On April 8, three sisters from Vietnam who are studying in the Philippines renewed
their vows as sisters of the Congregation of Lovers of the Holy Cross, during
the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Jean Michel Amouriaux, superior
general of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary.
The two sisters -- Teresa Nguyen Thi Hoa, and Sr, Mary Nguyen Thi Lien-- belong
to Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hung Hoa, while the other,
Sr. Mary Vu Thi Hong belongs to the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy
Cross of Phat Diem.
Sr. Regina Kuizon was asked as province leader of the Religious of
the Good Shepherd-Philippines by Sr Teresa Mai Thi Ngat and Sr. Mary Mai Thi
Ha, superior generals of the two congregations, to represent them in accepting
the sisters’ renewal of vows. (Sr. Corazon Demetillo RGS , was
earlier requested to represent the superiors general but she had to be on home
visit because of the death of her brother Alfredo.)
In his homily, Deacon Dennis Jones Garcia, while emphasizing the
remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice, also reminded the sisters that the very name
of the congregation Lovers of the Holy Cross called for fidelity to the call to
be at the foot of the Cross.
The Congregations of Lovers of the Holy Cross originated in Vietnam,
and founded by a French Bishop and missionary, Pierre Lambert de la Motte, in
1670. “The Congregation is founded particularly for the Vietnamese. Each
Congregation is independent in its administration and is under the supervision
of the local bishop in whose diocese the Mother House resides. Although each
Congregation is autonomous, all Congregations accept Bishop Pierre Lambert de
la Motte as their founder.”
The
Vietnamese sisters said that Bishop de la Motte acknowledged the influence of
St. John Eudes in his life. It is but a happy coincidence that during the
renewal of vows of the three sisters, Fr. Amouriaux was the celebrant. He is in
the Philippines for his first visit to the Eudists in the country following his election
as superior general last January. He is also attending the ordination to the
priesthood of Deacon Garcia on April 10.
After
the Mass and breakfast Fr. Amouriaux visited the communities of the Good Shepherd Sisters
in Quezon City—St. Bridget School; Good Shepherd Community, Heart of Mary
Villa, Euphrasian Community, Provincialate, and the center, Ruhama. He also visited the contemplatives and apostolic sisters in Tagaytay last April 5.
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| At St. Bridget School | Wtih Ssters from GSC, SBS and Provincialate | |
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| Heart of Mary Villa | ||
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| At Ruhama Center | In Tagaytay | |
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