Meet some of the women and men who benefit from the Retirement Fund for Religious collection.
“The people were hungry to hear about God, and that would motivate me for the missionary work,” says Sister Gloria Rodríguez, a member of the Missionaries Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit in Los Angeles, California.
“At 3 a.m., you know that you’re praying for the world,” says Sister Perpetua Wawryk, a member of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (known as Trappistines) of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts. For more than 60 years of religious life, Sister Perpetua has been rising when most Americans are sleeping.
Sister Emilia Irene Lara, 85, a member of the Missionaries Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit, grew up in the wake of the Mexican Revolution. Although she often witnessed poverty and illness, her early years were happy and filled with faith and love.
“Forget yourself and just give yourself to God,” says Sister Cecile Jubinville, 97. “Whatever is hard won’t last forever.” A member of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (known as Trappistines) of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts, Sister Cecile has been giving herself to God for nearly 70 years of religious life.