Six women religious to be honored

After graduating magna cum laude from Barry in 1962, Sister Bevilacqua entered the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Mich., and following first profession, she ministered as a first grade teacher in Catholic schools in Inkster and Detroit, Mich., from 1964 to 1969. She earned a master�s degree in guidance and counseling from Siena Heights College (now University) in 1969.

In the fall of 1969, she returned to Barry to serve as the dean of students for nine years. Following completion of a doctoral degree from Michigan State University in 1980, she returned to Barry to serve as the first dean of the School of Adult & Continuing Education and associate vice president for academic affairs. In 1986, she was elected to the General Council (leadership team) of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, overseeing the congregation�s administrative, financial, legal, corporate and real estate affairs for six years.

Sister Bevilacqua then served as the president of Gwynedd-Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pa., for nine years prior to returning to her alma mater in 2004 as Barry�s sixth president, a position she currently holds.

Sister Bevilacqua is active in numerous educational, professional and community organizations, nationally and locally, including the board of directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Orange Bowl Committee, the International Women�s Forum, the Council of Presidents of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities.

Sister Mary Elizabeth Barbosa
Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Sister Barbosa was born and grew up in Wilmington, Calif., a small suburb of Los Angeles. She attended Holy Family Elementary School, St. Anthony High School in Long Beach and Mount Saint Mary�s College in Los Angeles. From third through eighth grade she was educated by the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles and also had the privilege of working with them as a lay teacher. 

�The sisters� joy, kindness and love for the Church attracted me and had an impact on my decision to enter the Carmelite Order,� she said. 

In 1962, she began her religious formation with the sisters at Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra, Calif., the community�s motherhouse. �I have been in the convent for 50 years and in the education apostolate for over 40. I was a language arts teacher, religion teacher, principal and for 10 years served as community supervisor of our education apostolate. As supervisor of education I had the responsibility to train our teachers and principals.�

Sister Barbosa currently serves as vice-principal of development at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in Kendall where, she said, �There is a beautiful family spirit among students, parents, teachers and staff. Everyone is enthusiastic, committed and on board with our mission and vision of Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School.�

Sister Lucy Cardet
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
Sister Cardet, a native of Miami and daughter of Adolfo and Marie Cardet, attended local schools and entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in 1961. Her ministry experience has been primarily in education. During the years on her congregation�s General Council, she visited countries where her sisters live and serve: Bolivia, Brazil and Jamaica. 

Sister Cardet�s fluency in Spanish and her concern for the poor were an asset when she served as principal of Corpus Christi School in Miami in the 1980s. She was coordinator/team member of �Damascus� (an archdiocesan evangelization outreach ministry) and served on the boards of Allegany Franciscan Ministries and St. Francis Hospital, Inc. She is currently an academic advisor for working adult students at Barry University in Miami Shores. Sister Cardet also continues to express her Franciscan spirituality and share the good news of God�s goodness and love for all by hosting local spirituality days/retreats, which are part of an outreach by her Franciscan Sisters and Associates.

Sister Rosemary Sabino
Sisters of Mercy
Sister Sabino has spent most of her ministry in health care. She served in Dallas, Pa., as the executive director of the Mercy Consultation Center, vice president of Mercy Health Services in Farmington Hills, Mich., and president and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Catholic Health Association. She presently serves as secretary of the board of directors of Catholic Legal Services in the Archdiocese of Miami. She is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Sisters of Mercy, who are headquartered in Silver Springs, Md.
                   
Sister Christine Elizabeth Tenn
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
Sister Tenn, daughter of the late Lyn and Allen Tenn from China, was born in Jamaica. She entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on Sept. 8, 1961. Her initial formation was at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, N.Y. She received a bachelor�s degree in education from St. Bonaventure University, a master�s in social work from the University of Buffalo and a degree in clinical pastoral education from Tampa General Hospital. She has been involved in various ministries: educator, social worker, campus minister, parish organizer for the Catholic/Anglican initiative Church of Reconciliation, retreat ministry and nursing home pastoral care. Since 2003, Sister Tenn has been a chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Miami where she continues to be, in her words, �an enthusiastic presence of God�s gracious love and compassion.�

SILVER
Sister Yolanda Tostado
Siervas de Jesus de la Caridad
Sister Tostado was born in Jalisco, Mexico, May 18, 1968. She entered the Siervas de Jesus de la Caridad (Servants of Jesus of Charity) in September 1986 in her native country, where she underwent her first years of religious formation. She made her first profession on March 20, 1989. She was then sent to Spain for five years and the Philippines for 13, where she made her perpetual profession in 1995. In 2007, she came to Miami, where her ministry has involved the sick, pre-school children and the elderly, as well as medical missions in the Philippines. She currently works in pastoral care at St. Catherine�s Rehabilitation Hospital in Miami.