‘Full-Blooded Dominican’ Benefactor Has Ties to Order Stretching from Philippines to Adrian
Maria A. Naguit describes herself as "a full-blooded Dominican" as she reflects on connections with Dominicans from her early days in the Philippines to her present life in Adrian, Michigan.
Maria grew up in Manila and was raised in a devout Catholic family devoted to the Holy Family. She was taught by Dominican Friars from Spain from kindergarten through her undergraduate work in physical therapy at the University of Santo Tomás. She recently celebrated her Silver Jubilee as a member of the University's Class of Medicine.
Maria and her husband, Dr. Cornelio L. Naguit, both family practice physicians, came to the Toledo area in 1990, where Cornelio started practicing at Family Medical Center. "The recruiter took me to my first choice – Holy Family Hospital," Maria recalled.
The Naguit family came to the Adrian area in 1997 and sent their son Miguel to St. Joseph Academy. They also began to attend Mass on the Motherhouse Campus and continue to regularly celebrate the Mass with Sisters at St. Catherine Chapel.
Maria has been connected professionally with the Sisters since she opened Holy Family Clinic in 2003. "It was really a ministry that to me was sacred, treating nuns," she said. "Jesus is a healer. For me to be able to be a healer like him, that's a privilege." Sadly, because of possible exposure to COVID-19, Maria closed the clinic in March 2020.
However, Maria continues to have a close connection with the Adrian Dominican Sisters, particularly to members of the Congregation's Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter based in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines, north of Manila. Maria first connected with the late Sister Zenaida Nacpil, OP, then Chapter Prioress of the Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter, when she traveled to Adrian. Maria ministered to Sister Zenaida when she was ill in Adrian, bringing her Filipino food to give her a sense of comfort and home. Maria and Cornelio continue to offer hospitality to Sisters from the Remedies Chapter when they visit Adrian.
Whether attending to Sisters' medical needs, offering them hospitality, or generously providing financial resources, Maria and Cornelio serve the Sisters out of a sense of "gratitude for all the graces and blessings in our lives," Maria said. "We see how the Dominicans are helping other people – especially now that there's a Philippines connection ... It's gratitude for all the blessings God has given us and the way the Dominicans are helping other people."
