Category: Vocation

Love for the refugees

2/5/2019

We’ve all heard the clichés about life, lemons and lemonade. But what if it feels like God has made you responsible for a roomful of refugees who desperately need to learn to speak English and there isn’t a spare chair in any ESL class in the city? The Christian response, according to Sr. Ger Curran of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, is to pray about it—and then start your own lessons.

“Our intention was not to provide professional classes, but we knew these people needed to learn basic words and phrases if they were going to be successful here. We also knew they couldn’t wait, so our classes were based on what they told us they needed to do: get on a bus, see a doctor, go to a store.”

That combination of prayer and action backstopped the development of the Faith in Action committee based at the FCJ Centre Christian Life Centre in downtown Calgary. Strengthened by their hands-on experience helping several Syrian families settle in Calgary, the committee was formed a couple of years ago “to reach out to people who live in what we call the ‘shadowlands,’” says Sr. Curran. A professional counsellor whose work at FCJ includes individual and family counselling, Curran says the two-year-old committee doesn’t “define shadowlands specifically. It’s really about a willingness to find the people who need the most help.”

Sr. Ger Curran with her Syrian Godchild

Called to action

In the fall of 2015, a committee of St. Mary’s parishioners, the FCJ Christian Life Centre Staff and FCJ sisters answered a global call for help and sponsored one refugee couple and their child from Syria, says Curran. Less than a year into that project, the committee discovered three fundamental truths about the Christian reaction to refugee sponsorship. First, the 12-month commitment mandated under federal sponsorship rules isn’t nearly long enough for the people you’re helping; second, when the people involved open their hearts to the process, 12 months isn’t long enough for the volunteers, either; and third, when you start to help people who need a particular kind of assistance, you’re likely to meet more of the same.

That last reality demands decisions about whether you step up or look away. “But it’s not really a choice,” admits Sr. Curran. “We do it because Jesus did it.”

The call to help more refugees arose soon after the group connected with the first family. As that family took its first steps towards settlement, Curran’s group found itself helping another Syrian family. Over time, they also helped two more. Since the newcomers all shared the same Melkite Greek Catholic tradition, it wasn’t long before members of the St. Mary’s and FCJ group were attending masses with the new Canadians. Determined to help the refugees develop relationships in their own cultural community, FCJ Centre also started to host an annual Syrian Christmas party with help from three Catholic schools in the downtown area, St. Monica’s, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Mary’s. In 2018, that event attracted more than 130 people. It’s down from the 180 who came the first year, “but the people who come really enjoy it and the little ones love seeing a Syrian Santa.”

In addition to helping the Syrians connect with other Arabic speakers in the Catholic community, the group reached out to members of the city’s Turkish Muslim community. Called by their mandate “to live out of our abundant resources,” the FCJ Centre now invite their Muslim friends to an annual barbecue on the FCJ Centre grounds, says Curran.

Fast forward to 2019 and Sr. Curran, admits her social calendar now includes invitations from the people she knows through her refugee work. In addition to being the godmother of one of the three new babies born since the families moved to Canada, Sr. Curran is invited to several birthday parties, including some for preschoolers. When she wants to see how one of the families is doing, she attends a Melkite mass where she can visit with them over coffee after the Divine Liturgy.

Strengthened by the experience of working with the Syrian refugees, the Faith in Action committee is now reaching out to help others working with Yazidi immigrants to Calgary. Also refugees of the war in Iraq, these immigrants, mostly women, experienced horrendous abuse.

As Sr. Curran sees it, this particular group inhabits the shadowlands, for now. “We don’t know what they need, but we know they need us. That’s enough to step in and try to help. It’s about love and how do we live our fidelity to our faith.”
People interested in learning more about the Faith in Action committee, or the need for ongoing support to the refugees supported by St. Mary’s and the FCJ sisters can contact Sr. Ger Curran a the FCJ Christian Life Centre.

Written by Joy Gregory

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Gingco’s journey from an underground movement to his ordination

12/3/2018

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With a servant’s heart, Joseph Gingco was pleased to help run the audio-visual equipment when his parish hosted an information meeting about the permanent diaconate back in 2013. Joseph, who has a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the Philippines, knew his skills would prove helpful. Besides that, the life-long Catholic was curious about the topic.

