Sister Agnes Rose MacKellar, O.P., a former parishioner of St. John the Baptist Parish in Costa Mesa was one of four young women who made their First Profession in Nashville, TN.
The sisters professed the simple vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as members of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation on Aug. 10.
Sister Agnes Rose is the daughter of Patrick and Michelle MacKellar, parishioners at St. Margaret Mary in the Diocese of Austin, Texas. Sister is a graduate of Seton Home Study School and is currently studying for a Master of Arts in Teaching (Secondary) at Aquinas College, Nashville, owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia.
Fr. Augustine Puchner, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church, remembers the MacKellar family well.
“They were very active and enthusiastic parishioners,” he said.
The family were parishioners several years ago up until they moved to Texas. Fr. Puchner remembers Sister Agnes Rose being involved in the church’s youth group during her time in Orange County.
“On behalf of the entire community of St. John the Baptist, I wish to congratulate her on her Profession of vows with the National Dominican Sisters and assure her of our continuing prayers.”
The Mass for the Rite of First Religious Profession was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. The Reverend Isaac Morales, O.P., friar of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, was the main celebrant.
In 1860, the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia was established in Nashville, where its Motherhouse is located. The Sisters of St. Cecilia are dedicated to the apostolate of Catholic education. The community of 300 sisters serves in over 40 schools throughout the United States, with mission houses also in Australia, British Columbia, Italy, Scotland, The Netherlands and Ireland.
