Sister Teresina Rosa was born in Italy, in a town east of Naples, and entered the community of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1949. She took her first vows three years later and then went to Rome to continue her studies, before she was asked to join the community here in Youngstown in 1955. Her priority upon arriving was to learn English, so she began studying at Ursuline High School in Youngstown and later at Youngstown State University, where she graduated with a degree in education.
Sister Teresina then worked as a teacher for more than 30 years, and went on to serve in other capacities—she worked for the vocations office in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and she served at a mission in India for five years, and returned to Youngstown where she became the General Superior of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Even after her time as General Superior, she continued to serve her order.
“I was nine years old when the Lord made me aware of His great love … and it was that call, that realization, that I said to myself, ‘no matter what, I can not do what everybody else does. I must do something special for God,” said Sister Teresina, who entered the community of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 14. Though originally drawn to the order because of the white habits the sisters wore (“I [was] too young to be dressed like a widow,” she said), she feels fortunate that God called her here, where she lives her community’s charism of supporting diocesan priests.
“I am so happy I did it. Very, very happy that I do offer my life daily for the holiness of priests,” she said, “for vocations to the priesthood and in order to support priests in any capacity that I can.”
