Embedded Files
S. MARIA SALOME VELASCO OLVIS, RVM
(October 22, 1919 – January 04, 2019)
S. Maria Salome Velasco Olvis was the sixth child in the family of ten, four boys and six girls. Three of the boys died before Maria Salome was born. Her father was Veronico Olvis of Carmen Balilihan, Bohol while her mother was Juana Velasco, a native of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte.
She recounted that her parents lived a truly Christian life and endeavored to raise a truly Christian family. Her mother was the president of the “Hijas de Maria” and the “Apostolado de la Oracion” and was also a member of some civic organizations in their locality. Her father, who became a Deputy Governor in their place, was a man of faith and gentleness. He was her first teacher, hence his religiosity, gentleness, and his appreciative nature greatly influenced her. Both her parents were devoted to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady. Their female children bore a name “Maria” before their first name. Her father’s sister was also an RVM Sister, Sor Cipriana Olvis, who died in Gingoog during the second World War.
The young Maria Salome took her formal education under the care of the Religious of the Virgin Mary in Dipolog where she started her devotion to Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. She recalled that she took her first communion with great joy. She continued her studies in Dipolog Central School and finished her Grade VII in Sindangan Elementary School. Due to financial constraints, she stopped studying, and while waiting for her older siblings to finish their studies, she devoted herself to church activities as choir member and catechist. Her love for the Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Sorrows was developed, and she started to dream of becoming a nun.
During the second world war, she devoted herself as first aider of the Local Red Cross organization and auxiliary to the guerilla, but in the midst of all these, she found herself empty. One day, Mother Andrea Montejo met the mother of Maria Salome who brought with her the three young ladies.
After Mother Andrea recounted the death of Sor Cipriana Olvis, she turned to the three young ladies and asked them who would like to replace their aunt. A fire was ignited in the heart of the young Maria Salome which moved her to respond to the call of God.
She was accepted to postulancy on May 19, 1946 and to noviceship on November 20, 1946. She had her first profession on November 21, 1948 and perpetual profession on November 21, 1953. She celebrated her silver jubilee on November 21, 1973 and golden jubilee on November 21, 1998.
Her mission communities were St. Pascual Institute, Obando, Bulacan, Lourdes College, Cagayan de Oro City, RVM Mother House, St. Mary’s Academy, Pasay, Sacred Heart College, Catblogan, Western Samar, Assumption College, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, RVM Generalate, St. Mary’s College, Iligan City, Betania Retreat House, Lahug, Cebu City and Quezon City, and Sisters’ Residence or Mother House. Starting 2002, her home was at St. Joseph Home.
She served the congregation as a Teacher, Secretary General, 2nd and 3rd Consultor General, Juniors’ Mistress, Local Superior, Principal and an Archivist.
S. Salome whom we fondly called Mother Salome was an epitome of dedication and commitment. Her greatest concern in life was to endeavor always to do the will of God for her. She acknowledged that there were two occasions that she did not consult God in her decision and it brought chaos in her life but at the end, God helped her disentangle herself from the knots of confusions. Her niece, who is also a Religious of the Virgin Mary recounted that the seed of her vocation sprouted through the life of her Aunt, Mother Salome, when the latter had her vacation after a year of the death of her mother. They spent time together during vacations that the younger members of the family (e.g. grandchildren) thought they were mother and child.
She found consolation in meditating on the passion of Christ because she believed that the joy of the resurrection is measured according to the sorrows she felt on the passion. On her 50th year as religious she prayed: “Lord forgive me. I have become so irritable that I feel I do not deserve to have reached this year of jubilation. You have been very patient with me. You have sent me pains to remind me of the hurt I caused you and others. Still, this has not transformed my life. Help me to be patient with myself; help me not to hurt others. Help me to crucify my ego with the pains of your crucifixion.” She recounted that patience with herself and with others was terribly wanting. It was a humbling experience for herself that in spite of being herself, God immensely loved her.
She was eternally embraced by the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the first Friday of January, January 04, 2019 as she breathed her last at 4:19 in the morning because of cardiac failure due to arrhythmia.
Thank you, M. Maria Salome for having lived life on earth for ninety-nine (99) years and seventy (70) years as Religious of the Virgin Mary.
May Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Sorrow, and Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo joyfully welcome you. Your awaited resurrection is now at hand after long years of pain and suffering. Farewell, M. Maria Salome.
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Salome, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
Report abuse