Sister Rose Agnes Urban, CSJ

August 20, 1930 – July 4,  2023

 We Remember Her
In the blueness of the skies and
in the warmth of summer

“How beautiful on the mountain top are the feet of those who bring good news.”

This scripture passage, this prayer, is what came to me as I was reflecting on Rose’s life, shortly after receiving the word that after a long vigil surrounded by so much love, Rose actually left us.

 This messenger of God’s love, our Sister Rose, was born in Santa Rosa, New Mexico to Jose Brigido Urban and Elvira Martinez Urban. She was their sixth child and grew up with two brothers and five sisters, to whom she was devoted.

Her ministries were varied and brought her to Sante Fe, Santa Rosa, Dorchester, Massachusetts, Clovis, Springer, Lima Peru, and Albuquerque.

Called as a Sister of St. Joseph, to love and serve every kind of neighbor without distinction, whether in a classroom, a seminary, a parish, a boys school, at the Village, Sister Rose brought the presence of God’s abiding love as she reflected to those in front of her their innate dignity as children of God.

A deacon in Santa Fe wrote to Sister Rose, “We’ve never met but I feel I know you by the fruits of your work at Springer, where I have been hearing good things about Sister Rose from the inmates. You can be proud!  I only wish I had made note of each of their names when they mentioned yours as I’m sure you would remember them with the same love they reflect about you.”

Rhonda, the director at the Village, where Sister Rose resided for the past four years, spoke of the impact Sister Rose had there and what a valued member of the community she was. I witnessed this last month when so many approached her at lunch, inquiring about her well-being and saying how much they had missed her presence.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace.”  A presence of love, a message of love, a call to love as Jesus did; at Springer, at Our Lady of Guadalupe, at San Ricardo, wherever Sister Rose was — she believed it, she lived it, she proclaimed it — and the ripples still echo.

Reflections given by Betsy Conway CSJ, July 14, 2023, in Santa Rosa, New Mexico