Sister Brigid O’Neill dies before her 103rd birthday

Sister Mary Brigid O’Neill, the eldest member of the congregation of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, eight days short of her 103rd birthday, died peacefully at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011. Sister Brigid lived a long and fruitful life, witnessing to the love and redeeming grace of the Incarnate Word, Jesus, during her earthly pilgrimage.

Sister Brigid, Margarite Elizabeth O’Neill, one of seven children of Dr. Patrick and Mary O’Neill, was born Nov. 3, 1908 on Schatzel Street in Corpus Christi, Texas. Margarite was baptized in the old St. Patrick’s Church, located on Tancahua and Antelope Street, by Monsignor Claude Jaillet. Margarite’s father was Corpus Christi’s first veterinarian, and her initial encounter with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament took place when she accompanied him on a visit to care for the Sisters’ cattle.

On Feb.11, 1924, Margarite entered Incarnate Word Convent. Approximately seven months later she received the habit and the name Sister Mary Brigid, beginning her novitiate year. On Sept. 2, 1925, Sister Brigid made her first profession of vows. She professed perpetual commitment 80 years ago, July 26, 1931.

A good steward of her multifaceted talents, Sister Brigid ministered to the people of God in various ways. She served the Benedictine community and the Corpus Christi College Academy students in food services for 27 years. She was cafeteria supervisor and homemaking teacher at Villa Maria High School in Brownsville and managed Incarnate Word Convent kitchen in Corpus Christi. She studied under well-known chefs in Colorado at St. Scholastica College in Canon City.Sister taught religious education classes at Incarnate Word Academy, Corpus Christi, and in other areas, including Rio Hondo, Olmito and Clarkwood.She served as Director of Sisters in formation at Incarnate Word Convent, and assisted in the permanent diaconate program for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Sister was an active member of the American Red Cross from 1983 to1989.

Sister Brigid began her prolific sculpting career in 1948 at age 40 when she picked up a pocket knife, a razor blade and some apple wood, and embarked on a career as an artist. Her sculpturing has been primarily religious in nature. It includes seven sets of Stations of the Cross, two in clay and five in wood. A set of these stations is installed at the Incarnate Word Convent Chapel in Corpus Christi. Others have been used in Corpus Christi Abbey in Sandia, Texas, and as far away as Peru. Sister Brigid is well known for the production of hundreds of handmade rosaries, and for the special technique she designed to make beads from rose petals. She also taught others, step by step, the process of rosary making. Sister designed and executed special works, including the Celtic design on the cross positioned above the altar at St. Patrick Church in Corpus Christi, and numerous hand-carved plaques, paintings, ceramics, and embossed metal plaques.

Sister’s artistic flair and creative genius, her proficiency in the Spanish language, and her love and appreciation for Mexican culture endeared her to the people of Brownsville and Matamoros. These attributes were also infused into Sister’s teaching techniques and they added a valuable dimension to the Villa Maria High School-Incarnate Word Academy annual “A Little Bit of Mexico” dance program, a traditional contribution to the famous Matamoros-Brownsville pre-Lenten Charro Days festivities.

During the last several years, Sister Brigid’s ministry has been primarily community and personal prayer, and gracious hospitality to visitors at the convent.She spent much time in chapel, prayingfor the needs of the Church and the world, and in intercession for members of her community, her family and friends.