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!

SR. RAVENA VALENTINO DOMINGUEZ was born to Mr. Nicanor P. Dominguez, Sr. of Pilar, Bataan and Mrs. Estela Valentino of Laoag, Ilocos, Norte. She saw the light of dawn on the 27^th of June 1965 in Wakas, Pilar, Bataan. She was baptised in December 1966. She is the fourth in the family of six with two daughters and four sons. She is the youngest daughter. Her first years of elementary school were spent in Pilar, Bataan, her hometown and the rest in Balanga, Bataan where they emigrated when she was nine years old. At 11 years old she joined the Legion of Mary of the Cathedral Parish. It was also in Balanga that she completed her high school years at Tomas Del Rosario Academy, a non-sectarian private school. There she was active in her class as the secretary and on graduation had garnered the Leadership Award aside from the academic awards which yearly she would received from her kinder and elementary years until High School. She took and passed the UPCAT in 1982 thus privileging her with a Pangulo Scholarship Program with her initial course of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering. After flanking Math 1 and Chem 16 she shifted to Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and had the major on Agronomy with the field of specialization on Crop Production and Management with a practicum thesis on Rice and Cereals. After graduation in October 1986, she immediately landed on a job as the Agriculturist (Technical Representative) of the Asiatic Technologies, Inc. which was recommended to her by Ms. Rosalie Quemado, a member of the Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians. She stayed with the company for almost two years going to different farms, agricultural companies in order to sell their product BIO-ACT which is a nematicide. She has gone places like Davao, Cebu, Benguet Province where in the latter, she had met the poor families and out-of-school children of indigenous peoples of Ifugao and where she had read the lives of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello through the booklets lent by Sr. Carmencita Rodriguez, the then Vocation Directress of the Province.

She entered in July 30, 1988 at the Aspirantate in Mary Help of Christians, Canlubang, Laguna even without the permission from her parents. She was brought there by her group of friends who also had supported her materially during her initial years of formation. She taught Mathematics in Grade IV and Social Studies and Physical Education in High School. After a year, she asked to be accepted to the Postulancy and after ten months to become a novice at the Novitiate. Only then, did her father came to accept little by little her decision to become a sister. After two years, she asked to be accepted for the first profession in 1992. Her family attended it in Canlubang with much resignation and peace. After which she was assigned in the Provincial House for three years first to assist Sr. Aurora Yosuico who was the commissionera at the Immigration; then as an assistant to the High School Boys (13-16 years old) at the Drop-In Center for Streetchildren, then as In-Charge of the Laura Vicuña Training Center at the 3^rd floor of Don Bosco School Building. During this period, she also was sent to Sta. Isabel College to study CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) during summer, after which she was asked to teach Methodology Course. In 2005, she was transferred to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro to assist the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan in their Youth Ministry beginnings through parish ministry, campus ministry, radio youth ministry.  In 2007, she was asked to form part of Mangyan Mission as the Human Resource Development Officer (HRDO) and a Youth Formator. In 2008, after having made the perpetual profession, she was sent to Germany for the four-month course on Office and Travel Technology. In 2000, she was transferred to Laura Vicuña Women Development Training Center in Malihao as the Technology Center Directress and as a catechist in Binanlutan High School. In 2002, she was transferred back to Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro to join the sisters in starting the Agriculture Technology Course for the out-of-school youth and the underprivileged at the Mary Help of Christians School Technology Center in Barangay Parang under the project “Paradigm Shift for the Underpriveleged Youth”. In 2005, she was was asked to study a three-year course on Religious Education (Youth Ministry) at the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences – “Auxilium” in Rome, Italy. In July 2008, she came home and was assigned as full-time Vocation Directress at the community of Pius XII Catholic Center Ladies’ Residence. In April 2009, she was asked to stay at the Provincial House to coordinate the Youth Ministry and the Salesian Youth Movement while still being part of the Vocation Ministry team. In May 2010, she transferred to Don Bosco School to have a first-hand experience of teaching CLE among Grade 9 students while forming part of the SYM Team of the local and all the North Communities.

She would like to be remembered as the daughter of Mary, “VENA di tutte le grazie”, the sister “forever young – with and for the young”, especially the poorest: the streetchildren, the indigenous (especially the Mangyans of Mindoro), the out-of-school, the underprivileged, the farmers and fisherfolks, the migrants, the vocation discerners, those at risk, the teens and youth of dysfunctional families, those undergoing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and among her co-sisters, “then” and now.

Umibig ka na ba nang matindi?

