Women have long fought for their space to be recognized in the different aspects of society. They have stepped out of their homes and chosen the careers they want to pursue. More than their employment and purpose, others find fulfillment through answering the call of vocation.
As a vocation and career development institution, the Holy Cross of Davao College has been considered a home by Sr. Maria Rosa D. Cruza, CM or “Sr. Marose, CM” as she is fondly called. As an empowered woman, she associated her growth in her vocation and mission as an educator and formator with the Gospel’s principles, animated by the core values of HCDC.
“She acts out with charity her conviction guided by Truth. She speaks with concern. She is a testimony of her engagement. An attitude of an empowered woman is God-centered, open-minded, and service-oriented,” she emphasized.
Being an agent of social transformation, she has been among the instruments of God as a counsel to the students in their spiritual growth at HCDC. She associates her strength in commitment and grit to her life lessons with her mother and elders whom she grew up with, nurtured by love, compassion, and discipline: a common milieu shared between her family upbringing and now at HCDC academic community.
According to her, “HCDC is a home of people who love and deeply care for one another intending to hone one’s spirit not only on academic excellence, but much more so on championing the art of Community – Service engagements propelled by charity, humility, compassion and communion. Indeed, to grow as a synodal community is a joy!”
When asked to talk about how HCDC has become her home in her mission as an educator and formator, “HCDC is a family for me. I’ve seen and felt the presence of the Lord working so powerfully in all its corners and in each member of the HCDC family: be they students, employees, administrators, parents or alumni working together with respect of the varying paces of each one towards holiness and fullness of life.”, Sr. Marose responded.
She underscored that women play a crucial role in society. More often than not, they make the community life vibrant and meaningful with the use of their different capacities and giftedness that God has given them. “Ma-politika man, ma-religious man, or ma-simbahan man, kahit anumang sektor sa lipunan, ang isang babaeng may kapangyarihan, means empowered by Jesus, ay laging maaasahan, matatag at determinado, tinitiyak na anumang gawaing ibigay sa kanya ay makakamit sa katuparan nito. Siya ay nakatuon sa komunidad upang mapabuti ang buhay ng pamilya at lipunan. She is a leader by example: animated and animating. Her authority comes from her credibility. Simply put, there is consistency between her words and actions.”, she said.
As a flashback, Sr. Marose began her journey at HCDC as one of the campus ministers in 2017. Being a Carmelite Missionary, she embodied the principle of love and service in all her endeavors as an expression of her vocation and mission in the institution. Years after her service in HCDC, the pandemic exploded. Sr. Marose was sent out on a ‘Mision Ad Gentes’ in Latin American soil, particularly in Peru, by her Congregation to respond to the call of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to serve those in the peripheries.
After four long years in the mission outside the country, Sr. Marose came back home to the Philippines and was to HCDC once again when the global pandemic settled down. She felt home again. As a woman, she affirmed that struggles never stopped her from overcoming what she encountered. With prayers and a strong faith, she remained resilient in her decisions and perspective on life.
For years, she has championed empowering the spiritual life of others. As a woman endowed with credibility and authority, she associates her empowerment with HCDC whom she is grateful for.
“HCDC honed my capacity of authority. Everybody is equal, but your position must invite you to become a witness of life. I am so happy with HCDC. Every day for me is a challenge to better life witnessing the different positions of life,” Sr. Marose said, emphasizing that her vocation was grounded on the principles and values of HCDC.
For Sr. Marose, God has allowed her to develop her relationships to the people around her, especially on her team in the campus ministry work.
She hopes that women find fulfillment in their work and be closer to Jesus and Mary as their inspiration to be confident and be empowered. After all, an empowered woman is not only based on her skills but also on her mindset, principles, values, and, most importantly, her commitment to be a person who is God-centered, open-minded, and service-oriented.