Thursday, June 19, 2008 Faithful told to back beatification of Mother Rosario Arroyo
A GROUP advocating the beatification of Mother Rosario Arroyo, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines, appealed to the faithful to pray and support their cause.
The Mother Rosario Arroyo Commission based in Molo, Iloilo City started their advocacy in 2004, but it was only recent that they were assisted by Rome.
"We actually launched our movement in 2004, but it was only recently when we were assisted by Vatican City-based Fr. Sam Silloriquez," said Sister Leonor Gerlito, a member of the commission.
Madre Sayong or Madre Maestra, as she was fondly called, was the great grandaunt of First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.
Born Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo in Molo, Iloilo City on February 17, 1884 to affluent parents, Don Ignacio Arroyo and Doņa Maria Pidal. She was the only girl in the family.
Her siblings are Jose Maria Arroyo and Mariano Arroyo. Jose became a senator in 1919, while Mariano served as a governor of Iloilo in 1928.
The former lawmaker married Jesusa Lacson of Negros Occidental. The couple produced seven children, one of them was Ignacio Arroyo, the father of the First Gentleman.
Despite being wealthy, Rosario was a great lover of poverty, and did much to alleviate the miseries of the poor. She was also known for her assiduous mortifications, unceasing prayers and purity of life.
Her congregation described her as someone who "personified optimism and unfaltering trust in God's loving providence and added through her unconditional self-giving, she enriched others."
She died on June 14, 1957, after serving the congregation for 32 years.
The congregation has over 250 professes sisters in the archdioceses of Capiz, Jaro, and Manila and dioceses of Bacolod, Imus, Mati, San Jose de Antique and Tagum in the Philippines; in the archdiocese of San Francisco and diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States; in the dioceses of Chalan, Kanoa and Ngong, Kenya in East Africa; and in the diocese of Rome, Italy. (FP/Sunnex)
