Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice. Matthew 5:6
Obituary
Marianist Sister Estella Ibarra, FMI (James Marie) died April 7, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. Born October 3, 1937 in San Antonio to Tomasa Bernal and Francisco Ibarra, the youngest of 7 children. She met the Daughters of Mary Immaculate—Marianists as a St. James School teacher, entered in 1961 and professed first vows August 22, 1963. She earned a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from University of Dayton in 1967 and a Master’s in Social Work from Ohio State University in 1989. Sr. Estella’s ministries included Our Lady of the Pillar kindergarten and US Province Council Treasurer (San Antonio); Strategies for Responsible Development, Marianist Voluntary Service Communities (University of Dayton, OH); Catholic Charities, Diocese of Toledo (OH); FMI General Administration Treasurer (Rome). Her tireless passion for justice, missionary spirit and fundraising, and helping families navigate the complexities of housing, employment and education earned her many recognitions including “Mother Teresa of Toledo”. She is warmly remembered by many relatives, Marianist sisters, brothers and laity and countless others she inspired and mentored. We have been blessed, challenged, changed and empowered by Estella’s living faith and commitment to social justice. Funeral Service was held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.
Pray with Sr. Estella's Life
Mysteries of the Rosary The Annunciation - Like Mary, Estella questioned and dialogued with God, and faithfully said yes to the unknown journey ahead. We pray for our faithfulness to God’s call to bear Christ’s presence to our world The Nativity - Sr. Estella had a tender, compassionate heart for children, animals and friends, and a playful spirit. We pray for our companions in the wonders and mysteries of their lives. Finding Jesus in the Temple - Sr. Estella followed God’s will in her passionate response to the call to social justice and being among those in need. Like Mary, we were often surprised by her fearlessness in speaking to those in power in her advocacy for migrants and the disadvantaged. We pray for our courage in advocating for the suffering and oppressed. The Wedding at Cana - Sr. Estella mentored many young people to embrace their vocation to justice, as Mary did for Jesus. She faithfully said yes to extended years of service on Provincial and General Councils in the Office of Temporalities/Treasurer, and found creative ways to channel her missionary zeal. We pray for our faithfulness and openness to God’s call, wherever it takes us. The Ascension - Sr. Estella embraced the missionary call of our Marianist founders, expanding Adele’s apostolic spirit to nurture Marianist sisters globally including Africa, India, Latin America, and throughout the US. We pray for our readiness, vision and outreach to extend our Marianist Family spirit and gospel living.
Readings Micah 6: 6, 8 With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. James 2:14 - 17, 18, 26 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can that faith save you? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is also dead.
Matthew 5: 1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
