The honorees were recognized for their continued commitment to the university and its values.
By Institutional Communications
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado) awarded the Fidelity Medals to four alumnae whose life journeys reflect a commitment to the values of service, solidarity, and dedication that define the institution’s mission. The recognition was presented as part of the commemoration of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose educational vision gave rise to Sacred Heart educational institutions around the world, including the present-day university in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
This recognition is awarded to individuals who, after their time at the institution during different stages of its history, have maintained a close connection to Sagrado and embodied its mission in their own communities and professional spaces. Throughout its 146-year history, the university has formed generations committed to justice, the common good, and the building of a more compassionate society.
Josefina Urrutia Fernández (Santurce, 1965)
Josefina Urrutia Fernández is an alumna of the Class of 1965 of the College of Sagrado Corazón, an all-girls elementary school also known as “el Pensionado”. Described as a “simple, service-oriented, and generous soul,” her commitment to the community is reflected in her active collaboration within her parish, where she organizes fundraising events alongside Monsignor Willie Peña to assist community members in need.
As a wife and mother of three daughters, she has shared with her family the values of love, humility, and generosity for which she was recognized with the Fidelity Medal.
María Inés Suárez Pérez-Guerra (Ponce, 1969)
A native of Ponce, María Inés Suárez Pérez-Guerra attended College of Sagrado Corazón in Ponce, where she graduated with highest honors in 1968. She later founded the Ponce Children’s Choir, where she demonstrated her fidelity to the Sacred Heart tradition by instilling the Christian values she learned during her years at the school.
Just as Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat taught that talent and education should be placed at the service of those in need, María Inés has provided music education to underserved children through scholarships and pro bono work. The Ponce Children’s Choir has educated thousands of children in southern Puerto Rico while contributing to the island’s cultural landscape through more than 20 annual concerts. Her work has been recognized over the years by organizations such as Club Rotario Perla del Sur (1997), the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce (2007), and Club Rotario El Vigía (2022). In 2017, she also received the Sor Isolina Ferré Award for Excellence in Service to Others.
The alumna of the College of Sagrado Corazón in Ponce and the Sagrado Corazón University College has dedicated her life to transforming communities through service and education.
Elisa Ortiz Brunet (Santurce, 1961)
Elisa Ortiz Brunet, affectionately known as Elisita by those close to her, was born in San Juan in 1942 and grew up between rural Guaynabo and San Juan. During her childhood, she studied at the College of Sagrado Corazón and later graduated from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón with a degree in History and Education. These disciplines fostered in her a passion for teaching and a commitment to helping others.
Elisa’s vocation has taken her beyond Puerto Rico on multiple occasions. She traveled to Venezuela to teach Spanish to English-speaking children and later served as director of the women’s residence hall at Tufts University in Boston, where she had the opportunity to teach Spanish and mentor students studying far from home. In Puerto Rico, she has contributed to education by supporting scholarship programs at local schools and offering tutoring through the nonprofit program “Descubriendo Juntos.”
Alongside her many philanthropic efforts, Elisa has maintained a close relationship with Sagrado by sponsoring the university education of a Sagrado student and continuously supporting the Religious of the Sacred Heart.
Carmen Irene “Ñañi” Seín (Santurce, 1964)
Carmen Irene Seín began volunteering at Fondita de Jesús, where she dedicated nearly 10 years of service. During her time with the organization, she created a workshop for unhoused individuals that connected art, spirituality, and emotions to foster a creative space and sense of belonging among participants. The works created in the workshop were later sold at an auction organized by Carmen, which promoted self-esteem and dignity among those involved.
Her vocation for service also led her to teach and promote music to Puerto Rican children and youth through the Fundación Puertorriqueña de Zarzuela y Opereta and the project Viva la Música. In addition, she dedicated several years to teaching catechism classes to children preparing for First Communion.
Her simplicity, humility, and dedication to helping others are values that exemplify the legacy of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat.
The celebration honoring the life of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat served as the ideal setting to recognize these four alumnae, whose life journeys reflect the spirit of service and human commitment passed down by the founding saint and carried forward through every student who becomes part of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’ educational project.