IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA VICENTA OIDA CAÑEDA, RVM

(July 25, 1918 - September 21, 2016)

S. Maria Vicenta’s life reflected a beautiful verse from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:12, “I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life (Ecc. 3:12). In her journal she wrote, “See the positive sides in dealing with my Sisters, “be calm when things go wrong, keep silent, reflect and don’t be impulsive.” These words echo her joyful heart humming a song of praise to the God of joy.

S. Maria Vicenta was born on July 25, 1918 at Sta. Justina, Buhi, Camarines Sur. She was the 7th of eight children of Cornelio Cañeda and Enrica Oida. She was baptized on October 19, 1918 and she received the sacrament of confirmation on March 11, 1919.

She grew up in a religious environment. Her mother who was her first teacher in catechism, would tell her and her siblings stories about the lives of the Saints, and she would wake them up to pray the dawn Rosary. Their Parish co-adjutor, Fr. Pedro Lanuza, was her teacher in religious education and he introduced her to St. Therese of the Child Jesus or the Little Flower. Her knowledge of the Saints made her feel closer to God.

She was on her sixth grade in 1932 when she got very ill almost at the point of death. She then implored the Blessed Mother and promised her that she would offer her life to God if she would get well. Lo and behold, she got well. A few years later, she forgot about her promise. The thought of entering the convent already frightened her. However, she was surrounded with priests and religious people who tirelessly encouraged her and nurtured her vocation. Thus, when she reached third year high school, she became active in religious organizations. Her desire to enter the convent was revived and it became stronger that she decided to join the Carmelite Order and not anymore finish her studies. She was so fond of the Little Flower of Jesus. But as fate would have it, she was told that there was no vacancy in the monastery as it can only accommodate a limited number of Sisters. She was advised to apply in their foundation in Iloilo but she did not have the courage to go there.

Her spiritual Father advised her to finish her high school education. He recommended her to the Augustinian Sisters who were taking charge of Colegio del Buen Consejo. She was also introduced to the St. Paul de Chartes Sisters. Amidst all these, her heart was still beating for the Carmelite Order. One opportune day, two RVM Sisters dropped by the Parish of Iriga and had a good talk with the Parish Priest. Fr. Lanuza encouraged S. Maria Vicenta to choose the Religious of the Virgin Mary because of its Filipino foundation. He recommended her to the Beaterio de la Compania. Because she was still young, Mother Maria Andrea Montejo advised her to continue her college education.

However, upon learning that she had not yet formally entered the convent, her elder sister, who was willing to shoulder all the academic expenses, tried to convince her to shift to nursing. But Vicenta did not yield to such temptation as she learned to consider the Beaterio her home, where she appreciated the silence of the Sisters and the externs. She also enjoyed the family spirit at recreation time.

She was accepted to postulancy on June 31, 1940 and to the noviceship on February 2, 1941. She had her first profession on February 2, 1943 and perpetual profession on February 2, 1949. She celebrated her silver jubilee on February 2, 1967 and golden jubilee on February 2, 1993.

The initial formation years of S. Maria Vicenta and her sisters in the group were very tough because of the Wold War II in 1941. They experienced evacuation. From the Beaterio they transferred to Singalong where they spent part of their noviceship. In her account she wrote, “A Japanese soldier came looking for President Quezon. He thought that the latter is disguised in Sisters’ clothes so the former made us form in line and told us to remove our “tocas”. We all looked like men for in those days our hair was cut very short. We were filled with fear.” The Sisters also had a good look at some victims of bombings. There was also scarcity of food and she remembered well going to Bulacan with S. Maria Emilia San Pedro to beg for sacks of rice.

Her mission assignment were in St. Mary’s Academy, Pasay, St. Mary’s College, Quezon City, St. Mary’s Academy, Dipolog, St. Nicholas High School, Plaridel, Holy Cross of Digos, Holy Cross Institute, Oras, Eastern Samar, Assumption College, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Christ the King College, Gingoog City, Holy Rosary School, Lubao, Pampanga, Betania Retreat House, Tagaytay and Baguio City. In 1999, she was transferred to the Mother House and in 2001 until 2016, her residence was at St. Joseph’s Home.

S. Maria Vicenta’s longest assignment was in Betania Retreat House, Tagaytay City where she spent 23 years of her religious life. She never missed going to the market with the local econome, and from the market, she would proceed to the kitchen and help in the shelling of garlic. She also enjoyed gardening and planting. She was also known for her commitment in checking the water tank. She would wake up very early in the morning to see if the water would be sufficient for the retreatants. In lighter moment, she would go swimming and recreating with the community. She was observed as a balanced and integrated person, that it was easy for her to get along with the sisters in community. She loved to do little things with dedication and she was always calm, gentle, kind and courageous in facing life’s challenges in all her missions to the Church as teacher, administrator, local econome and retreat house staff in the Congregation. She took life and mission joyfully. In fact, her sense of humor is evident even in her account about the war. One of the nurses who used to hear S. Vicenta singing even when she was already bedridden validated her jubilant spirit.

She surrendered her life to the God of life and love at 5:50 in the morning of September 21, 2016 due to pneumonia.

Thank you so much, S. Maria Vicenta, for a life lived in holiness and faithfulness! Your kindness, simplicity, prayerfulness, humility and openness to the will of God for 73 years as Religious of the Virgin Mary will always be treasured. Farewell, our dear S. Maria Vicenta. Jesus your beloved, the Blessed Virgin Mary, your mother, Mother Ignacia and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, your inspirations and all the Saints in Heaven welcome you in endless joy and peace.

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

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.