IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA CELINA GALOPE MARQUINEZ, RVM

(January 02, 1925 – September 25, 2021)

S. Maria Celina Galope Marquinez was born in Subic, Zambales on January 02, 1925. She was the fourth of eight children (5 boys and 3 girls). She was named Marcelina at birth, and she used the name until postulancy. Her father was Pablo Marquinez, a Spanish mestizo who hailed from Taal, Batangas and a commerce graduate at Ateneo de Manila and worked as a clerk at Olongapo City, U.S. Naval Base. Her mother was Maria Galope who studied at the Beaterio de la Compañia, a seamstress and a businesswoman. Marcelina was baptized on April 30, 1925 and was confirmed on March 19, 1929. At seven years old, she received her first communion. Her single blessed aunts made an impact on her religious formation. She was with them until her seventh grade because her mother was attending to her business.

Marcelina finished her elementary education at Subic Elementary School. During the liberation, she continued her studies at St. James High School, Subic, then she transferred to St. Mary’s College, Aragon, Manila. Her vocation to religious life was rekindled by the edifying presence of the RVM Sisters especially of S. Maria Teofila Manalo. Oftentimes, Marcelina would mention to her mother her desire to enter the convent. When her father learned about it, she was transferred from St. Mary’s College to St. James High School. She completed her high school at the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila and continued in the same university for the Certificate course for Elementary Teachers (ETC). While studying, she stayed with her aunt, Mother Maria Encarnacion Tomacruz, RVM as a working student at the Immaculate Conception Ladies Hall.

When she finished her ETC, she was fortunately accepted for a teaching position in one of the RVM schools in Mindanao. With courage, she went to Cotabato despite her parents’ disapproval, knowing that she was going to a Muslim area. After the school year, she went back to Manila for summer classes and taught for a year at Tabaco, Albay. After two summers, her calling to follow Jesus in religious life became stronger that she decided to leave home and follow her heart’s desire. There was no objection from her parents, but she felt the pain of separation, especially from her father. During her discernment period, Marcelina got attracted to the Pink Sisters, but her spiritual director told her that she was not for contemplative life.

She was accepted to postulancy on July 31, 1952 and was invested to noviceship on August 14, 1953. She made her first profession of vows on August 15, 1955 and her final vows on May 31, 1961. She celebrated with joy her silver jubilee on August 15, 1980 and golden jubilee on August 15, 2005.

She served the Congregation and the Church as school registrar, local econome, teacher, assistant principal, principal, local superior, infirmarian at St. Joseph Home, and assistant infirmarian at the RVM Motherhouse. She loved to assist the elderly Sisters in any form or way and be of help and service to them. She was also assigned as administrator at San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati where she was known as a caring and loving Sister whose concern was for the welfare of the priests and seminarians.

She was likewise assigned in poor diocesan schools which were subsidized by the congregation. Despite poverty, S. Maria Celina and her companions in community gave just wages. Through their industry and resourcefulness, they also helped poor students to pursue their studies. S. Maria Celina had showed her best to treat with respect, prudence, and humility the parish priests of schools where she was assigned to promote unity and harmony.

S. Maria Celina loved those whom she served, both the poor and the rich, but her heart for the poor was always evident wherever she was assigned. Her availability, charity, and compassion for them outshone anything else. Her life of prayer and trust in God’s protection and grace were also always apparent as her strength in times of life’s challenges. Additionally, she took strength from the trials she experienced with Sisters who had strong personalities. She was blessed with a humble heart to forgive and serve those who inflicted pain on her.

From the Motherhouse, she was transferred to St. Joseph Home in 2018 for closer monitoring of her physical condition. On September 25, 2021 at 1:25 in the morning, S. Maria Celina succumbed to severe Covid-19 pneumonia at the age of ninety-six years old and sixty-six years as Religious of the Virgin Mary. She wished Psalm 16:8 to be imprinted as her epitaph, “I keep my Lord always before me; with the Lord at my right. I shall never be forsaken.”

You are now in the hands of God, S. Maria Celina. For certain, you will never be forsaken for His loving mercy and eternal peace enfold you. May our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, all the saints and angels in Heaven joyfully welcome you in the heavenly abode.

Farewell, our dear S. Maria Celina. Bring with you our gratitude for the gift of your person and our prayers for the repose of your soul. Kindly pray for us that we may be granted with faith and courage to fight the threat of Covid-19. Rest in peace.

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

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.