Kwentong Bokasyon ni Sr. Evangeline M. de Leon, FMA

Umibig ka na ba nang matindi? As in yung kapag gumigising ka sa umaga nakangiti ka tapos kaya mong isipin ang isang tao 24/7 nang hindi ka nababaliw?!?! Grabe! Minsan, may isang batang nagsabi, “Palibhasa kayong mga madre, hindi umibig!” Pero sa totoo lang, mahirap manatili nang tapat sa buhay na ito ng hindi ka umiibig. Paulit-ulit mong ginagawa ang pare-parehong bagay araw-araw: gigising, magdadasal, sisimba, kakain, maglilinis, magtuturo (o kung ano man ang tungkulin na naibigay sa’yo), dasal uli, trabaho at madalas,  pagod kang matutulog. Hindi mo pa pisikal na nakikita o nahahawakan si Hesus, ang esposo mo. Pero kahit ang mga limitasyon na ito ay kayang tawirin ng pag ibig. Alam ‘yon ng puso mo- ramdam mo at totoong-totoo. Totoo pa rin kahit hindi mo maramdaman dahil ang Diyos ay di hamak na mas malawak pa sa ating mga damdamin. Siya ay nananatiling tapat. Siya ay Pag-ibig.

Akala ko kaya ako nagmadre ay dahil mahal ko ang Diyos. Hindi pala. Nang suriin ko nang mabuti, nakita ko na nagmadre ako dahil mahal ako ng Diyos at tinawag Nya ako. Nakita ko rin na hindi ko Sya masyadong minamahal pero hindi Nya binabawi ang tawag Nya sa akin. Pitong taon pa lang ako ng mangarap akong magmadre. Lalo itong tumingkad nung ako’y naging katekista, duon sa may riles ng tren. Tuwing Sabado ng hapon, lagi akong pumupunta sa PNR (Philippine National Railroad)-South, Magallanes, Makati para magturo sa mga bata. Sinusundo ko rin sila tuwing Linggo para sa misa. Gustong-gusto nila na marinig ang kwento ni Hesus! Minsan, pauwi na ako ng may isang batang humabol sa akin at sinabi, “Ate, balik ka ha? Kwentuhan mo kami ulit tungkol kay Hesus”. Ang saya-saya ng mukha nya at naramdaman ko sa puso ko na ito ang gusto kong gawin. Masaya ako sa buhay-simbahan bilang lector, Legion of Mary at katekista sa Our Lady of Fatima Parish nung nasa Makati pa kami. Lumaki ako sa mga Salesyanong pari ng San Ildefonso Parish at bilang bata, gustong-gusto ko ang Children’s Mass dahil ang saya- andyan na yung may katesismong pambata bago magsimula ang misa, may makukulay na drawing at slogan sa malaking pisara na may buod o tema ng ebanghelyo,  yung paborito kong skit o drama tungkol sa Mabuting Balita at yung iniiwasan naming pari na may mahabang microphone cord na naaabot kami at laging nagtatanong sa sermon nya tapos bibigyan ka ng stampita ng santo o santa kapag tama ang sagot mo. Magimik sila pero malaman. Natututo ka at nalilibang dahil kagiliw-giliw ang misa – kaming mga bata ang nagbabasa, sumasayaw, tumutugtog, kumakanta, umaarte. Misa talaga namin! Lalo kaming napapalapit kay Hesus dahil lagi kaming hinahanda ng mga katekista namin sa pagtanggap sa Kanya sa Banal na Komunyon.  Sabi ko, ang saya namang magsimba! Ang saya sa simbahan! Nagkaroon pa ako ng nanay na parati akong sinasama sa bible studies ng matatanda at kapitbahay na sinasali kami ng mga kapatid ko sa Block Rosary tuwing Sabado at nagpapabasa ng mga libro ng iba’t-ibang santo at nagbibigay sa amin ng bibliyang pambata. May malalim din akong saya na nararamdaman tuwing nakakatulong ako sa iba dahil sa ginagawa namin sa simbahan. Nasabi ko tuloy, gusto ko na lang maging misyonera dahil parang mas madali ‘yon kaysa maging madre. Masasabi ko na ang mga bagay na ito ang naging punla ng aking bokasyon. Ramdam ko na gusto kong maglingkod sa Diyos bilang madre pero panganay ako sa amin at gusto ko ring makatulong sa mga magulang ko. Nung ika-18 kaarawan ko, nagtapang-tapangan ako at nagpaalam sa tatay ko na magmamadre ako pagkatapos kong magkolehiyo at makapagtrabaho ng kahit isa o dalawang taon. Nung una, hindi umimik ang tatay ko, tapos nagalit. “Tigilan mo na yang pagmamadre na ‘yan!” sabi nya.  Hindi rin nya hinarap ang mga madre nung unang pumunta sa bahay namin para ipaalam ako. Pero ngayon, ipinagmamalaki nya sa lahat nyang kakilala na may anak syang madre. Kailangang maghintay ng 5 taon ang pangarap na ’yon. Nagtapos muna ako ng Pilosopiya sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas, nagturo sa Mary Help of Christians Montessori dito sa Cavite at sa Ateneo de Manila University. Nag working student din ako pansamantala nung ako’y nasa kolehiyo at nagdodorm sa Maynila. Natuto ako sa buhay nang maaga. Nakita ko na kaya kong itaguyod ang sarili ko at makatulong sa pamilya ko kahit papaano pero hindi ko kayang patahimikan ang pangarap kong magmadre. Gusto kong malaman kung ang tawag na ito ay nanggagaling lang sa akin o talagang galing sa Diyos. Sumailalim ako sa isang discernment habang ako’y nasa CYA-UST (Christ’s Youth in Action). Nakatulong nang malaki sa akin ang grupong ito na seryosohin ang personal kong relasyon sa Diyos. Mas nabigyang-halaga ko ang pagdarasal, pagbabasa ng Salita ng Diyos, pagsisimba araw-araw at pangungumpisal nang palagian. Masaya kami sa grupong  ito. Nagtutulungan kami na mapalapit ang bawat isa sa Diyos at magsuportahan sa aming “kontra-kulturang” pananaw at pagpili. Kung paano ko nakilala ang mga Salesian Sisters ay talagang nakakatawa! Aug. 27, 1994- Nagpaalam ako sa nanay ko na pupunta ako sa isang FNYO (Federation of National Youth Organizations) gathering sa Don Bosco Joy Center dahil baka makakita ako ng Salesian Sister (at para makita rin yung crush ko). Sa registration pa lang, nagtanong na ako kung may Salesian Sister at nung break, umikot-ikot ako at nakipagkilala sa mga madre pero walang Salesian Sister akong nakilala! Hanggang sa nung pauwi na kami at may isang madreng nagtatawag ng mga kabataan at nagyaya na ring umuwi. Lumapit ako at agad nagtanong, “Sister, Salesian po ba kayo?” Sabi nya, “Oo, bakit?” Nahawakan ko talaga sya sa tuwa at sinabi,  “Sister, matagal na kitang hinahanap!”. Si Sr. Teresita Saludares ‘yon. Nagpakadalubhasa muna ako sa pag-attend ng LDE (Life Direction Encounter) ng 6 na taon bago ako pumasok. May 14, 2000, pumasok ako sa kumbento ng Daughters of Mary Help of Christians o Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. Isa kaming relihiyosong kongregasyon na ang pangunahing misyon ay Kristiyanong edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Itinatag kami nina St. John Bosco at St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello noong August 5, 1872 sa Mornese, Italy. Sa kasalukuyan, may 15,000 FMA (Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice) Sisters na nasa 97 bansa sa buong mundo. Nagsimula kami ng misyon dito sa Pilipinas nong 1955 at mayroon kaming 17 komunidad sa Luzon at Visayas at 2 sa Papua New Guinea. Dahil kami ay isang kongregasyon para sa mga kabataan, mayroon kaming mga eskwelahan, catechetical apostolate, oratory youth centers, streetchildren centers, boarding houses, student at technology centers para sa kanila. Layunin namin na maging kaibigan, kalakbay at gabay ng mga kabataan sa kanilang paghahanap ng kahulugan sa buhay at ilapit sila kay Hesus at Maria upang maging mabubuting Kristiyano at tapat na mamamayan.

