ONE LOVE IN MY YOUNG LIFE !

             ONE  LOVE  IN MY YOUNG LIFE !

         Sr. Carmencita A. Rodriguez, FMA

  Sister shares the beautiful and memorable experience of her vocational journey! Sr. Corazon Carmencita A. Rodriguez FMA, hails from Canlubang Laguna. Her mother is Salome A. Alcasid, from Calamba City, Laguna and was a history teacher in Sta. Cecilia Catholic School and was one of the first Salesian Cooperators of   Canlubang, Laguna.  Her father is Nicasio G. Rodriguez, was from San Juan, Ilocos Norte, but grew up in Canlubang  and  was a student of her mother when he was in high school in Rizal Institute.  After graduating from college, he became an office employee of the Yulo Family.  His hobby was to play golf on weekends on the beautiful green golf course of Canlubang. He was also a baseball player of Canlubang Barons.

 Sr. Carm, as she is fondly called, is an only child. Although she did not have any siblings, she was a happy child. She studied in Sta. Cecilia Catholic School in Canlubang, Laguna until high School.  She has grown with the Salesian Spirit but when she was in the grade school she never thought of being a sister. Instead, she was focused on being a successful actress; so she evaded the sisters on weekends for the oratory and instead joined her father in his golf tournament on weekends dressed in her casual T-shirt and shorts with her sneakers, walking happily and playfully with her father.

  At age 12, after elementary graduation, she lost her father due to major heart attack. Her relationship with her mother deepened as she moved on in her journey. In high school she got invitations from the sisters to give a hand in the Oratory. She was hesitant to join them, but her Mother convinced her for the opportunity to be work together in the same apostolate. Eventually, she enjoyed being in the oratory, preparing initiatives for the young people of the barrios.

  She also joined the Marian Club, where she became a member of the Children of Mary and was also a part of the Student Catechist  Club, that enabled her to teach  catechism on Wednesdays in the nearby public school.

  She entered the convent as an aspirant on May 31, 1974, after she graduated from high school.  She enrolled in Don Bosco Seminary College as a freshman in Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, but completed the course in Philippine Normal College in Manila.

  As she moved on in her vocational journey, her mother also began her journey of suffering due to stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was challenged and learned how to trust the Lord because of her mom’s situation. Her mother taught her how to trust God and go on with her chosen vocation.

  During her formative years in the convent,  she learned  to mature, to trust in God and to be contended with what is essential. At one point, she decided to leave the convent to take care of her sick mother. Her mother’s reply made her change her decision: “I have given you to God; He will take care of me.” Her mother’s words made her a strong person and trust God all the more.

  After almost 20 years of suffering, her mother died on May 6, 1989, the feast of St. Dominic Savio, which also happened to be the first Saturday of the month, a day dedicated to the Mama Mary.

 She has learned to understand God’s message through the daily events that come and to entrust her life to God. She has also learned to love for real for God first loved her in her young life. She gradually came to love the care-giving ministry because of her mom, but more so, being a happy and fulfilled FMAfor everyone!

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