"What does a 17-year-old know of vocation? I entered out of curiosity. I was nosy!"
Some decades later, this is the recollection of Sister Andrea (Teresita) Mendoza, SNDdeN.
"I gradually moved into this life and learned this IS where I belong."
Sister Andrea became an elementary school teacher, serving twice at St. Columbkille School in Los Angeles, and later was principal at Notre Dame School in Folsom, Calif. She also spent time working in an economically disadvantaged area in Mexico, where she said that she came to appreciate the "important things in life."
Later, after going back to school to earn a master's degree in marriage and family counseling, Sister moved into parish ministry with an emphasis on working with the elderly. One of her greatest blessings was the opportunity to assist people who were close to death.
Sister Andrea believes, "That passage is such a sacred and holy time."
Her counseling career has been varied, and she has both served as an advocate for female victims of domestic abuse and taught anger management classes to male abusers. For three years, Sister served on the National SNDdeN Formation Team.
For five years, Sister Andrea served as a pastoral associate at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, Calif., where she worked with the Hispanic community there. Sister helped train lay leaders and worked with engaged couples.
Of Sister Andrea, Father Kevin Joyce said, "She communicates genuine love for God and his people by her way of being and by the way she treats people. She has the rare combination of being kind and compassionate yet strong and decisive. She's a real leader and a great gift to St. Lucy's."
After more than 60 years of service and life as a Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Andrea believes that "everything has fallen into place."
Her work today uses every aspect of her skills and life experiences and is the perfect fit!
Sister Andrea's Ministries
1964-65 St. Columbkille School, Los Angeles, Calif. (Teacher, 7th Grade)
1965-68 St. Charles School, San Carlos, Calif. (Teacher, Grades 6 & 7)
1968-69 Sacred Heart School, San Jose, Calif. (Teacher, Grades 6, 7, 8)
1969-70 St. Columbkille School, Los Angeles, Calif. (Teacher, Grades 4, 7)
1973-74 St. Thomas More School, Lynwood, Wash. (Teacher, Grades 5, 4, 3)
1974-75 Sacred Heart Parish, Gridley, Calif. (Parish Ministry)
1975-76 Gridley, Calif. (Counseling Practice)
1981-84 St. John Notre Dame School, Folsom, Calif. (Principal)
1984-87 Notre Dame Convent, Belmont, Calif. (Administrator/Coordinator)
1986-87 Catholic Social Services, Vallejo, Calif. (Social Work)
1987-89 Notre Dame Villa, Saratoga, Calif. (Administrator)
1989-94 Notre Dame Villa, Saratoga, Calif. (Provincial Team Member)
Counseling: MFC/Victims Advocacy/Domestic Violence
1996-97 Tino Esparza Center, San Jose, Calif. (Marriage, Family & Child Counselor)
1997 Our Lady of Fatima Villa, Saratoga, Calif. (Pastoral Care)
1998-2000 Proyecto Primavera, San Jose, Calif.
2003-06 Sisters of the Holy Family, Fremont, Calif. (Activities Director)
2007-10 Member of SNDdeN National Formation Team
2011-16 St. Lucy Parish, Campbell, Ca.lif (Pastoral Associate)
2016- Our Lady of Refuge Parish, San Jose, Ca. (Pastoral Associate & Volunteer Hispanic Ministry)