Jacinta “Mary Jacinta” Martinez

As a nine-year-old, Sister Jacinta Martinez, SNDdeN arrived in San Francisco with her mother and sister from Nicaragua. They settled near Notre Dame School on Dolores Street, where she began fourth grade. Her family was deeply rooted in faith, and their parish, Mission Dolores, played a central role in their lives. Each month, Sister Jacinta received a small booklet with stories of saints who made God known through their love, and she longed to follow their example. When she later entered religious life, her mother considered her vocation a blessing. 

As Sister Jacinta, she taught first grade for many years and loved it. Later, she became principal at Holy Angels School in Yuba City, Calif., where she inherited a thriving science program. Working alongside fellow teachers to develop lessons, she discovered a deep love for science and outdoor education. This passion continues to shape her spirituality today, expressed in her care for the natural world. She delights in gardening, nurturing life from tiny seeds, and watching the many birds—sometimes even a woodpecker—that visit her feeder. “Even if you are down,” she says, “a bird makes you smile.” 

After three decades in the classroom, Sister Jacinta trained as a chaplain at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco. For eight years, she served at St. Luke’s Hospital, where she often felt the challenges of ministry outweighed her abilities. Yet again and again, she witnessed God’s goodness at work. “Chaplaincy work,” she reflects, “is preaching the goodness of God by being present.” 

Looking back, Sister Jacinta is filled with gratitude. “I’ve done it all and all of it is grace and gratitude,” she says. “Life is prayer. I want to reflect on the gift of these years.” 

Updated in 2025