Sister Mary Gloria

I am continuing a series on Catholic Sisters, nuns with whom I have had the pleasure and honor of working with here in Central Texas. I have been taking selections from different religious communities and what they have in common is extraordinary faith, talent, competence and generosity. They are a blessing to Central Texas and to the Universal Church.

Today, I call your attention to the wonderful work of Sister Mary Gloria Mar, FMA. That means that she is a Salesian Sister of St. John Bosco.

Inmy opinion, Sister Gloria is a great sign of hope in today’s Church. One of the great causes of sadness in my own life is that as the Church has been restricted and slowed down by internal conflicts over the last 30 or 40 years, as Catholics have started to identify themselves as liberal or conservative, and we became too internalized and concerned about the problems in our own parishes and dioceses. And while the missionary thrust, which flows from the very nature of the Church itself, has not been eliminated, it has certainly slowed down. Sister Gloria is a sign that we are beginning to make a turn.

Sister Gloria and her Salesian Sisters are really building up a program of lay missioners to bring the message of Jesus Christ to different parts of the planet, especially poor places, such as Haiti, the Sudan and Ethiopia through a program called VIDES (Volunteers In Development, Education, Solidarity). It thrills me that the leadership is being generated right here in little ole Austin, Texas. Sister Gloria has over the last few years sent at least 200 young people into challenging situations in 40 countries. They are real missionaries and certainly very real Christian heroes. I thank God for the VIDES volunteers, for the Salesians and for Sister Gloria.

I feel a little awkward in only being able to post the stories of six or eight of these great nuns, but it is important that we realize that each of them symbolizes the hundreds and even the thousands who are behind them expanding and continuing their work.

If you know anybody who would like to volunteer or for more information, please contact Sister Gloria at director@vides.us, 2109 East Second Street, Austin, Texas 78702, (512) 320-1913.

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4 Responses to “In Austin, Yes But With A World View”

1. Sister Mary Gloria Mar, FMA says:

   May 11, 2012 at 11:45 am

   Thanks a million dear Bishop McCarthy for your wisdom and love, and for your encouraging words promoting VIDES. It certainly keeps me young to serve with such awesome young adult missioners who join our organization to share their time, talent, and treasure to make a difference in the world!
2. Switzer Deason says:

   May 13, 2012 at 4:57 pm

   I greatly appreciated your highly favorable comments on Sister Maria Gloria, VIDES and they work they are accomplishing. On short-term notice, I tried to rearrange my personal schedule to go to Santo Domingo for several months this spring to help with the bakery they were putting together for the poor to generate income by selling bread loaves, but didn’t make it . . . but maybe I’ll make the next opportunity.

   Thanks again for all that you complimented them with.

   switzer
3. Switzer Deason says:

   May 13, 2012 at 4:58 pm

   I greatly appreciated your highly favorable comments on Sister Maria Gloria, VIDES and the work they are accomplishing. On short-term notice, I tried to rearrange my personal schedule to go to Santo Domingo for several months this spring to help with the bakery they were putting together for the poor to generate income by selling bread loaves, but didn’t make it . . . but maybe I’ll make the next opportunity.

   Thanks again for all that you complimented them with.

   switzer
4. Bishop John says:

   June 28, 2012 at 2:33 pm

   Sr. Maria Gloria,
   The work of VIDES that you have so effectively fostered is making this battered world a much better place. May God give you the strength to keep moving forward!
   John