In the quiet mountains of Compostela, Davao de Oro, two women religious—Sr. Erlinda D. Tumulak and Sr. Ruby Eden—live out a mission that is both radical and tender: to bring Christ to the forgotten, and bread to the hungry.
Their home, Purok 16-A Sitio Kilabot, is surrounded by thick forests, cornfields, and trails that turn to rivers of mud during the rainy season. Here, many families face heartbreaking choices—whether to attend Mass or earn enough to eat. Hunger is not just physical; it’s spiritual. And the Sisters are there to feed both.
🌾 A Mission Rooted in Presence
The Sisters belong to the Handmaids of the Holy Spirit, an institute founded in Italy in 1923 by Mother Giuditta Martelli. Their charism is simple yet profound: to walk with the poor, sustain parish life, and accompany children in their journey of faith.
In Compostela, that means riding habal-habal motorcycles through treacherous terrain, sharing meals with Lumad and Mandaya families, and offering pastoral care in a place where daily Mass is not possible and communication is limited to Sundays at the parish church.
“There are still many people here who do not truly know God,” Sr. Erlinda shares. “But we are here to be His presence.”
💔 The Cost of Simplicity
Agriculture is the main livelihood, but farmers are exploited—forced to sell their harvests for a fraction of their worth. Some resort to cutting logs just to trade for rice. Despite this, the people celebrate Catholic feasts and processions with deep devotion, even in poverty.
The Sisters live among them, not above them. They collect water from springs, rely on solar panels for light, and serve as spiritual mothers in a place where hospitals are distant and emergencies are dire.
✝️ A Living Reflection of Christ
Though far from the parish church, Sr. Erlinda and Sr. Ruby embody the role of alter Christus—a living reflection of Christ. Their presence reminds the people that God has not forgotten them. That holiness is not reserved for cathedrals, but thrives in muddy trails and humble homes.
Their mission is not flashy. It is faithful. And in a world that often overlooks the poor, they choose to see, serve, and stay.
This reflection is adapted from reporting by Eleanna Guglielmi for Vatican News, October 2025.
