Sister Mary Carmen was one of first SOLT sisters

Sister Mary Carmen Sandoval, SOLT celebrates her 50th anniversary this year as a consecrated religious sister in the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. As one of the first SOLT sisters, she has seen her association grow from just a handful of priests, brothers, sisters and lay faithful into a society of diocesan rite with hundreds of members and thousands of associates that reaches out to 12 countries throughout the world.

Sister Mary Carmen began her life near the town of Mora, New Mexico which is tucked in the picturesque Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Her parents named her Margarita Sandoval. As the fifth of nine children who helped their parents farm the land and tend to the animals, she was an athletic girl and an expert horseback rider. Her family attended Mass every Sunday at St. Gertrude’s Parish.

After she graduated from high school, she attended college then moved out to California to find work. Having been devoted to a life of deep prayer even as a young girl, she continued to practice her faith as a young adult. She walked several miles to attend Mass since she had no car. She regularly prayed the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross and read many books about the Catholic faith. In her parish, she taught catechism classes, prepared children for first communion, and was an active member of the Legion of Mary. The pastor of her parish observed her dedication and faithfulness, and his enthusiastic recommendation accompanied her when she answered God’s call to live as a consecrated sister.

Sister Mary Carmen began her formation in New Mexico with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in 1964 and continued during the relocation to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri that same year. She made her first profession of vows in 1966. 

Shortly after, she was sent to serve the indigenous people of the Zinaconteco tribe in Chiapas, Mexico. After three years of mission work in Mexico, she returned to Kansas City and received another mission assignment to assist with the religious formation of young women who were desiring to enter consecrated life through SOLT.

Sister Mary Carmen’s work in the formation of young women for consecrated life led her to be part of a team within SOLT that traveled around and ministered to migrant workers in a variety of regions and states.

“The local Spanish-speaking and migrant people needed a model of courage and encouragement in living and giving witness to their Catholic faith and love of God and to be proud of and share their cultural heritage and traditions,” said Father Vincent Albano, SOLT, recounting Sister Mary Carmen’s role on the migrant worker team that started out based in the Diocese of Brownsville. “Sister Carmen provided inspiration, encouragement and strong leadership among her own sisters and migrant team members as well as for the non Spanish-speaking people with whom they lived with and with whom they were in contact within their communities.”

Eventually, Sister Mary Carmen was assigned to Robstown where she served in parish pastoral work. She continues to live in Robstown and is being cared for in her advanced age by her fellow SOLT sisters.