Five years later, one of Calgary’s newest deacons believes God used that opportunity to serve to answer one of his prayers.

"I will seek you"

When Joseph and his wife moved to Canada, he promised God, “Lord, when we are in Canada, I will seek you. I think Fr. Myles Gaffney’s intention with me was that I would help him that day as he was in charge of vocations in the Diocese and was the director of the Permanent Deacon program. In my heart, I believe God was just waiting for me to open the door.”

Deacon Joseph Gingco was ordained by Calgary Catholic Bishop William McGrattan on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Watching closely were his wife Nirmla and their children, Ian Jay, Lemuel and Leianne Marie.

Joseph and Nirmal were married 26 years ago in the Philippines. Soon after the birth of their first son, they moved to Saudi Arabia, where Nirmla, a registered nurse, found work in a private hospital. That hospital was pleased to also hire Nirmla’s tech-savvy husband.

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Raised in devout families that include a priest (Joseph’s brother) and a nun (Nirmla’s aunt), the couple connected with an underground movement of Christians while in Saudi Arabia. In a country that bans all religions other than a strict form of Islam, they attended secret services in people’s homes, closely following guidelines about how they arrived at and left the home churches.

The young family, which included a second son born in Saudi Arabia, moved to Canada on July 8, 1999. Here, Joseph and Nirmla found work in their chosen fields. Church was a central part in the family’s life and all three of their children were altar servers and sang in a church choir. Joseph and Nirmla served as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist at Sacred Heart Church and got involved with members of a Charismatic community. The family has attended St. Albert the Great Church since 2013 and that’s where he’ll serve the Church.

Joseph admits the diaconate formation program was challenging, especially since his entry into the program coincided with a major emergency surgery and three month’s convalescence for Nirmla. Juggling a critical role as her caregiver, three kids and a full-time job—plus online courses and monthly seminars—often seemed daunting.

Looking back, he’s grateful for all that he learned and says his “tech guy” communications skills took a giant leap forward. Looking ahead, he admits to excitement and trepidation as he figures out how to serve the Church and his family.

Beside him, Nirmla smiles. She shares Joseph’s commitment to the Permanent Deacon program—and their family. Now working as an RN in cardiac care at the South Health Campus Hospital after years in palliative care at the Rockyview, she admits to being less of a worrier than her husband. And that strength serves Joseph in his new vocation. Following Nirmla’s lead, “I’m learning to trust Him and not worry so much,” says Joseph.

The journey may be new and uncertain, but their faith holds true. They will follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit will guide and God will provide.

Written by: Joy Gregory

Wedding day | Joseph & Nirmla Gingco

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Boy-meets-girl-becomes deacon

12/3/2018

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Susan Laing remembers the Saturday afternoon in the mid-1990s that her husband decided to attend mass with her and their three children. Although they met at a dance held in a Catholic church she attended in Calgary—and were married in that same church— formal conversion to Catholicism was never on Dale’s short list of things he needed to do to be a good husband and father.

Baptized in the Anglican Church, Dale attended the United Church while growing up in Calgary’s Parkdale community. By the time he accepted a co-worker’s invitation to a dance to meet her sister, he was secure in his belief in God, but not given to the practice of faith. Over time, Dale saw the value of Susan’s witness to the Catholic faith. He joined the RCIA program and was confirmed in 2003.

The couple remembers how some parishioners were surprised to learn Dale had joined the RCIA process at St. Thomas More. Susan, a cradle Catholic, was active as an RCIA sponsor, while Dale was on the Finance Council. Over the years, they were involved in many ministries ranging from church cleaning to hospitality after mass (serving coffee).

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“I looked for ministries we could do as a family,” recalls Susan. Consequently, “A lot of people just assumed I was Catholic,” says Dale. After Dale was confirmed, the list of ministries they were part of grew to include service as lectors and commentators, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion and coordinating First Conciliation. Dale has also been involved with Together in Action and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Dale remembers the day his formal conversion took another sharp turn. “About two weeks after I was confirmed, my daughter and I were coming to mass together and she asked, ‘So what’s next on your spiritual journey now that you’re Catholic?’” His response: “maybe I’ll become a Deacon.”

Now a grandfather of three, Dale was ordained a Permanent Deacon of the Calgary Catholic Diocese on Saturday, November 17, 2018. He looks forward to serving at St. Thomas More parish, where Susan has attended Catholic mass since the couple married in 1982.

