“Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life.”
- John 6:68
These words, which S. Maria Consejo held close to her heart, became her prayer and consolation throughout her illness. With tears of surrender, she entrusted herself completely to the Lord she had served so faithfully.
Early Life and Family
S. Maria Consejo Dureza Peremne, of Mina, Pototan, Iloilo, was born on February 3, 1937—a date of special significance, marking the opening of the First Eucharistic Congress in the Philippines. She was baptized on March 19, 1937, and confirmed in May 1939. Because her birthday coincided with the feast of Nuestra Señora del Divino Consejo (Our Lady of Divine Counsel), she was named Consejo in honor of the Blessed Mother.
Her parents, Tomas Peremne and Mamerta Dureza, were described by their parish priest as “outstanding and practical Catholics.” Daily prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and the rosary shaped the rhythm of their family life. Consejo, the second of five siblings,(two sisters and 2 younger brothers) grew up in this atmosphere of faith. She memorized the basic prayers in Ilonggo and Hiligaynon She cherished her early experiences in the Church, particularly her participation in the children’s choir during Easter and the Flores de Mayo. A miraculous escape from Japanese soldiers during World War II also left her with a deep gratitude to God.
Education and Vocation
Her love for learning was nurtured early by her aunt, who taught her the “Caton or Cartilla” and Spanish alphabet when she was just seven. She completed her elementary education at Mina Elementary School, high school at Pototan High School, and earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Religion from the Pius XII Institute in Jaro, Iloilo. Later, she pursued graduate studies at the University of Santo Tomas, completing them in 1988.
Before joining religious life, S. Maria Consejo taught History and Religion at San Agustin Technical Institute in Valencia, Bukidnon, with the Jesuits, and at Dao Catholic High School under the Mill Hill Fathers. The turning point of her vocation came at age 30, after the death of her parents. While discerning her future, she providentially came across the vocation album of S. Maria Carmelita Abiera, RVM, which led her to the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary.
She was admitted to postulancy on November 20, 1968, began her novitiate on May 30, 1969, professed her first vows on May 16, 1971, and made her perpetual profession on May 24, 1979. She later celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1996 and her Golden Jubilee on August 15, 2021.
Ministry and Service
Throughout her years of service, S. Maria Consejo was assigned to various ministries as a teacher, cashier, CL Coordinator, and Theology instructor in RVM schools across the country—including SSA Ligao, SAA Santa Ana, SMC Iligan, SHC Catbalogan, W. Samar, SJC Borongan E. Samar, SHA Guagua, and SMA Yakal. She also served as CL coordinator for the Visayas Region. In 1988, she was assigned to the RVM Motherhouse, later serving at the Sacred Heart Mission Center in Tarlac, and from 1992 onward, at St. Joseph Home.
Her batchmates remembered her as quiet, reserved, and a “silent worker,” whose voice soared in song during the Mass. Even as illness began to limit her strength, she carried out her responsibilities with care and dedication. In her journal, dated August 5, 2001, she candidly share:
"When the time came that I got sick, I could not go back to the mission. I felt so helpless and depressed. Medicines helped a little, but I began to realize that my sickness was permitted by God so that I could totally surrender myself to Him and be formed as He wanted me to be. Little by little, I accepted my sickness and did the little things I could do. I feel better now, realizing that I can still serve Him by praying for others and for our Sisters in active life and apostolate."
Illness and Death
On the evening of September 14, 2025, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, S. Maria Consejo peacefully returned to the Lord. She passed away from acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, after many years of courageously bearing the cross of chronic illness, including severe obstructive sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
In another journal entry, she once reflected:
"Lord, I know you are working through my aging. I believe that in the darkness of my aging moments, you are bringing light to others. I believe that through my suffering, you are building your Kingdom and giving new life to others."
Her prayer became her reality. Through her quiet suffering, S. Maria Consejo became a light for all who knew her, teaching us how to embrace life’s challenges with grace, and how faith can transform personal darkness into a source of hope for others.
Thank you, S. Maria Consejo, for sharing your life, your faith, and your example of surrender. Now that you have completed your earthly pilgrimage, may the Lord, whom you loved and longed for, welcome you home to the eternal joy of His Kingdom.