A madre’s work is never done
By Catherine Lazen & Suzanne Ludekens

Like many moms around the world, María de Jesús takes her children to afterschool classes.

Unlike other moms, María de Jesús, better known as Madre Chuy, has 38 girls and a baby boy under her care and home is Casa Hogar Santa Julia. 

Madre Chuy, together with Madre Juana María Medina Sánchez, Madre Gloria Camarillo Barrientos and Madre Teresa Guadalupe Calderone (Tere), form the community of the order Our Lady of the Angels, and care for children aged 1 to 18 years of age who, due circumstances beyond their control, cannot live with their families of origin. Together these women have more than 100 years of service to their profession of mothering.


Madre Chuy

Madre Chuy is in her fifties and has more than 35 years of service to the order. She chose the path of devotion because she loves the Catholic religion and wanted a life of service. As the Mother Superior/Director of the casa hogar, she is in charge of everything. Constantly smiling Madre Chuy is the antithesis of the stereotype of the humorless, stern, cold nun. Easy laughter, smiles, warm embraces and calm, peaceful “redirection” during moments of conflict epitomize her relationship with the children. When children are homesick or at school functions where mothers are invited, Madre Chuy gently reminds the girls that they have five mothers: their own (as most are not orphans) and four more.

Madre Chuy, the only nun with a license, drives the children daily to afterschool classes in a donated vehicle. Every day Madre Chuy reviews the available options of donated foods and plans menus based on expiration dates and nutritional balance. Cans are pulled out from makeshift storage areas of shower stalls and under beds, and in a split second, menus are decided upon if she discovers that animals have raided bags of rice or corn or when last-minute deliveries of vegetables arrive by surprise. Once many years ago she was moved from a casa hogar to another role and cried daily until she was asked back by the children and returned to the casa hogar. Now at Casa Hogar Santa Julia, she can enjoy her favorite pastime—helping children.



Madre Juana

Madre Juana is in charge of child care. Each day, she lovingly pulls 38 heads of hair into twists, braids, ponytails, barrettes and headbands. Through her attention each child learns to have pride in her appearance, to express her individuality and to discover her own beauty. With more than 15 years in the order and experience in hands-on child care, she insists that each child have her own set of clothing and writes the names into the labels of each garment.



Madre Gloria

Madre Gloria is in charge of medical and educational appointments and sewing (suits, habits, uniforms, alterations on dresses for celebrations).

She is never without a smile. Years ago, when resources were scarce, the haphazard care and sad appearance of these children were reflected in the image of a tangle of beat-up shoes stored in a sad-looking pile. Madre Gloria has more than 35 years with the order. 


Madre Tere

Madre Tere is the treasurer and former superior of the order. Teasingly called an architect because of her interest in such, she is in her seventies.


Big dreams for their children

The Madres have big dreams for their children, as all good mothers do. When the girls speak of careers in anthropology and computer science, in teaching and in veterinary science, the Madres beam with pride. 

Academic excellence is mandatory. Public school grades are given personally to parents or guardians and so the Madres attend the class meetings of all 39 children to carefully note grades for each child and track progress and performance throughout each school year. They keep track of and attend parent meetings and conferences and special parent-child celebrations.

To complete the children’s education, afterschool activities are offered to help them discover individual talents, work through trauma and learn practical life skills. Baking, cooking, sewing, violin lessons, group and individual therapy and money management are but some of the activities. An incentive program to inspire the girls and patiently encourage those who fall behind is in place, also.

Now, as the community continues to respond to the needs of the girls, all the Madres are closer to realizing their visions for the children.

For the Madres, the reward on Mother’s Day is demonstrated in the lives of the children, who are growing up to be living legacies of compassion and strength. The unwavering patience, faith and love of these four women help these children break the cycle of poverty and abuse and awaken to individual potential.

For the Madres, love is Christ Jesus, who forgives and loves all people unconditionally. And so is their love for these children—as Christ loves them and they work to nourish the same spirit of striving and ambition we all hope for the next generation.

For information about scholarship programs for the children, or about how you can help the Madres meet their everyday needs, call Robin Loving Rowland at (925) 418-8003 in the US or 152-3709 in San Miguel, or email her at robin@robinloving.com.

5am, Madres arise

6am, Madres get kids up

7am, Madres get kids breakfast

8am, Madres take kids to school (preschool, kinder, elementary, secondary, Waldorf)

9am, Madres eat breakfast

10am, Madres pray

11am, Madres run errands

noon, Girls return from school

1pm, Madres help kids change from school uniforms into play clothes

2pm, Madres prepare comida 

3pm, Madres eat comida

4pm, Girls attend afterschool programs (psychology, English, violin, catechism, life skills)

6pm, Madres bring girls home from afterschool programs

7pm, Madres help girls change into pajamas

8pm, Madres prepare cena

9pm, Madres put children to bed

10pm, Madres eat cena

11pm, Madres pray

midnight, Madres go to bed and perform infant care and care for sick kids during the night