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S. MARIA ROSA CASTRENCE CASTIL, RVM
(May 10, 1931 - March 17, 2018)
S. Maria Rosa was the second child of six all-female children of Antonino Castil and Juana Castrence. Two of the six died in infancy. She was born in Lingayen, Pangasinan on May 10, 1931 and was baptized on May 26, 1931 with her baptismal name Carita Adoracion Castil. She received the sacrament of confirmation on August 28, 1948 at Cagayan de Oro City.
The young couple, Antonino and Juana, moved out from Lingayen, Pangasinan to Bacolod, Negros Occidental. When S. Maria Rosa was five (5) years old, her mother died in giving birth to her youngest sister. Two years after, her father remarried and had one son and two daughters with his second wife. He decided to live with his new family, thus, S. Maria Rosa and her sisters transferred to their paternal grandparents in Anda, Pangasinan, and they would always look forward for the visits of their father whom S. Maria Rosa described as loving, kind, and caring father. Their paternal and maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles raised and took care of the sisters. S. Maria Rosa recalled that she and her siblings grew up transferring from one place to another—from Bacolod to Anda to Bolinao, Pangasinan, to Zambales, back to Bacolod, then Cagayan de Oro City then Pangasinan.
It was her maternal grandmother, a pious woman, who taught her the basics of Catholic faith. She claimed that she needed to be educated in the Catholic faith because her father and his family were Methodists. His father only became Catholic when he was about to marry his mother. Aside from her grandmother, it was also her grade school best friend who was brought up in a well-founded Catholic family, who taught her the catechism of the Eucharist before receiving Holy Communion.
S. Maria Rosa was in grade five when she was moved to serve the Lord. She was inspired after reading the life of St. Dominic Savio. In high school, she had a closer encounter with the Sisters in Lourdes College where she spent her secondary education through the help of her uncle who was a resident of Cagayan de Oro City. After High School graduation, she decided to enter the Religious of the Virgin Mary.
She entered postulancy on May 24, 1949 and Noviceship on November 20, 1949. She pronounced her first profession on November 21, 1951 and perpetual profession on February 02, 1957. She celebrated her silver jubilee on November 21, 1976 and golden jubilee on November 21, 2001.
Before her habit-taking, Msgr. Morelli, the Mass celebrant suggested that her name Carita Adoracion be changed to Rosa from the name of St. Rose of Lima. She did not want to let go of her name yet she followed the suggestion because of what the rose signifies.
S. Maria Rosa served the Congregation in its education and social ministries. She was a Religion and Mathematics teacher. She was also involved in the social ministry for 29 years. In those years of mission, S. Maria Rosa manifested strong compassion for the poor. She would always make herself available to help the poor. True to her baptismal name, Carita, her charity to those who needed her assistance was noteworthy.
In one of her mission assignments in Pantabangan, Aurora, S. Maria Rosa and her Sister companion would act as priests since the place got to be visited by a priest twice a year only. They catechized, blessed the dead, and conducted bible studies, prayer meeting and celebration of the liturgy of the word. They also facilitated livelihood programs for the residents.
When she was assigned in the prison ministry, she would always risk her life that the jail staff would usually remind her not to act like Dr. Jose Rizal. She would play a hero pacifying conflicts among prisoners at the expense of putting herself in danger. She was unafraid of making the prisoners reconcile even at the point of death. This same courage was also seen in instances when she had to face the New People’s Army and the Philippine Army just to save the lives of the people whom she served.
S. Maria Rosa was expressive not of her ideals alone but even of her deepest sentiments. She had a heart of an artist and she beautifully expressed herself through paintings. With charcoal pens and the graceful movements of her hands, she could easily and clearly express her emotions.
The life story of S. Maria Rosa showed her gratitude to the many graces God had blessed her with. That utmost gratitude overflowed in the generosity of her heart in person, in material things, and in time. It was most visible in the time she spent in prayer. Her writings revealed her inner connectedness with the God within her.
She humbly accepted the shadows of her life as a result of her childhood experiences which continued to chase her as a religious. She admitted that the early death of her mother which left her and her siblings orphan left a great void in her heart. She believed that it affected her relationships with others, especially her Sisters in the community. In her writings, she acknowledged her deep need for the mercy and healing touch of God. In her prayer, she pleaded to the God of compassion to consume all her vanities and imperfections.
S. Maria Rosa had a fall early morning of March 17, 2018. She was unable to recover because of ruptured aneurysm and massive hemorrhage. That same day, she peacefully joined the bosom of the Father.
Thank you very much, our dear S. Rosa for the eighty-six (86) years of earthy life, sixty-six years of which as Religious of the Virgin Mary. Your death has made your union with the God of Pure Love come into reality. The great void in your heart is now completely satisfied by the sublime love of God in Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Certainly, God’s mercy and compassion fully enfold you now, exuding the beauty and fragrance of the rose in you. Farewell, our dear S. Rosa.
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Rosa, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
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