Sr. Runita Galve Borja elected Councilor for Youth Ministry

Rome (Italy). Sr. Runita Galve Borja, is the Councilor for Youth Ministry of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Sr. Runita Galve Borja was born in 1966 in Manila, Philippines, and has been an FMA since May 23, 1992. She was  an Animator in various formal and non-formal educational environments and Provincial Coordinator for Youth Ministry. She has a Masters in Theology and Youth Ministry. From 2004 to 2014, she was a Collaborator in the Youth Ministry Sector.

Sr. Runita G. Borja was born on 5 June  1966 in Manila, Philippines. She grew up in an environment permeated by the Salesian spirit, the FMA Youth Center and the Salesian Parish. She was an active Oratorian, animator of youth groups, catechist, and enthusiastically participated in the life of the parish. Both of her parents were Salesian Cooperators. She is the eldest, and has a sister and three brothers, two of whom are Salesian priests.

She graduated in accounting from the Pontifical and Royal Santo Tomas University in Manila. She was already working as a licensed accountant when she decided to enter the Institute in 1988. She made her first profession on 23 May  1992. She spent the first 9 years of religious life in the Philippine province as an assistant in the shelter for girls/ street youth, religion teacher, accountant, and Provincial Coordinator of Youth Ministry. She has a Masters in Theological Studies from the Jesuit school, Ateneo of Manila University.

In 2001, she was sent to the Generalate in Rome for her studies and completed her Masters in Youth Ministry at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS). From 2004 to 2014, she actively collaborated in the Youth Ministry Sector of the FMA Institute, giving her contribution of reflection and animation in many provinces.

Immediately after her service in the Generalate, Mother Yvonne sent her as a missionary to the Cambodia-Myanmar Province, where she remained only for a few months before receiving another mission from the “God of surprises.” In the first week of February 2015, she was appointed by Mother, with the consent of her Council in accordance with art. 134 c of the Constitutions concerning the “replacement, until the next Chapter, of a General Councilor who is absent or is permanently prevented from attending her office,” as General Councilor for Youth Ministry.

Sr. Runita, who has always been ready to do God’s will, said her “Yes” to God’s plan expressed in the voice of the chapter assembly, abandoning herself totally to the wisdom and goodness of God, with her eyes fixed on Jesus, with full confidence in the presence of Mary.

In the XXIV General Chapter, on 7 October 2021, she was elected Councilor for Youth Ministry.