Ako ay 23 taong gulang ng pumasok, handa ako sa lahat at bukas ang aking loob kung sakaling malaman ko na hindi ito ang buhay para sa akin. Nakita ko na masaya rin ako sa labas pero parang may gusto pa akong hanapin sa buhay. Ayaw kong magsisi sa bandang huli dahil hindi ko pinagbigyan ang sarili ko na hanapin ‘yon. At nakita ko nga…

Lahat tayo ay may kanya-kanyang tawag ng pag-ibig mula sa Panginoon at hindi tayo natatahimik hangga’t hindi tayo tumutugon  sa tawag na ito. Laging parang may kulang. Nagkakaroon tayo ng kapayapaan kapag alam ng puso natin na ang kalooban Niya at kalooban natin ay iisa. At kapag nakita na natin ang plano ng Diyos para sa atin, alagaan natin ‘yon ng dasal at pagsusumikap na tumugon ng buong puso araw-araw. Sa bandang huli, makikita natin hindi pala tayo ang umibig nang matindi. Tayo pala ang iniibig ng Diyos nang matindi saan mang estado ng buhay Nya tayo tinatawag. Inibig ka na ba nang matindi? Hayaan mong ibigin ka ng Diyos ng matindi. Hinayaan at hinahayaan ko Syang ibigin ako nang matindi…

*Nais mo bang alamin ang tawag ng Panginoon sa’yo o “wala lang”…gusto mo lang makilala ang Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco).  Maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang Vocation Directress na si Sr. Soccoro Bacani (o sino mang Salesian Sister na malapit sa inyo) sa numerong 0917-483-84-32, (02) 525-91-26. Bumisita sa kanilang website www.fmafil.org.ph, youtube: lay down my pride (a calling for religious vocation) o makipag-ugnayan kay Sr. Evangeline M. de Leon sa (049) 502-99-79; 0916-466-02-39 o mag-email sa fmaphilo_evangeleast@yahoo.com.

