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June 25, 2024The monastery in Sonoita is mourning the loss of two Sisters who passed away on Monday, June 3, 2024. The Cistercian Sisters, Sr. Jacqueline Moor, OCSO, and Sr. Catherine Mehlmann, OCSO, died while at the same nursing facility in Tucson.
The two Sisters died hours apart, the Santa Rita Abbey Facebook page read, “A mystery of Divine Providence that they should pass away on the same day, not nine hours apart!”This week, the monastery shared Mother Vicki’s eulogy for Sister Jacqui and Sister Kate. Join us in praying for the Sisters and the Santa Rita Abbey community.
Sr. Catherine Mehlmann, OCSO was affectionately known as Sister 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!
Sr. Jacqueline Moor, OCSO, was affectionately known as Sister Jacqui.
