Sister María de los Ángeles professes final vows

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Sister María de los Ángeles, PCI, was just six-years old when she knew she wanted to give her life to God.

At a retreat before her first Communion she experienced a joy and peace and in her own words “la presencia de Dios.” Now at age 24, Sister María made her final profession of vows at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Church. Friends and her community of Pax Christi Sisters shared in her joy at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey on June 7.

In his homily Bishop Mulvey spoke of the meaning of Pax Christi, which is Latin for Peace of Christ, and the seemingly impossible responsibility to bring peace to the world. “Jesus Christ, Son of God would not ask what was impossible,” he said.

“Jesus is peace. Be peacemakers in your family, work, church, diocese and communities,” Bishop Mulvey said.

Sister María was born in Querétaro, México to Juan and Agustina Zepeda. She is one of five children and her parents are very devoted to God and their church. Her parents wanted her to be happy. Although sad to see her go, they gave her their blessing. She has not seen them in four years.

At age 16 she began her discernment with the Pax Christi Sisters. Sister María chose the Pax Christi Sisters because of the happiness and peace she felt in the house and their missionary work helping the poor.

While discerning, she graduated high school, taught CCD, helped with special retreats during Holy Week and gave talks to youth groups. When she turned 18 she was able to make her first profession of temporary vows.

During the next five years she continued studying the Bible and learned psychology, philosophy and theology. While reaching out to minister to the poor in south Texas, she also helped with retreats at the Pax Christi Retreat Center in Brenham, Texas.

The Pax Christi Sisters charism is contemplative and apostolic. They help the poor by providing food and clothing. The sisters serve at Saint Mary’s Mission in Corpus Christi, provide vocation retreats and operate a religious goods store.

Their Pax Christi Liturgical Retreat Center is planned for completion in the summer of 2014. The sisters see the mission of this center as a commitment to strengthen the faith of participants, by sharing the values of the Pax Christi spirituality, “Oneness in the Lord.” Their mission is to create a sacred place where Christ may be encountered and faith renewed.

The Pax Christi Sisters have ministered to the poor in the Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Brenham, the Diocese of Arlington Virginia–where they have their house of studies, the Bronx, New York and in two Mexican dioceses, Querétaro and Michoacán.