St. Martinville native, Sister Mary Innocente Wiltz always loved the Catholic Church, even as a little girl. As a teenager though, the only thing on her mind was playing basketball, not entering the convent.

The Pastor of Notre Dame Church however, always believed the young girl’s future vocation would be with the church. It was not until a chance meeting with two local Black nuns, that at 18, Sr. Mary Innocente knew she wanted to be a nun.

“Everything fell into place and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Wiltz said.

Celebrating her 60th anniversary as a nun and member of the Sisters of Holy Family Order in New Orleans, Sr. Mary Innocente still loves the church and being a nun. Upon entering the Order, Wiltz did not expect to teach, but as she said with a smile, God had other plans for her. “When God has something for you to do, he doesn’t just tell you,” she said. “He equips you, your hands, eyes and willingness.”

Sr. Mary Innocente had the willingness, but was terrified, when she faced her first class, which consisted of 96 first graders. But she said that discipline was not a problem and she enjoyed the kids tremendously.

Sr. Mary Innocente is retired from teaching, but still volunteered her time at the House of Holy Family, a free Catholic school for first, second and third graders, sponsored by her order.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Sr. Mary Innocente now resides at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent in Lafayette, La.

The personable cleric has built her life as a nun on faith, love and values she and her four sisters and three brothers learned from their parents. While reflecting on the porch of her oldest sister, Hilda Robinson’s home, the youthful-looking nun laughs as she recalled her childhood.

“We had a lot of fun growing up,” she said. “It was a lot simpler then. What we didn’t have, we didn’t miss. We never knew we were poor.”

Wiltz’s father was a sharecropper and her mother, a homemaker. They grew most of their own food and created their own fun. Wiltz’s sister, Mary Wiltz Hebert, who lives in Inglewood , California , recalls how they made their own dolls and never had to worry about shootings or strangers.

The family’s devotion to the Catholic Church was their cornerstone. The sisters recall saying the rosary every night. “It didn’t matter if we fell asleep, someone would just pick us up and put us in bed.” Sr. Mary Innocente said