.jpg "Statue of St. Mary Euphrasia")
There are many jubilees to mark this year 2011. Here are some of them:
Contemplatives.
The Religious of the Good Shepherd will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of the contemplatives in the country on May 11, 2011.
Photo: Statue of St. Mary Euphrasia, Good Shepherd Chapel, Quezon City
Established only several months after the creation of the Philippine Province on December 3, 1960, the first contemplative community was founded in Quezon City. Sr. M. Consuelo Ferrer, an apostolic sister, was appointed to be Directress of the contemplatives, at that time known as Magdalen Sisters.
Sr. Justa of Christ the King Morgia, the first contemplative from the Philippines, joined the formation in Angers, France, before the establishment of the contemplatives in the Philippines. She made her first profession of vows in Angers, France on June 22, 1961, the feast of St. Mary Magdalen. She arrived in the Philippines on August 2, 1961.
The first contemplatives who entered the Philippine Province were Srs. Magdalena Oliva, (+) Sr. Marie Porter, Sr. Felicidad Almeria and Sr. Teresita Numbalin. They were accepted as postulants on June 7, 1961.
Three apostolic sisters, Srs. Socorro Galvez, Therese Veloso and Zita Alcazar asked for transfer to the contemplatives in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
At present, there are four contemplative communities in the Philippines: Cebu, Tagaytay, Butuan and Virac. There are 22 Filipina contemplatives, two sisters from Indonesia and one from Malaysia who are members of the contemplatives in the country.
With the approval of the Integrated Constitutions during the 2009 Congregational Chapter, Sr. Brigid Lawlor, the congregational leader has an apostolic and contemplative council. A Filipina contemplative, Sr. Maria Teresa Pomar, was elected member of the contemplative council.
Four Filipina contemplative sisters are in foreign mission: Srs. Elizabeth Garciano, Elena Jalop and Magdalena Oliva are in Innsbruck, Austria while Sr. Fe de Paz is in Angola.
Novitiate
The Philippine Novitiate will also celebrate its Golden Jubilee on June 21, 2011. Began on June 21, 1961, on the feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the Novitiate was housed at 1043 Aurora Blvd in Quezon City. The first novice mistress was Sr. Veronica Mondonedo and her first novices were: Sr. M. Rose Ababao, Sr. M. Teresita Ante, Sr. M. Lourdes Fabia, Sr. M. Jane Pineda and Sr. Marietta Velez.
Diamond Jubilarians
| DIAMOND JUBILARIANS |
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| Sr. Marcia Mercado |
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| Sr. Teresita Arceo |
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| Sr. Eugenia Mendoza |
We also thank God for the gift of sisters whose Diamond Jubilee of Clothing will be this year.
Sr. Marcia Mercado had her Clothing/Entrance to the Noviaite on February 8, 1961 in Los Angeles, CA. while Sr. Teresita Arceo and Sr. Eugenia Mendoza had theirs on September 8, 1961. Sr. Marcia is currently a member of the SBC Community in Batangas, and engaged in the education ministry in Alitagtag. Sr. Teresita and Sr. Eugenia are assigned at the Good Shepherd Community in Quezon City.
Golden Jubilarians
The Philippine Province is indeed blessed with sisters who serve not only in the communities but also in other provinces. Two of the Golden Jubilarians from the Philippines are in foreign mission: Sr. M. Rosalinda Sobremisana of the Province of Mid North America and Sr. M. Bonaventure Mirasol of the Province of East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar). Sr. Rosalinda is assigned at the Los Angeles, USA community while Sr. Bonaventure is in Bangkok, Thailand. Both had their clothing or entrance to the Novitiate in Los Angeles on April 24, 1961.
Silver Jubilarians
Two sisters, an apostolic and a contemplative will also mark this year their Silver Jubilee of First Profession of Vows. Sr. M. Jeva Sumbillo made her First Profession of Vows as apostolic sister on April 24, 1986 while Sr. Dinah of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Egpalina made her first Profession of Vows as contemplative sister on September 8, 1986. Sr. Jeva is assigned in Good Shepherd Convent, Baguio and Sr. Dinah is in the contemplative community in Butuan City.
We count the Silver Jubilee from the date of First Profession, while we determine Golden (50 years) and Diamond (60 years) Jubilees from Clothing or Entrance to the Novitiate.
Congratulations to our Jubilarians!