Sr M Lucía Paniagua Asanza
Gifted with a refined artistic sense, she worked in various art fields: music, singing, painting, embroidery, and metalwork. She loved the mission of Eucharistic, priestly, and liturgical service and was dedicated to it from the beginning.
She was part of the first group of novices in Mexico, the first to take vows in our country. Sister Lucía remembers that the early days of our congregation in Mexico were marked by a spirit of joy, limitless generosity, sacrifice, and poverty, like Jesus in the manger.
From a young age, she was raised in the faith by her parents, participating in the sacraments, learning catechism, and enjoying night adoration with Morning prayer, a devotion she learned from her father, who was the president of Night Adoration.
At the age of 10, she wanted to become a nun, a dream that came true when she met the PDDM through two Pauline priests from her hometown. Expressing her desire to join, Mother Crisantina Coletta and Lorenzina came to her house to pick her up. After a long journey, she arrived with the nuns on the night of October 26, 1956, when the congregation had been in Mexico for only four years.
Sister Lucía recounts:
“My first impression of the house was beautiful. I remember it with affection and emotion. Everyone was waiting for us. There were nine girls already part of the first group, who greeted and welcomed us warmly, even applauding as we arrived. I felt deeply moved as they shared their experiences, and I felt as if I had always lived there, surrounded by a sense of family and deep joy. Now, reading this experience, I believe it was the grace of those early days that made me feel this way.
I felt at home, learning daily tasks both there and in the house of the Pauline Fathers. I learned embroidery, helped in the kitchen, and did everything asked of me. Since it was the beginning, we didn’t yet have our own house. The Italian sisters told us we were building one and invited us to work hard to raise funds for its construction, which we did with great enthusiasm.
Gradually, many vocations came, and we could no longer stay in that small house in Mixcoac. We were cramped and had no more space. The following year, in June 1957, we moved to our new house, the first one we owned in Mexico. We were overjoyed, jumping with excitement as we arrived. We immediately started cleaning and arranging it to make it beautiful.
Soon after, many vocations continued to come, with groups of 5-12 young girls. Don Héctor, the first Mexican Pauline priest, helped us a lot with vocations. We were very happy to welcome so many young people into our home.
I continued to work in embroidery. Mother Franca Fanelli taught us all her techniques, and many of us learned, prayed, and shared our vocation in the workshop. In 1959, I became a novice, and in 1960, I took my vows. We wore white because we were the first to do so. After my vows, I continued to work in the seminary and embroidery workshop. Soon, Sister Ma. Teresita Lechuga (+) and I were the first to study Sacred Music.
In 1975, as we were the first Mexican professed sisters, they sent the whole group to Rome. We were delighted to be there and to meet the Madre Maestra, celebrating 15 years of profession with great joy.
I stayed in Italy for eight years, helping in the Pauline seminary. I enjoyed assisting elderly priests and sharing my vocation with novices and professed members. I was happy to contribute to this aspect of our mission.
Now, for some years, I have been part of the Divine Master Community, the house I saw being born, growing, and becoming what it is today. I carry out my apostolate by painting, crocheting, and playing the organ in the chapel, sharing the gift of music and singing that the Lord has given me.
I remember with joy how I arrived with great enthusiasm and never wanted to return to my family because I am very happy in my vocation as a Pious Disciple of the Divine Master. I am infinitely grateful to God for this beautiful vocation and wish that many young women could be as happy as I am, alongside the Divine Master.”
The Lord Jesus called our sister definitively to Himself on 5 December 2023, in the DM community in Mexico City.