Sister Emilia Atencio, OP
Jubilarian 2025 — 70 Years a Sister
Prayer Ministry
Pray for peace in our world, nation, and families.
70th Jubilee Reflection
The Dominican Sisters taught in our parish of Santa Cruz, New Mexico, where I attended Holy Cross School. I attended Loretto Academy in Santa Fe for high school. When I graduated, I felt I had a vocation. I spoke to the Sisters and they gave me Mother Victor’s address so I could write to her. Mother Victor answered: go to Marywood by late August and get ready to attend Aquinas College.
It was very hard for me to leave my family, friends, and home for a place I had never visited. I liked the spirituality of Marywood and my classmates, although I missed my family and friends. I continued to pray to do God’s will. In May, I entered the novice class.
The novitiate had more religious classes, prepared by Sister Cecil and Father Wilson. After completing the novitiate and one additional year of college, I was ready to go on a mission and become a teacher. I enjoyed teaching
intermediate grades for 22 years.
In 1970, I returned to New Mexico and was assigned to St. Anthony’s School in Pensacola where I taught for 10 years. I was bilingual and planning to start a senior citizen’s program, which led to a pastor’s invitation in 1980 to serve at St. Francis Parish in Rancho de Taos. This program also allowed me to do hospital ministry work. In 1990, I was assigned to Santa Fe’s Santa Maria de La Paz Parish. For my last mission, at St. Francis Cathedral, I became a docent for tourists and visitors from around the world interested in learning more about the Church. After retiring, I continued as a volunteer docent one day per week. I am now preparing for my return to Marywood.
God has been with me during my ministry and will continue to be with me in retirement.
Biography
“Blessed be God who refused me not my prayers nor His kindness.” ~ Psalm 66:20
I have worked with prayerful people and learned that prayers are answered. I am grateful to my dear family, my Dominican Sisters, people with whom I have worked, my friends, my pupils, and all those who have helped me in my pilgrimage of life.
I was born on April 5,1935, to very good parents, Miguel Antonio and Cordelia Atencio. I have three younger brothers, Willie, Isaac, and Eugene Philip. I am glad our Dominican Sisters taught school in my home parish of Santa Cruz, because when I felt called to be a Sister, I chose Marywood.
I always wanted to be a teacher, so after attending Aquinas College, I was assigned to teach intermediate grades. I taught, learned, and really enjoyed my 22 years in the classroom. My teaching years were in Michigan and later in New Mexico. In 1980, I was asked to do parish work at the Historic parish of St. Francis in Ranchos de Taos. I was there for ten years. In 1990, I was fortunate to go to the new parish of Santa Maria de La Paz in Santa Fe. Something new for me was being on the Building Committee for a new Church building that was built in 1995. After 10 years, I went to the historic St. Francis Cathedral for about 14 years. I was lucky to minister in two Historic parishes because they had a Docent Ministry. That gave me a chance to share my religion, my faith, my culture, and the New Mexico art with many visitors who came to the old Historic Churches. After retirement, I continue to be a volunteer Docent at the Cathedral in Santa Fe.
