Four women profess temporary vows to Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 22, 2007

The Rite of Temporary Profession was held on March 19 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City for four women entering the Sisters of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (LIHM).

The four women include Maria Geraldine Acosta of Toronto, Canada; Maria Korina Calamanco of South Sioux City, Neb.; Maria Monica Tamayo, graduate of West High School in Sioux City whose family now resides in South Sioux City; and Mary Patricia Wolpert of Sioux City and parishioner from Blessed Sacrament Parish.

The young women joined the procession into the church along with the LIHM Superior, Mother Carmela P. Garcia.

The ceremony was held on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary. Bishop R. Walker Nickless presided at the Mass. Father Edgardo Arellano, the Alliance of Holy Family International spiritual director, gave the homily.

During the homily, Father Arellano talked about St. Joseph, his faithfulness and that he was chaste.

"To be faithful today is to obey the word of God," said the priest. "Faith is also to believe in the real presence of the Lord."

He also spoke about the Eucharistic Congress and the vocations that come from the Eucharistic Congress.

Following the homily, the four women were called forward to kneel in front of the altar. Bishop Nickless questioned the candidates on their readiness to dedicate themselves to God and to seek perfect charity, accordingly to the Constitution of the Religious Community of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"My dear daughters, by water and the Holy Spirit, you have already been consecrated in God's service: are you resolved to unite yourself more closely with him by the new bond of religious profession to the Institute of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?" asked the bishop.

The women replied, "I am." The bishop proceeded to ask the women four other questions to which their response was the same.

"May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment before the day Christ Jesus," said Bishop Nickless.

Then three witnesses including the Superior General of the LIHM and two perpetually professed stood at the side of the altar to hear the profession of the four women. After the reading of the profession documents were signed by Mother Carmela and the Supreme Moderator.

Then came the presentation of the Insignia of the Religious Profession. The sponsor and parents of the newly professed sisters brought the habits to the women. The bishop blessed the veil and religious habit.

"Receive this veil which proclaims that you belong entirely to Christ the Lord and are dedicated to the service of the church," said Bishop Nickless. "God, you clothed your son with our mortal flesh in the chaste womb of the Virgin Mary. Give a rich blessing to these habits and grant that your servants who wear them on earth may be a sign of the resurrection to come and be clothed in glory of eternal life."

The candidates with their mothers and sponsors proceeded to the designated room to change into the religious habit. After changing, they processed to the altar to kneel.

Bishop Nickless, with the assistance of the Mother Carmela, led the imposition of the crucifix. The women were presented with crucifixes followed by the presentation of the LIHM Constitution.

"Receive the rule of the religious community of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and show in your whole life what you have faithfully learned," said Bishop Nickless.

Acceptance of the Superior General was presented by Mother Carmela.

"I, Mother Carmela P. Garcia, by the authority entrusted to me in the name of the church, accept the profession of vows you have made in our Religious Congregation of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary," said the superior general. "At this very moment, I commend you earnestly to God that you many fulfill your commitment which is united with the eucharistic sacrifice."

Mother Carmela then called each of the women by their Marian name. The newly professed each stood as their name was called and faced the people.

Their names are now Sister Maria Gema (Ma. Geraldine Acosta), Sister Maria Goretti (Ma. Korina Calamanco), Sister Maria Lordes (Ma. Monica Tamayo) and Sister Maria Theresa of Avila (Mary Wolpert). All of the newly professed sisters of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were welcomed with a round of applause.

The newly professed, their parents and sponsors brought up the offertory gifts.

Following communion Sister Maria Theresa of Avila (Mary Wolpert), thanked her parents, sponsors, Mother Carmela and the other sister, those gathered and others in the community for their prayers and for attending the ceremony.

Mother Carmela thanked Bishop Nickless and presented him with a gift.

The ceremony ended with comments and a blessing from Bishop Nickless.

"I thought it was very solemn, reverent and beautiful," said Sister Maria Theresa of Avila. "I am so grateful for everything."

She commented that the ceremony was held in Sioux City since three of the four women are from the Sioux City area.

"I am so overjoyed and speechless and so humbled at the same time," she said. "I thank God every day to persevere."

Dr. Paul Wolpert, father of the newly professed Sister Ma. Theresa, mentioned that he liked the ceremony.

The Sisters of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary mission house is in Dover, Del. The order originates from the Philippines. Sister Ma. Theresa will return to Dover after spending a few days in Sioux City.