Opportunity to do God’s work fills lives with an abundance of blessings

Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS writes a regular column for the South Texas Catholic. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS first knew she wanted to become a nun at just nine years old, when a cousin visited her home in Ireland regaling her family with fascinating details about her life as a sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.

Now, after 65 years of service to the church, Sister Kathleen is one of 13 religious who will commemorate their jubilee anniversary on World Day of Consecrated Life, Feb. 2, at a 9:30 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Mulvey in the Corpus Christi Cathedral.

“World Day for Consecrated Life is the most appropriate day to celebrate the Jubilees of those living a vowed life,” said Sister Annette Wagner, director of the diocesan office for Consecrated Life.

When Sister Kathleen was 13 she received a letter from her cousin that changed her life. Sister Baptist, her father’s first cousin, wrote that she would visit Ireland four years hence and if she was truly interested in returning to Texas with her, she should get her visa and passport paperwork in order.

“‘But Texas is so far’,” Sister Kathleen recalled her mother lamenting, when at just 17 years old and was ready to leave Ireland for the United States. “I was a junior in high school, but not knowing when Sister Baptist would return to Ireland again, I was determined to leave with her so I could begin my new, faith-filled life.”

Sister Kathleen chuckled and remembered with great fondness her father’s reply to her mother’s initial concern: “You’ve been praying for all your children to become priests and sisters, you can’t expect God will let you choose when and where they will serve, do you?”

Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS receives communion from Pope Paul VI. Contributed Photo

Sister Kathleen has two sisters who serve with the Holy Faith order and two brothers who are priests. She has numerous aunts and cousins who also chose a religious life, including two cousins who are fellow IWBS sisters: Sister Mary Catherine Brehony and Sister Mary Colette Brehony.

Finishing high school in Texas, she took her official vows in 1949 and almost immediately started working on her college degree in English. Eventually, she went on to receive two masters degrees, as well: one in mathematics and the other in theology.

Over the next 13 years, Sister Kathleen taught at Catholic elementary and high schools in Brownsville and Corpus Christi. Shortly after receiving her degree in theology, she was selected to travel to France and Italy for the summer over many years for a special research project.

“It was an honor to be chosen by my peers to conduct special research on our foundress, Jeanne Chezard de Matel,” she said. During that time, she learned several new languages, including Latin, French and Italian.

Sister Kathleen, a longtime contributor to the South Texas Catholic, has contributed much to putting together the documentation needed for the effort to advance the canonization of Sister Jeanne Chezard. Among her many accomplishments is having been named the first religious—who was not a priest—as Director of Consecrated Life for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. She also was a member of the first teaching staff for the inaugural class of deacons in the diocese.

One of the highlights of her service was an opportunity in 1977 to meet up with her religious siblings in Rome.

“It was the first time we were all together in many, many years,” she said. “And one of my brothers had a special surprise; we were all to receive communion from Pope Paul VI himself!” To this day, her greatest treasure is a photo taken at the exact moment she is receiving communion from the pope.

“I reflect over my 65 years and realize how truly wonderful God has been to me. I had a unique opportunity to become an adult at a convent and that part of my life is something I will treasure always,” she said. “I hope young people will consider a vocation. The opportunity to do God’s work will fill your life with an abundance of blessings too numerous to count.”

Other religious celebrating their jubilees at the Feb. 2 Mass include: Pax Christi Institute Sisters Guadalupe Cervantes and Patricia Zuniga, both celebrating 25 years; Sister Elsa Joseph, SABS celebrating 40 years; Sister Elizabeth Close, IWBS, Sister Celia Hernandez, MJMJ and Sister Lydia Plastas, SFCC all observing 50 years in religious life; IWBS Sisters Mary Lelia Aguilar, Mary Colette Brehony, Mary Camelia Herlihy and Martha Ann Snapka observing 60 years of service; in addition to Sister Kathleen, Sister Mary Catherine Brehony, IWBS, is also celebrating 65 years; and Sister Anselm Till, IWBS is celebrating her 75th jubilee.

“We thank God for these women who have offered themselves in service to the People of God, and we thank these sisters for their daily commitment to use their gifts in service of others,” Sister Annette said. “Through their availability, selflessness and daily effort to share the Good News—each in her own unique way—they all have enriched the church of Corpus Christi in its individual members and as a community.”