Sister Marie Rachael Guevara, OP

“Here is the test to find out if your mission on earth is finished. If you’re still alive, it isn’t.”

~ Joan Chittister, OSB

As I celebrate my 60th Jubilee in religious life, I ask myself, where have the years gone? I was born in Saginaw, MI, to Bartolo and Francisca Guevara, the sixth child in a family of 11 children. Discipline, a strong faith, and caring for one another was the mantra in the Guevara household.

I became acquainted with the Dominican Sisters at St. Joseph High School and found them to be women who were dedicated, happy, and wholesome. After high school graduation, and meeting with Mother Victor Flannery, Prioress of the Order, I was convinced of my vocation to join the Grand Rapids Dominican Order, a teaching order. As I always wanted to be a teacher, this was the career path I wanted to pursue as a Dominican Sister.

My teaching experience began at St. Alfred’s School teaching 52 first graders in Taylor, MI. Many summers found me as an educational consultant working with teachers in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, Mexico. In 2010, after 48 years of full-time teaching in parochial and public schools, I retired. Retirement allowed me to be a volunteer tutor at Holy Redeemer Elementary and Detroit Cristo Rey High Schools. In 2014, I assisted the Adrian Dominican Sisters in opening an Adult Literacy Center in Southwest Detroit. I currently serve there as a tutor as well as at Detroit Cristo Rey.

I am grateful for the continuous support of my family, friends, and the opportunities the Community has provided me in pursuing this educational ministry. God indeed has blessed me.