VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
After leaving Hawaii in 1990 after 18 years of teaching in the classroom and being a school principal on Kauai and Oahu, I ministered in the Philippines, New Jersey and North Carolina for 26 more. In each place, I would always tell the people that if there was any place I would want to go back to, it would be Hawaii.
I have never really found it hard to come and go wherever my assignment may take me. If the general superior says “Go,” I go. If she says “Come home,” I come home. I have faith that wherever I am sent, that is where God wants me because that must be where I am most needed. I do pray and know that the grace of God will sustain me in everything I am supposed to do. God does give the grace to bloom where you are planted. That is what keeps me going. Being able to naturally adapt to places really helps as well.
In the convent, we have our scheduled periods for prayer. I make it a point to pray either according to the schedule, or whenever I can. At Immaculate Conception church, I say my morning prayer after Mass. Although in life there are other activities that require my attention and other social responsibilities to care for, at the same time I always make sure to bear in mind who I am as a religious sister, God’s worker. Setting aside time for prayer is a foremost in my life. Because, once one’s prayer life is neglected, everything else in life will be hard. It is through prayer that I can do everything I do.
Before going to sleep, I take some time to review the day and to thank God for everything accomplished. I also give thanks for all the graces given, for good health, for strength and courage received. When I wake up the next morning, I offer everything up to the Lord again. I do have my list of things to do for each day. I bring these to prayer as I say, “Lord, help me to accomplish all these things I need to do today. Enlighten me and guide me as I seek to do your will today.”
In January I will be leaving for Cebu to replace Sister Gina in the work she left to come here. I am happy my mission of bringing the sisters back to Kauai is accomplished. I will keep praying that the spirituality of the congregation will be carried on and more children be brought to Christ. Hopefully, Kauai and other islands will have a need for more sisters so that we can send more sisters. Whatever God wants, he makes the way.
Sister Ana Celestial is a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine of Siena, Philippines Province. She served as the former principal of Immaculate Conception School in Lihue, Kauai, and as a teacher at St. Michael School in Waialua, Oahu, between 1972-1990. She returned to Kauai in January of this year to mentor the new sisters in their parish work. She is 53 years professed.
