Born in San Francisco, Sister Theresa enjoyed the benefits of care and education both with the Holy Family Sisters at Holy Family Day Home and with the Sisters of Notre Dame at Notre Dame elementary, high school and at College of Notre (now Notre Dame de Namur University). Before entering in 1975, Theresa taught pre-school/kindergarten through her college years and even started a pre-school program for the First Baptist Church of San Francisco. She was a Jesuit Volunteer for two years on the Crow Reservation in St. Xavier, Montana. Her call to Notre Dame was a circuitous one.
Her early years as a Sister were spent in elementary education and administration, serving in schools in Northern California; Mission Dolores, San Francisco, Sacred Heart, Salinas, St. Joseph, Alameda, Most Holy Trinity, San Jose and Good Shepherd, Santa Cruz. There was a yearning to minister more directly with the agricultural workers of the Pajaro, Watsonville area.
In 1994, Sister returned to school and became a registered nurse and nurse practitioner with a focus on public health diabetes nursing. Her employment as a Diabetes Nurse and Educator in a medical office allowed her to minister part time at Casa de la Culutra in Pajaro where she provided agricultural families with diabetes education and care.
Theresa discovered that she was Native American following the death of her mother in 1992. She is now an enrolled member of her tribe: The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohicans in Wisconsin.
In 2009, after finishing a five-year term in provincial leadership she enjoyed a sabbatical at Springbank Retreat Center in South Carolina which focuses on Eco-Spirituality. She deeply appreciated this experience and joined their Board in 2010 and then the staff in 2011. It was an easy transition, having a place to touch and grow in her own awareness of her Native American roots. Her ministry extended from administrative assistant, preparing and implementing programs to spiritual companioning and hospitality to all who came to Springbank. She touched into an inner gift of creating inspirational prayer services and programs that help shift the consciousness of many towards healing, wholeness and sacredness of Mother Earth.
Sister returned to California in August 2020 and continues to do some Diabetes consultation at Casa de la Cultura in Pajaro, creates and prepares days of reflection/retreats focusing on different aspects of Native American Spirituality, while serving on several committees for the EW Province.