Mercedes Sanchez
Mercedes Sanchez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 11, 1912 Lima, Peru |
| Died | August 1, 1999 Lima, Peru |
| NSA member | South America 1951 - 1957 B.P.C.E.V. 1957 - 1961 Peru 1961 - 1964 |
| ABM | Americas 1964 - 1999 |
Mercedes Sanchez (September 11, 1912 - August 3, 1999) was a Peruvian Bahá’í who served as an Auxiliary Board member.
Biography[edit]
Sanchez was born in Lima, Peru, in 1912 and was raised as a Catholic. She suffered poliomyelitis in her youth but was able to begin working as a dressmaker in 1924.[1]
After the end of World War Two Sanchez decided to take English classes so she could expand her dressmaking business and she was referred to Bahá’í pioneer Eve Nicklin who was teaching lessons.[2] Nicklin introduced her to the Bahá’í Faith and she investigated the religion for a year before declaring in 1948.[1]
In 1949 Sanchez was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Lima and designated as a representative of Peru to the Second South American Bahá’í Congress attending the Congress and a summer school held immediately afterwards. Her success as a dressmaker meant she had sufficient funds to rent a flat to house dresses and she allowed for it to be used as the Lima Bahá’í centre.[2]
In 1951 a National Spiritual Assembly was formed to administrate the Faith in several South American countries and Sanchez was elected to the body. She served on it until 1957 when the jurisdiction of the Assembly was split and she served on the succeeding regional body until 1961 when independent National Spiritual Assemblies for each country including Peru were formed. She was elected to the independent National Assembly of Peru and attended the First International Convention as a member of the body helping to elect to the first Universal House of Justice.[2]
In 1964 Sanchez was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member for the Americas and she undertook extensive teaching trips throughout Peru.[1] In addition to her teaching work she also was active in assisting in training other Bahá’ís and appointed many assistants while serving as Board member. In 1997 she was honored for her service at the National Convention of Peru with all Auxiliary Board and National Spiritual Assembly members at the Convention having served her as assistants at some point.[2]
Sanchez served as Board member up until her passing in 1999. The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after her passing:
"We are grieved to learn of the passing of the much loved, staunch maidservant of Bahá’u’lláh Mercedes Sánchez. Her many decades of selfless, consecrated service in the teaching and administrative spheres are exemplary. Present and future generations of Peruvian believers will warmly remember her kindness, her love, and her nurturing spirit. You are urged to hold memorial meetings in major centres of your country.
Be assured of our ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of her radiant soul in the worlds to come. Kindly extend our heartfelt condolences to her family."[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2001). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 28 (1999-2000), Pg(s) 310. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Boris Handal, In Memoriam: Mercedes Sanchez (1912-1999), 2021
