Sr. Maria do Rosario da Conceicao was born on November 13, 1927, to Manuel Bettencourt Serafim and Teresa Rosa Serafim Sequeira in Rosais – S. Jorge – Azores – Portugal.
In response to God’s call, as a young teacher, Maria do Rosario entered the Religious Congregation of the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Sr. Rosario was admitted to Postulancy on November 1, 1951 and thereafter to the Novitiate on May 1, 1952. Having completed her Novitiate Sr. Rosario made her First Profession on August 10, 1954 and her Final Profession on September 8, 1960 in Portugal. For 63 years Sr. Rosario served the people of God as a teacher and in various ministries.
In the year 1955 Sr. Rosario was sent as a missionary to Mozambique, where sister worked tirelessly as a teacher educating the children and also giving them faith formation, for nineteen years.
In 1974, Sr. Maria do Rosario was transferred to California where sister served as a teacher, caregiver and in the Pastoral Ministry. Sr. Rosario was always ready and willing to render her services to all those in need. Sister was very cheerful, witty and dedicated. Her strong prayer life, deep faith in God, love for our Blessed Mother and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit was the source of her strength.
Sr. Rosario taught catechism in St. Joseph Parish, Los Banos and served as a Eucharistic Minister to the sick at Los Banos Memorial Hospital, the shut ins and nursing homes till April, 2017. Whether there was sunshine or rain, it didn’t matter; if Sr. Rosario received a call for the sick, requesting for Holy Communion, sister would be ever ready to take Jesus to them. When called to pray the Rosary for the deceased at St. Joseph’s Parish or Whitehurst Funeral Home in Los Banos, sister would joyfully do so.
On April 03, 2017 Sr. Rosario accidently fell and badly injured herself while visiting the sick and giving communion, due to which sister was unable to continue the passion of heart. While slowly recuperating in health, she had great hopes to get back to her former self giving to those in need by: giving Jesus, words of encouragement, presence and even a twist of a dance; but the good Lord had different plans for her. Sr. Rosario was ready and happily accepted His call. On August 15, 2017 the beautiful feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, true to her name – Maria do Rosario, Our Lady extend her arms and took her into her loving embrace at the dawn of the day, leading Sr. Rosario to our heavenly Father to enjoy the eternal bliss. Sr. Rosario is survived by two brothers and two sisters; Manuel Serafim, Joao Serafim, Rosa Soares and Anna Luis. May her soul rest in peace.
A visitation will begin Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 9am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Los Banos. The Rosary will be recited at 10am followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am. Burial will be in the Los Banos Cemetery District in Los Banos, CA.
Services are entrusted to Whitehurst Funeral Chapel-Los Banos.