Sister Theresa McGrath

Sr. Theresa McGrath's life of service began in her early years when going to Mass and praying at home was translated into action. She remembers that "As part of that (a strong Catholic tradition), we also were made very aware of people who were poor…and people who were elderly. I belonged to an association that would do errands for elderly people in our neighborhood and visit them. We also collected donations for the missions.”

Some Incarnate Word Sisters visited the school the young Theresa was attending. “Sister Florence and Sister Mary Anthony talked about life in Texas [and] the needs in Texas, [including] the various ministries that the Sisters there were already doing like education and health care…I thought that sounded like something I would be very interested in. And I just felt a real attraction, a real draw. And I think that’s where, if you are in touch with your own spirit and God, then that’s where I felt God was calling me to at least think about it.”

Still, “I didn’t come to Texas particularly to be a teacher or a nurse or whatever. I felt God was calling me to give my life totally to be a sister….Whatever ministry that would involve like that was fine with me. I just said, whatever you want Lord, that’s it…I’m open to that. Because I think you are calling me. I just felt a call to this life.”

“At the same time, I knew that coming meant that I was going to leave my family. I was going to leave my country. And at that time, I didn’t know if I would ever see them again. That was scary, very scary…when I got here and realized how far I was away from home, that’s when it really struck. It’s a big ocean between them and us.” Her little brother was just two when Theresa left her home for Texas, and her heart ached at the thought of not seeing him grow up.”

But there the simple joy of making a full commitment to God and sharing that joy with her fellow Sisters and the happiness of the holy season of Christmas in the convent eased the longings to home for that celebration.

Sr. McGrath began working at Incarnate Word College as Assistant Registrar even while she was studying for both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in mathematics. In the Registrar’s Office, she assisted Sr. Antoninus Buckley, “who was the embodiment of patience, and graciousness, and gentleness, and love, and understanding, and acceptance….She was just beautiful.” Sr. McGrath also later served as Assistant to the Academic Dean, Sr. Clement Eagan, who always listened to everyone with patience and understanding. “I never once heard her make an unkind remark about anyone, and I worked very closely with her,” Sr. Theresa remembers.

Given her administrative experience, Sr. McGrath eventually took up the leadership of the Pastoral Institute once Fr. Virgilio Elizondo, who had founded it, had to serve elsewhere, and she was the right person for that position, embracing the new role of the Catholic Church. She understood the call of the bishops in the Second Vatican Council to examine the Church’s foundations in the scriptures, in the Church Fathers, and in the Church as a “sacrament” in the world. The Pastoral Institute set out to translate these new theological perspectives to those ministering as priests, women religious, and lay ministers.

After a couple of decades at Incarnate Word College, Sr. McGrath was elected to leadership roles for the Incarnate Word Sisters. Following her time in office, she was appointed Vice-President for Mission, Ethics, and Spirituality for Incarnate Word Health System, which later became CHRISTUS Health, an international network of health care centers. In this position, she ensured the continuation of the Sisters' mission to the poor and suffering across those institutions.

Making Christ’s presence in the worlds of learning and healing was what Theresa had set out to do as a young woman when she answered God’s call in Ireland to join the Incarnate Word Sisters and she did it joyfully.

Sr. McGrath describes the mission lived out in personal relationships.