“While in Lake Sebu, she built a crude bamboo infirmary and treated T’bolis, Manobos, Muslims, B’laans, and other hill folk from nearby mountains.

“Her faith led her to make do with whatever she could use, even substituting coconut water for dextrose.

“She also trained tribesmen and women who never had access to education, to serve as her “barefoot” doctors by providing medical aid to those in need…”

On Sister Eva Maamo, nun & surgeon, recipient of The Outstanding Filipino Award, 2003

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I have the highest regard for missionary workers of all faiths, because of the extraordinary personal sacrifices they make, with their time, energy, intelligence, faith, and compassion, in order to serve and care for the most marginalized and most ignored of our fellow human beings. Their vocation primarily calls them to evangelize and heal people’s souls, but because these missionaries have such big and generous hearts, they end up doing so much work on practical issues as well— food, shelter, medicine, and development of sustainable livelihoods.

It is unfortunate that some groups of Catholic nuns actually receive criticism from the Vatican for being “too busy” with charity work or being “not vocal enough in opposing gay marriage / reproductive health education”.