RGS Centennial coffee table book <br>launched on March 19

100 Years in the Philippines, the coffee table book of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, was launched on March 19, 2013, the feast of St. Joseph.

Good Shepherd Sisters representing all the apostolic and contemplative communities in the country, mission partners, families, benefactors and friends, came to the Good Shepherd Convent in Quezon City. Originally, the venue was the Christine Hall at the Provincialate but was changed to the bigger location, the chapel of the Good Shepherd.

During the Invocation, contemplative sister Socorro Galvez of Virac, praised and thanked Gor "for the 100 years of love and compassion of your Son, Jesus the Good Shepherd through the ministry of the love, prayers, and zeal of the sisters and for the last, the least and the lost."

Photo: Sr. M. Socorro Galvez

Apostolic and contemplative sisters  sang Mithiin (Aspirations of St. Mary Euphrasia) composed by Sr. M. Pia del Rosario, and which she played on the organ during the launch, with Ray Sison, flutist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Photo: Sr. M. Fe Mendoza

Sr. Mary Fe Mendoza, a member of the Research and Documentation Committee, in her introduction said, "in Sacred Scriptures, when God remembers, he brings a blessing." She cited the instances when God remembered... Noah, Sara and Hannah  and the blessings given them, the rainbow, Isaac and Samuel. St. Mary Euphrasia also reminded her daughters to gather the pieces so that nothing is lost.

She continued, "The 7-Sister Research and Documentation Committee that was named three years ago did just that.  They engaged all the Good Shepherd Communities in the joy of remembering.

After a 3-year season of gathering the pieces and cropping and editing, we thankfully present this afternoon our coffee table book of a hundred years of the blessings  of saving compassion “…pressed down, shaken together and running over…” (Lk 6:38)."

Photo: Sr. Maryanne Terrenal reads an excerpt.

 

 

Sr. M. Regina Kuizon introduced the members of the research and documentation committee who started work in 2009, Sr. M. Tarcila Abaño, Sr. Rosemary Bacaltos, Sr. M. Ananita Borbon, Sr, Ma, Gemma Dinglasan, Sr. M. Anallyn Esguerra, Sr. M. Regina Kuizon and Sr. M. Fe Mendoza. 

She also introduced the editorial team led by Jesselynn Garcia de la Cruz and Peachy Yamsuan, Noli Yamsuan- photo editor, and Pie David - book design and layout. Book coordinator is Sr. M. Regina. Publisher of the book is the Philippine Province of the Good Shepherd while printer was the House Printers Corporation.

Excerpts from the books were read: Sr. Mary Assumption, the First Filipina Good Shepherd Sister, by Sr. M. Patricia Perez; Sr. Mary Brenda Flahive, The Irish Filipina by Sr. Maryanne Terrenal; The Congregational Symbol read by Sr. M. Joseph Olaguer, and The Cassandra Martyrs, Shepherding that others may live, by Sr. M. Joan Salamanca and Sr. M. Amelia David.

Photo: Ms. Jesselynn de la Cruz

Ms. Jesselynn Garcia de la Cruz, editor of the book, shared about Reliving and living the Good Shepherd Experience, of the way she learned more about the stories of the Good Shepherd Sisters during the months that she was editing the book.

Photo: Noel Cabangon

Noel Cabangon, a Filipino folk singer and composer, also sang Ang Mabuting Pastol, a song composed by Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros in 1983 in honor of the Cassandra Martyrs-- Srs. Mary Consuelo Chuidian, Mary Concepcion Conti, Mary Virginia Gonzaga and Mary Catherine Loreto. Noel is known for his socially relevant compositions. During the launch, two others songs were rendered, Sangandaan (lyrics by Pete Lacaba and music by Ding Achacoso), theme song of the movie, Sr. Stella L, and Kanlungan, Noel's composition.

Photo: Sr. M. Cecilia Torres presents a book to Sr. Susan Chia.

Sr. M. Cecilia Torres, province leader, blessed the book and copies were given to Sr. M. Susan Chia, link councilor to the Philippines of the Congregational Leadership Team based in Rome, Sr. M. Tarcila received the gift for the Mother House, Sr. Yolanda Borbon for the Generalate Community, representatives of the Archbishop of Lipa and the Apostolic Nuncio, Good Shepherd Sisters in Burma, St. Bridget College, Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres and Sr. Loreen Granada, Dinabelle Penaojas and Mark Ballarta who appeared on the cover of the book.