By Jesús Colina

VATICAN CITY, JULY 17, 2009 (Zenit.org).- For this week’s contribution to “God’s Men,” the column with which ZENIT is celebrating the Year for Priests, we present an exclusive interview with Benedict XVI’s secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

* * * ZENIT: When did you discover your vocation to the priesthood?

Cardinal Bertone: I discovered it precisely when I was studying the fifth year of gymnasium — what would today in Spain be the first year of bachillerato, or in Mexico or the United States, the second year of preparatory or high school — in the Salesian Institute of Turin, in Valdocco, which is the first institute founded by Don Bosco. There, I studied secondary school and bachillerato (liceo) and honestly, before that, I had not felt any desire to be a priest, despite living among exemplary priests who were my professors and educators. Instead, I wanted to study languages and dedicate myself to seeing the world, and thus, something very different — something like international relations, in a certain sense. Later on, a Salesian priest who was my Greek professor, made a proposal to me: “We are organizing a three-day priestly discernment encounter. You can come and think about your future.” I accepted and after these three vocational discernment days, I decided that inasmuch as it depended on me, I would become a priest and join the Salesian congregation. On May 24, 1949, I gave this news to my parents, who traditionally made a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Help in Turin. They were somewhat surprised, given that they had never heard me speak of plans to be a priest. They told me, “If the Lord wants this, we will not object. Indeed, we are quite happy. But remember that it will depend on you to be faithful and therefore, it is you who has made this decision.” That’s how I began the path of my vocation, with the novitiate and then, with the whole program of studies, etc.

ZENIT: And who helped you to follow this path?

Cardinal Bertone: In a special way, the Salesian educators, and particularly at the beginning, the master of novices. I lengthened the novitiate four months because I was so young. Theoretically back then, the novitiate began at age 15 and ended at 16, with the first profession. I still hadn’t turned 15 when I entered on Aug. 16, 1949, and therefore, I extended the novitiate until I turned 16 in December of 1950. That’s when I made my religious profession. Afterward, the Salesians and excellent confessors accompanied me. I should mention that at the beginning I asked advice regarding this decision from a confessor — an 84-year-old priest — who heard confessions behind the main altar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Help, and to whom I regularly went to confession. He gave me his counsel. He told me: “Look, this is a very large task. You will have to prepare yourself very well. But remember that I have been a priest for 60 years and I have never regretted it.” So, encouraged by this testimony too, I followed this path, though in visiting home, I had a bit of a problem, a bit of nostalgia. But my parents told me: “Finish the whole testing period and the study program, because it was you who made this decision. And after that, you can make a more mature choice.” And at the end, I made the decision to continue to priestly ordination, which happened July 1, 1960.

ZENIT: Along this path, what was the role of the Salesians’ founder, Don Bosco?

Cardinal Bertone: Certainly Don Bosco was an extraordinary model of a priest, and his followers, his sons, who were my professors and educators, represented him very well. They offered me beautiful testimonies that sparked in me the desire to follow this path and encouraged me in it. In my life, Don Bosco has always been present. He has guided me in my growth toward the priesthood and afterward as a priest, in the missions that I have had as a Salesian, from being major rector of the Pontifical Salesian University, here in Rome, and formator of many candidates to the priesthood — very many. Later on he has guided me in my life as a bishop: first as the archbishop of Vercelli and then in Genoa and now, as the secretary of state, as the closest collaborator of the Pope. Don Bosco taught me to be faithful to the Pope, to give my life for the Pope and for the Church, something which I try do with my limits, but with all my strength.

ZENIT: What have been the greatest difficulties and the most beautiful satisfactions?

