From the Archives

Practically the face of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School due to her 41 years of dedicated service, Sister Stephanie Sanchez is remembered with great affection by the students and faculty.

A member of the Carmelite Sisters of Saint Therese for 57 years, she was the model of perseverance in her faith. Never dull and forever feisty, Sister Stephanie was always challenging her students to be better and to not settle for mediocrity. 

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Sister Stephanie was a high school athlete and her love of sports became a life-long obsession. She was attracted to the Carmelites as her aunt, Sister Joan Marie was a member of the community. Sister Joan Marie would also become a McGuinness legend as she taught hundreds of pupils Spanish. She was known as tough but fair and was revered by her students.

Making vows in 1965, Sister Stephanie later attended Marquette University and earned her master’s degree in theology. This would lead to her honing her charism as educator for the remainder of her life. And educate she did, first as the director of religious education for Saint James Catholic School in Oklahoma City and then on a broader scale as the head of religious education for the Diocese of Tulsa.

Returning to Oklahoma City in 1982, her storied career at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School began as she became the head of the theology department and classroom teacher. If she felt a teacher was not doing their job to her liking, she would not hesitate to verbalize it. However, she was willing to hear the other side and after an explanation could admit that she might not be correct in her assessment.

She genuinely loved her students and had the ability to reach some of the more troubled by her sincerity and dynamic prayer life. At her very core, prayer sustained her and through her prayer and worship class introduced various forms that could lead them on the road to living a productive Christian life. She was also known for saving cards and other religious items that might useful down the line. When she stopped teaching, clearing out her room was an adventure.

Lest we begin to canonize her, realize too that due to her passion for sports and her loyalty to the Fighting Irish of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, she was adept in letting referees know of her displeasure at less than adequate calls. It must have been even more discouraging for the officials to be harangued by a nun.

Whenever there was a sporting event (almost any sporting event), Sister Stephanie was at the gate taking tickets, visiting with alumni and generally enjoying herself. She seemed to know everyone in the McGuinness community and that same community identified with her. Even as her health began to fade, she continued for as long as she could to be present and supportive. 

After retiring in December 2021, she passed from this life in June of the following year finally succumbing to her battle with diabetes and other related issues. “Sis” as she was affectionately known by friends, left an indelible mark on hundreds of children and adolescents across the state of Oklahoma by her personality and devotion to them and the God she so gladly served.