How are the odds that four of seven children of one family enter religious life? And… even in the same congregation? And on top of it, two of them are now celebrating a jubilee anniversary here in Corpus Christi?
This is the case of the Brehony family from Sligo, Ireland. Sister Catherine Brehony, OVISS, now 94 years old, was the first to enter the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in Texas – following the example of her aunts and cousins, who joined in 1922 and 1929. Sr. Catherine is now 94 years old. She celebrates the 75th anniversary of her first vows.
Inspired by her, the second sister followed – she passed in 1996 and is preparing a place for the other three.
Sister Maria Elizabeth, who will turn 89 in April, celebrated her 70th anniversary last year. And now it’s the turn of Sister Colette, 87, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of her profession.
“I remember my aunts and cousins coming to visit – and they would play with us and talk about their life as a religious sister,” Sr. Colette remembers. It was attractive for the sisters, who came from a loving family where religion, education, and service played an essential role in the life of the parents, the six girls and one boy.
“From time to time, I thought about entering religious life, too, but I decided only in high school,” says Sr. Colette. Sr. Maria Elizabeth knew already as a child that she wanted to become a sister. At 16, Sr. Colette left home and professed her first vows at 17, joining the other three Brehony sisters: “They had to put up with all four of us!”
“When I arrived in Corpus Christi, I studied English, American Culture, and American History for one year,” she says. She needed to know the culture. She entered the formation with seven other young women of Czech, Irish, Hawaiian, and Hispanic backgrounds.
The move from the emerald island to Texas was a big one – “The weather was hot, so hot” – but she never regretted her leap of faith. “Life in community is life-giving,” she says.
After earning a master’s degree, she served as a teacher and principal in many Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Goliad schools. “Those were joyful years,” she says about Goliad. “I was teaching three grades together in one room. And the children learned so fast…”
After that time, she became the principal at Incarnate Word Academy for the Middle School level – “I survived twelve years,” she says with a twinkle in her eyes. Assignments in parishes followed, teaching religious education and RCIA to college students in Kingsville.
Her oldest sister was a dedicated Math teacher, and Sr. Maria Elizabeth lived for more than two years in a convent in Kenya. All three of them are now together in the convent in Corpus Christi.
Just recently, their order – formerly the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament with the initials IWBS after their name – joined other congregations originating to the same foundress and became an international order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, using OVISS for Ordo Verbi Incarnati et Sanctissimi Sacramenti. “Like Mary in Fiat, it is a new beginning,” says Sr. Colette. “My companions on the journey now reach much farther than my journey from Ireland to Texas. Now we have sisters in North and South America and Africa, ‘going out to all the world and telling the good news.’"
Sr. Colette is happy to celebrate her milestone. Three things are essential for her in her religious life: “Listen to the people; they have a lot to tell and give. Love the people… and serve them.”
Asked to sum up their life as a consecrated woman, they don’t have to think long: “Gratitude,” says Sr. Colette. “Happiness,” Sr. Catherine, and Sr. Maria Elizabeth, “Thanksgiving.”
On Sunday, February 4, the Church celebrates the World Day of Consecrated Life. All are invited to celebrate this gift at the 9:30 am Mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral, where 9 Jubilarians with 25-75 years of commitment will be honored.