VIRIDITAS 2: SOUL GREENING
By Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Quiet and unassuming, two former Hawaii missionaries are an important part of their motherhouse infirmary community in the Beaterio de Molo, Philippines, where they joyfully keep alive the spirit of aloha with their continued willingness to serve and help others as they are physically able to. Sister Benedicta Sanchez is 87 years of age and 59 years professed. Sister Mariana Salmo is 85 years of age and 57 years professed. This conversation between them was recorded last month.
Sister Benedicta: Most of the years of my life were spent in Hawaii. I taught in St. Elizabeth School, Aiea; St. Joseph School, Makawao; and in San Francisco for 10 years. I returned to the Philippines in 2015. Two years ago, after serving at Holy Rosary Retreat and Reflection Center in Calumpang, Molo, I joined the infirmary community at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse, Molo.
Sister Mariana: From Hawaii to Calumpang, both of us were assigned to the retreat center together. In Hawaii I taught at Holy Cross, Kalaheo (Kauai). Before being missioned to Saipan, I was called back to the Philippines where I spent a short time as the local superior of the generalate community, later to take charge of the junior professed sisters for a period of time. Now, we are back together again in the infirmary.
Sister Benedicta: Here in the infirmary we spend a lot of time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, we pray and sleep. (laughs)
Sister Mariana: Grateful we are, however that we can still wake up tomorrow.
Sister Benedicta: I pray for all of you and all of the missionaries to Hawaii.
Sister Mariana: When I was in Hawaii, I remember asking a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine of Siena how long their mission assignments are. She said that there is a limit placed on the number of years a sister is missioned. The reason for the limit is that their major superior did not want the sisters to get attached to the place of work, the environment, the people served. That is the lifestyle of a missionary — to not stay too long in a place, always keeping in mind that life is temporal, and that we are where we are to do the work of God.
In our congregation, there are so many other sisters that can continue the work begun. And there are those life-long missionary sisters who have passed away and are buried in Hawaii: Sister Josephine Rubiato, Sister Bridget Kasil, Sister Candelaria Perania, Sister Bernardine Perez and Sister Aurelia Sanchez.
Sister Benedicta: I am grateful that I can still stand and walk. It took some adjustment to using a cane, but that is a part of aging in life.
Sister Mariana: This is the end of the road. We have no more strength, nor more mileage to go. We are tired.
Sister Benedicta: Now, at this stage of life, we are just waiting for the train to pass by.
