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May 7, 2006 Celebration of Life: MIDWEST CITY — Sister Joan Marie Sanchez, CST, was awarded the Celebration of Life Award at the Third Annual Life of the Party Charity Dinner and Auction. The annual event is a celebration and fundraiser for Birth Choice of Oklahoma, Inc. Close to 200 attended this year’s event at the Reed Center. Katie Gordy, chair of the Birth Choice Board of Directors, presented the award to Sister Joan Marie, affectionately known as Hermana. Sister, who several years ago suffered a stroke, was helped to the podium to accept the award. Her acceptance remarks were brief and to the point and quite evident that she seeks no attention for herself. “Thanks,” Sister Joan Marie said. “Now I need to get back to the table and finish my chocolate cake.” Gordy was a bit more detailed in her remarks as to why the honor was given to Sister Joan Marie. The following is taken from her comments: “In 1972, as Roe vs. Wade loomed on the horizon, I got a call from a friend and former teacher of mine. Sister Joan Marie Sanchez or Hermana. She said, “There’s a talk on abortion at McGuinness High School next Sunday. I want you to go with me to hear it.” Now, I tried every excuse I could think of to get out of it. “I’m busy -I have a little baby, I don’t want to know about that stuff - I would never do that but I don’t want to know about it.” Hermana listened politely and said, “I’ll pick you up at 2 o’clock.” I think both of us left the talk that day CHANGED. We could not leave there and pretend we hadn’t heard what we’d heard. Soon, we were both in on the ground floor of establishing Birthright of Oklahoma (now Birth Choice) in 1973. For 33 years. Sister Joan Marie has been a champion for the unborn and their mothers. In this day and age, how many people give 33 years to anything? So, while she was being a high school Spanish teacher, an instructor of English as a second language, a social worker and a Carmelite nun, she was fighting against abortion. She served on Birth Choice’s Board for many years. In fact, she pushed me to take the position of Chairman of the Board when our beloved Dr. Nix left. I didn’t believe I could take that job and she assured me I could - I’ve been doing it for 11 years, so I guess she was right. She has been zealous in gathering baby clothes and maternity outfits for our closets and she has spoken out repeatedly for the sanctity of human life. For a woman who took a vow of poverty, she is tireless in begging for money to support Birth Choice and she gives, like the widow did her mite - not from wealth but from the simple life style she leads. More than anything. Sister has been our prayer warrior, always remembering Birth Choice in her conversations with God. We are proud to present the 2006 Celebration of Life Award to Sister Joan Marie Sanchez.” |