God's call

The call to become a Permanent Deacon began soon after Dale’s confirmation. “I dismissed it out of hand, but over the years, the thought was whispered into the ears of my mind, sometimes even at 2 a.m.,” says Dale. Eight years ago, another deacon serving at St. Thomas More approached him after mass and asked him if he’d thought about becoming a Permanent Deacon.

Suddenly, the whisper had a voice—and that voice revealed the path to a new vocation.

Both spouses are part of the rigorous formation process that leads to the husband being ordained as a Permanent Deacon. The first weekend of that process “was a bit overwhelming,” admits Susan, who works in the business office at Bishop McNally High School. “All the way through the process you’re discussing what you’ve learned and processing what that means in your own lives. But after a while, you learn to trust in God’s plan for you. It gets easier.”

Her husband agrees. “You absorb ideas from sitting in the pews and listening to the readings and homilies. But the Permanent Diaconate process goes so much deeper and it changes how you understand the Church and its teachings.”

Dale, who manages one of the many parts departments at the City of Calgary, says he’s still learning what his new role at St. Thomas More demands. Sitting in the church narthex, he points to a display of flags that represents the diversity of a parish whose people come from more than 80 different nations. The soft-spoken grandfather of three knows this is a special place—and having raised three kids in the pews of this church, he’s excited about what lies ahead.

“I can now see the progression of God’s hand in my calling, from a simple thought to midnight urgings, to other people recognizing the light of Christ within me, to my joining my voice with that of Mary in saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call,” says Dale.

Written by: Joy Gregory

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Jubilarian Priests 2018

7/6/2018

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50 Years

Bishop Frederick B. Henry
A native of London, Ontario, Bishop Frederick Bernard Henry was born on April 11, 1943; the eldest of five sons in the family of Leo and Noreen Henry. After finishing high school, he entered St. Peter’s Seminary, London. He became a priest on May 25, 1968. In 1971, he earned a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and in 1973 a Licentiate in Theology with a Specialization in Fundamental Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He was an Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at St. Peter’s Seminary from 1973 - 1986 and Dean of Theology and Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary from 1981 - 1986. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of London and Titular Bishop of Carinola and ordained to the Episcopate on June 24, 1986. He was installed as the fourth Bishop of Thunder Bay on May 11, 1995 and installed as the seventh Bishop of Calgary on March 19, 1998. Bishop Henry’s episcopal motto, ‘Dabo Vobis Pastores’ (I will give you pastors) is taken from Jeremiah 3:15, which reads ‘I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding’. This was the motto of the seminary in London, ON where Bishop Henry taught before coming to Calgary. As Bishop, he was passionate about addressing abortion, euthanasia, the disregard of the poor, and the education of young people. He was motivated by his love for the priesthood and by the growing population of Calgary. On January 4, 2017, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Henry, and has appointed the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of the Diocese of Peterborough, as his successor.

Rev. John Maes
Fr. John Maes was born in Antwerp, Belgium in January of 1943. He went to Edmonton seminary and was ordained a priest on May 18th of 1968 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary by Bishop Harrington. He served as the Assistant Pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary in 1968, followed by Canadian Martyrs in 1971. He went on to serve as Pastor of a number of parishes in the Diocese of Calgary, starting with Holy Cross Parish in Fort Macleod (1973-77), St. Andrew in Vulcan (1977-80), St. Augustine in Taber (1980-84), St. Basil in Lethbridge (1984-89) and St Thomas More in Calgary (1989-95). His last pastoral assignment was also his longest. He served as the Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, Medicine Hat from August 1998 until his retirement on July 31, 2010.

Rev. Dominic Phamvanbao
Father Dominic Phamvanbao was born on November 16, 1939 and was ordained a priest on June 1st of 1968. With the Diocese of Calgary, his first assignment was with the Vietnamese Catholic Mission from 1978-1981 as an administrator. At the same time, he was also the associate pastor of Holy Spirit Parish (1979-1981.) He served as pastor at St. Ann’s Parish (1981-84), Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (1986-89), St. Francis Church (1989-95), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (1994-95), Ascension Parish (1995-99), Holy Trinity (1999). Also, he took on associate pastor roles at Corpus Christi Church (1984-85), St. Gerard’s Parish (1985-86), and St. Vincent Liem from 2009 to 2012 when he was assigned to the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Upon returning to Calgary in 2015, he resided at St. Dominic Priory.

