Texas Monthly Article OK but Needs some Hot Sauce

My Sarita's Secret Article Review @ Texas Monthly.com
Posted on January 2, 2006 at 04:21:21 AM by Jaime Kenedeño

Review: Texas Monthly Article OK but Needs some Hot Sauce

Posted on September 2, 2004 at 05:21:59 AM by Jaime

First of all I must commend the Texas Monthly writer Gary Cartwright for the extensive research into the history and truth of the saga. He told the old story of Sarita, Brother Leo, Peter Grace, and remained mundane with the respect to the Vatican and Catholic Church. I learned from his article of an encounter between Grandmother, Daughter in law, and Grand daughter / "illegitimate child". Although the age of Matilde is probably around 14 years old; Cartwright estimated her at 18 years old when the encounter occurred(1940). Marie Stella Turcotte Kenedy, Matilde's Paternal Grandmother (John G Kenedy Jr. & Sarita's Mother) is hospitalized at Spohn Hospital. Matilde was a volunteer working on the floor where Marie Stella was dying. At several different times she introduced Matilde to Johnny and Sarita. Then one day she introduced Matilde to Johnny's wife Elena Suess Kenedy. The article goes into the life of Maria Rowland. It describes how Ray Fernandez tracked down Maria's brother, Daniel Rowland and after considerable prompting confessed the family secret. He talks of a time when he and Tom Goates (a Corpus Christi Detective who was Maria's second husband) both knew that Matilde's father was John G Kenedy Jr. "But they never discussed it with other family members". Cartwright goes on to mention the sworn affidavit of Daniel Rowland. In the Affidavit Matilde's brother explained, " We were frightened of what the Kenedy family might do. We wanted to protect (Maria's) reputation.... South Texas was a much different place in the thirties and forties for working-class Mexican Americans. Those with money and large ranches made the rules." He recalled a day going with Goates to La Parra to ask for money from Johnny Kenedy. Daniel waited in the truck while Goates went into the house. Goates returned with a stuffed envelope. This in itself demonstrates the nature of Johnny to Maria and Matilde regarding the issue of inclusion in the Will. Johnny wanted to give to Matilde, the mother of his child as well as her husband Tom Goates. The article also conveys the shock and dis-belief Matilde and Ray exhibited upon discovery of the secret. Matilde was shown the video of her uncle's (Daniel Rowland) conversation with her son. Her confusion is tantamount to the fact that she never new Johnny was her biological father. She remembered first meeting Johnny at the hospital. She later recalled Johnny had brought her fruit baskets and dolls at Christmas time when she was much younger. Matilde also remembered sitting on Marie Stella's lap at the mansion and that Johnny's mother had once talked of sending her to a convent to be a Nun. The article allowed Ray Fernandez to explain his reasons for the litigation and the origins of a cause that has become much more than the land, oil uranium or riches involved. Although the article is redeeming and revealing; I must question why the author did not come out and rebuke the Vatican, the Catholic Church and KFATSO for thier audacious transgressions epitomizing the very oppression Tom Goates mentions. It is still going on. I also question Texas Monthly as to why Dr. Fernandez is not on the cover of the issue. His heritage has ascended to the Texas Supreme Court and will be front page worthy in the future. I guess they had thier chance? Also it concerns me that the article is placed in the middle of the magazine when it demands priority. It seems it was written to appease the Fernandez cause rather than exposing the true opposition. The author tiptoed the line and may have overstepped by telling us too much. I challenge him to do another article on the Fernandez cause, what and who it represents, and how the opposition to the cause is corrupt, oppressive and elitist. Tell us the "rest of the story" this time
Texas Monthly Article Review