Sr. Veronica Therese Higgins, CST

January 9, 2025

May 9, 1951 — Jan. 2, 2025

The Carmelite Sisters of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus announced the death of their Sister Veronica Higgins, CST, on Jan. 2, 2025. Sister Veronica was in her 49th year of religious life.

Sister Veronica was born May 9, 1951, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was adopted by Tolton and Alease Higgins. Her education included a Master of Arts Degree plus degree work and advanced studies in the fields of English, education, music, and counseling.

Sister Veronica’s legacy

There is a rhythm to life and the rhythm of life is wedded to the divine rhythm of God’s life in the unique heartbeat of each human person. Sister Veronica found her rhythm and it was a unique rhythm that bound prayer in God’s presence, service of others in her many workplaces, and the wider world into a unified whole as she traveled the heartbeat directing the path laid out for her in her life’s journey. Music she made at every turn of her life with the distinct rhythm of a person with a “servant’s heart” and an “embodied compassion for the marginalized.”

Singing, playing, dancing, writing music – all wove seamlessly in and out of the 49 years of her life serving the people of God in Oklahoma. How did she keep her indelible energy level up over the years? By developing a rhythm of work, prayer, and service that was others-centered. Always happy to greet a visitor, always available to be of help, always one step away from another adventure, Sister Veronica was off and running. Yet, she was others-centered and could drop everything to advocate for what was important to her in the long run. She had a phenomenal quantum of energy to execute her visions of justice, right and wrong, while addressing the needs of the marginalized as her own.

All of this culminated in her last ministerial undertaking at the Center of Family Love, a residential facility for adults with special needs, in Okarche. Guiding, befriending, teaching, making music, keeping records accurately, these things were bound by prayer and lifted up to God to form a symphony of love. Her life’s music is part of a song that never ends.

A vigil service will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10 at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3214 N. Lake Ave. in Oklahoma City. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at the cathedral with a reception following in the Connor Center next to the church. The burial will be private.

The vigil and Mass will be livestreamed via the cathedral's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint Therese Endowment fund. Make checks payable to the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma. Checks may be sent to: Carmelite Sisters Convent, Attn: Sister Barbara Joseph, Superior, 7501 W. Britton Rd. No. 140, Oklahoma City, OK 73132.

Photo: Sr. Veronica Higgins, CST, attended The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help 100 Year Anniversary celebration on Oct. 13, 2024. Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.