Sister Marie Josefa Cordero of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

December 8, 1919–June 15, 2020

Sister Josefa Maria Cordero was born to Amalio Cordero and Juanita Vera on December 8, 1919 in Yauco, Puerto Rico. She was baptized on January 18, 1920 at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. She was confirmed in March of 1920 in the same parish. Sister Josefa, had three sisters, Carmen, who was a Daughter of Charity, Ana and Catalina, who is the mother of her niece, Maria whom all know here at the Motherhouse. She also had three step brothers.

She inquired into our community in 1949. In a letter of recommendation from her spiritual director, he said, “She has had a repeated and steady yearning for the religious life – a sign I couldn’t overlook. Her intentions are wonderful to serve God in His poor. She has a great love for the poor.”   She entered the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity on February 11, 1950 and professed first Vows on August 15, 1951. She made her perpetual profession on March 25, 1955.

Sister Josefa received a BA in Elementary Education from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 1968. She also received a Certificate in Theology from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 1976. She continued her ongoing education with many workshops and courses over the next 15 years.

The first 40 years of Sr. Josefa’s life in ministry was dedicated to education. She served in all our schools in Puerto Rico, Our Lady of Valvanera in Coamo, Our Lady of Pilar in Rio Piedras, and San Augustin in Cabo Rojo. She also taught in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Ponce Playa. In 1990, Sr. Josefa was missioned to Mother Boniface Missionary Cenacle in Humacao and her ministry was religious education and evangelization. In 1997, Sr. Josefa was missioned to the Ministry of Prayer at the Motherhouse in Philadelphia. In September 2014 she was missioned to Mother Boniface Missionary Cenacle at Wesley.

Sister Josefa also had a very fruitful writing apostolate. She wrote many letters as well as articles for Catholic Papers. In 1985 she wrote and published a brief history of the Catholic Church, entitled, Renueva tu Fe en la Iglesia, Renew your Faith in the Church. She received letters from Bishops and the rector of the seminary congratulating her for her work and encouraging Catholic schools and catechetical centers to use and promote the book.  She won first place for an essay entitled, “Conoce tu Parroquia/Know your Parish.” This was a contest held throughout Puerto Rico. She wrote an essay on the history of San Miguel Parish in Cabo Rojo.

Sr. Josefa also had a great desire to make the Cenacle and our charism known in the Spanish speaking world. She employed her writing skills and published three books about the Missionary Cenacle, ‘Father Thomas Augustine Judge, Faith that Transforms; Mother Boniface, an Extraordinary Woman and Margaret Healy. She said that her objective for writing and publishing the book on Fr. Judge was first of all that he become known among those who were Spanish speaking. Secondly, she hoped that youth would be attracted to religious life and motivated to serve God in the church, and finally to present to youth of today people who have loved God and been willing to sacrifice a great deal.

Sr. Josefa was committed to youth and to the Missionary Cenacle. She wrote a guide for youth MCA’s in schools. She also composed two hymns about the Missionary Cenacle. Sister had a real commitment to our community and was always concerned with vocations and our future. In a letter to Sr. Siena Marie she requested that if possible, the income from her book on Mother Boniface be used a fund for Vocations in honor of Mother Boniface.

She was completely dedicated to her mission in the Ministry of Prayer. She wrote a letter to Sr. Barbara DeMoranville and the Council in 2007 that gives a glimpse into her heart. Reflecting on the document she received from the Community, “Retirement in our Later Years’, she writes,

“I know I am a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity and I have never retired from my mission of giving honor and glory to the Blessed Trinity. My ministry now has evolved and changed and… I am using my skills and talents in the service of the Sisters, and the people that may come for help, and those who take care of us. I have a new opportunity to serve God in the “Ministry of Prayer.” In these later years of life, I am trying to deepen my relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and my mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the sisters who live here. It is the time to consider the graces that God has given me and how to continue to use them. The ‘Ministry of Prayer’ is a spiritual power, not only for me, but for the entire community; it draws the strength I need, for contemplation to live my religious vocation, until called to my eternal home, with the Beloved Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary, my mother.”

Sister Josefa celebrated 100 years of life and 70 years glorifying the Triune God as a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity.

Now, she is in her eternal home and we give thanks for all she is and has been to the Missionary Cenacle. Mil gracias, Hermana Josefa.