Like many of us here at Bishop Manogue, Mrs. Sexton was raised Catholic her whole life. She attended Our Lady of the Snows Parochial School and Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. After Manogue, she went to the Jesuit University of San Diego and UNR. By the time she finished college, Mrs. Sexton felt confident in her faith life. In truth, this was not the case. “After college, it’s a game changer in the sense that you’re on your own, you’re independent, and it’s up to you to continue your faith,” she said. This came to light in her twenties. She hopped in and out of Mass and didn’t regard herself as a good Catholic in the sense of following the precepts of the Church. “I don’t think I had the understanding at that age of how important the Catholic Church and my relationship with God was.”
This all changed one day at Mass when she was in her late twenties. Sister Anita, the parish administrator of Our Lady of the Snows at the time, made an announcement at the end of Mass saying that she needed Eurcharistic Ministers, lectors, and help running the Mass. “I really felt she was talking to me because I felt like I needed help getting back into my faith, back into church, and building my relationship with God,” Mrs. Sexton shared. Sister Anita’s invitation to become more connected with the Church helped Mrs. Sexton realize that you have to participate in your community and give back. “You can’t take, take, take, take. You have to give.”
When Mrs. Sexton fulfilled her calling of becoming a religion teacher here at Manogue, she took this new understanding of the community with her. Just a month after teaching at Manogue, Mrs. Sexton became involved with the girls service club, Sodality, and is now the advisor of this amazing group. “It’s very rewarding!” she exclaimed. Currently, the girls are working on putting together uplifting and supportive gift bags for the students, families, and faculty of the Marvin Picollo School, a Pre-K through 12th grade school for students (up to age 25) with disabilities.
Mrs. Sexton is an inspiring and dedicated educator who is also a gifted mentor with valuable life advice. “Be patient with yourself. Be honest with yourself. Forgive yourself [and] others. Stop judging! You only want God judging you. Just be kind!”
