By Michael Motes

A “Help Wanted” notice sent out almost two years ago finally brought response with the recent arrival in the archdiocese of two Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (MSBT).

The search for Sisters to work with the ever growing Hispanic population of the archdiocese began when Father Richard Kieran, whose close work with the Spanish is evident through his involvement with the Cursillo Movement, wrote to the MSBT Motherhouse inquiring if any nuns were available to work with religious education in Atlanta.

Since work among the Spanish-speaking is one of the top priorities of the religious order, a search was begun for someone to fill Father Kieran’s request.

Sisters Theresa Ahern and Lourdes Theresa Toro arrived in Atlanta in late August and officially reported to work the first of September.

Sister Theresa is working with adult religious education among the Spanish-speaking on the archdiocesan level and Sister Lourdes is involved in youth ministry with Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Cathedral of Christ the King parishes. Both are coordinating their efforts through the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education.

In addition to her religious education work, Sister Theresa will be serving as Spanish News Coordinator for the GEORGIA BULLETIN and in this capacity will be responsible for the weekly Spanish column that appears in the publication.

A native of Brooklyn, Sister Theresa has been a member of the MSBT Order since 1957 and has served as pastoral coordinator of religious education for the Spanish-speaking and as co-director of the Diocesan Office for the Spanish-speaking apostolate in the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Prior to her work in Worcester, she served in various cities in the Spanish-speaking apostolate and spent seven years in Puerto Rico working in pastoral ministry.

Sister Theresa says that high on her list of personal priorities in her chosen apostolate is “the enabling of the laity in their pursuit of involvement in the Church in all ways possible.”

She also works to “enhance the Christian community’s seeking and fulfilling of its basic commitments through adult and family oriented programs.”

“And, above all,” she says, “the particular work in the Spanish-speaking community.”

Sister Lourdes worked in conjunction with Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of San Juan in her native Puerto Rico before joining the MSBT Order in 1973. In her earlier job, she was involved with a program for the development of community in poor areas of the city of San Juan and was active in youth ministry on the parish level.

Since entering the order, she has worked with youth groups “to develop their faith and promote their Christian values.”

Both Sisters agree that there is a great need for their apostolate to the Spanish-speaking community. One of the problems they cite is the lack of trained personnel.

“Right now, we are getting to know the people,” Sister Lourdes says. “We are trying to see what the people want and need and what we can do to fulfill this need.”

“We certainly don’t want to appear to be outsiders moving into the Spanish-community,” echoes Sister Theresa. “It takes time to become part of the community and this is what we are attempting to do now.”

The Sisters say that, theoretically, “We work ourselves right out of a job! Our Order stresses that no long commitment can be made to one single task. Therefore, we work to establish a program and once it is flourishing, we move on to a new assignment.”

Sister Theresa says, “I am trying to be very careful in finding out what needs to be done. Currently, both of us are trying to make as many contacts as possible among the leaders of various archdiocesan Spanish-speaking groups, such as the Women’s Cursillo and the Secretariat, the combined English-Spanish Cursillo group.”

Sister Lourdes wants to get involved with youth groups and would like to see the formation of a SEARCH group for the Spanish.

“So often, however,” she says, “the youth are much more interested in English-speaking groups. We hope that they will not forget their Spanish heritage and that we can do something further to remind them of this.”

Both Sisters will be participating in a workshop for Spanish-speaking leaders of various groups in the archdiocese at the end of this month. They are also checking into various projects that are now underway in connection with the Year of Evangelization, which they commented is being very well received among the Spanish-speaking.