Sister Consuela (Consu) Torrecer

Current Ministry Location-Contemplative Community, Center, NY

Consuela (Consu) Torrecer was born June 6, 1938 in Puunene, Maui, Hawaii, one of eleven children born to Filipino immigrants, Maxima (Tapot) Torrecer and Cosme Torrecer.  She had 8 sisters: Loretta, Pauline, Tomasa, Felomena, Dominga, Vincenta, Rufina and Florida, and one brother: Richardo. Consu graduated from Maryknoll Sisters St. Anthony’s High School, Wailuku, Maui, HI in 1956 and worked in Honolulu for two years.

Consuela entered the Maryknoll Sisters at their Center, NY December 30, 1958. She professed First Vows August 22, 1961 at the Center and Final Vows August 22, 1967 also at the Center. Her first assignment was to give Congregational Service as a Domestic at the Center from 1961 – 1965.

While working at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in 1965, Sister Consu requested an assignment to the Cloister which Maryknoll Sisters’ foundress Mother Mary Joseph Rogers described as “a contemplative community with a different kind of work to do.” An integral part of the Congregation, these Sisters are called to live their lives in prayer and sacrifice for the support of missioners, especially Maryknollers, and the missionary endeavor of the universal church.  Sister Consu was a Spiritual Director as well as a Retreat Director, with the retreatants participating in the Sisters liturgy and communal prayer. With another member of her community, Sister Consu gave retreats to Maryknoll Sisters in the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Hawaii. She was part of a Charismatic Prayer Group which met weekly and was mutually enriching for all participants.

In 1986, Sister Consu and two others were assigned to begin the first overseas cloister in the village of Lemoa, Quiche, Guatemala. After Spanish study, they lived in a parish building, which had been used by the military as a torture center. They studied the Quiche language; welcomed prayer groups to use the parish hall; welcomed the people’s visits; walked up the mountains to accompany their celebrations. All they learned became their prayer. Nine years later, Sister Consu returned to the Contemplative Community at Maryknoll, NY, where she continues to reside and pursue a life of prayer.