Sister Germaine Marie Sutton, OSB was born in Laredo, Texas. She was the youngest, with two older brothers. Sister Germaine’s father died when she was young. She and her siblings were raised by her mother. Her family was very close, and her mother inspired her to follow religious life. While attending at Our Lady of the Lake High School Sister Germaine met some of the Benedictine Sisters who were also attending school there. She visited the Sisters at the Convent and enjoyed the family atmosphere that she found in the community.
Sister majored in education at Our Lady of the Lake University and received her teaching certification. She taught first grade for many years at Holy Spirit, St. Benedict’s, and St. John’s Catholic Schools in San Antonio, and St. Albert’s in Boerne. She also volunteered with the infants at Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital in San Antonio.
Sister Germaine moved to Eagle Pass in 2005. While there, she helped welcome mission groups at the Caridad de Corazón Mission House with Sr. Ursula. In addition, she taught religion classes to 3-year olds through 3rd graders at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic School, and classes for the sacraments of First Communion and Reconciliation. She also tutored students after school in preparation for Academic Fairs. Sister retired from a stellar 54-year teaching career in 2015 and moved to the Monastery in December 2017.
She remembers when she received her habit at the Convent on South Alamo and she wore her mother’s wedding veil, which was especially important to her. She says, “The day I made my final vows was a great day for me.” She also enjoyed her Silver Jubilee, when her mother dedicated her to God again, and her Golden Jubilee that she celebrated in 2013.