History
Convent Life
Once at home, she would help prepare the following day’s meals for her grandmother and family. After a night of cooking and cleaning, she would retire for the night and wake up early for the next day’s morning prayers at the convent. Petra followed this routine until the age of twenty. Petra’s time as a catechist was very influential to her and the surrounding Mexican communities.
Petra and fellow catechists were among the first to provide outreach services (food, clothing, etc.) and Catholic evangelization to the Mexican populations in Houston. As a result of their outreach programs in Sixth and Fifth Ward, and Magnolia neighborhoods, St. Stephens Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church were established.
Petra entered the convent in the fall of 1935. Petra and seven other catechists were the first to live at the convent (Providence at Home) located 2410 Ann Street at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. In the convent, the catechists lived their lives as a religious congregation.
They followed the strict lifestyle of a nun which included prayer, work, and study. However, Petra stopped living in the convent after one year when she returned home to help care for her ailing grandmother.
During this time, Petra would still return to the convent by dawn for morning prayers, help with all the required chores, attend mass, teach Catechism then return to her home before bedtime.
