Sister Mary Veronica Rivas, MCDP, age 87, entered eternal rest on December 23, 2023, in San Antonio, TX. She was born in Los Ebanos, TX, on February 19, 1936, to Francisco Rivas and Emilia Garza. She was baptized as Maria Elena on August 23rd at Immaculate Conception Church in Rio Grande City.  She is preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Eutiquio, Eligio, and Elizena.  She is survived by siblings, Enedina, Elma, Eloy, Emilia, Edelmiro, and numerous nephews and nieces.

On May 29, 1959, she entered the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence (MCDP) in San Antonio, TX. She made first vows on August 6, 1961, and Triennial vows on August 6, 1967. Prior to entering the MCDPs, Sister Veronica was a public school teacher in Texas Valley. Later, she became a graduate of St. Thomas University in Houston.

A woman of exuberant energy, courage, and commitment to the people of God, she will be remembered for her service in the Archdioceses of San Antonio, Galveston/Houston, Las Vegas-Reno, Anchorage, Alaska, and the Dioceses of Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Des Moines, Iowa, Grand Island, Nebraska  and lastly, the Diocese of Dodge City in Kansas.  She worked several months in Mexico at a remote mission under the direction of the Sisters of Divine Providence in Querétaro; she also served the community as director of MCDP Postulants for a year.

Sister Veronica often shared the story of how she was helped in receiving a higher education to pursue her goals, and later, others helped her answer the call to a consecrated vowed life. It would be reasonable to think that what her family and others did for her, contributed to a legacy of a "can do" and "why not?" attitude she applied to her ministry, in sync with the spirit of our community's foundress, Sister M. Benitia Vermeersch, CDP. Wherever Sister Veronica was sent, or chose to be, held challenges, adventure, fun, hard work, and blessings.

Her strong personality had another side that holds fond memories for our sisters; her comical role in the Romeo & Juliet skits with Sister Frances Jean, her novitiate companion, her energy, and drive in playing baseball, volleyball, watching the Cowboy games, the fishing excursions, camping trips, driving the MCDP students to OLL in our yellow school bus, the barbecues she spear-headed during our summer meetings are but a few memories of mutual camaraderie. She had a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and a strong love for her MCDP community, her family, and for the people she served.

Sister Veronica lived her retirement years at St. Andrew's Convent and at McCullough Skilled Nursing Facility at Our Lady of the Lake Campus. Our condolences and gratitude to the Rivas family for sharing one of their own to serve in the mission of the Church. Our gratitude extends to the Congregation of Divine Providence and their staff at McCullough, to the bishops, priest employers, and to the many friends who kept in contact with her throughout the years. May she rest in the eternal peace and joy of God!

FUNERAL SERVICES

Friday, January 5, 2024

Services will be held in the Annunciation Chapel at

Our Lady of the Lake University,  515 S.W. 24th St.

Viewing: 8:30am

Rosary: 9:15am

Funeral Mass: 10:00am

Interment in San Fernando Cemetery No.2.

Reception to follow in the Regan Center at OLL.