Melody Mobley ’09 is service-focused and on a path of discovery with unforeseen encounters and detours along the way. “Led by God,” the cheerful University of St. Thomas theology graduate, former teacher, and engaged-to-be-married former religious sister is now pursuing her Master of Arts in Theological Studies from UST. At the same time, and to her delight, the life-long Montgomery County resident came across the USTMAX Center in downtown Conroe and sought a way to support her alma mater’s micro-campus from her job as liturgy coordinator at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Service Driven by Great Love for UST

Senior Director of USTMAX Center Carla E. Alsandor, Ph.D, said, “Melody’s great love for UST became apparent when we met to plan the liturgy for our first annual St. Maximilian Kolbe Feast Day Celebration on August 14, 2021. Sacred Heart will host the feast day mass in their beautiful church with a reception to follow in the Parish Life Center. Everyone is invited.”

Mobley said, “For the event, I will coordinate various ministers in the ritual of the celebration of Mass. We will ramp up this celebration and are going to live-stream it for those who can’t come in person.”

She Wants People to Join the Family

The event is a big opportunity to bring alumni together and educate parishioners about the USTMAX Center.

Mobley explained, “I was excited to learn that USTMAX got its name from St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was a master of innovation and builder of history’s largest media apostolate. I hope people get involved so they, too, can join the family. That’s what we’re called to do: to be part of the community and be a family. So let’s make sure people know that USTMAX is here and progress the vision for USTMAX in Conroe.”

A UST Experience of Faith & Gentle Guidance by Professors

Mobley’s endless energy for the event comes in part from her experience as an undergraduate at UST. For her, it was a spiritual time as well as educational.

“I wanted a higher education environment where I could focus on my faith as I earned my degree,” Mobley said. “At that time, I knew that I wanted to join the sisters, and I enjoyed having the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament one day a week for 24 hours. Regularly praying before Jesus was good for me. And the gentle guidance of the professors let me know that I could do what I set out to do.”

Just as she had planned, the devout Catholic went immediately from graduation into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, serving as an elementary school teacher for 5 years. She left the order and took a couple of years off to reassess. That’s when she went to work for Sacred Heart and met her now future husband.

Continuously on her path, the upbeat Mobley believes her graduate degree will enable her to work within the church in a new way — while continuing to minister to God’s people — which will allow her to break out of the teaching arena. In the meantime, she hopes to welcome alumni and many others on August 14 at the St. Maximilian Kolbe Feast Day Celebration.