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July 13, 2018, San Fernando, Philippines – Members of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter, based in San Fernando, the Philippines, gathered June 30 to celebrate the Transfer of Leadership of Chapter Prioress to Sister Rosita Yaya, OP. Sister Rosita was elected in April 2018 to that position, succeeding Sister Zenaida Nacpil, OP, the first Chapter Prioress of the Remedies Chapter.
The Our Lady of Remedies Chapter had at one time been a separate congregation of Dominican Sisters. At the request of Bishop Emilio Cinense, the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1961 took on the formation of the first members of the Congregation based in the Philippines. The community became an independent congregation in 1972. In 2011, at the request of the Filipino Sisters, Our Lady of Remedies merged with the Adrian Dominican Sisters and became a Mission Chapter within the Adrian Dominican Congregation. Sister Zenaida was elected as the first Chapter Prioress in 2012.
Sister Rosita saw her election as a “graced moment,” particularly because it had taken place on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018. “Jesus is assuring me, ‘Do not be afraid. I am here with you. I am alive,’” she said. “With this assurance, we continue to live out our preaching mission, guided by the 2016 General Chapter Enactments, centered in the context of our Philippine situation.”
Sister Rosita hopes that the Sisters in her Chapter will remain “centered in the risen Christ” as they continue their pastoral ministry, “empowering our poor brothers and sisters, in becoming self-reliant communities, especially those we serve: the Aetas, the indigenous peoples; the street children; the families of victims of extra-judicial killings; those in family and life ministry; the people on the move; and migrant workers in Norway.”
As Chapter Prioress, she hopes to “explore possibilities of deepening our relationship with our North American Sisters,” and to work closely with the Prioress, General Council, and Leadership Council in implementing the General Chapter Enactments.
Sister Rosita was involved in leadership for the Remedies Congregation several times. She served on the Council from 1994 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2007. No stranger to Adrian, Michigan, she traveled there with her Congregation’s Council to discuss the possibility of the merger between the two Dominican Congregations. She also served as the Remedies Congregation’s Vocation Director and a Formator of Novices and Postulants.
At the time of her election in April, she was School Head of the Dominican School of Apalit. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education with a major in guidance and counseling, both from the University of the Assumption in San Fernando, and a doctorate in education management from the University of St. Tomas in Manila.
From left, Sisters Patricia Harvat, OP, General Councilor; Sister Rosita Yaya, OP, newly elected Chapter Prioress; Sister Zenaida Nacpil, OP, outgoing Chapter Prioress; and Mary Margaret Pachucki, OP, Vicaress and General Councilor after the April 1, 2018, election of Sister Rosita.
Sister Rosita Yaya, OP, a member of the Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter based in Pampanga, the Philippines, recently attended the Congress for the Mission of the Order, held January 17-21, 2017, in Bologna, Italy. She was appointed to serve on the Synthesis Committee for this Congress, and gave a presentation. As the conclusion to the Dominican family’s 800th Jubilee Year, the Congress aimed to “bring together Dominicans from various regions of the world and from different cultural and ecclesial contexts to reflect and spare experiences around the mission of preaching of the Order today."
The following is Sister Rosita’s presentation at the Congress.
By Sister Rosita Yaya, OP
February 3, 2017, Bologna, Italy – The different presentations and sharing in the workshops gave life to the theme: “Sent to Preach.” They portrayed how the Gospel became human and how our humanity became Gospel to the people the Dominican Sisters and Brothers encountered in their ministry.
Through the centuries, the Sisters and Brothers continued to drink from the rich well of Scriptures, Tradition and the teachings of the Church. They listened and responded to the needs of the humans of their own time. The Holy Preaching, offered in varied ways, gave flesh to the Gospel in the Church, in schools and hospitals, on the streets, at the farms, and with the migrants, refugees, women and children, and with care of creation.
In the process, the preachers – like Jesus and Dominic – suffered with the people they serve. This was concretely experienced by our Sisters and Brothers in Iraq and other war torn countries. They did not give up in the face of persecutions. They stayed with their people and gave hope.
The splendor and beauty of God’s word in creation was incarnated in preaching through art, music and the media.
As I listened to the discussions and sharing, I felt that the fire of preaching is enveloping us present in this stadium. I got new perspective, new learning, and most of all, my encounter with each Sister and Brother present in this Congress made me aware of the immensity of the Mission of the Order. Now I have the courage to face the challenges ahead of me.
As we are sent today, we need to continue to drink from the well of Scriptures, charism and values that St. Dominic, St. Catherine, and all the Dominican saints handed on to us. We are hopeful that we can make a difference. The Holy Spirit will strengthen us to discover new ways of preaching, to have fruitful encounter with people of different beliefs, with displaced persons, the victims of human rights violations and trafficking, people living in abject poverty. We know that what we will do is not our own mission. It is the Mission of Jesus, as He promised he will be with us until the end.
Feature photo: Sister Rosita Yaya, OP, gives a presentation during the Congress for the Mission of the Order.