OKLAHOMA TIES

Two religious sisters in the metro area recently shared their views about the Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt phenomenon. The sisters are members of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus, a religious order that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017 in Oklahoma City.

Here is what they said: "I think the attention Sister Jean is getting is well deserved — she lives her passion! And she's 98 years old — very obviously young at heart! I do think people stereotype us when they don't know us. I would want people to see us first of all as women of prayer — but that does not exclude the fun we have! There may be surprises if people would step into our time for recreation and realize how we often take on creative liberty in our rules of game. Though we as a community decided to keep the habit, we don't find it at all a barrier . ... Sisters are joyful and branch out into various areas of ministry — the more we are present, the more others will get to truly know us."

— Sister Veronica Higgins, a case manager at the Center for Family Love in Okarche and former principal of Villa Teresa School "I didn't get a chance to see Sister Jean, but I heard a lot about her. I had an aunt from Colorado who called me about her and she was ecstatic . ... She liked her because she said she was a watcher and a prayer, offering that as a balance. Sister Jean reminded the players that they are here for more than victory. I know that's a hard concept. The world puts such heavy emphasis on winning and being the first and the best. I know there's a sense of sisters being quiet. I'm afraid I don't quite live up to that. I figure you ought to acknowledge the time and energy the team put into the game for our school . ... I pray that my kids play as hard as they can. Sometimes, you're just not the best, but given another day or another time, you will be."

— Sister Stephanie Sanchez, former theology teacher and adviser at Bishop McGuinness High School who is a regular fixture and enthusiastic fan at many McGuinness sports events, particularly football and basketball

[PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES] Sister Veronica Higgins sings Sept. 24 with others in the choir providing liturgical music for the beatification Mass for the Rev. Stanley Rother at the Cox Convention Center.

[PHOTO BY NATE Sister Stephanie Sanchez stands near the snack bar that bears her name at Bishop McGuinness High School’s Pribil Stadium in Oklahoma City.