Missionary Sisters host closing celebration of 75th anniversary in Mexico
By Blanca Primm
In early December, seven members of the Diocese of Knoxville traveled to the city of Huamantla in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico, to celebrate the closing of the Jubilee Year for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes” (MAG).
The MAG Sisters have been doing missionary work with the Hispanic community in East Tennessee since 1993. Currently, Sisters Esther Ordoñez and Maria Luisa Morales carry out their apostolic work in the Five Rivers Deanery, particularly in the areas of Johnson City, Kingsport, Morristown, Greene-ville, and Mountain City, while Sisters Eloisa Torralba Aquino and Maria del Pilar Hinojosa work in the Chattanooga Deanery areas of Dunlap and Dayton.
This servant herself was part of the group, and I traveled as a delegate of Bishop Mark Beckman. For this special occasion, Bishop Beckman gave me a gift to take to the Sisters for their celebration. It was a beautiful olive wood sculpture of Jesus washing the feet of one of His Apostles.
Bishop Mark Beckman’s gift from his art collection to the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes” for their 75th Jubilee celebration.
This gesture of service and love for one’s neighbor that Jesus teaches us, captured in the sculpture and mirroring the Sisters’ charism of service in their apostolic ministry, highlights the spirituality and dedication of the Missionary Sisters. Upon receiving the gift, Mother Elvira Romano Carmona, superior general of the congregation, showing joyfulness and gratitude, said, “I will keep it in a place of honor.”
The other visitors from the Diocese of Knoxville were Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga; Corinne Henderson, a basilica parishioner; Liza Heath, a parishioner of St. Stephen in Chattanooga; Alma Vasquez, a member of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Immigrant Services Office and a parishioner of Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville; and Carmen and Jimmy Hill, also of Notre Dame Parish.
On Dec. 6, five members of the group who were still in Mexico City visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and were accompanied by Sister Eloisa Torralba, an excellent hostess and guide. The visit to the Shrine of the Virgin was undoubtedly a great blessing for us, who, except for Sister Eloisa and Ms. Vasquez, were visiting it for the first time.
We were going to see the miracle of the image of Our Lady printed on the tilma of St. Juan Diego, which is exposed for the millions of pilgrims who visit throughout the year, especially in the month of December. Although not from Mexico, I was personally very excited because I was finally going to see the image of a loving Mother who was calling me to be close to her, as well as to experience her welcome, her love, and her closeness to her Son whom she carries in her womb and for whom she asked to build a sacred house in the new continent.
To prepare my mind and heart for this moment I watched videos of Monsignor Eduardo Chavez, postulator of the Cause of St. Juan Diego and expert in the meaning of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the historical context of that time. I highly recommend the book that Monsignor Chavez wrote together with Carl Anderson, former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, titled Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Civilization of Love, an English publication and excellent for those who wish to know more about the meaning of the apparitions of Our Mother to St. Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac.
After having walked for about 20 minutes from the Sisters’ convent in Mexico City, then arriving at the Alameda del Peregrino, which is a central boulevard leading to the basilica and which was adorned with countless red poinsettias, we arrived at the Basilica of Guadalupe, located in a village of buildings and churches, each with a great history and significance. To the right was the hill of Tepeyac, which we went up after Mass. Sister Eloisa arranged for Father Carter to concelebrate the 11 a.m. Mass in the basilica. The concelebrating priests’ chairs behind the altar in the basilica are level with the original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
hose making the trip to Mexico from the United States included, standing, Father Carmelo Jimenez and Deacon Christopher Gutierrez from the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., Blanca Primm, Sister Elvira Romano Carmona, Father David Carter, Father Mark Watson from the Diocese of Shreveport, La.; and Father Paul Habing, from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill.; seated, Corinne Henderson, Bishop William F. Medley from Owensboro, Alma Vasquez, Liza Heath, and Rosalba Quiroz of the Diocese of Shreveport. Not pictured are Carmen and Jimmy Hill. (Photo courtesy Blanca Primm)
It was so exciting for us to participate in this Mass. At the same time it was very special for Father Carter, who shared, “I have always heard the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but as with most things, it doesn’t really come to full life until you set foot in the place where it actually happened. Walking up the little hill where the apparitions happened was a very wonderful spiritual experience. Concelebrating Mass so close to the actual image was an experience I will never forget. There was a real sense that Our Lady was surrounding us and embracing us with her love.”
Sharing this experience as a group was very important for each of us. “Going to the Basilica of Guadalupe was a highlight that I don’t think I would have ever been able to do on my own, and that meant so much to me to be with Sister Eloise, Father David, Corinne, Blanca, and Alma. I now have new friends and new experiences that will forever define my life and my devotion to the Catholic Church,” Ms. Heath said.
