Sister Monica de la Rosa, IWBS celebrated her 60th anniversary of religious profession, and Sister Mary Louise Mount, IWBS, and Sister Jo Ann Saenz, IWBS, were honored on their 25th anniversary at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi on Saturday, May 12. Msgr. Thomas Feeney, convent chaplain, was the principal celebrant of the Mass, with Msgr. Louis Kihneman, III concelebrating.
Sister Monica was born on Sept. 23, 1930 to Tomas and Petra Castillo de la Rosa in Brownsville, Texas. She was named Maria Gloria when she was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church in Brownsville. Maria Gloria was confirmed at Sacred Heart Church in Corpus Christi by Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina, D. D. The greater part of her early education took place in Corpus Christi, where she graduated from eighth grade at Sacred Heart School and received her high school diploma from Incarnate Word Academy.
Gloria entered Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi, on Sept. 2, 1950, and at the beginning of the novitiate stage, March 10, 1951, she assumed her religious name, Sister Mary Monica. Sister Monica professed first vows on April 19, 1952, and made her perpetual profession on June 4, 1955. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville and a Texas teacher certification in the area of elementary education.
Sister Monica’s service in ministry includes teaching at Immaculate Conception and St. Francis Schools in Brownsville, Santa Rosa de Lima School in Benavides, Our Lady of Victory School in Beeville, Corpus Christi Cathedral, Sacred Heart, St. Patrick and Christ the King Schools in Corpus Christi. Each year sister helped the school children master Mexican dances for the Mexican fiesta.
For many years, Sister Monica was engaged in Confraternity of Christian Doctrine work. She taught CCD in Corpus Christi, Beeville, Goliad, Edroy, Odem, Tynan, Benavides, Skidmore and Pettus. Sister was also involved in family ministry and participated as a devout member of the Cursillistas. She served on various Commissions of the Congregation, namely Ongoing Formation, Health, Apostolate and Community Life Commissions.
Sister was appointed sister-in-charge at various convents, including Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Victory, St. Patrick and Christ the King.
For relaxation, Sister Monica enjoys music, fishing, cooking, painting, crocheting and other activities pertaining to art. In recent years, due to serious health conditions, sister’s participation in active ministry has been curtailed. Ministry now includes prayer for the needs of the Church and the world, and offering her suffering for the good of the community and for the faithful departed.
Sister Mary Louise, born Mary Louise Jackson on Oct. 31, 1926, in Houston, is the daughter of the late Francis Harold Jackson and Edna Emaline Wilson Jackson. She spent her early years in Houston, where she attended elementary through high school and beauty school, and where she was active in the Methodist Church.
In l944, Mary Louise married and became a working wife and mother of six children. After the death of her husband, she became a convert to Catholicism, making her Profession of Faith and receiving the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation on April 10, 1982, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin.
Sister said that she believes her experience of praying in a variety of faith traditions was God’s way of preparing her for entry into a Church whose very name means “universal.” Sister Mary Louise was moved to consider religious life by the testimony of a sister during a charismatic meeting. How wonderful it would be, she thought, to spend all of ones time in the service of God. After having spent six months in the discernment phase, she entered Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi on Feb. 11, 1986 and received the religious habit, becoming a novice in August of that year. Sister made her first profession of vows Aug. 8, 1987 and professed perpetual vows Aug. 18, 1990.
Throughout her life, Sister Mary Louise has experienced great joy, as well as deep pain, suffering, loss and sorrow–and new life based on her love for the Incarnate Word. Her greatest suffering involved the death of four of her six children. She has been blessed with strong faith in God’s love and providence, which helps her to deal with suffering, and to experience peace with the painful events which have taken place. Hospitality and compassion are special gifts which Sister Mary Louise offers to those who meet her.
On Jan. 12, 1985, she received recognition for the completion of 20 years with World Book, Inc. In addition to the accomplishments she attained prior to her coming to the convent, sister served as director of the infirmary at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi and engaged in sewing, decorating and other domestic works of the community.
Sister was an active member of the Incarnate Word Sisters’ task force for homeless and mentally ill persons, and was instrumental in the formation of Metro Ministries’ Rustic House. She was a member of the local, state and national levels of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill and served on the executive board of Nueces County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center as well as on the executive board of Metro Ministries
Sister Mary Louise published her autobiography under the title “All of the Best and the Best of All.” She said in her book, “I have come full circle. I have had all the best and the best of all, for His Kingdom is, indeed best of all, and it begins right here on earth.”
Sister Mary Louise is confined to a wheelchair, but she enjoys independent mobility; she is willing to be of assistance to her sisters and others in need. She looks upon her calling as being “in solidarity with the poor, the homeless, and the mentally ill.” Sister is grateful for her family and her religious community. She considers herself blessed to be a member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, and is grateful to God for the 25 years she has spent as a sister.
Sister Jo Ann Saenz is the daughter of Ramiro Garcia Saenz and the late Valentina Calderon Saenz of Robstown. She received her elementary education in Robstown and graduated from Robstown High School. Her career objective was to pursue a nutritive food service career.
She entered Incarnate Word Convent on Feb. 11, 1985, after spending some time in the House of Discernment under the direction of Sister Kathleen McDonagh. She said that her initial contact with the Incarnate Word Sisters was through Sisters Nancy Angel and Rosemary Lichnovsky. Sister Catherine Brehony helped her further in discernment of the call to serve the Incarnate Word.
The sense of “at home” was one of her first responses upon her arrival at the Motherhouse. After completing the initial phase, Jo Ann began her novitiate Dec. 31, 1985. She professed first vows on June 13, 1987 and made perpetual profession of vows on July 27, 1991.
Sister Jo Ann attended Del Mar College, working toward an Associates of Applied Sciences degree in Restaurant Management. She completed basic courses in auto mechanics and received certification in religious studies, in youth ministry and liturgy. She studied at Texas A & I University in Kingsville, working toward a degree in elementary education.
Sister Jo Ann’s has been involved in various in ministries, including food management at Incarnate Word Convent, music ministry, service as convent receptionist, teaching reading to adults and working in Catholic schools. She served at Incarnate Word Elementary in Corpus Christi, St. Elizabeth School and Parish in Alice, St. Gertrude School in Kingsville and St. Anthony School in Robstown. Duties in these schools covered assisting with physical education, coaching girls’ basketball and volleyball teams, track and field instruction, music and youth ministry, physical education instruction and serving as bus driver.
Sister has also done missionary work in Arteaga, Coahuila, Mexico, and worked at Camp Corpus Christi in Medina, Texas. She has been a board member of the American Red Cross in Corpus Christi. Sister was nominated Volunteer of the Year in 2011. She volunteered with the hospice program at Christus Spohn Hospital, and presently volunteers at the Corpus Christi Literacy Council and is involved in the Cursillo Movement.
She serves as receptionist at Incarnate Word Motherhouse, and is an out-of-town driver for the sisters. Sister Jo Ann enjoys spending leisure time playing the guitar and singing. Among her hobbies are archery and electronic games.
On the congregational level, Sister Jo Ann has dedicated her services and expertise on the vocation and liturgical ad hoc committees. She is a delegate for the Congregation’s 2012 General Chapter.
In reference to her goals in life, Sister Jo Ann said, “God has given me many talents and I am very grateful and willing to share them.” She views herself and the Incarnate Word community witnessing as women religious in the world today, in classrooms, youth ministry, religious education, parish and social work and most of all through their visible presence to the people of God.