Sister Barbara Tovar, formerly Soila Tovar, entered eternal life on April 20, 2023, at the age of 79 in Houston, TX. Sister Barbara was born on July 7, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, to Fidencio Tovar and Dolores Martinez Tovar.

She learned to speak Spanish at home because her father wanted her to be proud of her Mexican heritage. Sister Barbara often said, "Although I came from a simple background, poor according to today's standards, I always felt rich because aside from having everything I needed, I was always surrounded by lots of family and friends." Church was a major part of her life, celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe . las posadas, la pastorela, misiones, los tres reyes, and much more. Sister joined the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence right after graduating high school. She professed her first vows on August 6, 1968; this year, Sister celebrated 55 years as a Missionary Catechist of Divine Providence.

Sister Barbara made numerous significant contributions to her Congregation and its mission. Her service to God's people was multi-faceted. Her ministries included working as Educator in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX; Associate Director and Diocesan Director of Evangelization and Catechesis, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Faculty of St. Mary's Seminary, Houston, TX; Pastoral Associate at Sacred Heart Church, Conroe, TX; Pastoral Associate at St. Ambrose Church, Houston, TX; Marriage Preparation at Resurrection Church, Houston, TX, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Manvel, TX.

For 21 years, Sister Barbara assisted in the Cultural Formation of seminarians at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, TX. She organized the first Archdiocesan Celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Today this celebration continues after 55 years later.

Sister Barbara is survived by her siblings, Mary Dolores Rivera, Hector Tovar (Lilly), Oscar Tovar (Connie), Jane Camacho Tovar, and her Sisters, the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and their respective families. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fidencio Tovar and Dolores Martinez ; siblings: Raul Tovar, Fidencio Tovar, Jr, Guadalupe Treviño Tovar, Olga Tovar Chavez, Patricio Luis Tovar, Robert Tovar, and Ruben Tovar.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Services will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Our Lady of the Lake University Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel. Visitation at 8:30 a.m., Rosary, 9:30 a.m., Mass of the Resurrection, 10:00 a.m. Burial at San Fernando Cemetery #2, 11:00 a.m.

Reception at Our Lady of the Lake Convent in the Regan community room at 603 SW 24 ^th Street.