Vocation Story of Sr Marilou Castro, RGS
As a child, I was one of those children who didn’t dream of becoming somebody someday. My only concern then was playing and every time we play “bahay-bahayan,” I usually took the role of a priest, the white blanket served as my “sotana.” I was in Grade Four when I began to learn religious songs and attending Mass became part of my life. My teacher was the instrument because she loved to teach us religious songs and used to bring the whole class in the church especially during first Fridays. I was young then but I am deeply touched by the songs during the Holy Eucharist and the quiet atmosphere inside the church.
When I reached High School, I planned to take up Nursing after graduation but I ended up enrolling in UP because of the scholarship offer and took up another course instead. In my playwriting class, while having our workshop, I uttered, “I want to become a nun,” the whole class heard it and burst into laughter. Only one who happened to be my friend took it seriously. I felt grateful and blessed because my spiritual life was not influenced by a progressive and quite radical university. Aside from attending the Novena to Our Perpetual Help and 12 noon Mass everyday in the UP chapel, I was also comfortable reviewing and writing my reaction / term papers inside the chapel. I oftentimes found myself prostrating in front of the Blessed Sacrament whenever difficulties in my studies come and whenever I get the required grade for the scholarship.
Four years after that event in my Playwriting class, the feeling and desire of entering the convent come out again. On January 1997, the scheduled Teachers’ Retreat where I was employed pushed through and our Retreat Directress happened to be a Good Shepherd Sister, Sr. Rebecca Jameiro (now a member of the Puso ng Carmelo Community). It was an answered prayer and beginning of disturbance that led into a real discernment. Without my family knowing it, I attended the Search-in in Maryridge convent, Tagaytay. I admired the kindness and warm welcome of the Sisters and got attracted with their apostolate with women. The words “A person is of more value than a whole world” which was posted as I entered in their parlor caught my attention and became a thought for reflection. It was during this Search-in that I got to know the life of St. Mary Euphrasia through the comics that Sr. Becky handed to me before I left Tagaytay. I felt that time that God’s calling was like a “magnet” and I couldn’t resist it.
Two obstacles came out—one was that the school where I was employed did not approve my resignation letter at once, and secondly, which was heavier for me to bear was that my family especially my mother could not accept my decision. It was during this difficult time that I have just let the WILL of GOD be DONE. I entered as a pre-novice on June 7, 1997.
As years passed by, I got to know myself deeper and developed a more intimate relationship with God. Saying YES to His invitation is an open door for me of becoming an instrument of His compassionate and loving shepherding to others, especially to those abused, exploited, poor, and marginalized. I do believe that God has chosen me and the ONE Who calls is faithful forever.
The words of St John Eudes, “Carry compassionately in your Heart the misery of those in distress,” and St. Mary Euphrasia’s “love for souls” serve as a constant guide, strength, and inspiration in my journey as a Good Shepherd Sister.