Cardinal Bertone: As I mentioned, I had some difficulties during my formation, as I felt a certain nostalgia for the past, for life with my companions and friends. But I stayed strong in following my vocation. Those who were my age, who didn’t think that I would follow this path, especially my classmates from liceo — I studied liceo as a Salesian but with 30 companions who now have professions and a beautiful role in Italian society and have supported me — they told me: “If you are a priest, you should be like Don Francesco Amerio.” He was our great professor of liceo, of history and philosophy and also religion. For me, he was a model, one who has supported me — and I’ve still got my notes from his religion classes. That is proof of the influence had by this priest, this professor, who my companions presented to me as a model. Afterward I had difficulties, especially in the years from 1968 to 1972. I was here in Rome — I was a professor at the Salesian University and also a formator for candidates to the priesthood. We had a large number of theology students in what was then the Pontifical Salesian Atheneum: 140 theology students who felt the pressure and the influence of the changes of ’68, of the debate and the whirlwind of opinions. It was after the [Second Vatican] Council. But we had had moments of a lot of friction and of clashes of opinions and people, and as the superior, I had to make decisions on these students’ admission to holy orders. We kept up a very intense dialogue with the students. Those were times of great student meetings, with discussions that lasted hours, even late into the night. Thus, moments of tension, but also of overcoming these tensions. Then as a bishop, and as an archbishop of the two dioceses that I have guided, both of them by appointment of Pope John Paul II, I also had moments of confrontation, sometimes taxing situations, with this or that problem that arose in the local Church. When I was secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, there were also some doctrinal problems given us to analyze and judge, and sometimes they were very grave problems at the doctrinal, moral or disciplinary level. But in this role I have also had very beautiful satisfactions: The fact of having guided and of having had a fraternal community, I would say relationships of fraternal communion, of strong friendships, which continue even to today, when I run into old students or bishops from all over the world. I have had moments of authentic communion, of fraternal friendship in the joy of fidelity to the Pope, in the joy of fulfilling our priestly and episcopal ministry, or because of the fact of having led many youth to the priesthood. Then there is the episcopal fatherhood in priestly ordinations and in episcopal ordinations, which now are more and more frequent in my role as secretary of state, with the ordination of many collaborators of the Pope and also of many local bishops. This is a great satisfaction: The great people of God is made up as well of the pastors of the Church, with their various responsibilities, with their diverse roles, according to the vocation and charism that the Holy Spirit distributes. This people that journeys in profound unity is truly a beautiful sign of the benevolence of God for the Church and all of humanity. I experience this in the meetings I have with the local Churches, with the pontifical representatives all over the world, and with the leaders of states who come to visit the Vatican and express their appreciation, their recognition of the Church’s work, of the testimony the Church gives, whether it be in the field of formation, above all in the area of education, or in the field of promotion of the human person, social promotion, or special assistance to the weakest classes of society. Thus, I give thanks to the Lord for the gift of the priesthood and also for the gift of the episcopacy. And I wish everyone a good Year for Priests!

[This interview can be seen in its original Italian at www.h2onews.org]

[Translation by Kathleen Naab]

The Searcher

(Vocation story of

Sr. Maria Asela B. Chavez, FMA)

