Sister Maria Victoria, O.P., was born in Los Angeles, California, one of eight children. In 1935, one year after graduation from high school, she entered the Dominican Congregation of the Queen of the Holy Rosary as Mission San Jose, California. Her spiritual journey began with teaching at elementary and secondary schools in California for over 40 years. Following this Sister Maria Victoria taught English (ESL) at Colegio La Paz, Cd. Delicias, Chihuahua, México. At the Pastor's behest she was asked to engage in pastoral ministry by evangelizing and attending to the sick and dying villagers at the nearby rural "colonias". After eight years she was assigned to the Regional House in Atizapán de Zaragoza, México, where she fulfilled the responsibilities of Regional secretary, archivist, historian and researcher for six years. Sister Maria Victoria was subsequently appointed to research the origin of the Congregation's first foundation in Mexico. In 1985, Sister Maria Victoria was commissioned by the Congregational Prioress, Sister Renilde Cade, O.P. to write the story of the Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose's first beginnings in Mexico.