St. Marie-Eugenie of Jesus was one of the new saints Pope Benedict XVI canonized last Sunday, 3rd of June. She was the foundress of the Religious of the Assumption.
The entire Assumption community - the sisters, novices, alumnae, and Friends of the Assumption - have long awaited her canonization since Pope Paul VI beatified her in 1975. In fact, former colleagues from the Assumption College in San Lorenzo, Makati are on pilgrimage in Rome to witness her canonization.
I am not an 'old girl', a term used to refer to an Assumption alumnae, but having spent some time workign at AC, I share the community's joy in her canonization. Now it can be said that I have spent some of my most meaningful experiences at AC.
I can't forget how I ended up at AC. Back in 2002, I applied at two academic libraries, Assumption College and a marine institute. I was successful in both applications and was torn between the two because both had good offers and it was just a matter of making the right choice.
On the day that I had to make my choice, I decided to seek the advice of as many colleagues as I could reach to help me decide. But their lines were busy. I was getting frantic because I haven't reached a single friend for quite some time already. And then I finally dialled Zarah's number knowing that her lunch break was over. And I was so relieved to hear her voice.
I told her of my dilemma and how she was the only person I was able to reach for the last couple of minutes. As she was listening intently, I was surprised with her reaction - she laughed - and I was, like, dumbfounded.
"Bakit ka tumatawa?", I asked. And I would never forget her reply.
"Chy, hindi mo na kelangan mag-isip. Sabi mo kanina ka pa nagtatawag wala kang makausap tapos ako lang nakontak mo..."
"Uh-huh", was all I could utter.
"Kelan ba birthday ko?", Zarah asked me.
"August 15", I answered.
"Anong araw yon?"
"Feast of the Assumption...oo nga ano!", I exclaimed. And with that realization, I profusely thanked her. So thus began my journey at AC.
I've worked at other schools ran by the religious but it was at AC that I felt right at home. At home with MME's (Mere Marie Eugenie) teachings on becoming a woman of faith and a woman of action.
AC is such a nurturing community that it was there that I had grown tremendously in my spirituality and where I found my advocacy - ICT for development. It was through the Assumption Educator's formation program that I met Fr. Ben Beltran, the parish priest of Smokey Mountain, the man who inspired me to write about how information and communication technology can help impoverished communities. He opened doors that I would never have possible known existed all because I was at the right place at the right time. Had I not left the Philippines, I would still be in the thick of things in terms of ICT development projects.
Though I miss the sisters and my colleagues at AC, I did ask for MME's intercession to be where we are now. And I wouldn't mind naming my yet-to-born baby after her, if it was a girl, because it would be an answered prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment