Summer 2024 – Three Sisters Go Home to God

Summer 2024 – Three Sisters Go Home to God

Three of our Sisters went home to God this summer: Sisters Kate, Jacqui and Margarita – two of them on the very same day, and the third exactly four weeks later! We are grateful to God for the lives of our beloved Sisters, most especially for the years in which they lived in our midst. We all have many memories to cherish. Below are Mother Vicki’s eulogies in honor of our beloved Sisters.

Eulogy for our Sisters Jacqui and Kate

“I have chosen the way of faithfulness.” – a stanza from psalm 119 that captures some of the beauty of our sisters Jacqui and Kate. They walked with God in their earthly journeys that led each of them, through their faithfulness to the Spirit, from different communities and countries to the desert southwest and the hill country of Sonoita and Santa Rita Abbey, where they settled in and came to be ‘lovers of the community and of the place.’ Both of them loved the high desert, though snakes were not on that list. The mountains and vistas, however, were at the top.

Jacqui’s journey began in England where she was born and where she entered our monastery of Stapehill /Whitland. She served at our generalate in Rome for a while and when she returned to Whitland, she was elected abbess. After she retired from that office, she came to us. Jacqui had a deep love of liturgy and especially the chant. She loved choir and came to every Office until it was no longer possible because of her declining health. She was our faithful archivist, sorter of altar breads, helper at various typing and clerical jobs. In the past few months, her declining health sent her to a nursing home for a short time and from there, in the company of some of her sisters, she entered into the fullness of eternal life where I am sure she is singing to God, face to face, happy as a lark.

 

Kate’s journey began with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Philadelphia. In time, she got her degree in nursing and served in that community as nurse to the older sisters, something that she loved very much. The Spirit led her to the contemplative life and she entered the Cistercian community of Our Lady of the Mississippi and eventually came to Santa Rita Abbey. Her bright, bubbly spirit and deep faith in God filled all the different ways that she served the community. She helped in the infirmary and worked at our altar bread department, but her favorite job was working outside on the grounds among the flowers and other growing things. A few years before her earthly journey ended, she developed Alzheimer’s and eventually went to a memory care unit in the same nursing home where Jacqui would later come. She endeared herself to the staff and residents with her caring, loving presence.

 

Jacqui and Kate were friends, with all the ups and downs that friendship brings. Their faithful journeys to God led them to the same nursing home where, on the same day, their transitus to the Lord brought them, within nine hours of each one’s passing, together into the Heart of God.
We miss them, to be sure. But how beautiful that two journeys, faithfully lived, brought them together into Heart of God!

 

Eulogy for Sr. Margarita

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) These words of Jesus filled every nook and cranny in Sr. Margarita’s being and were near and dear to her. So much so, that she asked if they could be put on her memorial card when the time came for her to pass into the fullness of eternal life. They describe a life given to God, and through that given-ness, to all with whom she came in contact. She radiated God’s compassion and gentleness, strength and courage, humor, and a life that bubbled over into care and concern for others.

Margarita was born Margaret Walsh in New York State in 1940. It was from her home in East Aurora that she entered the Daughters of Charity in 1960 and served as a nurse in various areas of health care and infant care in the States and in Bolivia. Her years of service in the Altiplano among the people were full of adventure and stories that kept us rapt in wonder, and full of laughter at her description of learning new skills such as riding donkeys, especially the ones which had minds of their own. She lived life in Christ abundantly in care of the poor and less privileged.

Over the years, she began to hunger for a life given to God in the monastic life and so in 1994 she entered Santa Rita Abbey. She served as our nurse, as the retreat house director, as portress. And who of us can forget the fresh bread with which she spoiled us on a regular basis! She also worked many years in the altar bread bakery where she became adept at both mixing and baking. She was full of gentle smiles, a helping hand, a good word for those in need – and loved by all.

Soon all the years of labor for God took its toll on her body and her health began to fail. The one service she could still do was to answer our phone. Her compassion and solid counsel made her beloved by all. In recent months she became bedridden and from her room at the nursing home, her gentle spirit greeted those who served her there. At last, God beckoned to her to share eternally in the abundant life in the recesses of his heart. She who lived life abundantly in Jesus here is now in life that is infinite and in all embracing in love.