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S. MARIA THERECILLA MAGHUYOP DOMPOR , RVM
(January 17, 1928 – September 21, 2021)
S. Maria Therecilla Maghuyop Dompor who hailed from Calunasan Norte, Loboc, Bohol was the eldest of six children (three girls and three boys) of Agatiso Dompor and Emiliana Maghuyop who were both devout Catholics. She grew up with her pious and disciplinarian grandmother who was also her catechism teacher. She would pray the angelus, rosary, and novena early in the morning and at 6:00 in the evening. After meals, she would go to the prayer room, together with her grandmother, to say her thanksgiving prayer.
Therecilla was baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church, Loboc, Bohol on January 21, 1928, four days after her birth with the baptismal name of Sulpicia. She was confirmed on July 02, 1934 by Archbishop Gabriel Reyes, the Archbishop of Cebu. She grew up in an atmosphere of love and care with her grandparents, aunt, and uncle. The religiosity of the family brought two priests, her uncle and her younger brother, and one religious in the person of S. Therecilla.
The young Sulpicia, being the first grandchild, grew up with her grandparents so that her brothers and sisters had very little influence over her. Her only experience of living with her mother and siblings was during the Second World War when they were all together in their grandparents’ house.
During the liberation, she continued her first-year high school education in a public school. Her uncle, who was a seminarian then, did not like her to study in a public school, so she was transferred to St. Joseph’s College, now College of the Holy Spirit. She was an active member of the Children of Mary and of the Glee Club.
The three-day retreat offered by the school was very significant to Sulpicia. It drew her heart to religious life. She opened up her strong desire to enter religious life to her teacher in-charge, a Holy Spirit Sister, but she was told to finish her studies first. The Provincial Superior of the Holy Spirit Sisters and her uncle priest gave her the same advice. She persistently looked for other congregations. Her uncle priest gave her three options and told her to consider as the will of God for her the first congregation that will respond to her. Rev. Mother Maria Andrea Montejo, the Superior General, then of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, was the first one to answer her letter.
Without delay, Sulpicia, her Aunt, and her uncle went to Sto. Rosario Dormitory where she met S. Maria Delfina Bañaria, who was also from Bohol, and Mother Maria Rosario Bausanta, who interviewed her and gave her instructions for her entrance to the RVMs. Her grandparents were hesitant to let her go but her mother and her uncle were supportive of her decision. She skipped her college graduation to prepare all the documents needed for her entrance.
She was admitted to postulancy on May 23, 1951 and was accepted to noviceship on November 20, 1951. She made her first profession of vows on November 21, 1953.
During her first profession her baptismal name Sulpicia was changed to Therecilla. She had her perpetual profession of vows on November 21, 1959. Her younger brother was also ordained to priesthood in the same year. She celebrated her silver jubilee on November 21, 1978 and golden jubilee on August 15, 2003.
She served the Church and the Congregation as local superior, econome, teacher, school principal, social worker, and family life program coordinator. She attended conferences on Natural Family Planning in Australia. She underwent further studies on Family Life Education at Maryknoll College.
From 1982 to 1994, a total of twelve years, she was a missionary to Sunyani Diocese, Ghana, West Africa. She worked as administrator of a rural hospital, the first district superior of Ghana and the initiator of the Family Life Education and Natural Family Planning Program in the said Diocese. One recipient of her services in the Diocese of Sunyani wrote, bringing the voice of people whom she lovingly served, “She was a great missionary who gave her all for evangelization. We have not had her kind in the Family Life Office since she left for the Philippines. All the families and the many children whose parents she counselled are very grateful to S. Maria Theresilla’s selfless dedication.”
She was recalled to the Philippines as Regional Family Coordinator in Northern Mindanao Region, but her heart remained in the overseas mission. After four years in the Philippines, her heart’s desire to go back to Africa was granted. She stayed there for another four years before she came home to the matrix community for good and celebrated her golden jubilee. One of her companions in the community used to call her S. Africa and her face would glow with delight. She narrated that those were fruitful years in her life in the midst of challenges of culture, food, and language barriers. The God who called her and sent her to that particular mission was with her all the way.
Her love for the poor, kindness, simplicity, humility, and cheerfulness were very vivid in her life of service. Her life was a life of gratitude for the many blessings God had bestowed on her, for the many opportunities that she encountered while working with the marginalized, and for having seen the beauty of God’s handiwork in different places. She could not thank God enough for those marvelous graces. In one of her prayers, she wrote, “What can I ask from you Lord? My soul is waiting for the Lord. In Him does my heart find joy.” (Ps.33)
After S. Therecilla’s long journey, the awaited time came at 10:35 in the evening of September 21, 2021. She succumbed to severe covid-19 pneumonia and end stage of renal disease.
Thank you so much, S. Maria Therecilla, for taking into your heart and life your prayer: “Lord, let my soul be steadfast and true in my commitment to be in the service of your vineyard. Let me be that of a living witness of your gospel values wherever I may be.” What you have done here on earth for ninety-three (93) years and sixty-seven years of which as Religious of the Virgin Mary, has been a witness of the Gospel values.
May your heart now find joy in the loving embrace of the Triune God. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, all the Saints and Angels in heaven rejoice with you as you join them in the heavenly abode.
Farewell, our dear S. Maria Therecilla, S. Africa. The goodness and holiness of your person will surely leave a significant mark in our hearts. Have a peaceful and joyful journey home to the Father. We love you!
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Therecilla, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
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