Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

After more than five decades of serving the Diocese of Orlando, Dominican Sister of Adrian Lucy Vazquez has retired, leaving a legacy marked by significant firsts for women and a deep commitment to those she ministered.

“Sister Lucy is a woman of Vatican II,” said Bishop John Noonan. “She led with integrity and justice. Her gifts were to serve the needs of all with truth and justice.”

Judicial Vicar Father Fernando Gil, who worked closely with Sister Vazquez, praised her dedication and expertise. “Those of us who do tribunal work recognize greatness when we see it and, undoubtedly, Sister Lucy Vazquez leads the top list of the greatest in the canonical field,” Father Gil said.

Sister Vazquez joined the Diocese of Orlando as associate family life director before becoming the first woman director of the tribunal and Defender of the Bond in 1982. The title “director” was specifically created for her since only a priest can be named "oficialis" of the tribunal.

Before her appointment by Bishop Thomas Grady, Sister Vazquez had already achieved several milestones. In 1975, she was one of two women to receive a doctorate in Canon Law from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1977, she became vicar for religious in the Diocese of Orlando—a role traditionally held by priests—and joined the marriage tribunal a year later.

In 1990, she became the first female president of the Canon Law Society of America. Five years later, she received its Role of Law award—the first woman to do so. In 1991, she became Florida's first female chancellor among nearly 200 dioceses/archdioceses in the United States at that time.

Her resilience may have been shaped by her experience as one of the unaccompanied Cuban children arriving via Operation Pedro Pan in the 1960s. Separated from her parents for seven years as a teenager, she relied on her faith during this period.

“I think my faith was the anchor for me when I came just having turned 16,” she said in a 2018 interview with Florida Catholic. “Coming from a close-knit family and the values my parents instilled in me sustained me and helped me after I was separated from them.”

Two years after arriving in Florida, she entered St. Catherine de Ricci’s Dominican congregation before joining Adrian Dominicans when her original order dissolved.

Not seeking recognition for herself, Sister Vazquez believed that baptism empowers everyone to assume leadership roles within the Church. She often acknowledged other women’s contributions to education and Church development over her own impact.

Her work within tribunals remains perhaps her most notable contribution.

“Sister Lucy’s role in constructing our diocesan tribunal's foundation has remained crucial,” Father Gil stated. “Her greatest accomplishment was implementing directives from both Pope Francis' procedural reforms enacted in 2016 and those provided by Canon Law into matrimonial cases."

Father Gil emphasized how Sister Vazquez interpreted Church Law not merely as formalistic principles but as instruments promoting healing and fairness: "Her abilities were precisely what our Diocese needed during serious crises when serving as Chancellor or Victim Assistant Coordinator."

As coordinator, Sister Vazquez developed systems including fingerprinting procedures along with criminal background checks applicable across diocesan staff members/volunteers alike.

Father Gil summarized Sister Vazquez’s impact aptly: “The courage passion determination displayed constitute an inspirational image reminding new canonists about true purposes behind Church Laws—the salvation souls.”

By Glenda Meekins

Florida Catholic Staff

June 13th