Sister Josie Ramirez Mendoza ASC

Sister Josie Ramirez Mendoza of El Paso, Texas, participates in a Christmas tradition, a novena, called Las Posadas. "For nine nights," she explains, "the procession travels from house to house. Each night we go to a different house in a different neighborhood reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for lodging in Bethlehem on that Holy night." The procession - complete with costumes and sometimes even a donkey - builds from stop to stop with great celebration that includes music, prayer, food and drink.

"The owner of the last house on our journey must be very generous indeed because our group is usually quite large by then," said Sister Josie with a characteristic laugh that comes easily and often. "The ninth house family greets and welcomes the pilgrims into their home, sharing food and hot drinks, including tamales, chocolate, atole, champurrado, etc."

The story of Las Posadas nicely reflects Sister Josie's abundant energy, uplifting spirituality and Hispanic heritage. Raised in a small town called Malaga 20 miles south of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Sister Josie grew up in the nurturing arms of a large extended family that included her parents, six siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and lots of cousins. "We lived in a rural area," said Sister Josie, "so we spent a lot of time outside. On Sundays, I would jump cotton bales with my friends until the owners chased us away. We also used to go swimming in the nearby Black and Pecos rivers."

"Sister Josie is very humble and really doesn't like to talk much about herself," said Sister Diana Rawlings, National Vocation Director for the Adorers of the Blood of Christ . "But she has this deep, abiding love for her people and wants a better life for them. Her passion touches everyone around her, igniting her chosen ministry of working with young people and their families," she said.

Sister Josie's interest in her church and community started early in life. "I used to get kids together to go bike riding, visit the Carlsbad Caverns, or participate in worship activities," she said. "We were also very familiar with the Adorers," recalled Sister Josie, "as they ran St. Francis Hospital in Carlsbad." But her call to religious life didn't take shape until she returned home from a summer stint babysitting for her aunt in California at the age of 19. "I was just hanging around, looking for a job, when I met our former Sister Margarita Armandariz," Sister Josie recalls. "She asked me if there were any other kids around that would be interested in a weekly Bible class?"

As fate would have it, Sister Margarita had a profound effect on young Josie. Their relationship deepened as Sister Margarita invited her to help with the religious education classes. Sister Josie participated in workshops and a Vocation Day for young women organized by Sister Margarita. The turning point came when Sister Margarita told Josie that the Adorers were planning to open a House of Formation in Carlsbad. "We hope that more Hispanic women will be interested in religious life if they can stay close to home," Sister Margarita told Josie. "Will you keep our project in your prayers?" she asked Josie. "Later I called Sister Margarita twice and hung up both times before I finally had the courage to call again and tell her I was interested in trying a religious life," remembered Sister Josie.

In August 1977, Josie Ramirez Mendoza joined with another Hispanic woman, Maria Idala Munoz from El Paso, Texas as the first two women to join the ASC House of Formation in Carlsbad. Three years later with the love and support of her parents who proudly looked on, Sister Josie took her first vows in Wichita, Kansas. "I am very grateful to Sister Margarita," said Sister Josie. "She understood how important it was for Hispanic women to have the support of their family in this decision. She did this by witnessing in our parish, and by getting to know my family through visits and meals. All along, she guided me but never pushed...God was doing the leading," added Sister Josie.

During the 20 years since then, Sister Josie has grown and flourished in a life dedicated to the charism of the Precious Blood. Touched profoundly by many of her early experiences with the Adorers, Sister Josie felt drawn to a ministry with youth and young adults. "At a parish in Fabens, Texas," said Josie, "I did a lot of home visits and found that I often didn't know where to send people for help. It was then that I requested to finish my education as a social worker." Today, Sister Josie is a licensed caseworker at Family Services of El Paso, Texas, helping young women and their families with pre-natal and primary health care, financial planning, and domestic violence and anger management. She is also working toward her Masters in Counseling at Webster University, based in St. Louis, Missouri. Her educational achievements are remarkable given the less-than-adequate public education Sister Josie received in her hometown.

Those that know Sister Josie are deeply moved by the quiet respect and genuine concern that she shows for everyone regardless of their station in life. Yet, when called to action, Sister Josie can be fierce in defending her convictions. Sister Diana tells this story: "Josie was arrested by the border police for aiding a Mexican family. It wasn't funny then," said Diana, "but I laugh now when I think how troubled Josie was about the way the people were treated when SHE was the one in jail."

Sister Josie also sits on the USA Adorers Vocational Committee with hopes that she can someday introduce more Hispanic women to religious life. "Many Hispanic women have come through my office over the years," said Sister Josie. "When they find out that I am a Sister, I often hear "Oh, I wanted to be a sister but my parents didn't let me try." The key to reaching Hispanic women, according to Sister Josie, "is to be a strong witnesses for the entire family... and not just the immediate family, but the extended family as well."

As she looks to the future, Sister Josie would like to organize vocational workshops for Hispanic women that would "give us the opportunity to share the spirituality of the Precious Blood." To that end, Sister Josie is spearheading workshops in the El Paso area. She has also started an ASC Associate group in El Paso. Said Sister Josie: "The blood of Christ, the crucified Jesus, speaks to our people because of the struggles many of us have experienced. His giving his all for us inspires us with great hope. I think that is why the Adorer charism has so much to offer Hispanic women interested in a life of religious service."

US Mission Center, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, 877-272-1870 Vocation Office, 1400 South Sheridan Rd., Wichita, KS  67213 - Telephone: 877-ADORERS (877-236-7377) (Copyright 2005 Adorers of the Blood of Christ)