IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA JOSEFINA NATINO FRAN, RVM

(June 11, 1927 – January 23, 2017)

“I push on the goal for the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 3:14

S. Maria Josefina Fran lived a life of courage and a life with a goal of finding God and sharing him to the world. All her life, she was filled with deep longing for God, and all her life, she did nothing but surrender herself to his compassionate will.

S. Maria Josefina was born on June 11, 1927 in Agno, Pangasinan. She was the ninth among eleven children of Manuel Fran and Raymunda Natino. She also had three other older siblings in the first nuptial of her father. She received the sacrament of baptism on June 20, 1927 and after two years, the sacrament of confirmation.

Piety was evident in her family that was devoted to Our Lady of Manaoag, the patroness of their province. The image of the Our Lady of Manaoag was enshrined on their altar where they would gather as a family to pray the rosary. That was her childhood coupled with love and happiness made possible by a well-disciplined and industrious father and a tender and dedicated mother.

When S. Maria Josefina was in first year high school, she felt a spiritual vacuum in her life, and this moved her to approach her elder sister to help her receive Holy Communion. Her sister assisted her and she was so grateful because from that time on she became closer to God. The Eucharistic celebration became her daily devotion even when she went to Manila for her studies. Her day would not be complete if she would miss the Holy Mass.

When World War II broke out, her studies were disrupted, her faith was shaken, and her love for God was tested. Every time they would go for Mass, they had to bow to the Japanese soldiers. It was truly a difficult time but she said that life during the Japanese time taught her courage, discipline and sense of duty. There were many incidents that caused her pain but she considered those experiences as seeds being sown that she may gather strength.

After the war, her mother died of cancer at 54 years old. She was in third year high school then. She thought of becoming a doctor so she could help others who are as sick as her mother. Cancer, that time, was an unknown illness. Determined to take up medicine, she enrolled at the University of Sto. Tomas taking up Liberal Arts, Pre Medicine. It was in this university that she had her formal course in Religion and she deeply felt the touch of God and the Blessed Mother. She acknowledged the influence of Fr. Blas of the Order of Preachers, the dean of Liberal Arts then, and two close friends who became her companions in the University’s Legion of Mary. They would pray together at the Chapel during break time.

S. Maria Josefina successfully completed the Pre-Medical Course but her father and siblings would not allow her to pursue further in the medical course due to the extended number of years. She discerned and prayed over this and as a fruit of her prayer, she submitted to the decision of her family. She placed her complete confidence on the ways of God. With faith in her heart, she accepted that God’s ways are not hers. With this, she decided to take the scholarship grant at Arellano University for Bachelor of Science in Education. After graduation, she, together with her elder sister, taught in one of the non-sectarian schools in Catbalogan, Western Samar where she was tested by the many denominations and sects present in that school.

It was in Catbalogan where S. Maria Josefina first met the RVM Sisters. When she applied for a job at Sacred Heart College in Catbalogan, S. Maria Adela Moreto recommended her to St. Joseph’s College in Borongan, Eastern Samar, where her desire to dedicate herself to God blossomed. The desire grew but was not supported by many. Her very own older sister was against it. Also, when she opened up to an RVM Sister, she was told that she cannot be a Sister because she was an outgoing person who loved biking, swimming and dancing. Amidst all these, she pursued her desire by seeking

advice from the Directress of the school, Mother Maria Socorro Alvarez, and their Parish Priest, Fr. Potenciano.

She was accepted by Rev. M. Maria Andrea Montejo, the RVM Superior General then. Her father was silent through all those times, but when she became a postulant in 1953, her sister and a cousin, the chief of Police of Agno, Pangasinan, arrived to fetch her upon the command of her father. S. Maria Josefina told them, “My vocation is firm and that even your gun could not threaten me to give it up, and if you insist, you take me home dead, instead.” Seeing her determination, her sister promised her that she will be the one to convince her father of the authenticity of her vocation.

She was accepted to noviceship on February 01, 1954. She professed her temporary vows on February 02, 1956, celebrated her silver jubilee on February 02, 1981 and golden jubilee on Feb 02, 2006. They were twelve in the group who took the temporary profession and they called themselves The Twelve (12) Apostles. Each one took a name from among the Apostles, and S. Maria Josefina’s was St. Bartholomew. They promised to pray the “Memorare” daily for their perseverance.

