Sister Maria Elizabeth Brehony reads through Bible scriptures with fourth grade students from Incarnate Word Academy. Sister Brehony is celebrating 60 years of service to her congregation, the sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

Nine religious sisters representing a combined 365 years of selfless service to God’s people will be honored at a special Jubilee Mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral on Sunday, Feb. 3, at 9:30 a.m. The celebration coincides with observance of World Day for Consecrated Life.

“As sisters, we’ve been given special gifts to be used for the benefit of the people of God. This is a chance to see the richness of the different charisms present, whether it’s through the ministry of administering a Catholic education, serving in a retirement home, parish or hospital; all bring the presence of God and his love in their own unique way,” Sister Annette Wagner, IWBS, director for the diocese’s Office of Consecrated Life, said.

Sister Annette, who has served 46 years herself, said the Mass–celebrated by Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey–also allows jubilarians to “come together for a day of spirituality, share in prayer and reflection on their vocation.”

“I’ve always wanted to be a sister,” said Sister Maria Elizabeth Brehony, IWBS, who will celebrate 60 years of service to her congregation and the Church. “When I was a small child I automatically thought everybody wanted to be a sister, and then my cousin exclaimed, ‘No, I don’t want to be one!’ Then I thought…well, isn’t that odd?”

Born and raised in Ireland, Sister Maria Elizabeth had two older sisters already serving in the United States with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. After she made the final decision in her third year of high school to join the same congregation, she traveled by boat to the United States.

“It took seven days and if you can imagine, it was quite an adventure for a 16-year-old girl,” she said. “One of the Incarnate Word sisters met me in New York City and from there we traveled by train to Texas. It was a culture shock. When we arrived in July of 1951, south Texas was in the middle of a typical heat wave.”

Sister Maria Elizabeth professed religious vows on April 18, 1953 and immediately began her teaching ministry. In 1994, she had the opportunity to serve in Kenya, East Africa, which was an “enlightening, grace-filled experience.”

“The country and people are so beautiful, yet they are surrounded by poverty. People live so simply. I noticed immediately they are always willing to wait–for transportation, food, medical attention. They are such giving, faith-filled people,” she said.

After returning from Kenya, she was involved in ministry at the Diocesan Center for Spiritual Direction. Sister Maria Elizabeth has also served in Port Isabel, Alice, Goliad, Rockport, Sinton and Brownsville. She has a long history of teaching in Catholic schools as a classroom teacher, and more than 20 years as elementary and middle school principal. She is currently involved in ministry in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Incarnate Word Elementary.

“I have been enriched and blessed abundantly during my years in religious life. I have always received much more than I have given,” she said.

Sister Maria Elizabeth sees the need for an increase in awareness for vocations and said prayer is the key to discernment for any young person thinking of a life dedicated to God.
“Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” she advised. “Find a friend or spiritual director that is supportive, will listen and be a prayerful guide, especially when fears and doubt arise, which are inevitable.”

“Fear can paralyze. Discernment of a religious vocation is a process and one must be patient and open to God’s will,” Sister Maria Elizabeth.

Another jubilarian, Sister Flaviana Macasling, OP, will celebrate 40 years of service.

Sister Flaviana Macasling, a music teacher at St. Anthony Catholic School in Robstown, celebrates her 40th year of service to her congregation. She has served the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic in the Philippines, Houston, Beeville and currently in Robstown. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

Born and raised in the Philippines, Sister Flaviana studied with the sisters of the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic all four years of high school. After one semester at college in Manila, she entered the convent at age 17.

“I was merely following the example of the sisters,” Sister Flaviana said. “With the grace of God and with prayers, sacrifices, I became closer to God. He did the rest.”

She received her Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas in Manila. She was teaching music at a Dominican College when she was sent to Texas in 1990, landing at St. Joseph Catholic School in Alice. Sister Flaviana also spent almost ten years at St. Jerome Catholic School in Houston, teaching music to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students.

In 2006 she was assigned to St. Anthony School in Robstown, where she currently teaches music.  “Music will always remind me of my childhood in the Philippines,” she said with a broad smile. “My father put the love of music in my heart from a very young age. I still remember the ballads he would sing. I always tell my students the music in your heart is the only thing you can bring with you to heaven.”

She stresses the importance of using God-given talents daily, especially the gift of music. Currently, her students are working on songs focused on the “Year of Faith” for a program to entertain Godparents and their loved ones involved in their Baptism.

Celebrating 40 years with her congregation, the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic, Sister Flaviana said she enjoys the life she has chosen.

“I live everyday to its fullest. I like to learn something new about a different saint everyday and the lives they lived. When I read about the suffering some saints endured, I think, I have nothing to complain about,” Sister Flaviana said.

Discerning a life dedicated to the Church might appear difficult for today’s youth, especially with the distractions cluttering our lives, Sister Flaviana said.

“We’re surrounded by material things. I understand why some young people might be afraid to enter religious life. They think they’ll lose everything, which is not the case,” she said, her eyes lit brightly, with a beaming smile. “We like to go to Fiesta Texas, too! Sisters like to have fun, just like everyone else.”

Other sisters celebrating jubilees during the Mass are Sister Mary Teresa Curran, Carmel DCJ, 65 years; Sister Michelle Marie Kuntscher, IWBS, and Sister Maria Purificacion Palis, OP, 50 Years; and Sister Guadalupe Therese Licea, PCI, Sister Bernadette Mangila, OP, Sister Raquel Newman, IWBS, and Sister Mary Anne Pagano, IWBS, 25 years.