Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary

The Maryknoll CIC welcomed its new directress, Sr. Catherine Encarnacion, on June 4, 2009.  Sr. Cathy succeeds Sr. Teresa Dagdag, who held the center’s reins from January, 2006 and for three years thereafter.  

Sr. Cathy assumed duty in February of this year with a background in education, ecology, and spirituality, a fitting mix for the directorship of the Maryknoll Sisters’ Center for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation.  This Baguio mission is ably assisted by Sr. Margarita Jamias, MM, and the entire staff of the center.  

Sr. Cathy is a Maryknoll graduate (AB Child Development Education’88) who taught in the grade school division of her alma mater from the time she graduated until 1993.  While teaching, she also worked on her masters in Educational Psychology at the U.P. Diliman.

From 1993 to 1995, she worked with the Miriam Environmental Office while she studied courses in Environmental Education.  It was during this period that she entered the Maryknoll Sisters’ pre-candidacy program.  In 1996, Sr. Cathy headed for New York to become a full-fledged Maryknoll Sister.

Three years after, she was assigned to a Maryknoll-supported rainforest mission in Darien, Panama, where she lent her services until she had to return to the Philippines, arriving in December 30, 2006, to care for her mother, who died two weeks after she arrived.  She then requested to be assigned to the Philippines so that she can take care of her father.  

Her request granted, Sr. Cathy turned to teaching Theology, facilitating retreats, recollections, and workshops at Miriam, before being assigned to direct the Baguio mission.

The turnover ceremony that welcomed her was from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., a warm gathering of Maryknoll sisters, trustees, staff, and friends.  A ritual celebrating the elements of fire, air, water, and earth graced the occasion, with ritual mistress Betty Tumbaga calling forth their blessings upon and oneness with the programs and services of the CIC.