25 Years

Rev. Jaroslaw Dziuba
Father Jaroslaw ‘Yarek’ Dziuba was born in 1965 in Chrzanow, Poland. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1993 for the Society of the Divine Saviour, an order which emphasizes the universality of the Christian vocation, animating lay people to live their baptismal commitment and to be witnesses of faith in their private and social life. Within the Diocese of Calgary, he has served as a pastor at St. James, Calgary (2007-12) and St. James, Okotoks (2012-16). Father Yarek is presently the pastor of St Joseph, Calgary where he has served since August 2016 and he is also the Dean of Northwest Calgary. Among many things, Fr. Yarek is known for his theological and deep understanding of the Divine Mercy.

Rev. Paul Raj
Born in 1965 in Palayamkottai, Tirnelveli, Fr. Paul is seventh of eight children. He has five brothers and two sisters. He decided to join the Diocesan seminary after grade 10 but his parish priest then vocation director looked at him and said that he was too young. After Grade 12, he joined the Pallottines and became a priest after 11 years of studies. He was ordained on December 19, 1993 by Most Rev. Irudaya Raj, D.D., Bishop of Palayamkottai Diocese, Tamil, Nadu, South India. He completed his Masters in Pastoral Theology in the Philippines in 2001-2004. He then returned to India to continue serving the church as a pastor and shared his knowledge by guest teaching in the seminary for the next 5 years and offering Pastoral Theology classes to the lay people. His ministry highlights thus far as Pallottine Priest has the Church he built and a 27 class room high school. His first assignment in the Diocese of Calgary was at St. Cecilia in 2014 as an assistant pastor. Father Paul is presently the pastor of St. Cecilia in Calgary and has been since December 2014. He is also the Vice Superior of the Pallotines in Canada.

Rev. Albert Sayson
Father Albert Sayson was born in 1962 in Naga City, Philippines. He studied in a Catholic school run by Chinese priests. This school provided students a venue to grow in faith and to be involved in church work as altar servers or members of the school choir. He served as an altar boy right through his high school years and continued to work as a convent boy during his first year of university. After almost a year, he was encouraged by Fr. Joseph Chen to attend a vocation campaign search. Out of curiosity he participated in the gathering and following that began to pray for guidance to take the entrance examination to enter in the seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 8, 1993 in Taytay, Rizal, Philippines. He is presently serving on his first assignment in the Diocese of Calgary as the associate pastor of Holy Family, Medicine Hat where he has been since December 2014. In his own words he said “I am so grateful to all the people who have been supportive and prayed for me. It is in the Mass that I encounter Jesus who has guided me and who I have been celebrating Mass for 25 years for. I am still encountering Jesus with all the people who attend as I celebrate the Eucharist. It was at the Chrism Mass that I renewed my promise to serve God’s people and his church as I celebrate my 25th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I am so grateful to celebrate my anniversary with other jubilarians in the diocese of Calgary.”

Rev. Jacek Walkiewicz
Father Jacek Walkiewicz was born in 1967. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1993. One of the main motivations of his priesthood is his love for serving and being with his people. He belongs to the religious order Society of Christ. He was sent to North American province in 1995, not long after his ordination. He was in Chicago for 4 years working as the pastor for Holy Trinity Church. He then served at Sacred Heart, Guelph, Ontario, which was his longest tenure so far. After fourteen years, he served at St Cyril and Methodius in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for two years. In 2015, his Superior Provincial asked him to go to Canada. He was assigned as the pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Calgary.

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Jubilarian Sisters of 2018

6/13/2018

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The Diocese of Calgary is proud to honour our religious sisters celebrating significant anniversaries this year!

