Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be attending hundreds of Assumptionistas from all over the world for the canonization of the Assumption College founder Sister Marie-Eugenie of Jesus. Sister Marie-Eugenie , who was beatified by Pope Paul VI on Feb. 9, 1975, will be canonized on June 3, 2007 at St. Peter's Square in Rome. Ma. Lourdes Herrera, Assumption Alumni Philippines President (AAA), said the organization had invited President Arroyo to join the celebration for Marie-Eugenie's sainthood, especially because the miracle that paved the way for her canonization, the miracle healing on a Filipina girl named Maria Carmela "Risa" Bondoc (born 1995) thru the intercession of the Assumption founder, occurred in a Filipino family. (Assumption have schools in 34 countries but it was the miracle in the Philippines that was instrumental in her canonization). 3 year-old Risa cannot walk due to a malfunction on her brain. Carmen, an assumption graduate, brought her to the Assumption Convent in Paris and laid her on top of Marie Eugenie's tomb and prayed the child would be healed. In 2006, her recovery was considered a miracle by the Extraordinary Theological Commission in Rome and "recognized" a a true miracle. Today, Risa is a student at an Assumption Convent.
Herrera declared that Ms. Arroyo is an "Assumption daugther all the way." She studied at Assumption San Lorenzo Village, Makati City from kindergarten to college, graduating with honors and a degree in economics in 1968. She also taught at the college's economics department from 1984 to 1987.
The canonization of Marie-Eugenie should encourage Assumption graduates to return to the teachings of their founder which anchored on justice, respect for creation, peace, and solidarity. Other Assumption graduates include former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, Leading Senatorial Candidate Loren Legarda, Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, and Philippine Daily Inquirer chair Marixi Rufino Prieto and Inquirer President Alexandra Prieto Romualdez.
Coming from a well to do and educated family, Anne Eugenie Milleret was born in Metz, France on August 25, 1817. At age 19, she dedicated her life to the Church. When she turned 22, she founded the Congregation of the Religious of the Assumption to educate women to live an authentic Christian life and transform society. In 1892, with the help of Spain's Queen Regent Maria Christina, Marie-Eugenie's close friend Sister Celestine brought the order to the Philippines. Celestine built a school for female teachers, the Escuela Normal para las Mujeres - the first Assumption school in Asia. The school was closed in 1898, the same year Marie-Eugenie died. In 1904, on the request of Pope Pius X, the Assumption sisters returned to the Philippines and opened schools for elementary and secondary levels in Herran, Manila and later opened schools in other parts of the country. Currently, there are 15 schools nationwide with 50,000 graduates.
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