Anything under the sun
Mother Rosario (4)
Foundation of the Congregation
Early in their married life, Don Ignacio and Doña Maria wanted to give part of their wealth to support a religious foundation. The Most Rev. James McCloskey, the last American Bishop of Jaro, was aware of this intention. He made proper preparation for the foundation of the Beaterio del Santisimo Rosario in Molo, Iloilo City. On July 24, 1925 the Bishop obtained the necessary permission from the Holy See. Through his intervention, the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena allowed Mother Rosario Arroyo and two other Sisters to pioneer the foundation. They left for Iloilo on February 18, 1927.
Don Ignacio and Doña Maria gave up their residence in favor of the Sisters. A free school was built nearby. Soon after, many homeless girls came into the door of the convent, were taken in, cared for, and educated. Many of them joined later the Congregation.
During World War II, Mother Rosario was advised by the family, relatives and friends to send home the sisters and the girls. She refused telling them, “no, we live together and if we die, we die together.” So, they evacuated to Tigbauan but later returned to the Motherhouse at Molo.
While there, the Japanese forced the Sisters to leave the Motherhouse which was converted into their garrison. The Sisters and their ward took refuge in Molo church. On March 10, 1945, the Motherhouse and the charity school were destroyed by American bombs. Then the church itself was also bombed and some sisters went out of the sacristy and saw American soldiers who stopped firing.
After the war, the rebuilding of the convent became the priority of the Sisters. When they had settled down from the chaos of rebuilding, Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco, successor of Bishop McCloskey, asked Mother Rosario to let the Sisters teach in schools particularly in parishes. The Sisters were then sent to colleges to earn their teaching degrees.
During the First General Chapter on January 3-6, 1953, Mother Rosario was elected as Superior General. She stayed in office until her death on June 14, 1957.