Mother Antonia Brenner
Mother Antonia Brenner was born as Mary Clarke into an affluent Irish-Catholic family, in the exclusive community of Beverly Hills, California. Although the family had a privileged lifestyle, the family took care of those in need. In her early years, Mary Clarke participated in many help programs and charitable activities,
Mary married at a young age, and eventually raised seven children during the course of two marriages. After twenty-five years of marriage and after most of her children were out of the house, she drastically changed her life. In a period of just a few years, she divorced, sold her home and possessions and began to serve full time the prisoners at La Mesa penitentiary in Tijuana, Mexico.
After almost three decades of service, Sister Antonia Brenner calls Tijuana her home. She condemns crime, but loves the sinners and the victims. Her love and guidance have made a difference at the prison and as a result, many who were imprisoned there have sought a better life.
For readers in the US click the link below;
For readers in the UK click the link below;
For twenty-five years Sister Antonia’s avoided discussing her life previous to working in one of Mexico’s most notorious prisons in Tijuana. Mexican prisoners pay for imprisonment. Watch the video below about this extraordinary woman.
In the video below Jody Hammond, the filmmaker of “La Mama: An American Nun’s Life In A Mexican Prison,” talks to KPBS about Mother Antonia, who became a nun at age 50 and has called Tijuana’s most notorious prison, La Mesa Penitentiary, home since 1978.