VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Three days after my brother came out of the hospital, I was to leave for a mission in Africa. Although the (call to) obedience came from my Mother General, other sisters told me, “You are going to go? Your brother is still sick.” What was I to do? I took to prayer and bargained with God that if he would permit my brother to get well and be able to take care of my family, I would obey and go to Africa. That was my personal prayer; it came from my heart.
Sometimes my personal prayer does become like bargaining with God. I believe that God is always there to support me. I see him as my friend and thus talk to him as such. I can tell God anything. Ever since high school, before I fell asleep I would talk to Jesus. There was a picture of Jesus in my room, so I just had a personal conversation with him.
Later, as a religious, when difficulties arose in my life and someone in my family was ill, I offered up my personal hardships to God on behalf of their healing. I also said a lot of rosaries and turned to the intercession of our foundress, Venerable Mother Rosario Arroyo.
Through the intercession of Mother Rosario, my brother was healed of his aneurysm. I believe that Mother Rosario is listening to us. As the foundress of our congregation, I know she is still concerned with matters that affect the congregation, even from heaven. When I need something, I ask Mother Rosario.
When the funds supporting our mission in Loitokitok in Kenya, Africa, ran critically low again, I prayed to her that she must help me as this was her mission
My family is my inspiration. Growing up in the church compound, my father was a farmer and my mother a teacher and catechist. During the seasons in between planting and harvesting, my father planted and tended to a vegetable garden around the church. He also served as the sacristan. My aunts sewed the linens for the church and taught catechism. And the parish priest was at our house every day just to greet and talk to my siblings and me. By first grade, I wanted to be a religious sister.
Before I was about to graduate from high school, I asked my father’ permission to join the convent. He said, “No.” He wanted me to go to college first. I kept praying and crying. But later I realized that God had another plan for me — to experience a lot of things first. The wisdom of the old is stronger than my wisdom. And such is God’s wisdom. Even now, far away from the Philippines, I pray that I can do my work well.
Sister Maria Esperanza Espino is a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She was born in Leganes, Iloilo, Philippines, the oldest of four children. In her 32 years of religious profession, she has been missioned to Africa and Saipan. This year, she arrived from the Philippines to work at Rosary Preschool in Waipio, Oahu, where she also volunteers as the sacristan for Resurrection of the Lord Church.
