Sister Daisy Vargas
Current ministry location-Bolivia
Daisy Vargas was born March 22, 1944 in La Paz, Bolivia to Soledad (Vera) Vargas and Cirilo Vargas. She had 2 sisters: Yolanda & Doris and 1 brother: Lic. Mario. She graduated from High School in La Paz, Bolivia in 1959. In 1961, Daisy received a Certificate in Accountant from the Colegio Santa Ana and in 1975 she received a Certificate in Financial Administration from the Institute of Public Administration, La Paz, Bolivia.
Daisy said, “Maryknoll attracted me with its mission vision, with its concern and response in service to the world’s needs, and with its spirit of community and renewal.”
Daisy Vargas entered the Maryknoll Sisters August 21, 1982 at the Center in NY. She professed First Vows June 10 1984 at the Center and Final Vows March 11, 1990 in Bolivia.
In 1984 Sister Daisy was received her first mission assigned to Guatemala. There she spent five years on a team with two other Maryknoll Sisters giving courses to rural women in 21 villages of the diocese of the Peten which covered over one third of the area of Guatemala. They traveled by jeep, horseback or on foot and reached the river settlements by launch. They shared meals and life with their hostesses and slept wherever they could swing a hammock or spread a sleeping bag. On completing her Reflection Year before Final Vows, Sister Daisy said the daily living near these poor people strengthened her faith by their example of placing their hope and confidence in God. “In their sharing from their poverty with such generosity and sincerity, they made me more committed to my vocation.”
Sister Daisy was assigned to Brazil in 1991 where she shared mission and community with Maryknoll Sisters, Priests, Brothers and Lay Missioners. Her ministry was in Sao Paulo with youth, preparing them to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, organizing retreats and liturgies with them as well as enjoying the Brazilian celebration of these occasions. Participation in the parish council occupied her time as well. After being away a few months for renewal she returned and exclaimed, “I was surprised by two youth leaders in my parish because they had the preparation for Confirmation day for 300 under complete control!”
In 1996 Sister Daisy was assigned to Bolivia and was involved again with youth ministry as religion teacher in elementary and high school, including sacramental preparation for adults and youth in the parish.
She was elected as a delegate from Bolivia to the 2002 Maryknoll Sisters General Assembly.
In 2016, Sister Daisy was assigned to Peru for a short time and then to El Salvador.