Maryknoll, NY: Sister Teresita Perez died on December 29th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 83 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 55 years.
On May 26th, 1939 Teresita was born in Altavas, Aklan, Philippines to Anacleto Perez and Placida (Santos) Perez. She had seven brothers: Ben, Ely, Nori, Oscar, Jesus, Cesar and Richard; she is survived by Cesar and Richard.
From 1952-1956, Teresita attended Altavas High School and F.G. Calderon High School in Manila, Philippines. She then attended the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1961. Following graduation, Teresita taught high school until she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in the Philippines on June 26th, 1967 (from St. Peter & Paul Parish, Makati, Metro Manila). She then continued her education and attended Maryknoll College in Manila from 1967 – 1969.
In 1969, she received her first mission assignment to the Bolivia/Peru Region. She first studied the language in Lima, Peru until her assignment in 1970 to Arequipa, Peru, there she taught English and Religion in high school and did parish ministry. She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on June 29th, 1970 in Arequipa, Peru and her Final Vows on June 25th, 1975 also in Peru.
In 1973 Sister Teresita went to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY for a reflection year, before making her Final Vows. During this time, Teresita studied at the Maryknoll School of Theology and attended a CPE course at Central Islip Hospital in Long Island, NY.
She returned to Arequipa, Peru where she continued her ministry, teaching English and Religion in high school until 1976. She also served as the Education Coordinator for the Peru Region from 1977-1979.
In 1980, Sister Teresita returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she served in Congregational Service for three years. She then returned to Lima, Peru once again where she worked in hospital chaplaincy, retreat and youth work as well as family pastoral work from 1984-1986.
From 1990-1991, Sister Teresita returned to the Philippines for home ministry and then did youth and pastoral work in Tacna, Peru until 1993.
She was then reassigned to the Philippine Region where she did youth and pastoral ministry in Quezon City until 2003. In 2004 she taught indigenous people of the Dumagat Tribe with the Foreign Language Department at Miriam College in Manila until 2006
Sister Teresita was again needed for Family Ministry from 2007-2009; she then did occasional retreat facilitation and volunteer work among street children.
In 2012, Sister Teresita returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She served in the Congregation’s Development Department working in Donor Services where she remained very active until her death.
Funeral Services:
A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Teresita on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on March 29th, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.