CARMELITA PEREZ

Filipina Carmelita is Medical Mission Sisters’ Society Coordinator. The eldest of 9 children, she grew up in a devout Catholic family. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a major in Mathematics, and a Master’s degree in Religious Studies, with a major in Women and Religion. She joined Medical Mission Sisters in 1973, at age 29, and has held many leadership positions. Carmelita spent her first 9 years of mission in Bongao in the Philippines where she was an Administrator at our hospital and a community health worker. As a member of the Formation Team, she lived mission together with young MMS in a predominantly Muslim culture, was a Sector Assembly representative, a local community coordinator and a member of the Vocation Promotion team. It was in Bongao that Carmelita worked with Muslims for the first time, paving the way for future ecumenical work.

In 1986, Carmelita moved to Quezon City , where worked in a parish and served as District Treasurer. She was elected to a term as Sector Coordinator for MMS in East Asia and also served as co-coordinator of the Women and Gender Commission of the Association of Women and Men Congregations. Carmelita has been a faculty member and chair of the M.A. Program in Women and Religion at a formation and theological school that draws students from many countries in Asia and the Pacific. In the 90’s, she was engaged in the ministry of spiritual direction. A member of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians, she was also active in our MMS Spirituality Team and as a member of our General Finance Team. In 1999, she was elected District Coordinator for the Philippines .

Now in London , Carmelita is in service to Medical Mission Sisters worldwide. Her dream is “That we can witness to the fact that there are different ways of worshipping and living together as people of God. We have to show people what it means to move across boundaries. I believe this is our call to pioneer in new ways today."