| MESSAGE OF SR. ELLEN KELLY, Congregational Leader |
Dear Sisters and
Mission Partners of the Province of the Philippines-Japan,
This is a grace
filled day not only for the sisters of the Philippines and Japan, but for the
Congregation as well! What a wonderful
way to celebrate the feast day of Mary Euphrasia by having this merger
effective on this special day. How proud
she would be of each one of you! In her
own words she continuously reminded us, “our
zeal must embrace the world.”
All of you are to
be congratulated for the process that you lived for these past 2½ years. You addressed the realities of your
respective situations with openness and honesty. While you appreciated the positives of this
unification, you also did not avoid the pain and the challenges.
You worked
diligently to include everyone in the dialogue and to listen carefully to all
the pros for the decision and also to the expression of doubts or
concerns. You were realistic about the
aging of the units, the cultural and language differences, as well as the
geographic distances.
Photo in Osaka, Japan
The history of the
two countries could not be ignored and you openly shared with one another in a
manner that reflected the call of our charism to forgiveness, reconciliation,
and unity. While you had to acknowledge
the painful past, you looked beyond it to a new page in the history of your
countries that will be created in the future by the sisters and mission
partners.
Photo in Quezon City, Philippines
In a world where
many relationships are not developed between people of different cultures and
old wounds are passed down through generations, you were inspired by the Christ
of the Gospel. You focused on love and
mission! Your openness and work together
for the common good and a common vision, while respecting differences, is a
beautiful and inspiring model so needed today for our wounded human family.
May God continue to
bless you as you live into the reality of this new entity as the communities of
Japan become integrated into the Province of Philippines-Japan.
Thank you! The
entire Congregation is grateful for your faith-filled witness and your courage
to risk together for the future.
In our Shepherd’s
Heart,
Ellen Kelly, Congregational
Leader