Heritage

Mexico

When young Lucina Moreno and her family were expelled from Mexico in 1927 for practicing their faith, she could not have imagined the journey that lay ahead for her. She entered the Congregation of Divine Providence in 1929, took the name Sister Mary Rachel, made vows as a Sister in 1934, and began her life in ministry as a teacher. In time she studied social work and engaged in training teachers.

Sister Mary Rachel Moreno
In the early 1950s Father Pedro Moctezuma, Vicar General of the Diocese of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and longtime friend of Sister Rachel, sent an urgent appeal to Mother Angelique Ayres and the Sisters of Divine Providence to provide instruction and training for young Mexican women to do catechetical work. Sister Rachel had previously asked Mother Angelique about opening a house in Mexico. In 1953 after visiting Mexico, Mother Angelique agreed to provide training for the young catechists. Five young women recruited by Father Moctezuma came to San Antonio to be trained by Sister Rachel.

Mexican Branch of the CDPs
Originally these young women did not intend to become vowed religious, but in time they expressed the desire to become Sisters of Divine Providence. In 1957 Sister Rachel went to Mexico to establish the CDP foundation. There she worked closely with the young women who had been trained by her in San Antonio. These five eventually formed the nucleus of the Mexico branch of the CDPs in Texas. As their numbers increased, they accepted calls to the dioceses of Queretaro, Mexico City, Saltillo, Tehuantepec, and San Cristobal.

Much as Mother St. Andrew’s courage led to the establishment of the Sisters of Divine Providence in Texas, Sister Rachel’s aspirations and foresight helped to create this new work of the Congregation in Mexico. The ministry of the Sisters in Mexico has expanded the vision of the Congregation and its presence to the poor of the world.