IN MEMORIAM

S.  MARIA ROSARIO CADORNA AWITEN, RVM

(May 2, 1929 – September 19, 2021)

S. Maria Rosario Cadorna Awiten was the youngest of five (5) children (4 girls and 1 boy) of Sixto Mata Awiten, a municipal councilor from Sagay, Camiguin Province, and Narcisa Cadorna, a public school teacher from Guindulman, Bohol. She was baptized on May 29, 1929 and was confirmed on May 30,1936. She received her first communion on May 31 of the same year. She was very close to her only brother. Being the youngest in the family, she felt so loved by her parents and elder sisters and brother.

Rosario and her siblings were brought up by their devoted and pious Catholic parents. They were trained to practice the rudiments of Christian life. They were encouraged to join the “Trisagio” at dawn and have devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. They never missed to attend Mass on 1st Saturdays and on Sundays. Rosario looked up to her older Sisters who were ardent in their prayer and devotion. Initially, she would only imitate them until such time that she herself developed love for the Trinity and the Blessed Mother.

She finished her elementary education at Sagay Elementary School, Camiguin and her secondary education at the then newly opened Catholic school, the Holy Rosary High School. Her high school education was delayed because of the Second World War. After high school graduation, when she began to ponder on her future, she entertained the call to live a religious life. She then sought counsel from their Parish Priest, Fr. Ralph Lynch, SJ. During confession, she told him that she wanted to live her life in the convent. Fr. Ralph advised her to report to the parish convent where she was given work and spiritual nourishment until she decided to enter the Religious of the Virgin Mary.

With her strong determination to follow God’s call, she was accepted to postulancy on November 20, 1951 and noviceship on May 23, 1952. She made her temporary profession on May 24, 1954 and perpetual profession on May 24, 1960. Filled with gratitude in her heart, she celebrated her silver jubilee on May 24, 1979 and golden jubilee on February 02, 2004.

Her bachelor’s degree in Education, major in History and English, was taken while she was in the mission in 1972. She took up her Master’s degree in Education at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City in 1973. She also had some units in Guidance and Counselling and Religious Studies. She devoted herself in the mission as a Christian Living teacher, catechist to the public schools, econome, and local superior. She was also happy to be assigned in the Social Ministry in the later years of her missionary journey. Her drive for new learnings was remarkable. She was already sixty-nine years old when she took up courses leading to Master’s in Catechetics. She took the course every summer, and her determination to finish it was outstanding.

S. Maria Rosario’s obedience was evident in the joy and gratitude she had shown in all her assignments for the good of God’s people and for His honor and glory. Her motto, “the good Lord is here, and He is always with me” inspired her to go wherever she was assigned. She was truly open to the will of God, and it gave her contentment. She was always trusting on His grace especially when she was assigned in poor schools. Her life in the mission was not at all a bed of roses but what strengthened her to bear the thorns that pricked her life was the thought that everything is temporary, that everything will just pass. The outpouring grace of God sustained her and inspired her to let the fragrance of goodness and kindness permeate her life.

Thank you so much, S. Maria Rosario, for the gift of your person to the Church and to the congregation. May your good and kind heart be blessed with life everlasting. May the Holy Triune God welcome you in the heavenly abode. May our Blessed Virgin Mary to whom you have devoted yourself, St. Joseph, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, all Saints and angels in heaven meet you with great joy.

Farewell, our dear S. Rose. Bring with you our love and prayers. May eternal peace and joy envelop your soul.

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

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.