Celebrating our Catholic Sisters

March 11, 2025

By New Outlook

This week the Catholic Church celebrates our religious sisters. In the Diocese of Tucson, we are blessed to have 65 Sisters representing 17 religious orders.

Sisters have had a presence in Arizona since before statehood and before the diocese was formally established. Among the first were the Sisters of Saint Joseph Carondelet dating back to 1880 when the order established Saint Mary’s Hospital, which still exists to this day. Unfortunately, this past January the order left Tucson, when the two sisters, Sr. Dorothy Ann Lesher CSJ and Sr. Noelle O'Shea CSJ returned to their mother house in California. Their impact though will last for generations and forever be etched into our diocese’s history.

Today you can find Sisters at a handful of our Catholic schools and others supporting various ministries throughout the diocese. For example, Sister Lois Paha, OP, an Adrian Dominican Sister, is the Director of Pastoral Services, Formation, and Liturgy for the diocese. A sister for more than 60 years, she fondly recalls how the Holy Spirit called her to the Church, “When I was growing up in Chicago, we lived a block away from a Poor Claire Monastery of Franciscan Sisters. My mother would take us to visit the Chapel, and I would hear beautiful singing. It was most likely the Cloistered Sisters chanting their prayers. When I started first grade at the Catholic School, I was interested in the Sisters who were teaching and I also loved to go to Mass, which was part of the daily schedule. I would say God used both of those opportunities to instill my desire to become a sister at an early age. The desire and idea never left me. I entered the community of Adrian Dominican Sisters and followed the pathway of teaching, living the Dominican life of Prayer, Community, Ministry and Study, the four pillars of Dominican life. My Dominican life has given me blessings and opportunity to share my faith and love for God and God’s people in ministry.” As Sister Lois nears retirement, she encourages young women to explore a vocation to religious life, “My call to women today is to listen to the ways that God has led to be blessed and happy and follow that path. You will not be disappointed!”

In Sonoita at the Santa Rita Abbey, a monastery, Sister Victoria Murray is the prioress; she is with the Order of Cistercian of the Strict Observance. Affectionately known as Sister Vicki, she never misses an opportunity to share how deeply belonging to Christ in a monastic consecration can be, “I love belonging to Christ in the monastic life! It is a joy to live a simple life centered on Christ through prayer and the service of others and know that God can take my offering and use it for the good of the world. His love can do all things!” Late last year, a Tucson filmmaker premiered Final Vows, a documentary featuring the community at Santa Rita Abbey. Sister Vicki said, “I am grateful beyond words for God's call and his mercy.”

Sister Gladys Echenique, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Oakford, who works in the Office of Hispanic Ministry said, “For me, religious life is a loving and faithful response to God's invitation. In embracing this call, I have discovered profound peace, meaning, and a joy that springs from walking intimately with Christ and serving God's people. Above all, religious life is a sacred commitment, an offering of one's whole self in fidelity and service to the Church and the world. It is a vocation grounded in deep communion with Christ, where each day becomes an opportunity to embody the Gospel with joy, simplicity, and love. Fidelity in this life is not a mere duty, but a daily "yes" to God's love, a response expressed through prayer, community, and mission. It is a path of service, not for recognition, but for the transformation of hearts, beginning with our own, through a humble and dedication to the Body of Christ.”

At Immaculate Heart Academy, one of the Catholic schools in the diocese, Sister Veronica Loya serves as the principal. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary originated in Spain. The order places an emphasis on education, evangelization, and prayer for the conversion of souls. Sister Veronica will celebrate 24 years in May, “Saying ‘yes’ to God’s call to serve as a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has been the best decision I have ever made. Living a life of prayer in community is a blessing and it is a daily calling to be the best person I can be. With God’s grace, I have an opportunity to say ‘yes’ to this calling every day. I am blessed to serve children and families alongside the best teachers and staff members in the Diocese of Tucson. I would do it all over again!”

It’s a similar sentiment for Sister Jeanne Bartholomeaux S.C., with the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, “Every time I reflect on my life journey, I become more aware that God’s call to Religious Life came first at Baptism. My life became particularly blessed as I grew into the understanding that God’s invitation was to Religious Life as a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill.” Sister Jeanne is a native of Tucson and has served in the Dioceses of Tucson and Phoenix for 49 of her 60 years that she has a been a Sister. “When I accepted this direction for my future and placed my life in God’s hand, I followed God’s way into varied challenges and surprising experiences of service for 60 years now.  My life has been richly blessed in the many ministries that are part of my story – art, education, parish service, community and diocesan administration, and faithful presence where possible,” she said. Beyond her vocation she’s enjoyed a true sisterhood, “One of the gifts from this way of living is found in the people I have been privileged to share time with through the years.  With the support of my sisters in community and God’s grace, I have known joy and blessings. God’s dream for me is so far beyond anything I imagined.” Sister Jeanne is the Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Tucson, “For those discerning their vocation, consider the possibility that God may be calling you to the unique journey of Consecrated Religious life. We are all praying for you as you discern God’s will for you.”