(Following is an article written by Sr. Teresita Arceo RGS on her personal experience with Pope John Paul II who will be beatified today, May 1, 2011 at St. Peter's Square.)
By Sr. M. Teresita Arceo RGS
After reading Father Ramil Marcos’ article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I remembered my wonderful experience when I was assigned in our Good Shepherd Generalate in Rome from 1983 to 1986. I often attended the Papal audience and the apostolic blessing of our Holy Father – John Paul II at the Vatican. There were always so many people attending, it was hard to get near where he would pass.
On one occasion, our community at the Generalate attended the private Mass of the Holy Father in his private chapel. There were some priests. It was an intimate gathering. After the Mass he told us that he would give each one of us a rosary, so we lined up. Those gathered came from different countries; Pope John Paul II asked each one our country of origin and conversed with each one before giving us the rosary. A photographer was there and took pictures as the Holy Father was the giving the rosary to each one. To this day I keep that rosary under my pillow remembering each time I pray the beads the many intentions of this world.
Meeting my Good Shepherd Sisters in Rome and the Holy Father are beautiful memories I will cherish especially as I will mark on September 8, this year, 60 years of clothing or entrance to the Novitiate of the Good Shepherd congregation
I am the youngest in our family of 10 children. I was born when my sister was already 8 years old. I thank God for this great gift. Our home is very near the convent of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Batangas. At night, I can see the convent light from our home. We always passed the convent to attend Mass because it was a short cut. I had great admiration for all the Sisters but never thought of being a Religious of the Good Shepherd.
I studied in St. Bridget from kindergarten up to third year high school. When the war broke out in December 1941, I had to transfer to St. Theresa’s College in Manila. They opened their school ahead of St. Bridget because they were able to get a Niponggo teacher which at that time was a required subject.
I took up piano lessons after high school. After my junior recital, Sr. Mary John Eudes asked me to teach piano in St. Bridget’s because they had many piano students.
That time, the apparition of Our Lady of Mediatrix in Lipa took place. We often went there to pray to Our Lady and to witness the apparition at the Carmelite Convent. I was attracted to the Carmelite vocation and thought of entering there.
When Sr. John Eudes learned that I was thinking of joining Carmel she said, “You are for the Good Shepherd”. I think she prayed for that intention for me.
When the Provincial – Mother Lourdes made a visitation, Sr. John Eudes made an appointment for me to see Mother Lourdes. She told me to contact another aspirant so that we can travel together to our Novitiate house in Los Angeles, California USA.
I thank God for the gift of my vocation to join the Good Shepherd Congregation and to persevere amidst joys and difficulties; strengthened by God’s sustaining love for me.
I had been assigned to different houses: Cebu, Tagaytay, Provincialate, Kaunlaran Center in Sta. Ana and San Andres Bukid, Rome and to all our houses in the compound of the Good Shepherd at Quezon City. In all these places, one common thread that unites the whole congregation is the love to serve women In difficulties and the desire to help them attain fullness of life.
In 1991, when the Pinatubo Volcano erupted in Pampanga, we had compassion on the people affected by the devastation. Through the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry, we started a livelihood project developed by mixing volcanic materials and water (lahar) to make home decors and statues. We sent samples of the different statues to our Good Shepherd Sisters in Canada, United States, Europe, Australia so they can sell and help the people in their income generating project. They appreciated the samples especially the Good Shepherd and Modern Nativity statues and ordered by the hundreds. Since 1998 to the present we get orders so this is truly a big help for the people.
This an example of how lives can be transformed from the ruins and ashes of the Pinatubo tragedy. With courage and determination, cooperation and trust in God, the people showed the way how this can be done.
I would like young women to join our congregation. I pray and ask Jesus the Good Shepherd to send more young women to be Good Shepherd Sisters, expressing his mercy and compassion.
To this day, I am thrilled whenever I look at the pictures with Pope John Paul II giving me a rosary and happy to show it to my family and friends especially now that he will be beatified on May 1st.