Embedded Files
S. MARIA ROSA CALUNGSOD CELESTIAL, RVM
(September 04, 1949 – April 24, 2019)
S. Maria Rosa was born in the serene and hilly place of Philippine Constabulary (PC) Hill, Cotabato City on September 04, 1949, the feast of St. Rose of Viterbo and St. Rosalia. She was named after St. Rose because her father envisioned her to be the rose of the family - loving, joyful and bearer of good news. She grew up to be the sunshine of the family, the favorite of every relative, and the author of all fun in the family. Her father was very much appreciative of her.
She was the second of the seven children (3 boys and 4 girls) of Cosme Celestial, a dutiful and reflective military man, and Josefina Calungsod, a dedicated and prayerful housewife. Her mother was her first catechist who taught her to love Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Rosa, together with her siblings, was raised in discipline and other Christian values, trained, educated and properly nourished both materially and spiritually by her devout Catholic parents.
The young Rosa was a consistent honor student. She was trained to declaim, orate, sing and take part in every school activity. She spent her secondary education at Notre Dame of Cotabato City for Girls where she developed as a responsible student. She was an active member of the Sodality of Mary and was elected president of the student council. She was a consistent victor in inter-school competitions except for the contest on Theology. It was a heartbreaking moment for her because such loss made her think not only of academic excellence but of the reality of God, of the plan of God in her life. The reality of life’s ups and downs dawned upon her, but she believed that what counts is to discover the will of God in every situation.
Amidst the many responsibilities and challenges that confronted S. Rosa as a student, she never failed to find time to spend some moment of silence and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother. Through this constant visit to the chapel, she observed the prayerfulness of the RVM Sisters which led to her attraction to religious life.
During her high school graduation, S. Rosa received several medals but amidst her awards and successes, she still searched for something greater since she did not seem to find contentment and satisfaction in her life. Something was lacking as she described it. She was seeking holiness and generous service. For all the graces she received she started to ask herself, “What return shall I give to the Lord for all the blessings he gave me? What does it profit a person to have all these honor and later lose her soul?” This made her reflect more profoundly on the plan of God for her. After two months of intense prayer and spiritual direction, she decided to enter the religious life even when her father expected her to be a doctor and her mother wished for her to be a lawyer. She was 16 years old then when she entered the aspirancy program. Her father conceded to her departure for Manila, but only as an observer rather than as an aspirant.
When the group of S. Maria Rosa was sent for their formation in Bajada, Davao City, she felt excited and apprehensive at the same time because Davao City is quite proximate to her hometown and that her entry to religious life was not fully permitted by her parents. True to her fears, her mother went to the Novitiate in Bajada after a week to take her home. S. Rosa went with her mother, but she was sick the whole time that she was home and was even hospitalized. When she was finally granted permission to return to the convent, she immediately got well, and two weeks after, she was back to the Novitiate in Bajada.
She entered postulancy on November 21, 1967 and noviceship on May 24, 1968. She made her first profession on May 24, 1970 and perpetual profession on March 04, 1978. She gratefully celebrated her silver jubilee on May 24, 1995.
Her great contribution in the church and the congregation was her dedication, zeal, and competence as catechist, religious educator and theology teacher. In everything she did, her love for Mary, ingrained in her mind and heart since childhood, was most visible. Her faith, excellence and service were made alive in her passion for teaching and mission. And to be able to serve more effectively, in 2003, she pursued her doctoral studies in Sacred Theology, with specialization in Marian Studies at the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.
For all her self-giving, she was a recipient of a number of recognitions which she accepted with gratitude and humility. She was awarded Outstanding Alumna in Notre Dame of Cotabato for Girls (1985), Outstanding Alumna of Sta, Isabel College in Catechetics (1990), Outstanding Executive Secretary of Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education – CBCP (ECCCE - 1991), Author and Consultant awardee: Textbook Writing in Religion awarded by Communication Foundation for Asia, Consultant in Textbook Writing in Values Education by Department of Education Culture and Sports (1990), Manila and Print Media Judge Awardee by the Archdiocese of Manila (July 15, 2000).
S. Rosa’s life of humble service is best described in the words of one of the Sisters, "The gentle presence of S. Rosa is worthy of praise. She blessed her companions through her generous availability as she was ready to help anyone who was in need of assistance. She was passionate and creative in her craft and whatever task was assigned to her, whether it be practicing formands with their reading assignments, sharing about the Blessed Mother or catechism – she humbly gave of herself wholeheartedly." "And another Sister remarked, “S. Rosa was a friend and mentor. She was always eager to share her love for the Blessed Mother, even giving ample support to those who sought a deep and genuine relationship with Mother Mary. Upon her return from studying in the US, she graciously lent her books to us who were then enrolled in Mariology class. It was as if S. Rosa was filled with a fiery love for the Blessed Mother that she had to spread it everywhere else.”
S. Maria Rosa experienced challenging family and ministry concerns but amidst all these difficulties, she still claimed that everything was a grace, and it has drawn her closer to the Triune God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She acknowledged that graces were doubly given.
Thank you so much, S. Rose for the gift of your beautiful person. Thank you for the fragrance of the rose in you that spread to the community and ministry through your loving and generous presence. We admire your humble acceptance of your thorns that pricked others as you instilled in them discipline and perfection, and we appreciate how you patiently pruned those thorns in your journey.
Once, you prayed, “You are our final destination, God. You are our home in heaven with all the saints and angels and Mary our Mother, Queen and Patroness. This is my earnest goal, the end of all my searching and longing: to be one with you all in heaven. How blessed will that day be when the triune God will come and fetch me to be with Him forever.”
Indeed, the Triune God fetched you in surprise on April 24, 2019 because of hypertension, stage II and cardiovascular arrest. The day has come for your heart’s desire to come to a reality, to have that moment of grace and be brought to your final destination – a life of eternity. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Rose of Viterbo and Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo enfold you with eternal peace and joy. Thank you, S. Rose, for the sixty nine years of earthly life and forty eight years as Religious of the Virgin Mary. Every time we think of you, we give thanks to our God. Farewell our dear S. Rose.
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Rosa, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
Report abuse