Sister Rosario Maria Morales-Urrutia, CSJ

Sister Rosario Maria Morales Urrutia CSJ was a very talented and prayerful sister from Lajas, Puerto Rico, who graduated from Academia San Luis in 1952.  She was the youngest of 14 children of Dona Isolina and Don Leonides.  She is survived by her brother Virgilio and 10 nieces and nephews.

After teaching in Maricao, a small town in the center of the island, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1959.  Sr. Rosario returned to Puerto Rico after teaching 2 years in St. James School in Brooklyn.  She taught in 5 schools in Puerto Rico –twice in Santurce, twice in Rio Piedras, twice in Ponce and Bayamon, Puerto Rico.  Later she became the principal of 3 different elementary Catholic schools:  Colegio San Luis Rey; Colegio San Ignacio and Colegio Sagrada Familia.  She loved teaching because she felt children depended on her for their good education and future.

Sr. Rosario’s organizational skills were extraordinary, especially when it came to celebrating.  With loving care, good taste and attention to detail she created countless memorable events. She also earned a splendid reputation for being a party girl.  She was  always very affirming of people; a strong and happy person.  She certainly was a Special sister to her family and friends and those with whom she worked.  She was considered part of everyone’s family – loved by all!

She was communicative –she spoke her mind ,even if you did not ask her!  She loved to paint, to sew, to do needlepoint, and crochet.  She would put together a classy baby set in no time when she knew someone was having a baby.  As a true Sister of St. Joseph, she was skilled as a lacemaker – a rarity among us!

Sr. Rosario was also an excellent writer.  Her last writing in Spanish was the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Puerto Rico. Watch for it on the best seller list!  She also began to write her family history but unfortunately did not have the opportunity to finish.  She wrote poetry in Spanish and English.

Her greatest delight was traveling and vacationing with her dear friends.  Her last trip was to the Holy Land, which she did with some difficulty, but was helped by her sister companions and our celebrant Peter Gary.  This trip was her dream come true and she retold stories  about it often before she died.  The tour guide was wonderful to Rosario.  He lovingly called her a “Caribbean flower” because she had to adjust to various temperatures, difficulties and extra activities. This was no surprise because Rosario’s entire life was a testimony to her strength in adversity.

We would all agree that Rosario lived life to the fullest until the very end.

Sister Rosario, muchas gracias.Dios te bendiga siempre.  Vaya con Dios hacia la eternidad.

Sister Gloria Cruz CSJ

Vicar of Puerto Rico

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Sister Rosario entered into eternal life during a period of rehospitalization. Sister Rosario was recuperating in Stella Maris Convent and officially resided in Puerto Rico, where she lived at Convento Maria Reina, San Juan

She entered the congregation in 1959 and her 61 years of religious life was spent in Puerto Rico where she was an excellent educator in the various elementary schools and later as principal at Academia San Ignacio in Rio Piedras.  She was a woman of prayer and deep faith who shared God’s love with her gifts of knowledge, gentleness and humor. She had an  infectious smile and contagious laugh that was enjoyed by all who knew her.

Sister Rosario was listed in the History of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Puerto Rico (in Spanish) and was involved with the newly established CSJ Associates in Puerto Rico’

Sister Rosario Morales-Urrutia, CSJ died on June 22, 2020 in the 61st year of her religious life.