Sister Aurora

I am 35 years old and grew up in Mesquite, Mexico, a small rural village of about 220 people. My parents still live there, where my father works in agriculture, administrating a collective farm.  I am their only daughter; I have four brothers.

Since my early teens, I had been very active in the various ministries in my church:  catechist, sacramental preparation, youth director and music coordinator.   Scripture studies and participating in religious devotions and retreats have always been very important for my life.

I first became acquainted with the Franciscan Sisters when they began ministry in my parish in San Rafael, Mexico in 2003.  As I worked with them, I was inspired by their spirit of prayer and generosity, and especially how they served the poor.  More and more, I felt a call to their way of life, so I began living with the Sisters to experience their life, and to further discern, which led me to joining them as a postulant in 2007.

I entered the novitiate on August 11, 2008, at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls. After spending my first year of novitiate in Minnesota, I have returned to Potosi, Mexico, where I am making my canonical novitiate year, together with Sister Maria Isabel, under the direction of our Sister Rose Mae Rausch, our novice minister. I am grateful to have this time to dedicate to prayer, deepen my relationship with God and learn about and live the Franciscan way of life with the Sisters. 

Sister Maria Isabel

I was born in Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in a family of seven sisters and two brothers.  My parents,  Pablo and Bartolo grew up in this town.   In my town we did not have a priest nor a parish until I was 18 years old, but my parents passed on to me a firm faith and an appreciation of the sacraments, the value service, respect, truth, solidarity, and the value of family.

Because of this, even as a child, I always found joy in serving others and helping those in need and shared my life, my faith, and my experience of God's love with others.  This is what brought me to make the decision to consecrate my life as a religious missionary.

I had heard of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, and their life and mission in the parish of San Rafael, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  I felt a very strong call from God to join them. I became a postulant on October 9, 2008.

On the feast of Franciscan Saint Anthony of Padua, June 13, 2009, I was received into the novitiate.  During mass in Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, MN,  Sister Mary Obowa, Community Minister, received me in the name of my Franciscan community, with these words:  "I do receive you, Isabel...knowing that God's faithful love and the support of your Sisters in community will be with you in your daily endeavor to follow this call from God."   I was very touched when the Sisters sang the Blessing of St. Francis over me.

I am now in Potosi, Mexico, where I am in the novitiate with Sister Aurora.  During this time I am continuing in my spiritual growth and religious formation, developing an intimate union with God, gaining an appreciative understanding of the history and spirit of the Congregation, and a clear grasp of the nature of the vowed life in the Church.

To live in a Franciscan community is to learn to live joyfully, simply, and with humility in service and in community.  I give thanks to God for this Franciscan community, for their life and their ministry, and I am also grateful to the Sisters for giving me this opportunity to walk with them.