+ Sr. Mary Agnes Katigbak RGS peacefully joined Jesus the Good Shepherd on April 7, 2012 in Quezon City after. The following is the Tribute of Sr. Mary Catalina Santos RGS of St. Bridget School - Quezon City Community, shared during the Mass of the Resurrection on April 11 at the Good Shepherd Chapel.
TRIBUTE TO SR. MARY AGNES KATIGBAK
April 11, 2012
By: Sr. M. Catalina Santos RGS
Sr. Mary Agnes Katigbak, Luz Latorre Katigbak at baptism, was born April 3, 1921 in Lipa, Batangas. She entered our Congregation on September 8, 1947. Her firs profession was on September 9, 1949. She pronounced her perpetual vows on April 24, 1953.
At her prime, she founded two (2) communities: St. Bridget, Buhi Camarines Sur in 1963 and a residence in Guam, a US Territory in 1972. She was local community leader (at her time the term was Superior), for Quezon City, Buhi and Batangas. She was missioned to USA from 1972 to 1988.
At the age of 67 she come home to the Philippine Province and was assigned to Batangas, Buhi, Naga, Good Shepherd Community and finally Batangas in 2000.
That is history and Sr. Gina combed the records of the Congregation to find them.
However, a religious woman’s life is not measured by her accomplishments and assignments. She lives in communities witnessing to a reality that is here and yet not. It is in community that the Kingdom of God dimension of her life shines and Sr. Agnes, was a grand community sister. I met her in Batangas 1989 and lived with her for nine (9) years. I can declare that she was the joy of our community.
Her wit and repartee was both sharp and kindly a mixture that moved even Sr. Techit to laughter and speechlessness.
Sr. Agnes keeps a smile ready for all occasions. A wide grin when delighted, hidden behind graceful fingers when teasing, accompanied by a lifted right eyebrow when inquiring and with a shrug of her shoulders when she suspects that somebody is peeling her leg.
Sr. Agnes call her wide variety of smiles “ummis”. “Siya ay pala ummis”. Sister remained in Batangas speak all her long life. She used baken in place of bakit, ala, and al eh sprinkled her sentences. Her punto was despite long years in USA was purong Barako.
She is fond of things Filipino. Her favorite fast food chain was Jollibee a high point of our visits to Lipa to reminisce about Nakpit Street, her parents, her many cousins, her siblings who were born when she was already a teen-ager. In the USA, I learned this affection for things Filipino persisted. Her community even got her a small rice cooker to cook her daily staple food, rice.
Being a friend of Sr. Agnes’ old age, I learned about saintly Mother Clare, the vision for SB College of Sr. M. Domica and the love story of Jeanette and Engr. Samaniego.
Truly, Sr. Agnes you were a gracious presence in our Batangas Community and the entire province too. Please pray that we may grow in age, grace, kindness, humbly accepting God’s love in the persons who care for us and our Congregation’s generous provision in giving us the medical help we need to laid lives of loving service even while we sit our wheel chairs and wait for our own EASTER in paradise.
Lola Agnes, Miss Lipa, we love you!