As the song of the former band After Image goes: “What has life to offer me, when I grow old? What’s there beyond sleep, eat, work in this cruel life? So I sing this song to all of my age For these are the questions we’ve got to face For in this cycle that we called life We are the ones who are next in life…we are next in line… This song may already sound “jologs” to some of you because it’s already “a thing of the past”. But mind you, this song has made me reflect again and again years way back when I was trying to decipher the essence of my life… It never dawned on me that I will be a nun… Nahh…Never… Not even in my wildest imaginations…Nay more, to be an FMA, a Salesian nun…I am not even a Past Pupil since I grew up with the Dominican Sisters in San Felipe Neri Parochial School in Mandaluyong City from Kinder to High School…but it is always the Lord and our Lady who always paved the way for me. I had my own dreams and plans in life. Plans that are fruits of “my own will”. I planned to work abroad (where my relatives are), to be successful in my career, to have my own family and we will live happily ever after. (Well, just like in fairytales.) I repeat “My Own Plan”. I never sought God’s plan then. But it was He who made known His plan for me in the way I have never imagined it to be. I remember that I was in my third year PT proper when I was trying to search for my life’s meaning. I can feel that deep “hunger” within…a thirst for something which I cannot explain…I often catch myself having a self-confrontation like “after being successful in your career, what then? Will you be happy with it, honestly speaking?” That same night, I had a dream where I saw myself lying on bed, asleep. But when I tried to take a closer look, my body seems to be pale and lifeless…I can’t understand what does it mean… At an instant, I heard a very familiar biblical passage: What profits a man if he gains the whole world but lose his soul…” I immediately woke up, quite puzzled at what that dream meant. After that instance, I never thought of it anymore. I went on with my usual daily hectic schedule in school, still with a “void” in my heart. That time, I was already serving in our parish (St. Dominic Savio Parish) as a Legionary. We had weekly meetings, prayed the rosary together, do some apostolates like visiting houses and doing parish census, bringing kids to Sunday mass and catechesis. Some fellow youth even teased me for doing so since we’re quite few in the group and not in the front line like them. But I just shrugged my shoulders with their comments convinced that I am doing these for God and Our Lady. In spite of what I’m doing, I still want to devote more time for the Lord and so I joined other parish organizations like CALL (Commentators’ and Lectors’ League), Savioletin (parish newsletter) as well as the Association of the Salesian Cooperators. There was this feeling that I don’t want to be separated from the Lord anymore and the thought of being away from Him if ever I will be working abroad was already a source of torment for me. During those times, I was so attracted to Don Bosco, his great love to the Lord, to our Lady and to the young. I was then so envious of my younger brother who would frequent the DBYC (Don Bosco Youth Center) as a rondalla member, serving in the Sunday mass, their daily afternoon gatherings and games, their summer leadership trainings, and the like. To the point that I have told myself “How I wish I were a boy…” (Don’t get me wrong here…because during those times, only boys are allowed to join the DBYC)…It was also during these times that I was already getting closer to the Lord and our Lady by regularly participating in the daily parish Mass with my parents who are also serving in the Mass (my mother being the Lector/ Commentator and my Father as the Special Minister of the Holy Eucharist), praying the rosary (as we often do as a family since childhood), attending regularly the weekly Bible studies in the parish (with my parents), and other prayer encounters organized by our parish. (Well, you see, my parents are also instrumental in the realization of my vocation since it is because of them that I was introduced to God in prayer since childhood. It affirms that the FAMILY IS REALLY THE SEEDBED OF VOCATION.) Let’s go back to what I am saying. Come 1995. The very memorable World Youth Day. I had the joy of being part of the Parish Core Group who prepared my fellow youth for the up-coming World Youth Day, of being part of the SAY ’95 (Salesian Asian Youth) and of course the much-awaited World Youth day where we had the joy of being with our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. Not to mention the Youth Encounter which we had after. These were really intense days of prayer and reflection for me when I truly felt that I was called in the religious life. I really took into my heart the challenge of our Holy Father “As the Father sent me, so I sent you…” Nobody knew about my plans to become a Religious since nobody will believe me especially my relatives who knew me as a “sutil” (stubborn). I remember my uncle who once told me “Ikaw? Magmamadre? Yang sutil mong yan??” But our God is always a God of second chances. Year 1995 is also significant since it was the year when I get to know the FMA’s. It was our Parish Vicar, Fr. Cris, who was then the chaplain of Don Bosco School, who informed me about the VOE’s (Vocation Orientation Encounter) that the FMAs are holding every week. After serving in the 7 AM Sunday mass, I would usually go straight to DBS for the VOE. It was actually a top secret. Nobody knew that I was attending VOE for fear that they will just tease me. To cut the story short, I entered the convent a year after my graduation. It was not easy to leave one’s family. Their loving presence has been my security for years. I keep telling myself that if I will get married, I will surely leave my family and be with my own family. My journey in the Religious Life was not a bed of roses. There were ups and downs along the way. The Cross is Inevitable. My top secret? It is my personal and loving relationship with God and Our Lady that sustained me. It is truly the Lord and our Lady who have held me by the hand through the years. This is the main reason why I am still here in the Convent as an FMA since it’s in this atmosphere of prayer that I have really felt their great love and care for me just like the little sheep placed on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd (a love that is so gentle and personal). Thanks to our frequent and fervent reception of the Sacraments (Holy Eucharist and Confession), daily adoration, daily meditation, Stop Over with the Lord, Spiritual Readings especially that of the saints, our love for Mary as shown in our devotions to her through the rosary and novena, prayerful silence in the Community, and the love of my co-sisters in the community. It is this great conviction that I am deeply loved as God’s Beloved Child which spurs me to continue moving on in my FMA vocational journey with much love and faith (notwithstanding my personal shortcomings and weaknesses), enabling me to live my community life and apostolic mission in the best way that I can.

THE UNFOLDING OF HIS LOVE

A vocation story of Sr. Joy Panoso (second year novice)

(Sr. Joy is seated in front row, middle)

I was a young girl when my mother used to comb my hair while we were resting in our balcony.  Without any hesitation, I asked my mother this question: “What if I become a nun?” She kept quiet and with a smile she told me: “Your father will not allow you because you are too young.” After that conversation, I did not mind what I told my mother. Years passed, my question came back again in another situation. I was a young professional when I met the Salesian Fathers at Don Bosco Parish in Makati. I was a very active member of the charismatic group called Singles for Christ at the Sacred Heart Parish in Pasong Tamo, Makati. One of my friends,  Anne, who was also a member of the group and who became a Salesian Sister, was very enthused to invite me to go to Don Bosco Parish to join the formation encounters given to volunteer catechists. For me, it was a great experience being part of the formative encounters for catechists. I responded positively to Sr. Anne’s invitation. From then on, I enjoyed attending the formation given every Friday evening. Through the reading of God’s Word, I realized the Lord’s goodness in my life. The priest’s reflection on God’s Word helped me realize and discover my calling to the Religious Life. I was also amazed to see the zeal and dedication of my companions who were very committed to their apostolate even if they have other responsibilities to attend to.

Teaching the street children every Sunday made me experience some kind of fulfillment notwithstanding my work during the week. Sunday was my only rest day but I did not feel tired because I love to work with the young especially when we had big celebrations in the church. I was so touched seeing those young people who were simple and yet very happy. A Salesian priest who used to give us formation told me that they have the Salesian Sisters in Canlubang, Laguna.  When I heard this, I was very happy and I wanted to meet them. I immediately thought that perhaps like the Salesian Priests, they too, must be enthusiastic and easy to be with.

True enough, when I met the Salesian Sisters of the Pius community at UN, Manila. They were very welcoming and willing to talk to young ladies like me. Sr. Lanie Pilar, FMA, was the first one I met and I had the chance to talk to her. My first encounter with the Salesian Sisters led me to think of my own life. I have been working for seven years and somehow I already enjoyed my work earning on my own. Regarding my family they are happy inspite of the difficulties and concerns they are encountering in the daily.  And so, I started to discern, to think and to reflect. Being active in the Church, my Christian values and spirituality were strengthened. This somehow made me search and seek for the deeper meaning of life. From then on, I made frequent visits to the Salesian Sisters’ at the Pius XII Ladies’ Dormitory.  Sr. Lanie invited me and my friend Anne to attend their Life’s Direction Encounter (LDE). I completed the two years’ sessions of LDE until I decided to enter in 2004. Honestly speaking, I could not explain my feelings during those times.

God called me in a unique way. I could not imagine how God unfolded His love to me. All I know is that I have this certainty: He knows what is best for me and I willingly responded to His call. I want to express my gratitude to Him for all the blessings He has given me and this I will do by offering my LIFE to Him…a life which is His precious and beautiful gift.

Sr. Joy Panoso

2nd yr. Novice

(Sr. Airiz Japitana is in front row, extreme left.)

I hail from the land of sugar and molasses, VMC, Victorias City, Negros Occidental. Our place is surrounded by sugar plantations and very much imbued with the Salesian Spirit by the Priests and Sisters who have done so much good to all Vicmicans especially the young and that has been many years ago even before I was born.

My mother is a former teacher of St. Mary Mazzarello School, Victorias City. Since I was a baby, she used to bring me and my sister to school during some occasions. Eventually, I had my Preschool up to Secondary Education under the guidance and motherly love of the Salesian Sisters. My years in this school were colorful, challenging, inspiring and fruitful. My Salesian Educators molded me to be a good Christian and an honest citizen of the country. The Sisters’ strong sense of dedication, fervor and joyful fidelity gave me much inspiration to follow their footsteps. Their youthful and religious dispositions manifested during their assistance when they used to go around for a friendly chat with us and also during our formation in catechism, Student Leaders’ Training Club and in the Salesian Youth Movement. All these plus their joyful community life have encouraged me to join them. Unfortunately, my parents’ objections and other hindrances gave me much fear and so I tried to forget this desire.

One day, I was invited by a friend to the hacienda to observe their activities among the young. On that particular day, it dawned on me that my life was to be with the young and for the young who are less fortunate and less gifted. But then, I felt a kind of push-and-pull within which disturbed me. I prayed to Jesus through our Blessed Mother asking them to give me the courage to take a final step and say “Yes” to God’s invitation. Jesus and Mama Mary helped me make a big decision at the age of 16 and now I’m already 22, a novice of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. I have spent almost five years of my youth in the Convent and one more year, God willing, I will be a professed FMA. I only want to share with you this beautiful GIFT of my call which I received from God. In exchange, I will give Him a gift… my life. Yes, a life lived for the young and for Him!

Sr. Airiz Japitana

1st year Novice

A Mother Shares the Vocation Story of Her Daughter

Mrs. Fe B. Alcance

(Sr. Jude: at extreme right with a blue bag)

My daughter Sr. Mary Jude B. Alcance is the second of the five children we have. She is the only girl in the family among four boys. She finished her elementary grades at Victorias Milling Elementary School though she started kinder at St. Mary Mazzarello School. After she finished grade four, she transferred at Victorias Elementary School and again for her grade six transferred at Victorias Milling Elementary School where I was teaching.

At home even when she was a child she was fond of making funny tricks that caught our attention. At the age of eight months, we, her parents were surprised that she could walk alone around the house. She was healthy and very active. Our home is filled with laughter as her funny ways would show. She loves to dance and sing. She likes beautiful dresses like any other girl. She would play with her dolls happily at home. Though surrounded with boys, she behaves like a real girl who loves beauty and has artistic ways. She was friendly to her classmates in school and very kind to her brothers and friends. Even to her cousins her loving concern could be clearly seen.

