[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14517]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO SISTER MARIA LUISA VERA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2013

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 
accomplishments, service, and contributions of Sister Maria Luisa Vera, 
as a community leader of Laredo, Texas.
  Sister Maria Luisa Vera was born on October 7, 1941 in Brownsville, 
Texas and is a third generation Mexican-American. For over 20 years she 
resided in Laredo, Texas and has contributed to the community through 
ministry in health care.
  Although she was educated in a public school system, she received 
religious instruction from her mother and the parish catechist. After 
graduating from Brownsville High School in 1960 she decided to continue 
her education by enrolling in Canales School of Vocational Nursing in 
Brownsville, Texas and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1961. 
Within the next two years she joined the Sisters of Mercy and applied 
for membership in 1963.
  By 1970, Sister Maria Luisa Vera received her bachelor's in 
registered nursing and served as a clinical supervisor at Mercy 
Hospital in Brownsville, Texas until 1973. She then went on to serve as 
a staff nurse for another year until she went off to Incarnate Word 
College in San Antonio, Texas to receive a second degree in Bachelor of 
Science in Nursing. It was in that same year that she became the 
Director of In-service Education at Mercy Hospital in Laredo, Texas. In 
1978 Sister Maria Luisa Vera was made Emergency Department Supervisor 
and served in that position for three years. She later became certified 
in Ministry Training Services, focusing on leadership programs in 
Denver, Colorado in 1981. Thereafter, she would spend the next four 
years serving as Pastoral Assistant at the San Martin de Porres Parish 
in Laredo, Texas. It was there that she had the opportunity to 
understand church from the ``people in the pews''. During these years 
she was also able to serve as a member in other ministry centers such 
as the St. Louis Province Advisory Board and St. John's Regional Health 
Center.
  For the next two decades, Sister Maria Luisa Vera would come to 
serve, and actively continues to serve, on many different boards of 
trustees, committees, commissions and networks alike. Included, are the 
presidencies of Sisters of Mercy of St. Louis Regional Community and 
most recently, the Republic of the Rio Grande, trustee of the Mexican 
American Cultural Center, among many others.
  Although ``many of [her] transitions have been challenging and most 
enriching'' she continues to serve the community passionately through 
ministry. Her contributions to Laredo, Texas have demonstrated 
dedication and devotion to the community. Moreover, as the current 
President of Mercy Ministries of Laredo, she is committed to help the 
religious community grow and continue making a difference.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the dedication and 
contributions of Sister Maria Luisa Vera, and I thank you for this 
time.

                          ____________________