Mother Rosario: Foundress of the Dominican Sisters of Molo

She was a scion of affluence. The only daughter of a very wealthy couple Don Ignacio Arroyo and Doña Maria Pidal, was born on February 17, 1884 in Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines. She has four brothers, two died in infancy. She was baptized at Sta. Ana church in Molo on February 20, 1884 by Fr. Agapito Buenaflor and was named Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo.

She joined the religious life in the Beaterio de Sta. Catalina in Manila and made her profession on January 3, 1914. After her profession she taught at the Beaterio de Sta. Catalina in Manila and later in Lingayen, Pangasinan. She distinguished herself by a solid piety, love of prayer, life of poverty and strict religious observance. Meanwhile, the last American Bishop of Jaro, the Most Rev. James McCloskey, D.D. made proper preparation for the new foundation the "Beaterio del Sto. Rosario" in Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines. Mother Rosario accompanied by two other Sisters from Sta. Catalina were pioneers of the foundation.

Despite her family background, she was a great lover of poverty and did much to alleviate the miseries of the poor, materially and spiritually. She was well known for her unceasing prayer, purity of life and strict religious observance. She was strict in discipline but only because she herself lived it. During the first General Chapter in 1953 she was elected first Superior General of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines (commonly known as Beaterio de Molo).

She died on June 14, 1957. Her remains was exhumed last July 23, 1982 and was transferred to a place in the Dominican Sisters' Motherhouse garden. Last October 7, 2008 feast of the Holy Rosary her remains was transferred to the Motherhouse chapel where it is more accessible to the public to visit and pray. It was attended by three Bishops, 18 priests, about 200 members of the Dominican Laity, several relatives of Mother Rosario, Sisters from the different religious congregations and hundreds of people.

The congregation of the Dominican Sisters has already sent a petition to Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro, to process her cause for beatification and eventually for canonization.

You are invited to visit Mother Rosario in her new place in the Dominican Sisters Chapel in Molo.

Please send your petitions and testimonies of favors received to:
Mother Rosario Arroyo Commission (MRAC)
c/o Sr. Visitacion Alecto, OP – Chairperson
Dominican Sisters' Motherhouse
Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines