LINCOLN (SNR) – A celebration was held May 7 at the John XXIII Diocesan Center in Lincoln for Sister Maria Virginia de la Pasión who celebrated the 75th anniversary of her profession to the religious life.
The Passionist Sisters, or Hijas de la Pasión de Jesucristo y María Dolorosa (Daughters of the Passion of Jesus Christ and Sorrowful Mary) affectionately call Sister “Virgencita.”
Las Hijas de la Pasión de Jesucristo y María Dolorosa, were founded Feb. 2, 1896 by Italian Passionist missionary Father Diego Alberici and Maria Dolores Medina Zepeda. They are part of the Passionist Family founded by St. Paul of the Cross.
The kindness, joy, love, and hope for the Passionist life attracted the young María Consuelo Macedo Manzano; she was 17 years old when she was called to enter the convent of the Hijas de la Pasión de Jesucristo y María Dolorosa. She said the inspiration came from a nun and her parents’ example of faith and love for God.
María Consuelo Macedo Manzano was born in Pilcaya Guerrero, Mexico, Jan. 26, 1927, the second daughter of Jose Isabel Macedo and Bertha Manzano. She had three brothers – one a priest – and four sisters.
When she entered the Passionist convent, she desired wholeheartedly to consecrate herself to God. She received the name of Maria Virginia de la Pasión; she shared the joy of serving the Lord Jesus crucified and attracting souls to Him, along with her Passionist sisters as they prepared for their perpetual vows.
She made the profession of her first vows Dec. 25, 1947. She professed her perpetual vows five years later and remained in Mexico for six more years.
Sister Maria served in Wisconsin, Michigan, Connecticut, and Chicago, attending to priests and seminarians. She prayed for them and did cooking, laundry, and other jobs. She later worked in Hispanic apostolates in Dodge City, Kan., helping with the evangelization of families, catechizing children and adults, and visiting families’ houses.
In 2007 she arrived in Lincoln, where she continued her work with the Hispanic apostolate. She also served in Hastings.
Now retired and living in an assisted facility, Sister Maria continues her apostolate of prayer, spreading love, and attracting souls for Jesus. She makes phone calls and sends messages to families in the Cristo Rey Parish community in Lincoln to ask how they are doing and let them know she is praying for them.
