Known for her infectious smile and affirming, optimistic personality, Sister Sarah Shrewsbury, O.S.C., solidified the Diocesan Vocations Ministry during her 23 years as its leader.
Sr. Sarah suffered a stroke last spring, and while she had worked at rehabilitation in the care of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Clare, it has been determined that she will be unable to return to her position as Director of Vocations for the Diocese. She has retired to Ireland to receive special care at a Nursing Home of the Sisters of St. Clare.
On Dec. 6 she was visited for an informal farewell at her residence in Vista, CA by a delegation that included Bishop Alberto Rojas and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes. At the conclusion of the gathering she was anointed by Bishop Rojas.
Sr. Sarah’s ministry in Vocations began at a time when the local Church was moving more intentionally to develop vocations to the priesthood. The realization that growth in the lay population was far outpacing the number of new priests created a sense of urgency.
As St. Junipero Serra House of Formation received larger and larger groups of new seminarians, she welcomed the increase but was always quick to point out that even more seminarians will be needed to meet the needs of the faithful.
“It’s a drop in the bucket, but every drop counts,” she said, the year the Diocese welcomed the highest number (nine) of new seminarians in its history. Sr. Sarah often quoted a goal of 50 seminarians as a benchmark.
Her focus was always on encouraging the parishes of the diocese to actively promote vocations, something they may not have done in past decades. She helped parishes form vocations committees and incorporate prayers for vocations in liturgies, visited local Catholic schools and collaborated with parish youth ministers to encourage young men to consider a calling to the priesthood. She was always quick to credit the parishes that were working hard to promote vocations when large new seminarian classes appeared.
“One of my favorite days in ministry is calling these guys to say that they’re accepted,” she said in 2016.
Under Sr. Sarah’s leadership, Serra House also hosted frequent discernment evenings for men and women considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. She also worked collaboratively with priests in the Diocese in her ministry, first with Father Javier Gonzalez as Associate Director and most recently with Fr. Hau Vu as Associate Director. In 2018, her office began to utilize priests as Vocations Coordinators for each vicariate of the Diocese.
While her office was physically located in Grand Terrace, Sr. Sarah was a fixture at Diocesan Pastoral Center gatherings and ministry efforts, serving several years, for example, on the Diocesan Justice for Immigrants Committee as well as the V Encuentro. She was fun-loving, often recruiting fellow DPC ministers to join her for line dancing at the Brandin’ Iron, a local country and western nightclub.