By Sister Mary Rose-Alice Escote OCD

Ireland has sent many missionaries, including Carmelite friars, to the Philippines in the last 100 years. Here is one of three ‘little stories’ of Carmelite contemplative missionaries from the Philippines in Ireland.

At the baccalaureate graduation Mass at UST, Manila, after I finished a two-year course in Religious Education, I signed the profession of faith in red ink to signify by the color of blood that I wouldn’t refuse any offer when asked to go on mission.

When I entered Davao Carmel, I thought that was the end. It was unheard of for contemplatives to go on mission. Besides, my health remained delicate although I wasn’t sickly.
Towards the end of 2001 my superior asked me if I would go to Thailand for a year to help Chanthaburi Carmel. I went home for the necessary papers for my passport. My father said, ‘When I was 8, sick and confined at home, a greatgrandaunt confided to me, “It’s better to have priests and religious in our family.” Her prayer was fulfilled in me through my children.’ Then I remembered and understood how my father would remind me, as a growing girl, to eat little because food on the mission would be scarce. My youngest sister was then a novice with the Missionary of Charity. After her profession on 21 May 2003 she was assigned to Macau.

In Thailand my vocation to the mission became clearer, as my health improved, and further confirmed by my superior. But after some time I was faced again with another major decision. Again, I dared to leave all and was happy with a deepening peace for having made the courageous decision to go to Ireland. It’s payback time for what the missionaries had done and continued to do in my beloved country. Their generosity challenged me, as did God’s choice, singling me out from among many Filipina Carmelites far more qualified than me.

Ireland extended a warm welcome, with friendliness and solicitude. In spite of great material progress in their country, the Irish nuns in St Joseph’s, Loughrea, remain very simple as they live the Carmelite life. Our presence brought joy, laughter, and a new vigor but also a great challenge, both for the Irish and for us Filipina sisters.