VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
My dad was a fisherman. He was a prayerful Christian who would go to his church at 7 a.m. every Sunday. As I never liked waking up early, sometimes I would just go with my mom to the Catholic Mass at her church at 10 a.m. From both churches, and from the faith of my aunties, I grew up to become who I am, one in love with the Lord and with my vocation.
I grew up in Davao del Sur with six brothers and two sisters, I am number six. I liked my dad’s church because they memorized Bible verses. They also loved to dance, sing, and had children’s practices that led to performances. As I was a jolly kid, it was an enjoyable time for me — when I got up early.
Every morning, I still struggle with rising early. Usually, I go to bed by 10 p.m. and get up at 5 a.m. Community morning prayer is at 5:30 a.m. However, being a teacher who likes to learn new things to apply in the classroom, sometimes I get two hours of sleep at night instead of the seven or eight preferred. However, that is not healthy to do every day. That is running on adrenaline.
As my dad died when we were yet young, one of the prayers I had kept in my heart was to be able to see his family again. Due to the far distance of his town, my mom was not able to take us there when we were growing up. She was now a single mom. So for many years I felt like something was missing in my life. I was like a child looking for a lost parent. It was not until I arrived in Hawaii that I was able to connect with the relatives on my dad’s side. Because of Facebook, this was possible.
On one of my home visits to the Philippines, I finally visited their place. I was able to see the fishing boats of my dad and grandparents. Gathering all of my relatives at the cemetery, I introduced them to the other side of their family, my mom’s side. It was like a dream come true.
My dad’s side of the family were all strong Christians; only two members being Catholic. Continuing communication with them, I found that many of them had stopped going to their church. Due to my visiting them, and the continuous contact of my brothers and sisters with these relatives, some of them have now come into the Catholic church. I really feel like I am a fisherman’s daughter, not only of my dad, but of God in this way, bringing people to our Catholic faith. It is a great joy.
In regards to my prayer life, whenever I get frustrated, upset, or other emotions overcome me, I turn to Psalm 23. Just repeating the phrase, “The Lord is my shepherd,” over and over gives me strength and keeps me going. Perhaps this style of memorizing through repeating the Scripture (now become prayer), is also another mark of my being a fisherman’s daughter.
Sister Novie Omictin is a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She is 25 years professed and has been serving in Hawaii 10 years. A teacher at Rosary Preschool in Waipio Gentry, she resides at the Dominican Center Hawaii.
