Retired Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines, seated, from left, Sister Angela Superio, Sister Rita Doce*, Sister Maria Calimutan, Sister Raphalie Celestial, Sister James Jade, Sister Pia Dullano. Standing, from left, Sister Alberta Tecbobolan, Sister Monica Tomaro, Sister Mariana Salmo*, Sister Benedicta Sanchez*. (*formerly missioned in Hawaii) (Photo courtesy of Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
The work of retired Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary who once served in Hawaii continues in other ways
By Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
On a recent visit to the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary in Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines, I was surprised to see so many familiar faces among the retired members of the motherhouse community and the infirmary. Most are now octogenarians. Many who served in Hawaii are still very active in the daily life of their infirmary community. This article will focus on some of these sisters.
Perhaps you might remember some of their names as they may have taught you or your child. Schools the sisters administered in Hawaii are St. Elizabeth School, Aiea; St. John the Baptist School, Kalihi; Holy Cross School, Kalaheo; St. Catherine School, Kapaa; St. Joseph School, Makawao; and Rosary Preschool, Waipio.
The Hawaii missionaries now at the motherhouse are Mother Felicitas Macsera, Mother Celestine Bancal, Sister Ascencion Zambra, Sister Louise Banares, Sister Serafica Tolentino, Sister Benedicta Sanchez, Sister Priscilla Enarsao, Sister Viviana Parnoncillon, Sister Delfina Anonoy, Sister Veneranda Mission, Sister Mariana Salmo, Sister Teresita Constantino, Sister Edgarda Labtang, Sister Adela Pablico, Sister Rosie Cataluna, Sister Nelita De Asis, Sister Delfa Guillen, Sister Rita Doce and Sister Evangeline Sotelo.
Not much has changed in the life of these sisters, except that they no longer head to the classroom or principal’s office after morning prayer. The sisters still rise early for the communal praying of the Liturgy of the Hours followed by more time in the chapel or in solitude in preparation for the next journey, the final one.
Here’s a glimpse at the hours of an ordinary day.
4:30 a.m.: With the sky yet a dark blue with a few stars shimmering above sleepy clouds, some sisters can already be found making their way to chapel. Under the mango trees lining the walkway, the sound of a cane can be heard thumping across the pavement. Sister Delfa is the first Hawaii sister to reach the chapel. Three other sisters are already seated or kneeling offering their private devotions. Sister Delfa tells me later that Sister Rita is often the first in the chapel keeping alive the age old religious tradition that the first in the chapel to greet the Lord would be the recipient of extra graces for the day.
However, it is actually the novices who are here first as they are keepers of the key, the openers of the chapel doors and ones who set up the altar for Mass. Birds begin to chirp, breaking the silence. In the distance the double peals of the bells of Molo Cathedral of St. Anne call the townspeople to awaken and to church.
4:50 a.m.: “Ring, ring, ring,” robustly sounds the bronze bell from the second floor, summoning all to arise. A few minutes later, back downstairs, the huge fan in the center of the long chapel comes to life. I call it a helicopter with its swirling blades cooling down the chapel. I’m grateful it is not painted black to look like a huge spider.
From the center of the courtyard you can see bedroom lights on the second floor turn on with an orange glow.
Several minutes later, Sister Teresita silently enters the chapel. She genuflects while holding onto her seat, making a slight bow of her head. She rises, moving to the left with her knees finding the indentations in the kneeler planted by hours of devotion. She is assigned to assist in the formation of the postulants and aspirant while another sister is in Rome studying the tender work of being a religious formator.
A small bird flies
Rosaries sway,making light percussive taps as more sisters enter the chapel. Single voices can be heard being cleared, chairs moved, more canes hitting the ground.
5:05 a.m.: The main chapel lights are turned on. A small bird flies out from its sleeping niche behind one of the hanging oil paintings of the Stations of the Cross.
5:10 a.m.: The prioress intones “O Sacred Feast …” leading everyone into the rhythm of daily prayer which follows. This includes the Office of Readings and morning prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours in chanted form accompanied by an organist.
6 a.m.: Daily Mass is celebrated, followed by breakfast.
Sister Teresita with the postulants and aspirant enjoy a session together outside. (Photo courtesy of Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
10:30 a.m.: Today, Sister Mariana is the leader of the prayers in the infirmary. She begins with two parts of the rosary. This is followed by the recitation of midday prayer. Sisters sit in the cooler breezeway of the cloister on a lone bench, ivory-colored plastic chairs or in their wheelchairs outside of the infirmary chapel. Because they can’t all fit inside the chapel with their walkers and wheelchairs, they face the open doors gazing upon the cross above the altar, so central to the heart of each sister’s life. Sister Benedicta takes the outside spot to the left corner of the chapel facing the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
11:15 a.m.: Lunch and rest.
5 p.m.: After another decade of the rosary and the chanting of evening prayer, it is time to clean the chapel. Sister Evangeline joins others with brooms and feather dusters to clean the chapel’s prie dieus (kneelers) 14 rows deep and eight across. Sisters work in tandem lifting the prie dieus so that others can sweep underneath. Dinner follows.
7 p.m.: The sisters engage in meditation, evening prayer and compline or night prayer.
What do the sisters do during the rest of the day? Some have scheduled times to “guard” the Blessed Sacrament in prayer and adoration. Others unable to walk to the main chapel keep their own prayer schedules. This is the main work of the retired and infirm sisters. They serve as the prayer support of the congregation, of other missionaries, of the world. This includes praying for you.
Sister Rita describes herself as the “yaya” or babysitter of another sister in the infirmary. She said, “I retired from teaching last year and just turned 75 in July. As one of the sisters cannot remember things, even where her own bed is, I make it a point to check on her throughout the day. In the morning, I pass by her room before going to chapel so that she can prepare herself for morning prayers.”
Sister Teresita Constantino, of her appointment as the assistant formator of the postulants and aspirants, said, “I never expected I would be doing this. I was supposed to be assigned to a school in Dumalag, Capiz, but due to an illness and the far distance of that place from the motherhouse, I was asked to help in the formation of the postulants and aspirants. Not thinking, I said, ‘Yes.’ But, later realizing what I was saying ‘yes’ to, I went back to the prioress general and told her, ‘No. I can’t do it. I am too old at 81. Can you find someone else?’” Sister Teresita oversees seven postulants. Five of them will enter the novitiate on Aug. 8, leaving her with two postulants and one aspirant. Of her time to “guard” the Blessed Sacrament, she said, “I spend an hour with the Lord. Yes, not a half hour, but an hour, as I need it.”
Meanwhile, Sister Priscilla Enarsao just returned from helping out at a school on Guimaras Island. Mother Celestine, who returned from general chapter (meeting) in Calumpang, sits quietly on the bench in front of the infirmary chapel, her fingers quietly gliding across her rosary beads.
Of the presence of the retired and frail sisters, Sister Antoinette Juanillo, a young novice said, “They inspire us. The old sisters give a good example for us young sisters because we can see that they are very faithful to their vows and observances even in their old age. That’s why I love them. Even though we sometimes don’t have time to say ‘Hi’ to them, when we do, they share their lives and stories with us. Religious life is not easy for a beginner. Sometimes when they see me crying, they give me a quiet pat on the back. And that makes all the difference.”
Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP, is the only Hawaii-born Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary.