S. Maria Josefina’s mission assignments were in Notre Dame of Cotabato for Girls, Holy Child Institute, Gumaca, Quezon, St. Stephen’s Academy, Ligao, Our Lady of Grace, Caloocan, Sacred Heart Academy, Nagcarlan, St. Lawrence Academy, Bangui, Ilocos Norte , St. Mary’s Academy, Pasay, Sacred Heart College, Catbalogan, Holy Cross College, Bansalan, Holy Cross Academy, Digos, Notre Dame Academy of Kidapawan, Our Lady’s Academy, Baganga, St. Joseph High School Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, St. Anthony Academy, Tuburan, Cebu, RVM Regional House, Cebu City, Mother Ignacia Home for the Elderly, St. Joseph Home, and Betania Retreat House. She served the Church and the Congregation by being a committed teacher, administrator, and Local Superior.

S. Maria Josefina had her own way of seeing and taking trials lightly. Throughout her mission, she experienced robbery twice. One was in Notre Dame of Kidapawan where she was assigned from 1988–1992. It was early morning and she was praying in the Chapel with S. Maria Leticia Evangelista when armed robbers entered the Chapel. With guns pointed at the Sisters, the robbers asked for the key of the cashier’s office. Still, she had the heart to tell the robbers to let her finish her prayer first. And when the robbers were heading off with the box of bills, she called them back and asked, “What about the coins?” Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos started calling her “the most generous Sister” as she was willing to give all their money to the poor, the robbers. The second time was in Baganga, Davao Oriental where she served from 1992–1996. She was in a bus bound for Davao City around midnight and when she noticed armed men getting out of the bus in front of them, proceeding to their bus, she earnestly prayed for their safety and slowly prepared Php5,000.00 in an envelope and kept her bag under her seat where the remaining big amount of cash was hidden. She told her fellow passengers not to resist, just give something. So when the robber approached her, she gave the envelope. When he stared at her wrist watch; she gave it, too, with a smile. She recounted to Bishop Patricio Alo what happened to her when she reached Mati, Davao Oriental. The Bishop told her, “You are like St. Paul in his missionary journeys being held by pirates on the seas or robbers in the highways. You are a Missionary of Christ. Isn’t it wonderful to suffer with Him?”

Yes, a missionary of Christ, S. Jo would courageously find ways and means to improve the school wherever she was. She would make a way to offer education for the poor through the assistance of agencies and other people with generous hearts. She identified her own personal mission which she called “A school-based Social Ministry.” She is not only a builder of school buildings but a builder of people through her advocacy for the education of the poor. On July 27, 2005, she wrote a legacy to the Congregation and to others who will follow her as she states: “They will remember me as a prayerful and discerning person, simple but courageous Religious, taking an honest stance as God calls me to a life of daily perfection through the evangelical counsels. I also commit myself to assist with God’s grace those who seek their salvation, especially the poor.” As a missionary of Christ, she would always find ways to bring Christ to the people.

And finally, in her sickness, her strength was Christ. Her strength was seeing Christ hanging on the Cross. Her strength was seeing her sickness as her own crucifix for the purification of her soul, for the salvation of her relatives and friends, the wayward, those suffering. And as Christ would honor her mother, S. Maria Josefina would say to Mother Mary, “Mary, help me to endure the pain in union with your Divine Son, Jesus Christ.”

St. Joseph’s Home was S. Maria Josefina’s home since 2010. She breathed her last at 12:01 early dawn of January 23, 2017 due to Congestive Heart Failure Class 4 at the age of 89 years old, 61 years in religious life.

Farewell, our dear S. Jo! Thank you for a life dedicated to the Triune God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother Ignacia. Thank you for uplifting the lives of the poor entrusted to your loving heart and hands.

The cross you carry has turned into a glorious resurrection in the glory of Christ’s resurrection. We accompany you in joy as your prayer came into a reality, “Deign, O God, when death reckons, manifests to me eternal joy and everlasting happiness in Heaven”. Through St. Bartholomew, your patron saint, Jesus whispers to you now, "Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (Jn. 1:51)

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

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.