By Elsa Baughman
JACKSON/NATCHEZ – Three Guadalupan Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit who have been serving in the Diocese of Jackson have been assigned to work in other U.S. dioceses. Sister Magdalena Carrillo came to Mississippi in August 2010 with Sister Maria Elena Mendez to serve the Hispanic community of the diocese. Her mission in Mississippi ended in mid-July when she left to  take on a new mission experience in Wichita, Kansas.
“I am very grateful to God for the opportunity that he gave me to have shared my faith with many of you, members of the parishes in this diocese. Throughout these years, I have seen in many of you your desire and dedication to participate in formation classes to better serve in your parish communities. For this I also give thanks to God and I will continue to support you with my prayers from the place where I am going,” Sister Carrillo wrote on the diocesan Hispanic ministry Facebook page.
“I think that something very positive is the interest and dedication of several members of some parish communities who have responded and continue to respond to the invitation to attend the formation courses in the Catholic faith,” she noted in her farewell message, adding that she believes this is a blessing for the parishes. “In the future they will be, with the grace of God, a big help for the

Sister Lara

growth and strengthening of the faith of this large Hispanic community scattered all over the state,” she continued.
Sister Maria Josefa Garcia Alvarez, who is also a Guadalupan Missionary of the Holy Spirit, will take over the responsibilities of Sister Carrilo. She has been working in the Diocese of Birmingham, Ala., for four years.
In Natchez, two other sisters from the same order, Irena Lara and Marta Perez,  who have been serving in Assumption Parish, completed their religious mission in the parish on July 6. The members of St. Mary Basilica and Assumption Parish hosted a farewell reception for them that Sunday.

Sister Perez

Sister Perez will continue her ministry in Hoover, Ala., and Sister Lara will return to her community’s headquarters in Los Angeles, Calif.
Father David O’Connor, pastor, wrote in the parish bulletin, “They have been a blessing to our parishioners in Natchez and to the Hispanic people here. They have been great evangelizers and have a detailed system in place of contact with the people. I want to thank them and wish them an abundance of God’s blessings in the future.”
Another transition between the sisters of this congregation will be that of Sister Lourdes Gonzalez who has been working in Forest St. Michael Parish and will begin to serve in the Hispanic ministry at Jackson St. Therese Parish in September.