70 years

Sr. Mary Clare Bednarik, SCSL | Sisters of Charity of St. Louis
Mary Clare was born in Czechoslovakia in 1928. Her family immigrated to Medicine Hat, Alberta where she grew up with one sister and one brother. It was here, while completing her education, that she met the “Louies”. Mary Clare went to Levis, Quebec to join the Sisters, soon becoming bilingual. She professed her vows in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Following the completion of a B.A. and B. Ed, Mary Clare became an efficient and well loved educator in Saskatchewan and Burnaby, British Columbia. She was later led to use her skills as treasurer in the community’s Provincial Administration. In her own words, Mary Clare stated that “there was much to do in the Kingdom” so she embraced a variety of volunteer activities, sharing with many the gifts God had graciously bestowed on her over the years. This included 12 years in Oliver, BC with the Indigenous community and parish ministry, gardening and fruit gleaning with the Okanagan Gleaners ministry before retiring to Calgary in 2014. Mary Clare recognized and acknowledge the hand of God in every phase of her life. “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name”, (Isaiah 49:1)… “…even to your old age I, the Lord, am the same, even when your hair is gray I will bear you” (Isaiah 46: 4).

Sr. Dolores Blanchette | Sisters of Providence
Sister Dolores says, ‘I was born in Girouxville, in a small town north of Peace River, where I was the second of five children. As far as I could remember, I always wanted to be a Sister Missionary. I became acquainted with the Sisters of Providence while working in the McLennan Hospital and I entered the novitiate in Montreal, in 1947. In 1949, I came back West and worked in different Missions. In 1977, I was sent to Egypt to open a mission along with two other Sisters from Quebec. In 1992 I came back to McLennan, Alberta and worked with the elderly there until my transfer here to Father Lacombe Centre in 2016.

+ Sr. Anna Stauber, SCSL | Sisters of Charity of St. Louis
Sister Anna was born in 1927 and raised on a farm near Success, Saskatchewan where she loved the farm life and all its activities. At St. Joan of Arc Academy in Swift Current she first encountered the “Louies”. By the next summer she was off to Quebec to join the community so beginning her religious life. Three years later, back in Saskatchewan, she started teaching, which she loved, and continued when she moved to Calgary. Later Anna began a missionary life in Ilo, Peru. It was there that she came to love simplicity of life and the poor. On returning to Canada, she updated her theological and scripture studies at Newman College in Edmonton before undertaking parish ministry in Regina and Edmonton. She loved sharing faith and had a heart to share the Good News. In 1989 she joined the Native Ministry Team in the Oliver, BC region where she spent 24 years with the Indigenous people and the parish in Oliver. To round off her experiences and her desire to “be evangelized by the poor” she spent 6 months in Haiti teaching English. Anna is now retired in Calgary. Anna is grateful for all the blessings God’s has given her over these 70 years. “I was taught that God always has special blessings when we follow his lead – and I’ve found this to always come true for me”

65 years

Sr. Marilyn Matz, FCJ | Faithful Companion of Jesus
Sr. Marilyn Matz FCJ is celebrating 65 years of religious life in the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus. Marilyn was born and grew up in Empress, Alberta. She went to school to the FCJ sisters and entered the novitiate in Calgary. Marilyn taught Chemistry and Math in her earlier years. Subsequently she served the FCJ Society as Local, Regional and Provincial leader. Marilyn’s time in Igloolik, NWT/Nunavut was one of the happiest for her. Marilyn always liked scrabble and still plays some Saturday mornings.

60 years

Sr. Bernadette Gaetz, SCSL | Sisters of Charity of St. Louis
Sister Bernadette Gaetz was born in Medicine Hat in 1939, one of four girls in a family of eleven. She entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis in 1956, became a teacher, and later a Home Economics teacher during which time she had the privilege of designing the Home Economics Room at McCoy High School in Medicine Hat. She became a member of her Congregation’s Western Formation Team, and then a General Councillor from 1994 to 2006, serving first in Rome and then in Montreal. At the end of this mandate she returned to Lethbridge, where she settled into retirement. Among the blessings of her life she counts her teaching years and her twelve years as General Councillor, because they gave her the gift of visiting and meeting our Sisters throughout the world. Sister Bernadette now lives in retirement in South East Calgary, filled with gratitude for the rich life which has been hers for over sixty years.

