Sister Maria do Rosario da Conceicao was born on November 13, 1927, to Manuel Bettencourt Serafim and Teresa Rosa Serafim Sequeira in Rosais – S. Jorge – Azores – Portugal.
In response to God’s call as a young teacher, Maria do Rosario entered the Religious Congregation of the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Sr. Rosario was admitted to Postulancy on November 1, 1951 and thereafter to the Novitiate on May 1, 1952. Having completed her Novitiate Sr. Rosario made her First Profession on August 10, 1954 and her Final Profession on September 8, 1960in Portugal. For 63 years Sr. Rosario served the people of God as a teacher and in various ministries.
In the year 1955 Sr. Rosario was sent as a missionary to Mozambique, where Sister worked tirelessly as a teacher educating the children and also giving them faith formation for nineteen years.
In 1974, Sr. Maria do Rosario was transferred to California where Sister served as a teacher, caregiver, and in the Pastoral Mnisitry. Sr. Rosario was always ready and willing to render her services to all those in need. Sisiter was very cheerful, witty, and dedicated. Her strong prayer life, deep faith in God, love for Blessed Mother, and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit was the source of her strength.
Sister Rosario taught catechism in St. Joseph’s Parish, Los Banos, and served as a Eucharistic Minister to the sick at Los Banos Memorial Hospital, the shut-ins, and nursing homes until April of 2017. Whether there was sunshine or rain, it didn’t matter; if Sr. Rosario received a call for the sick, requesting for Holy Communion, Sister would be ever ready to take Jesus to them. When called to pray the Rosary for the deceased at St. Joseph’s Parish, or Whitehurst Funeral Home,
in Los Banos, Sister would joyfully do so.
On April 3, 2017 Sr. Rosario accidently fell and badly injured herself while visiting the sick and giving Communion, due to which Sister was unable to continue the passion of her heart. While slowly recuperating in health, she had great hopes to get back to her former self giving to those in need by: giving Jesus, words of encouragement, presence and even a twist of a dance, but the good Lord had different plansfor her. Sr. Rosario was ready and happily accepted His call
On August 15th, 2017 the beautiful Feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother, true to her name – Maria do Rosario, Our Lady extended her arms and took her into her loving embrace at the dawn of the day, leading Sr. Rosario to our heavenly Father to enjoy the eternal bliss.
Sr. Rosario is survived by two brothers and two sisters; Manuel Serafim, Joao Serafim, Rosa Soares, and Anna Luis. May her soul rest in peace.
A visitation was held on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 at 9 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Los Banos. The Rosary was recited at 10 am followed by the funeral Mass. Burial was in the Los Banos District Cemetery. Funeral services were entrusted to Whitehurst Funeral Chapel in Los Banos.
Publisher Note: We have truly lost a dear friend to all and a sainted lady within our world. We extend our condolences to her family, and to her beloved Sisters at New Bethany.