Sister Mary Anthony Devotta

Marie Leonie Frances Yvonne Devotta was born on June 4, 1936 in Sri Lanka to an Indian family, descendants of converts brought to the Catholic faith by St. Francis Xavier. Little Yvonne, as she was known, early proved to be a bright, multi-talented, and high-spirited (and, as she herself admitted, strong-willed and sometimes mischievous!) child. Her solid Catholic upbringing coupled with her own deep love of God prepared her well to hear the call to religious life, and on June 21, 1960, she entered the Poor Clare monastery in Sri Lanka. Clothed in the holy habit on June 24, 1961, she received the name of Sister Mary Anthony of the Precious Blood, and ever thereafter had a deep devotion to her patron, St. Anthony of Padua. After her simple profession on June 26, 1962, in Sri Lanka, God's plans for her future took an unexpected turn as the community prepared to make a foundation in faraway Bendigo, Australia. An arduous ocean voyage of several days brought the eight foundresses to their new home "Down Under", and Sister Anthony made her solemn vows shortly after their arrival - at the diocesan cathedral, since the Monastery of the Holy Ghost was not yet fully set up- on June 25, 1965, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

Many years of faithful Poor Clare living followed, and the new community was greatly loved in the diocese of Sandhurst. Sister Anthony was elected abbess in 2012 and was a true mother and guide to her sisters. For many years, the small monastery awaited in hope the arrival of new vocations; sadly, in accordance with new legislation issued by the Holy See in 2018, the monastery had to close, as its numbers had dwindled to only three. Mother Anthony had been in correspondence with the Roswell Poor Clares ever since a months-long visit to our community in the 1980s had formed a strong bond between the two communities, so both Mother Anthony and Sister Clare chose to undertake the 36-hour flight to New Mexico to continue their Poor Clare life here. Leaving their cherished Bendigo monastery was heartbreaking, both for the sisters and for the people of the Sandhurst diocese, who still miss the presence of their Poor Clares. It was with many tears that the final goodbyes were said to their much-loved home of many years.

After great travail in obtaining visas during the height of the Covid epidemic, our two intrepid travelers made the difficult journey to Roswell, arriving safely in March 2021. In July 2023 they became permanent members of our community. At that time, Sister Anthony wrote in her petition to be received as a permanent member: "Well! time does fly and it is already over two years since arrival here in our Roswell home. May God reward you for the warm welcome and continued sisterly love and concern given us to help us settle in.... I believe this is a bit of Heaven! Since Divine Providence in great love has brought me here, I humbly beg for the grace to be accepted as a permanent member of your community and so be able to live out my Poor Clare vocation till He calls me Home."

Sister Anthony was never one to be idle. Even as an octogenarian, she loved to prepare vegetables, cook and bake (and excelled at everything she did); her tiny garden was a perpetual delight, both to plan and to tend. She made hundreds of rosaries for the missions, as well as a multitude of beautiful craft items for our gift shop. She loved watching for hummingbirds, and tiny baby birds fallen from the nest could be nursed back to health in her expert and motherly care. It was only in the spring of 2026 that her health began failing noticeably, but even after a long stay in the hospital she was intent on getting well and returning to the kitchen and garden. The Divine Bridegroom, however, was eager to bring her to Himself, and it was on May 21 at 4:15 p.m. that her final call came. She completed her long and beautiful Poor Clare life peacefully, surrounded by the love and prayers of all her sisters, with Mother Abbess at her side. We will keenly miss our beloved Sister Anthony's quiet, humble presence; she demonstrated for us daily what a life of fidelity and love looks like. She will always be a lovingly remembered and cherished member of our community.

Sister Anthony is preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Philomena Gomez Devotta, and also a sister.

Those family members left to cherish her memory are her sister, Pauline Pereira, and nieces and nephews.

Those honored to serve as Pallbearers are Ernest Ortega, Gabriel Ortega, Adam Hernandez, Cody Williams, Jonathon Solis and Marek Olesinski.  Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Kelly, John Gilmore, Peter Kelly, John Wayne Davis, Tim Cusack, Jan Olesinski and Charles Currier.

A special word of gratitude to Dr. Rajarshi Bhadra, MD, and his amazing staff at Fresenius Kidney Center; to the hospitalists and excellent nurses and assistants on the medical floor at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center; for the special care and devotion of all the nurses at ENMMC's ICU; and an extra-special thank you to Mari Ramirez and Clare, our daily dialysis nurses.

A Rosary will be held for Sister Anthony, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Poor Clare Monastery.  A Mass will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 8:00 AM, at Poor Clare Monastery, with her burial to follow.

Prayer prayed daily by Sister Anthony:

Prayer for Perseverance:

O God, who in Thy wisdom dost implant all virtues in our souls, and in thy faithfulness dost nurture them, make me, I beseech Thee, all unworthy as I am, a grain of good seed cast into good ground, that I may spring up vigorous and strong in holy religion and bring forth a thousandfold the fruit of a perfect life, and may persevere faithfully and courageously in Thy holy service unto my life's end. Amen.