Sr. Ria Gerritsen, SCSL | Sisters of Charity of St. Louis
“Ria” was born in Deventer, the Netherlands, immigrated to Canada with her family, and settled in Calgary. She completed her schooling there in Calgary, religious life formation in Medicine Hat, and her teaching training in Moose Jaw and Alberta. She taught for several years in Medicine Hat and Saskatchewan before launching forth for theological studies at Newman College in Edmonton. She was Directress of Novices for several years, then worked in parish ministry before undertaking further studies in Rome and sitting as a Councillor on the Generalate Leadership Team in Rome. While there she wrote the first biography of the Foundress written in English, entitled Led By Love: a Biography of Mother St. Louis. Upon her return to Canada, Ria has used her many gifts in parish ministry, translation work, archives management (both Diocesan and Community), retreat ministry and as a member of our Provincial Leadership Team. Now enjoying retirement in Calgary, Ria continues translating from French to English, she follows her passion for writing and has more time for quiet, contemplative life. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30-31)

Sr. Patricia MacDonald | Faithful Companions of Jesus
Sister Patricia MacDonald is celebrating 60 years in the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus. Sister Pat grew up in St. Joseph’s Parish, Calgary. After spending most of her teaching years elsewhere, she returned to the diocese for school and parish ministry in Oyen, Lethbridge and Calgary. On the “support staff” of the FCJ Centre and Sacred Heart Convent, Sister Pat helps to get things fixed and even manages to do puzzles and handwork.

Sr. Margaret Nadeau | Sisters of the Precious Blood
I was born in Medicine Hat and was baptized in St. Patrick’s Parish there. After attending school in the ‘Hat, graduating from St. Theresa’s Academy and then working for a a few years, I entered the Precious Blood Monastery in Calgary, near St. Ann’s Church, on October 3rd, l955. Part of my formation in religious life was given at the Calgary Monastery before I was transferred to the Central Novitiate of our Congregation in London, ON. I pronounced First Vows in London on April 30th, 1958, Feast of St. Catherine of Siena. In the 60 years of my religious life, I have enjoyed assignments to many Monasteries across Canada including London, Regina, Nelson, and Hamilton. I have also appreciated being part of my home Precious Blood Community in Calgary where I presently live. It is a blessing and a privilege to pray with and for the Church of Calgary, the universal Church and the needs of all people.

50 years

Sr. Pauline Michaniuk | Sisters of the Precious Blood
I was born in Mission, BC in 1946. When the Fraser River started flooding my parents moved to Calgary in 1948. I was raised in St. Anne’s parish and attended St. Anne’s School. There I was involved in the school field days, which I enjoyed very much. Then I went on to St. Mary’s Girls High School. By this time I was working on the weekends and was involved with the Sodality of Mary. At the parish I joined the Catholic Youth Organization and the Legion of Mary. Our family lived a block away from the Sisters of the Precious Blood Monastery. They asked if I would pick up their mail after school and take it to the mailbox. That was my introduction to the Sisters. I entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood on October 15, 1965, and made my First Vows on October 15, 1968 in London, ON. I am happy to be back in Calgary after being away for 25 years. I have had many transfer throughout those years, which was for my growth and understanding of life and my life in Christ. The Lord Jesus has been my Shepherd, Guardian and friend all these years, and for the years to come.

25 years

Sr. Ely Orolfo Nasol, DM | Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church Institute
Sr. Ely was born in the province of Albay in the Philippines in 1962 where she is the third of four children. For her secondary education she studied in a Catholic School run by the Benedictine Sisters where her vocation to the religious life was awakened. She wanted to be a missionary sister from an early age but the sisters told her to finish her university degree. After finishing her BS in Biology she started her teaching career but the call to the religious life became irresistible and she entered the convent in 1990. She believes that joining the Daughters of Mary was God’s will for her because she did not even know the name of the Institute when she entered in 1990. She pronounced her first vows in 1993. After finishing her years of formation she was given the opportunity to have further studies in the consecrated life in preparation for her assignment as Vocation Directress and later on as Directress of Novices. She was also given the opportunity to finish her Master’s Degree in Theology after her election as Secretary General of the Institute. In 2016, after finishing her second term as Secretary General and Councilor she received with joy her assignment to Canada. Like the Blessed Virgin Mary she wants to spend her life doing God’s will. In her own words she says, “If I have to waste my life, I will waste it by doing God’s will for me.”

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Love for the refugees

Gingco’s journey from an underground movement to his ordination

"I will seek you"

Boy-meets-girl-becomes deacon

God's call

Jubilarian Priests 2018

50 Years

25 Years

Jubilarian Sisters of 2018

70 years

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