Vocation Story of Sr. Mary Rose Tapia, RGS
I was attracted to the Good Shepherd Sisters because of their welcoming and joyful spirit, and their mission of compassion and reconciliation. I was sent by a Redemptorist priest to visit Sr. Benedict in Aurora Blvd., and while I was waiting for her in the parlor, a painting of Jesus, the Good Shepherd reaching out to a sheep who had fallen in a ravine, caught my attention. When I learned that the sisters took care of orphans and young girls who came from broken families, I was inspired by their dedication and commitment.
As an aspirant in Baguio, I was given the opportunity to be with the young girls and I observed how the Sisters loved and patiently cared for each one regarding them as precious children made in the image and likeness of God. They told me stories of St. Mary Euphrasia whose motto was, “A soul is more precious than a whole world” and who had made a fourth vow of zeal.
During my novitiate, I observed the Mistress of the Class, Sr. Germaine, how she handled a class of more than 80 juvenile delinquents who came from the Juvenile Court of LA to be rehabilitated in our residential school, with soft as well as tough love. As a second-year novice, the group system of residential care was being implemented, so we were allowed to be with these girls in the group home where we assisted the group mother during mealtime, recreation or study period. They were teenagers taller than myself so they called me “little mother”. Underneath their seemingly tough exterior, these girls were like little children longing for attention, appreciation and love. It was a source of great consolation for me to see them reciprocate our efforts to make them happy and focused on the activity at hand
After my profession, I was assigned to be a group mother to 15 girls in the Euphrasian Residence. Under the group system of residential care, we were allowed to study the life stories of these girls who came from dysfunctional families, were emotionally deprived and lacked mature parenting. Home visits and interviews with their parents or guardians helped us better understand their situation, plan and implement the treatment program under the supervision of St. Patricia, Sr. Mary Peter Jacinto and Sr. James who were very zealous, compassionate and competent social workers. They were very supportive, encouraging and patient mentors who taught me through their example, how to live out the wishes of St. John Eudes to work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. We worked as a team with the other group mothers and teachers, and had regular staff meetings to update one another on the progress of these young girls and how we can help facilitate their healing process.
What sustained me then in our mission is prayer, the Eucharist, devotion to the Heart of Jesus and Mary, basement university teachers, teamwork and the support of our community who were one with us in the “holy work.”
