Sister Helga makes final vows

On July 30, Sister Helga Leija, IWBS, of Corpus Christi celebrated her final vows of religious profession during the Eucharist Liturgy held at St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Brownsville, Texas.

Sister Helga professed her final vows of celibate chastity, poverty and obedience to God in and through membership in the IWBS Congregation.

Bishop Emeritus Raymundo J. Peña celebrated the Mass.

Born in Brownsville and raised in Matamoros, Sister Helga joined the IWBS convent in Corpus Christi in 2004. After completing her formation years of pre-novitiate, novitiate and temporary vows, she dedicated herself to living the vows according to the Incarnate Word charism and spirituality.

Sister Helga was 19 when she first thought about religious life. She met the IWBS Sisters while studying in Brownsville where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Translation Studies at the University of Texas at Brownsville. She hopes to complete her Master of Arts in Theology at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Sister Helga has taught at the elementary level, and Spanish and theology classes at the high school level.

"In a homily, a local priest recently said that the church in the Valley needs vocations from this area because it is precisely border people who know our songs, our culture and how we express our love for God," Sister Helga said. "I am proud to be a border woman. I have responded with a 'yes' that continues to grow as it is nourished by our people from Brownsville and Matamoros. Their love strengthens me and their songs give me joy. My prayer is that other women may listen to the call of God and join us in singing a song for God."

IWBS Sisters began their service in South Texas in 1853 in Brownsville. Nearly 20 years later, in 1871, three IWBS Sisters went from Brownsville to Corpus Christi to open a convent and school there.

"Sister Helga's profession of final commitment in Brownsville has special significance for us," said Sister Michelle Marie Kuntscher, Superior General of IWBS. "Since our beginnings, the relationships we have shared among the people of the border cities of Brownsville and Matamoros have forged a community experience of oneness."