The main celebration and reason for the Sisters’ invitation was on Dec. 7, when the Eucharist of Thanksgiving for the 75th anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes” was celebrated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity in Huamantla.
Presiding at the Mass was Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, apostolic nuncio to Mexico, who said, “Today we want to thank God for these 75 years of life, certainly in the midst of many trials and difficulties but always trusting in God’s mercy.”
Referring to the psalm and the Gospel of St. Matthew 9:35-10 and 1:6-8, he continued, “We are called to renew our efforts to communicate God’s love to the whole world. This is your charism, dear missionary Sisters. God of infinite wisdom, who takes care of the stars but does not forget even the least of us and wants to be at the side of the humblest. It is clearly an invitation for all of us to imitate, to persevere in His love thanks to our actions. We are called to help our neighbor; this is your charism; you want to make the Lord known, accepted, and loved through your educational works, the works of charity and formation that you carry out here in Mexico, (Africa), the United States, and Italy.”
The Missionary Sisters’ charism is to bring the Gospel to people where Christ is not known and to preserve the faith in people who are already Christians. Their motto is Charitas Christi Urget Nos (The Charity of Christ Urges Us, 1 Corinthians 5:14).
In addition to the Knoxville delegation, attending the celebration was Bishop William F. Medley of the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., along with two members of the clergy there; two representatives from the Diocese of Shreveport; one priest from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., one priest from the Diocese of Orange, Calif.; Bishop Stefano Russo of the Diocese of Velletri Lazio, Italy, who traveled with a priest and a married couple who were friends of the Sisters; and two bishops from Mexico, Bishop Julio Cesar Salcedo of the Diocese of Tlaxcala and Bishop Roberto Madrigal of the Diocese of Tuxpan Veracruz. There were nine priests present.
After the Mass we returned to the convent for a special banquet with cake, live music, and a beautiful musical program. “Musicians and dancers from various parts of Mexico performed. My favorites were the performances of the children who are students of schools where the Sisters serve,” Ms. Henderson said.
The Missionary Sisters’ convent was peaceful and joyful at the same time. An inviting dining room space was used to celebrate as a community.
“For about two decades, I have been blessed to work on various projects with the Missionary Mothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ‘Ad Gentes.’ Together we have shared many moments of joy, as well as sad and tragic situations in our community. The Mothers’ convent in Huamantla, Mexico, is a beautiful place, full of nature, prayer, and community work. You feel the embrace of spirituality, you experience a deep and comforting peace,” said Ms. Vasquez, who is with the Office of Immigrant Services at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.
Mrs. Hill, who serves as secretary at Notre Dame Church, and her husband, Jimmy, were impressed with the MAG Sisters’ hospitality, which was a touch of their love to all their guests.
Members of the Diocese of Knoxville delegation, including Sister Eloisa Torralba Aquino, MAG, Father David Carter, Blanca Primm, Liza Heath, Corinne Henderson, and Alma Vasquez made a pilgrimage to the site where the apparitions of the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico. (Photo courtesy Blanca Primm)
“All the Mothers and Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus treated us in a heavenly way that we felt at home from the moment we got to Mexico. They took care of us with care and kindness. Getting up at 6 a.m. to experience hours of prayers, celebrating Mass by Bishop Russo, we felt privileged for all the moments that God gave us,” Mrs. Hill said.
“The little town of Huamantla can be likened to any number of towns in East Tennessee, even like Chattanooga. It goes to show that great things can come from little places,” Father Carter shared.
The morning after the celebration, Father Carter also concelebrated Mass in the convent’s chapel for the Sisters and their visitors. It was the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
“A highlight of my visit was being able to preach to the Sisters gathered on Sunday at Mass. There is nothing quite as intimidating as trying to preach to a congregation of Sisters who are probably holier and smarter than I am. But I was able to speak to them about Our Lady in the middle of the season of Advent, and so Our Lady’s smile made it all happen wonderfully well,” Father Carter said.
After saying goodbye to the Sisters at the convent, Sisters Pilar, Eloisa, and Esther Ordoñez took us to Puebla and from there to Mexico City. We all fell in love with Puebla, whose cathedral has nothing to envy of the great cathedrals of Italy.
Ms. Henderson shared that “While traveling from Huamantla to Puebla with the Sisters, Sister Pilar told us that we were in her hometown, and she asked for prayers for her deceased parents. We all joined in prayer as we traveled.”
We were blessed with this opportunity, and we thank God for the presence of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes” in the Diocese of Knoxville.
Blanca Primm is the director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Knoxville.
