Maria de Jesus Vázquez – Sr. M. Agnes
In 1954, following the Founder’s words, a property was purchased to build the future community of the Pious Disciples in Mexico. Starting in poverty but full of joy and trust, encouraged by Father Alberione, the first sisters settled in Mixcoac, waiting for the means to construct the new building!
Due to this trusting disposition, the Lord began to manifest His providence in the vocational field. On December 8, 1955, the first young women called by the Divine Master arrived to be part of the very first community in Mexico; there were six girls, and today, among us, we still have Sr. M. Paolina Beltrán Vargas and Sr. M. Agnes Vázquez Guillén. With these young women, the doors of our Congregation opened in Mexican reality, where the Divine Master started blessing us with numerous vocations.
Let’s meet Sr. Agnes, who still resides in Mexico! Maria de Jesus was born on March 9, 1941, and just three days later, on the 12th, she received Baptism in Puruándiro, Michoacán. At the age of 14, on December 8, 1955, she joined the Congregation, and on January 6, 1959, she entered the novitiate. Subsequently, she made her first profession on January 6, 1960, and perpetual profession on January 6, 1965, in Caracas, Venezuela.
Sr. M. Agnes actively contributed to the construction and opening of our houses (Divine Master House in Mexico City, San Pedrito, Tlaquepaque, and Jalisco), as well as the beginning of our Eucharistic-priestly-liturgical mission, both in Mexico and Venezuela. As one of the first vocations in our country, she had the grace to work directly with the first founding sisters. In the Liturgical Center, she collaborated with Mother Inés Andrés, in the ssp seminary in Taxqueña, and with Mother Ignazia Bellagamba, from whom she preserves beautiful experiences, especially generosity, enthusiasm, and faith.
Regarding the early days of our Congregation in Mexico, she recalls:
“We did everything. We went to the center with Mother Lorenzina and Mother Inés Andrés. We even went to the Spanish hospital to sell the medals brought by the Mothers from Italy to earn some money. I remember when Mother Franca Fanelli arrived to teach us how to embroider because, until then, we didn’t know how. So we learned the first stitches from her to start living this apostolate. Then, Mother Franca stayed with us, becoming our formator.
In our little house in Mixcoac, there was a small garden, and during recreation, we played Chinese checkers. Since we had borrowed the house, we didn’t have much space for activities. However, we grew a lot in that house, and it was always too tight in terms of space. The corridor had been transformed into a dining room where we set up a screen to separate it and have a space for welcoming. Being very young, we liked to joke and had a lot of fun! I fondly remember and sincerely thank the Lord for the beautiful presence of Father Giovanni Bandini and Father Corrado Santi, two Pauline priests who welcomed us warmly and always showed their appreciation for us. They loved us very much and always found opportunities to provide for the young women in formation. These are beautiful memories that I cherish in my heart, and when I share them, I can only smile and look back with gratitude.
The Mexican Province thanks God for the testimony of our dear sister, who has been a pillar of our Disciples vocation. Today, after 62 years of consecrated life, she continues to convey to all our brothers and sisters in faith, with the enthusiasm of the women who encountered the dawn, that the Lord is alive among us.