Alumna in Focus: Sr. Maitel Roceles, r.a. (High School 1985)
When you sit down with Sister Maitel Roceles, r.a., it doesn’t feel like an interview—it feels like prayer. Her words carry both the wisdom of a woman, who has spent 31 years in religious life and the joy of someone celebrating her Ruby Jubilee, 40 years after graduating from Assumption. Two journeys, flowing side by side—one rooted in enduring friendships that have walked with her since high school, and the other in a lifelong “yes” to God. In this conversation with Assumpta, Sister Maitel reflects on how these streams of grace have shaped her: from youthful immersions that opened her heart, to the steady rhythm of mission and community, to the joy of friendships that continue to sustain her. What emerges is more than a story; it’s a retreat in itself, drawing us closer to God’s love through her witness of faith.
✨ Come and read through the conversation—you just might find echoes of your own journey within hers.
Assumpta: How are you, Sr. Maitel? What keeps you busy these days?
Sr. Maitel: I currently serve as the Provincial Econome—essentially the treasurer—for our Asia Pacific Province. I help manage finances and support our Sisters in whatever they need. Though the work is steady, I find joy in the daily rhythm of service, prayer, and life with my Emmaus community. Each day is a gift, woven with purpose and grace.
Assumpta: There is a specific photo from 1994—your First Vows in Assumption San Lorenzo—captures such a pivotal moment. What do you remember most from that day?
Sr. Maitel: What I remember most is my wholehearted “yes” to God. At that moment, I was echoing the words of St. Marie Eugenie: “I want to give, not lend myself to Jesus Christ.” It was not just a vow—it was the surrender of my entire life. I knew I was not perfect, yet I felt deeply held by His love, received fully as His own.
Assumpta: Now that it’s been 31 years since your First Vows, how has your sense of “calling” evolved over time?
Sr. Maitel: Over these 31 years, the GIVING OF SELF has become a quiet, steady unfolding—not always smooth but always full of grace! I have learned (and still continue to learn) to offer with simplicity and trust, especially in my different assignments; to love more freely and deeply in my different relationships with my Sisters, my family, our lay partners, and even strangers; and to listen and respond with a discerning heart to the mission each day …whatever the invitation may be self-giving has slowly become a rhythm of life, woven through community, mission, and grace.
Assumpta: If you could speak to the young woman in that photo now, what would you tell her?
Sr. Maitel: I’d be telling her: All the sacrifices and giving up of your personal dreams and plans to respond to the God who whispered to you, “Maitel, mahal na mahal na mahal kita!” was the best decision you made in your entire life!
Assumpta: Your Ruby Jubilee Year and 31st year in religious life are happening side by side—how does it feel to reflect on these two life chapters together?
Sr. Maitel: It feels like two streams flowing into one vast ocean—one stream carries the joy of enduring friendships from high school, companions who have walked with me through so many milestones; the other stream carries the grace of my relationship with God, to whom I gave my yes 31 years ago. Together, they form a deep current of gratitude—a celebration of both human connection and divine calling, woven through time.
Assumpta: What aspects of your high school experience in Assumption do you carry with you most in your vocation today?
Sr. Maitel: The immersions! Throughout high school, immersion experiences were a constant rhythm in our formation. In second year, our class visited San Simon and engaged with the second-year students of Assumpta Technical High School. The following summer, I volunteered for a two-week immersion in the sitios of Assumption Antipolo. After third year, I signed up for another two-week immersion in Bo. Obrero, Iloilo. In fourth year, we spent two weeks with the students of St. Martin School in Baguio. And the summer after graduation, I joined the AMA two-week immersion in Oton, Iloilo. Each school year offered opportunities to step out of our comfort zones and encounter parts of the world often hidden from view. These experiences opened my eyes—not just to the realities of others, but to something within myself. I discovered a joy that was absent in the ordinary routines of daily life. I joined these immersions thinking I was going to give to others, but in the end, it was I who received—far more than I could have imagined. It was during these immersions, and especially in my AMA year in Sibalom, Antique, that the words of St. Marie Eugenie struck me: “I want to give, not lend myself to Jesus Christ.” I realized I didn’t want my self-giving to be confined to scheduled moments or temporary commitments. That was when I began discerning a religious life in the Assumption—a life where giving would become a way of being.
Assumpta: Looking back, what moments in your religious life surprised you the most—either with joy, challenge, or grace?
Sr. Maitel: I’ve always considered religious life a mystery. When I said yes to this vocation, I truly didn’t know what lay ahead—And in many ways, I still don’t. That’s why I would say: everything has been—and continues to be—a surprise. From the communities I’ve been assigned to, to the ministries entrusted to me, each experience has carried its own unexpected joys and challenges. Some surprises came in the form of people—learning to live and work with those whose personalities or ways have stretched my patience and compassion. Others came through ministry—being asked to do things I never imagined myself doing, and sometimes didn’t particularly enjoy. Yet even in those moments, something shifted. What began as discomfort or resistance often transformed into grace… and eventually, gift. I’ve come to see that the surprises of religious life aren’t random— they’re invitations. Invitations to grow, to surrender, to trust, and to discover that grace is not just present in the joyful and easy moments, but especially in the ones that challenge and stretch us. That’s the mystery I continue to live into.
Assumpta: You’ve said you’re glad to have others as part of your journey. Who or what communities have helped sustain you through the years?
Sr. Maitel: Community life has always been an important anchor in my religious journey. Like any family, each community I’ve lived with has had its own joys and challenges. Some were more difficult, others more lighthearted—but all were deeply formative. I’ve loved each one, not because they were perfect, but because they offered grace in their own way. Whether through shared prayer, daily rhythms, or moments of honest struggle, each community has helped sustain and shape me in this life of faith.
Assumpta: What prayer, scripture, a saying from SME or personal mantra helps center you, especially in moments of doubt or difficulty?
Sr. Maitel: Well, aside from “I want to give not lend myself to Jesus Christ,” (SME), it is the word engraved in my ring, “Remain in My love.” (Jn 15:9)
Assumpta: As you look ahead, what do you still hope to give, discover, or grow into in this next chapter of your mission?
Sr. Maitel: I hope to continue giving—fully, freely, and faithfully—until there is nothing more left to give. It is in the act of giving that I continue to discover new depths within myself and new dimensions of grace around me. Each offering, whether welcomed or hidden, becomes a path to growth. I trust that as long as I keep giving, I will keep unfolding—into who I am called to be.
