Religious Milestones: Mercy Sister Hortensia Leticia Diaz, 25 years

Sister Hortensia Leticia Diaz is celebrating her 25th year as a Sister of Mercy. She entered the Sisters of Mercy Sept. 2, 1998 and became a novice at the House of Mercy in Missouri on Aug. 15, 2000. She took her first vows June 22, 2002. The following year she served at Marylawn of the Oranges in South Orange, as School Secretary.

From May 2002 to 2010 Sister Hortensia worked for Catholic Charities in Bridgewater, in three different roles: Family Advocate, Coordinator of Volunteers, and Office Operations. During that time, she made her final vows on Sept. 17, 2005.

Before Sister Hortensia chose to devote her life to God as a Sister of Mercy she worked at First Savings Bank, Woodbridge, for 17 years. At the same time, she facilitated the Divorced and Separated Ministry in her parish, Our Lady of Peace, Fords.

Sister Hortensia was born in Havana, Cuba, to a working-class family. Her mother was a homemaker who taught her homemaking skills, and Sister Hortensia developed a love for sewing, crocheting, knitting, and embroidering. Her mother also taught her how to pray and talked to her about God. Her father was a self-employed carpenter who loved his craft and loved music. Her parents always stressed that her priority was her school and studies.

Dr. Wilfredo Alvarez was the principal of the private school Sister Hortensia attended from sixth to ninth grades. He was very much an influential person in her life growing up. Sister Hortensia’s grandparents were instrumental in her life growing up, too. She had many aunts and uncles who guided her and nurtured her spiritually. Her Aunt Sheila and Uncle Enrique were very instrumental in the development of her relationship with God because they took her to Mass with them.   

Sister Hortensia’s neighborhood was very diverse and she was exposed to people from a variety of cultures, enjoying the gifts of their friendship. Sometime later after finishing high school she felt a turning point in her life. A new friend offered her a new job in a nearby parish office. She accepted the position and from the very first day she knew that she was on the right path. It was the first time she had come in close contact with vowed religious sisters and she felt the grace of God guiding her in this direction. Apparently God’s plans included a detour into marriage and motherhood. The Lord blessed her with two wonderful sons, one of whom has since gone home to the Lord. Her marriage gradually disintegrated when her sons were very young, and she divorced her husband. These events helped her to become the woman she is today and helped her to grow spiritually and closer to the Lord. She realized that the only way to approach the big task ahead of her of reconstructing her life, was by holding on to her faith by way of prayer and reception of the sacraments. And, along the way, her life has been enriched as she never expected. Sister Hortensia sees God as the center of her life, with Jesus as her special friend and companion.   

In 2013, Sister Hortensia suffered a stroke and lost her ability to bake, do needlework and all things she used to enjoy doing. She is presently living at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, where her ministry of prayer is a blessing to many.