IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA ADELA TORRO ROBLEDO, RVM

(July 14, 1929– April 12, 2019)

S. Maria Adela Torro Robledo, the fourth child of eight (4 boys and 4 girls) of Gregorio Robledo and Anasaria Torro, hails from Mandurriao, Iloilo City and later migrated to Kidapawan, North Cotabato. She was born on July 14, 1929 and was baptized on July 29, 1929. Two weeks after baptism, on August 13, 1929, she received the sacrament of confirmation.

Adela and her siblings grew up with their father telling stories about the Old Testament characters at bed time. He instilled in their young minds and hearts fraternal love, unity and loyalty.

The seed of her vocation started to grow at an early age. As a young girl, she would wait for her elder brothers and sister by the window from where she enjoyed looking at the rice field and the cross and the dome of the monastery of the Carmelite Nuns at the end of the field. She began asking questions regarding the life of the Sisters and learned about their intense life of prayer, silence and detachment from the family. Her attraction to religious life sprouted, and although there was a time that it wavered, it resurfaced with a hunger for spiritual nourishment during the 2nd world war.

At noon time, during her high school life, the young Adela would creep under the barbed wire fence to get in the Boys Town chapel to pray the rosary and just gaze in awe and silence at its bamboo structure. She also used to visit the Blessed Sacrament in the afternoon. Together with her elder sister and the seminarians, she would go from one house to another to catechize some children. She herself learned the catechism in the process. She received the sacrament of the Eucharist when she was in second year high school and she continued to be actively involved in spiritual development that re-ignited her desire to follow Jesus in religious life.

S. Maria Adela finished the last two years of her secondary education at the Notre Dame of Kidapawan, and it was at this time that her vocation became clearer to her. It was not easy to her though. She recounted that she was the “beloved” daughter of her parents and a niece to her aunts which hindered her decision to detach from the family. She considered her family, with their patience, humility, long suffering and forbearance, as her inspiration when confronted with life’s challenges.

In 1949, she got sick and was on the brink of death, but through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Our Lady of Fatima and the Our Lady of Mediatrix of all Graces, she was healed. In 1950, with Mary, she promised to dedicate herself to God through the assistance of Fr. Joseph Milford, OMI, her spiritual director then. Her parents opposed her decision to enter religious life after high school but in spite of the disapproval, she left for the convent. The congregation then, sent her to college. After two years, she was accepted to postulancy on February 1953. She entered noviceship on August 14, 1953 and had her temporary profession on February 02, 1956. She pronounced her final vows on February 02, 1962. She celebrated her silver jubilee on February 02, 1981 and golden jubilee on February 02, 2006.

She served the church and the congregation as a teacher, cashier, social worker and librarian. She was actively involved in community development and pastoral work. She found fulfillment in her involvement in the Social Action Centers of the congregation and in the Archdiocese of Davao as Archdiocesan Youth Coordinator, Nutritionist, Family Life and Christian community building staff.

S. Maria Adela was creative and resourceful. As a young Sister, she would do embroidery on chasubles and other altar vestments. Even when she was sick and in bed at St. Joseph Home, she would creatively recycle used papers for gift bags and cards. Aside from her creativity and resourcefulness, she is also remembered by those who are taking care of her as thoughtful, generous and cheerful.

S. Maria Adela’s life of prayer led her to openness of heart and mind and deepened self-awareness. She accepted with all humility her irritableness, impatience, immaturity, and domineering attitude which deeply hurt others. Her earnest prayer was that despite her limitations, God may continue to allow her to dwell in His house all the days of her life. She narrated how the mantle of God’s love enveloped her. And that like the prodigal son, she could not utter her rehearsed words of apology because of God’s outpouring love and mercy for her.

In one of her prayers, she said “Lord, grant me the grace to have full trust in You. But above all, grant me the grace to shun hypocrisy. What I am is truly myself, a woman very far from the goal of your Kingdom but with your extended hand for me to reach and hold, nothing matters. And she added, “how marvelous indeed to be touched by You, Living God, for once You touched my soul, nothing will be the same again.”

At 1:55 in the afternoon of April 12, 2019, in complete submission to the will of God, S. Maria Adela, breathed her last to the loving and merciful embrace of the Father because of hypoxia.

Thank you, S. Maria Adela for the gift or your person, for living life for eighty-nine years and sixty-three years of which as Religious of the Virgin Mary.

As you made your humble surrender to God, He touched your soul and certainly nothing will be the same again with you. He made your soul anew - no sickness, pain and negativities. As you deeply desire, may you eternally dwell in the house of God where Mother Mary, St. Joseph and Mother Ignacia are. Thank you and Farewell, our dear S. Maria Adela.

Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Adela, O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.