IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA LOURDES BARBOSA PALACIO, RVM

(July 06, 1927– October 05, 2017)

S. Maria Lourdes Palacio of Palo, Leyte was the youngest among six children of Fortunato Palacio and Aurora Barbosa. She was baptized on July 16, 1927, confirmed on August 06, 1929 and had her first communion on October 02, 1935 at Our Lord’s Transfiguration Church, Palo Leyte.

She finished her primary education at Palo Elementary School and her intermediate education at Leyte Central Academy, a diocesan school which was later on managed by the Religious of the Virgin Mary, and is now known as St. Mary’s Academy of Palo. She finished her Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Master of Arts in Education at De la Salle University, Manila, and completed the required doctoral units in Organization Development at Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute (SAIDI).

In her younger years she cherished the following moments: when she received her first communion, with her father and mother walking with her to the center aisle of the communion rail; the time when she celebrated her 7th birthday with her relatives and classmates; and her graduation in Grade seven when she was gifted with a trip to Cebu City. Alongside the treats she received at that young age were discipline and training in the family. She grew up trained to value time and use it systematically for the family rosary, mealtime, shared responsibilities in house chores, and attendance in daily and Sunday Masses. She was trained to always seek her parents’ permission especially when going out on Saturdays and Sundays.

As she grew older, S. Maria Lourdes’ relationship with the Lord also matured. She was a faithful member of the Legion of Mary. She valued her active participation in giving catechetical classes in public schools. She involved herself in Marian devotions and activities especially in the month of May. She also actively participated in her parish’s yearly caroling to raise funds for the Church.

The first RVM Sister she met was M. Maria Andrea Montejo, the Superior General at the time, who, coming also from Palo, Leyte, visited her family in March 1948. It was only then that she knew about the Religious of the Virgin Mary. She listened intently as M. Andrea shared to her family about the Congregation and its Foundress, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. She became interested and started to inquire about the academic qualification required for admission. In the presence of Mother Andrea, the twenty-one year-old Lourdes, a fresh high school graduate, asked her parents if they would allow her to enter and embrace religious life . Her parents were expectedly skeptical because of her age, academic qualification and work experience. M. Maria Andrea, however, told her parents that Lourdes will pass through a probation period. She was then sent to Sacred Heart College, Catbalogan for mission exposure for a period of six months after which, she was brought to Manila by S. Maria Sousa.

February 01, 1949 marked her acceptance to postulancy. And on August 14, 1949, she was invested to Noviceship. She made her temporary profession on August 15, 1951 and pronounced her perpetual yes to God’s call on November 21, 1956. She celebrated her silver jubilee on August 15, 1976 and Golden Jubilee on August 15, 2001.

In all those years, she was consoled with her work and relationship with God but she too had a share of sad experiences. She recounted about her helplessness amidst her desire to serve her parents when they were very ill. She grieved because of their death before her perpetual profession, and her inability to be present during the burial of her father due to a strong typhoon in Leyte and Samar. She also felt most alone when all her siblings died one after another.

The entire life of S. Maria Lourdes Palacio was dedicated to the Education Ministry of the Congregation as Classroom Teacher, School Librarian, Guidance Counsellor, Prefect of Studies, Principal, Directress, Local Superior, Superintendent of Schools, RVM Commission on Education Assistant Chairperson, and RVM PAASCU Consultant. She extended her generous service to our schools, especially those needing help along administrative and academic matters. She spent twenty-one fruitful years in Northern Mindanao, particularly in Mount Carmel School, Talisayan, Misamis Oriental, Lourdes College, Cagayan de Oro City and Regional House, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, nine years in St. Mary’s College, Quezon City and ten years in the RVM Generalate Area as part of the RVM Commission on Education. She also served for few years in Pilar College, Zamboanga City and St. Mary’s Academy, Pasay City.

S. Maria Lourdes was also actively involved in the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) accreditation surveys since 1968 until 2002 with non-RVM Catholic Schools and in the PAASCU Dry-Run Accreditation Surveys of RVM Schools working towards acquiring a PAASCU accredited status. She truly maximized her gift and potentials for the development and growth of RVM Schools. She made a great and invaluable contribution for most of the PAASCU accredited RVM schools. Even in her sick bed, she was still willing to assist our schools needing her expertise or help.

S. Maria Lourdes claimed that she felt light and fulfilled in her apostolic chores. She was so passionate in serving others that she considered boredom and dissatisfaction in her work as walls that separate her from the Divine Master. In her autobiography, S. Maria Lourdes also wrote some of her limitations caused by the strong drive to accomplish work at hand. She was very particular of the proper use of material and financial resources, and she considered accountability and wise use of time very important. She admitted that in her younger years, her relationship and interaction with the administrators and academic community were mostly on the head level. But with her unceasing communication with the Merciful Lord whom she believed to be constantly walking with her, guiding, supporting and giving her consolation, she learned to be more understanding, compassionate, open, docile, affirming and trusting as she advanced in age.

With her failing health in 2014, she was transferred from the Mother House to St. Joseph Home for closer monitoring. On October 05, 2017, close to midnight at 11: 53 PM, she breathed her last, caused by hypoxia due to Cardiac Dysrhythmia.

Our dear Sister Lourdes, many times we fondly addressed you as Mother Lourdes, because like a mother, you gave us support and guidance in our various endeavors. Allow us to thank you most sincerely for your generous, enduring and valuable service to our Congregation, particularly in the Education Ministry. You will always be remembered as a great educator in mind, heart and spirit.

Your quest and deep passion for quality and Christian education will always stamp a lasting impression of excellence in every administrator and school you journeyed with. Thank you for the sixty-six years of loving and generous service as Religious of the Virgin Mary.

May Jesus, our compassionate Teacher, welcome you in our Father’s School of Faith and Love, in the company of our Blessed Mother and Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. Farewell, to you our dear S. Lourdes.

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

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.