Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus (DCJ)

65th First Profession

Sister Mary Alice of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother

Birth name: Maria Soledad Prieto Ortega

Birthplace: Jerez Zacatecas, Mexico

Entrance: August 2, 1955

First profession: July 2, 1958

Final profession: July 2, 1963

Education: Nursing and bookkeeping

Service in the archdiocese: Help with convent needs, St. Louis, 2020-present

Service outside the archdiocese: Floor supervisor, Mt. Carmel Home, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1958-59

Sacristan and local superior, Little Flower Haven La Mesa, California, 1960-84

Bookkeeper for the convent, La Mesa, California, 1985-2006

Bookkeeper for the convent, San Antonio, Texas, 2007-09

Bookkeeper and local superior, La Mesa, California, 2009-15

Sacristan and convent bookkeeper, San Antonio, Texas, 2015-19

About Sister Mary Alice of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother: Since I entered the convent, I have changed a lot through the years as a religious. I have learned about the spiritual life and union with God. Now that I am up in years all my wishes are to please the Holy Trinity in whatever I do. I entrust myself to the Three Divine Persons on how I should be. I try to do everything to please God in the way I am for He has made me. I am just waiting for them to take me to my heavenly home.

75th First Profession

Sister M. Bernadette of Our Lady of Lourdes

Birth name: Nelda May Niehaus

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

Entrance: September 7, 1946

First profession: July 2, 1948

Final profession: July 2, 1953

Education: Alverno College of Music, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Sacred Heart School of Practical Nursing, Wisconsin

Service in the archdiocese: Convent duties, St. Charles, 1987-88

Sacristan and assisting elderly residents, St. Charles, 1991-2000

Service outside the archdiocese: Organ school, care of boys, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 1949-52

Opened a new apostolate, Owensboro, Kentucky, 1952

Care for elderly residents, Owensboro, Kentucky, 1953-64

LPN school, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 1964-65

Care for elderly residents, Detroit, Michigan, 1965-67

Local superior and care for elderly residents, Wes Allis, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Owensboro, Kentucky, 1967-91

Local superior and procurator, Jefferson City, Missouri, 2000-05

About Sister M. Bernadette of Our Lady of Lourdes: My blood-sister, Sister M. Andrea, two years my junior, died one year ago and I am missing her every day. I keep busy by listening to Catholic news stations and talking to fellow residents in Carmel Home. When I was young, my mother would make a novena at the Little Flower Shrine in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she would take me with her. Here I was introduced to the Carmel. When I was 18, I found an ad in a Catholic newspaper about our Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, where I learned that they cared for children. This idea appealed to me, so I contacted our convent in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The sisters accepted my request, so arrangements were made for my entrance. A priest friend drove my mother and me to the convent, where I remained and they returned home. My apostolic service has included care of children, but primarily with care of senior citizens in many states. One of my first assignments upon entrance was to take organ lessons, and music has been the pervading interest of my entire life apart from prayer. Other interests are personal relationships, nature and jigsaw puzzling.