talents, Sister Elizabeth Close said, “Sister Patrice has a beautiful, thoughtful and kind spirit. On many occasions, of her own initiative, she has sewed aprons, small cloths, maps and books for use in the Montessori classrooms. I appreciate her generosity and kindness of heart.”

“For the past 50 years, I have had the opportunity to serve my sisters in community, my friends and family as an Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sister. I was privileged to be instrumental in the education of the young children of Texas in many cities,” Sister Patrice said. “I especially wish to thank the sisters in my community, as well as my family and friends for their support and love during the last 50-plus years. May we all continue to spread the love of the Incarnate Word throughout the world.”