A Life of Purpose
Every journey in life has a purpose, and every purpose carries a deeper meaning. Pablo Picasso once said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift, and the purpose of life is to give it away.” Such was the life journey of S. Maria Fe Bautista, RVM - she found her gift in God and generously gave it in service to others.
Early Life and Education
Born on June 26, 1945, to Angel Bautista and Anacleta Aquino, S. Maria Fe was the eighth child in a family of seven girls and three boys. She was baptized and confirmed in the same year, August 12, 1945, at Parroquia del Espíritu Santo, where her parents were also married. She received her First Communion at the age of seven.
At less than a year old, she was entrusted to the care of her aunt, with whom she spent eight formative years of her childhood until she returned to Manila upon her aunt’s passing. She completed her primary education at Bacoor Elementary School, Cavite, and pursued her intermediate and high school studies at Colegio de Santa Rosa, Makati. Later, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from the University of Santo Tomas, followed by typing courses at the Underwood Business Institute, which led her to work as a secretary to the Vice President of Keeps Marketing Corporation.
When she left the company, she briefly worked at the Jesuit Retreat Promotion Office, where her love for retreat ministry began to take root, especially under the guidance of Fr. Charles Wolfe, SJ.
The Call to Vocation
The seed of her vocation was sown during a retreat with Fr. Raymond Gough, SJ. Though she initially explored other pursuits, her heart always found greater joy in the company of religious Sisters and in the atmosphere of prayer. An article about the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), lent to her by S. Maria Lutgarda Raagas, RVM, stirred her curiosity. To her surprise, her spiritual director, Fr. Paul Limgenco, SJ, suggested the very same congregation.
She entered the RVM Postulancy on May 31, 1971, and the Novitiate on November 20, 1971. She made her First Profession on February 2, 1974, and her Perpetual Profession on March 25, 1981. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1999 and her Golden Jubilee in 2024.
A Life of Service
For 17 years, S. Maria Fe served in the education ministry as a Christian Living teacher and Guidance Coordinator in various RVM schools: Notre Dame of Kidapawan, St. Mary’s Academy of Guagua, SMA San Nicolas, Christ the King College in Gingoog City, SMA Dalaguete, St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan, Immaculate Conception College in Boac, Marinduque, San Isidro School in Tanay, Rizal, and Lourdes College in Cagayan de Oro.
From 1994 to 2023, her heart found its deepest fulfillment in the retreat ministry, where she spent nearly three decades as retreat directress, local superior, and econome in
communities such as Betania Retreat House (Cebu), Regional House (Southern
Mindanao), Malasag (Cagayan de Oro), Pansol, (Laguna) Tagaytay, Quezon City, and St. Joseph Home. She also honed her skills in retreat direction and counseling, both locally and abroad, including experiences in Canada, the United States, Tokyo, and Rome, where she ministered especially to overseas Filipino workers.
This path began in the 1990s, when she joined S. Maria Corazon Ricafrente and S. Maria Eulalia Banawis on a program for retreat directors, the Retreat and Recollection Facilitating Seminar (RFS).
A Legacy of Faith
As a retreat directress, S. Maria Fe was known for her warmth, compassionate listening, and prayerful guidance. She journeyed with countless individuals in their search for God, leaving behind footprints of faith, hope, and love.
S. Maria Fe’s life reminds us that true purpose lies not only in what we accomplish, but in how we touch the lives of others. Her selfless dedication and profound spirituality were her greatest gifts—freely and lovingly shared. May her legacy live on in the hearts of all those she guided, a reflection of a life faithfully and beautifully lived in service of God.
Final Years and Farewell
In her final years, she resided at St. Joseph Home beginning in 2019, where she received constant medical care. She passed away on September 13, 2025, at 3:01 a.m. Her death was due to acute respiratory failure, a complication of several long-standing conditions, including stage IV breast cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.
Goodbye, S. Marife! Your earthly journey has ended, but you have now entered a life without end. In this new beginning, there is no pain, no struggle, no hospital visits, and no worries. You have passed through the doorway to glory and are now one with Jesus in eternal life. We continue to pray for you. Please pray for us, too.