By Sr. Anna Maria Parenzan
Sr. M. Consolata Manding, FSP, was an authentic Pauline apostle who spent her life promoting the culture and development of communication in its various aspects in collaboration with communication professionals and ecclesial organizations. She continuously searched for new ways to proclaim the Gospel in a constantly changing world.
She entered the congregation at the house in Pasay City on July 1, 1963. She made her novitiate in Lipa and pronounced her first vows on June 30, 1968. After a few years in typography, she devoted herself to studying the phenomenon of television. She then worked in the communications centers of the Dioceses of Manila and Davao. Later, while in Cebu, she wrote and produced daily radio programs.
Sr. Consolata was then called to serve as the provincial superior from 1988 to 1991, taking on all the spiritual and organizational responsibilities of the office. She wrote to the then Superior General, Sr. Maria Cevolani: “Great responsibilities are now placed on my shoulders. I hope and pray to carry out this service to my sisters, to the Congregation, to the Church, and God with humility and simplicity of heart.” At the end of her mandate, Sr. Consolata continued to dedicate herself to television production in Cebu. There, she realized the need for better preparation to respond to the significant challenges created by the world of communication. Thus, in 1994, she obtained a master’s degree in development management, which she applied to her assignment as the province’s general production coordinator and provincial councilor for the apostolate. In 2002, she obtained a doctorate in communication from the University of the Philippines at Diliman, with a thesis on Toward Building a Model Media Literacy Curriculum. In the same year, she received permission to begin the Pauline Institute of Communication for Asia (PICA), a communication and media education for evangelization pastoral training center that offers a master’s degree program and certificate in Media Literacy Education to teachers, pastoral workers, and seminarians. Soon, Sr. Consolata became known and appreciated throughout the country and on an international level. She was often invited to give lectures and seminars on various topics, including the role of the media in interreligious dialogue and peacemaking. To promote the extension of the media literacy program in the most populous dioceses, she received funding from SIGNIS (the World Catholic Association for Communication), the CEI, and the Hilton Fund for Sisters. Despite the official recognition, Sr. Consolata was a simple, kind, and loving person who remembered every sister’s birthday with a small gift.
In 2019, while at the height of her activity, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which soon spread to the lungs. Three days ago, she was hospitalized due to pneumonia and difficulty breathing. The biblical expression that guided her life and that she chose for the prayer card for her 25th jubilee of profession is particularly significant: “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever, with my mouth I will make known his faithfulness …” (cf. Ps 89.) Sr. M. Consolata sang and communicated this love with all her heart and with all the languages of communication. Now, with the Father, she will continue to pray for all communicators so they will speak of the beauty and love of God.