Sister Cecelia has spent her religious life in both teaching at various levels and in the medical field.

Sister Cecelia Wood was born in Seattle, WA. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters in 1939. Sister Cecelia earned her B.Ed from Maryknoll Teachers' College at Maryknoll, N.Y.after which she was assigned to Hawaii where she taught in elementary school. She then was assigned to Malabon, Lucena, Philippines, where she taught English, Religion and Biology.

Returning to the U.S., Sister Cecelia pursued her medical studies at both Seattle University and St. Louis University, receiving her M.D. in Research and her Ph.D. in Biology and Cancer research. Further studies for her M.D. were done in the Medical College of Pennsylvania, after which she did her internship at Grasslands Hospital in Valhalla, NY. She then obtained her license to practice medicine and surgery in internal medicine at the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens. Sister once again returned to the Philippines where she served on the faculty of the Davao Medical School. While there she served in Muslim villages and in local clinics.

In 1978, Sister Cecelia founded a Paraplegic Center for disabled youth. Later on, in 1987, she became Director and Practicing Physician at Our Lady of Victory Training Center in Davao City, where she continues to serve today.