Sr. Bernadette Guzman of the Centennial Committee thanked the sisters, benefactors, friends and families who have been part of the rich history of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippines, and those who worked to finish the coffee table book.

Photo: Sr. M. Bernadette Guzman

Ray and Sr. Pia paid tribute to Mary, whom St. Mary Euphrasia called, the superior general of the Good Shepherd congregation, and also referred to as, Mother of the Good Shepherd, by playing, Schubert's Ave Maria.

The program ended with the singing of 'Sandaang Taon composed by Sr. M. Lorenza Sangalang (lyrics) and Sr. M. Aimee Olaguer (music) for the 2012 centennial of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippines.

Photo: Ray Sison and Sr. M. Pia del Rosario. (Photos by Noli I. Yamsuan Jr.)

Refreshments followed. Strawberry juice, developed by Sr. M. Teresita "Tita" Ante for Mountain Maid Training Center in Baguio, was served. Sr. Tita, now based in Quezon City, organized a team to prepare the juice while Sr. Aida Casambre, Sr. Lourdes Sevilla, Malou Benedicto prepared bread and cookies sent by the different communities. Strawberry and muscovado muffins and snowballs (developed by Sr. M. Guadalupe Bautista, alfajor (developed by Sr. M. Ann Fiel), Buko tart, chicken  empanada, tuna empanada (developed by Sr. M. Joseph Olaguer of Bahay Pastulan), peanuts and oatmeal cookies from Euphrasian Bakeshop in Quezon City.

 

The 296-page book that comes in 11" x 11" format is available at P2,000 per copy at Bahay Pastulan in Tagaytay City and Good Shepherd Convent in Quezon City. Proceeds of the sale will go to the St. Mary Euphrasia Educational Fund.

Introduction    Our Sacred Scriptures tell us that whenever God remembers, he brings a blessing.  He brings salvation. God remembered Noah, and he brought the rainbow of their covenant (Gen 8:1; 9:13-14). God remembered Sara, and he gave her Isaac (Gen 21:1-4). God remembered Hannah, and he gave her Samuel (Sam 1:19-20). No wonder the woman who launched this mission of a hundred years, our foundress, St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, sent off her earliest daughters with these words: “You are treading on grounds with blessings …write your annals.  ‘Gather the pieces that nothing is lost’ …” Remember. The 7-Sister Research and Documentation Committee that was named three years ago did just that.  They engaged all the Good Shepherd Communities in the joy of remembering. After a 3-year season of gathering the pieces and cropping and editing, we thankfully present this afternoon our coffee table book of a hundred years of the blessings  of saving compassion “…pressed down, shaken together and running over…” (Lk 6:38). Sr. M. Fe Mendoza

 

Good Shepherd Sisters and friends during the launch.	Sr. M. Joseph Olaguer reads excerpts from The Congregational Symbol.
Sr. M. Patricia Perez reads, Sr. Mary Assumption, First Filipina Good Shepherd Sister.	Sr. Joan Salamanca (right) and Sr. M. Amelia David, read excerpts from The Cassandra Martyrs.
Sr. M. Cecilia Torres, left, with Mark, Dinabelle and Sr. Loreen.	Sr. Lucila Perpinan receives a book for the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, who welcome the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1913.
Sr. Pia del Rosario received a gift on behalf of the Archdiocese of Lipa.	Good Shepherd Sisters during the Invocation.
Good Shepherd Sisters, sing Mithiin, the Aspirations of St. Mary Euphrasia. (Noli Yamsuan)	Sr. M. Tarcila Abano receives a book on behalf of the Sisters at the Mother House. (Noli I. Yamsuan)
Ms. Jecar Enoroba, Noel Cabangon and Ms. Emy Enfermo. (Photo by Sr. M. Ailyn)	Sr. M. Cora Demetillo receives the book on behalf of the Good Shepherd Sisters from Myanmar. (Noli Yamsuan)
Photo by Sr. M. Ailyn Binco	Photo by Sr. M. Ailyn Binco