City officials recently honored Sister Cosmedin R. Gorospe alias Sister Mary Vitalis R. Gorospe as a centenarian of the city.
Under Resolution No. 728, series of 2023, city legislators stated that in 2019, while she was working inside the convent, she fell on her back causing her to be in a coma.
She is lovingly and tenderly cared for by her fellow sisters and caregivers. Currently, inner joy and peace still radiates in her face.
Sister Mary Vitalis R. Gorospe was born on December 12, 1923 and raised in Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur which she earlier described as an obscure little town.
The city’s centenarian was baptized and registered as Cosmiden R. Gorospe but after entering the Good Shepherd congregation, she adopted the name Sister Mary Vitalis R. Gorospe.
Her parents had a deep Catholic faith, their family being active in church where she also met foreign missionaries. Her brother is a priest in the Society of Jesus.
On the other hand, her other brother is a lawyer who lives with his family in the United States of America.
She initially wanted to be a nurse and did not want to enter the consecrated life but there were many challenges that she went through before she realized God’s calling. It was then when she took her vows as a nun that she strongly reaffirmed to herself that she was meant for a higher calling.
On September 8, 1995, sister Mary Vitalis was finally a prophesied sister. For 20 years, she taught groups of mothers and children in their residences and schools in Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces.
During martial law, she was challenged to spread her ministry to other provinces like the Cagayan Valley and eventually the Cordillera region. It was a great risk given that she had a medical condition but indeed, the Holy Spirit was at work and she was successful in her tasks.
Despite her age and health, she accepted a voluntary mission in Kenya, Africa. She ministered to her fellow sisters, poor families, and out-of-school girls. There were problems that she encountered like language barriers but despite all those, it brought her fulfillment just seeing the smiles on peoples’ faces.
The council stipulated that the city’s centenarian will be awarded the privileges under Ordinance No. 45, series of 2013 as amended by Ordinance No. 53, series of 2016 and further amended by Ordinance No. 84, series of 2019 as amended by Ordinance No. 10, series of 2022. By Dexter A. See
