This article is written by Sr. Deborah Kennedy, RSM and was featured in the Catholic Week newspaper.  It tells how Sr. Nelida is the only woman religious on the faculty of Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.

“Around the Spring Hill College campus in Mobile, Sister Nelida is well-known and highly respected, though many on the outside may not be aware that the college has a Woman Religious heading the Department of Graduate Theology and Ministry.

Sister joined the faculty in fall 2019, as assistant professor of Biblical Studies. At present she is the only Woman Religious serving on the faculty.

A native of Peru, Sister Nelida joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence at age 15. Later, Sister transferred to the American Providence in Kingston, Mass. A former high school teacher, she received her master’s degree in Biblical Studies from the University of Notre Dame and later, her Doctorate in New Testament and Early Christianity from Loyola University in Chicago.

About her work at the college, Sister Nelida said: “what I truly love about my ministry is that Spring Hill College’s mission converges with my Community’s charism: make God’s Providence more visible in our world, the care for creation and our commitment to social justice. In light of Ignatian spirituality and through a deeper reflection of Jesus’ teachings, I invite students to appreciate the beauty of creation, the dignity of life and the needs for social justice. 

“My ministry at Spring Hill has given me great joy, and I am grateful for having wonderful professional colleagues supporting me in the various programs that benefit the people we serve.”

Sister Nelida highly values biblical research and is the author of two books and three scholarly articles for noted biblical journals. Recently, Sister has submitted another manuscript for publication and is presently working on a new one, entitled “The Parables of Jesus and Human Transformation. ” Though a busy and deeply involved professor, Sister Nelida is not “all work and no play.” She makes time for some of her favorite past-times: cooking, gardening and dancing.

In addition to Sister Nelida’s educational qualifications and scholarship, Rev. Christopher Viscardi, S.J., chair of the Theology Department, said “Sister brings energy and enthusiasm to her ministry, as well as an international perspective by virtue of her Peruvian upbringing.”

It’s a wonderful thing when our ministry converges with the congregational mission and charism.  For Sr. Nelida making God’s Providence more visible in our world, the care of creation and a commitment to justice does just that and the beneficiaries are her students!

Barbara McMullen, CDP