2026 Jubilarian Celebrating 75 Years
Sister Carmen Teresa was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico and was drawn to religious life as a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity because of the love of the poor that was made manifest in the daily lives of the MSBT Sisters. She describes it as, “a deep and authentic love from the heart, especially for children and families.”
She witnessed and was shaped by the the MSBT charism in her early years in Puerto Rico. MSBT’s, Sr. Maria Magdalena, Sr. Maria Ines and Sr. Maria Cristina prepared her for the Sacrament of First Communion at Our Lady of Valvanera School in Coamo. Later, her family moved to Brooklyn, New York where her father came in search of a better job to sustain the family. One Sunday at Mass, she noticed a Sister dressed as the ones she knew in Coamo and went up to meet her, an MSBT. Two of Carmen Teresa’s friends had been invited by Sr. Rose Clement to go to Philadelphia to meet Mother Mary Francis, and Carmen Teresa went with them. Following the visit, she received a letter from Mother inviting her to “come and see”.
Over the years, Sr. Carmen Teresa has served at Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain, OH; St. Bridget’s Parish in Newark, NJ; Santa Bernadita Parish in San Juan, PR; started a new mission in Michoacan, MX; served in the Chapel at the Motherhouse in Philadelphia, PA; served in parish ministry in California and Florida; at Centros Sor Isolina Ferré in Ponce, PR; Parroquia El Buen Pastor and Servicios Sociales Católicos in Mayaquez, PR; and at Blessed Trinity Missionary Cenacle in El Comandante, San Juan, PR.
Sr. Carmen Teresa marvels at how God has used her as His instrument to touch the lives of so many people with His love, His kindness and His mercy. She never imaged that her life as an MSBT would take her to so many places across the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico, “Me…”, she says, “a jibarita (country girl) from the mountains of Coamo, Puerto Rico!”
Sr. Carmen Teresa is grateful to the most Holy Triune God for calling her to serve Him as a “Trinitarian Sister”, a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity, for all these years and be faithful, with His grace, until eternity.