Picture this A small group of women five to be exact arrive in Manila. They are the Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato. Their journey from Tutzing Germany was long. Their mission was clear to spread the faith of Jesus Christ. They arrived on September 14 1906. That’s the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross a significant date indeed.
The Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato weren’t just any missionaries. They faced a unique challenge. The Philippines was recovering from a war with Spain. Many Spanish priests and religious had left. The Church needed help urgently. The sisters quickly established a small school. It started with just six girls and two boys. They then opened a free school for fifty more children.
The Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato’s initial school would become St Scholastica’s College. This wasn’t just any school. It became a beacon of faith and education. It grew rapidly. Their small house in Tondo became too small. They found new premises former army barracks on San Marcelino Street. Even these were eventually insufficient. They then moved to a 3.5-hectare swampy land in Singalong. The sisters cleared the land themselves planting a school and a Priory house. It wasn’t easy. They faced challenges like thickets and snakes.
World War II brought new hardships. The Japanese occupied Manila. St Scholastica’s became Japanese property. Parts of it even functioned as a hospital. The sisters provided refuge for people seeking safety. Then on February 13 1945 disaster struck. An incendiary bomb destroyed the buildings. Miraculously all the sisters survived.
Undeterred the Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato rebuilt St Scholastica’s. More sisters arrived from Tutzing. Filipina women also joined their ranks. St Scholastica’s grew and became famous for its Music Education and Women’s Studies programs. Its Conservatory trained many pianists and music teachers. It even offered scholarships to talented students. It became a pioneer in Women’s Studies not just in the Philippines but across Asia.
Today the Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato continue their work. They remain true to their four-pronged mission which includes social work non-institutional apostolates direct missionary work and sending Filipina sisters to foreign missions. They embody a spirit of love and reparation. They show the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to everyone they serve. Their legacy continues to inspire. They are a testament to faith perseverance and unwavering devotion. The Missionary Sisters of Sacro Costato truly stand as a symbol of hope and service in Manila.