We, the Council for Health and Development, the national organization of CBHPs, extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of +Sister Mary Celine P. Cajanding, RGS (Marcelina Punzalan Cajanding) and the Religious of the Good Shepherd community.

Sister Celine was an exemplary missionary and advocate of people’s health. As a guiding light with the Rural Missionaries Health Team, she would patiently sit with staff and community leaders to discuss plans and cull lessons on barrio organizing, skills training and services.

She was a pioneering and influential figure in conceptualizing and initiating community-based health programs all over Mindanao, developing thousands of community health workers. No task was too small or too daunting for Sister Celine. With her gentle demeanor and ready smile, lay co-workers considered her among the RMP’s task-oriented beauties. But she could be gutsy and gritty when circumstances called for it.

We will surely miss her and cherish poignant memories of working with her. We honor her selfless and lifelong dedication to the cause of societal change and justice for the poor and marginalized.