Her love for singing and dancing developed as she continued her elementary grades. She became a choir member of St. Mary Mazzarello School and also a dancer in school. Being with the Sisters of SMMS, her love for God grew more and more for even at home she would require her Daddy to go to Church which no other child in the family has done. There begins the change of our family schedule, like going to Masses for she was a good motivator and that once she told her father that she must go to Church with his family.

At the age of three, she used to guard our house like watching the abuses of our maids when we, her parents are out to work. I have discovered what our maids were doing because of her keen observation. She was loyal to her Daddy. Whatever happenings that seem bad would be reported by her so her brothers were all conscious to do good.

After graduation from Grade VI she enrolled at Sta. Teresita’s Academy in Silay City. Her first year was spent there and she would travel from home, waking up early in the morning and going home late. She learned to budget her allowances and kept up with the assignments and other school obligations.

When SMMS first opened their high school department, Sr. Fely Boado, FMA called on her for an interview, after passing the entrance exam. She was admitted so she again pursued her secondary education till she graduated in 1984. She also received awards like loyalty award and Most Behaved. She pursued her college education at La Salle University, Bacolod City and took Bachelor of Science in Commerce. Her target was accounting major but because of some difficulty she shifted to Business Management and transferred at La Salle Vicmico until she finished her degree.

While studying, she was working at VAMCO office here in Vicmico. She worked for more than two years but after she finished at La Salle Vicmico branch, she became permanent in her job and later decided to enter the Salesian Congregation.

Her vocation to Sisterhood and signs of it were not known to any member of the family. But I noticed that she was showing her religiosity spontaneously. To reflect upon my experiences, I think God’s plan was realized with her. As I recall that even I had the desire to be a Sister before getting married. My daughter knew my story and her Dad’s story as a Bosconian. She was absorbed with the rules, schedules, and our Marian devotion as initiated in our weekly family Rosary. She was a very normal child like the rest of the other children. I and my husband had many demands to our children. We disciplined them but my daughter was so special in her stubbornness and her rationalizations. But my daughter’s devotion to Mary Help of Christians facilitated her strong conviction to change for the better and to be clear enough with her desire. All the interventions of her educators, especially the Salesian Sisters, had greatly influenced her choice. During the time she asked permission to enter, I was strongly disagreeing with her decision. But she was firm and so I consented to her desire, thinking that she wasn’t that serious with it. Many factors contributed to my daughter’s vocation story such as home, school, friends, environment, and adversities of our financial stability. All our experiences at home had given her a lot of courage. I am truly proud of my daughter.

She is really an asset to us whom I have offered to God…her preciousness. And I can say, “only in God’s will I find my peace”.

Falling in Love with Jesus

(A vocation story of Sr. Eva Rago, FMA,

a missionary among the Filipino migrant workers in Japan)

She was baptized on December 25 in the Cathedral of Cebu given the name of Evangeline though her birth name was Cerina. She grew up in a religious family where Sunday was a special day and rosary was said everyday.

She fell in love at a very early age. It happened when her mother brought her to Church for novenas — Wednesdays for our Lady and Thursdays for St. Joseph. She was inspired to pray and thought to become a Sister one day. Whenever their teachers would ask the class to write their dreams or new year resolutions, which they do every year, she would always write to become a Sister, in fact she would write “Sister of Mercy”.

When she was in grade five she was recruited to be a member of the Junior Legion of Mary which she attended devotedly. At the age of 17, she joined the Chiro Youth Movement in their Parish. Our Lady of Lourdes Parish – Punta Princesa run by the Salesian Fathers. The movement captivated her and gave her whole being to its life and mission. She became an active member, then a Cebu Council Leader. Her spirituality was nourished in this ambient, a Salesian and a love for youth. Being a Salesian Parish, having a residence near Don Bosco Technical School and with brothers who are ex-seminarians of Don Bosco she came to know the life of the Saint and his spirit lived by his first missionaries in Cebu. She was introduced to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians when they came to hold a three-day life direction encounter in Don Bosco Seminary Lawaan, Cebu in 1977. It was the first and the last kind of encounter they did before settling in the island. They came sometime in the second week of May.

On May 27 of that same year, she entered the aspirantate where she was introduced to the disciplined way of living i.e. with schedules, to eat anything, to follow what the assistant would say and to pray with the community etc. One year after, she was accepted in the postulancy, a more defined stage of knowing oneself and the calling, then to the novitiate on May 24, 1979. Here she was introduced to the life of the Institute, her mission, the founders and the theology of religious life and religious life itself.

First profession came on May 24, 1981 together with the other “Eagles”. They professed their faith and love to the Lord, praying for fidelity and love for His will trusting that “he who dwells in the shelter of the Lord and abides in His shadow of life” will find refuge in Him and be taken cared by Him.

The definitive day came — May 24, 1987, the final profession. It was the total giving to the Lord who has given her life and mission.