Sr. Hortense Ricca, STJ  who died on September 25, 2006, at St. Teresa's Convent in San Antonio, TX.  Sister Hortense was born in Barcelona, Spain, and raised in Cuba.  She holds two doctorate degrees from Havana University, one in Pedagogy and the other in Philosophy.  She also received a Master of Arts degree from Loyola University in New Orleans.  Her educational background helped her to serve well in the educational field as administrator, teacher, librarian, and computer lab instructor.  Sr. Hortense's zeal as an educator was evident as St. Teresa's Academy in San Antonio, St. Louis Cathedral School in New Orleans, St. Lawrence the Martyr School in Metairie, and Goretti High School in Lake Arthur.  Ten years spent in Nicaragua were testimony of her love for the needy.  While in Managua, she did ministry as local prefect of studies at "Colegio Teresiano" and as executive secretary for "Fe y Algeria" a Jesuit movement that creates schools for the very poor.  Sister Hortense continues her ministry to the poor through her work as executive director of the Foundation for Christian Education.  To attend to the needs of those most forgotten has always been a deep desire of Sr. Hortense's heart. 

May she rests in peace and let us keep her, her family and the Teresian Sisters  in our prayers.