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| January
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January 1. Mary, Mother of God.
Euphrasian Residence has been offering residential services through two
programs: Crisis Intervention (1-18 weeks)and New Life Program (19 weeks - 1
year); through the latter the services user can avail of home study program and
formal education.
Heart of Mary Villa. "Homecoming." January 18- July
18. An adoptee from the Netherlands stayed for six months in HMV to
experience her Filipino roots. She was involved in taking care of the babies in
the nursery and in the various activities in Damayan Community Center, especially during the summer
program.
Tahanan Community. Intensive involvement in ecological efforts of the
archdiocese, regular unclogging of canals. Increased number of
people joining Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC).
New Province Teams Strategic planning was helf for four days in the last week of January 2009. With new team members -- Formation, MARTA, WJPIC/Ministry and Good Shepherd Partnership Teams fourmulated their objectives and activities/programs for the next six years integrating the Broad directions and recommendations approved during the last Provincial Chapter 2008.
Sr. Yolanda Borbon RGS, left for Rome January 29 to train with
Sr. Helen Anne Sand, treasurer general, that will prepare her for the mission
after the Congregational Chapter in July.
Maryridge.
January 30 - Sr. Mary Jeanette Rimando arrived from her 6 year mission in
Madagascar, District of the Isles. She served generously as Coordinator of the
community and initiated various income-generating and housing projects for the
poor.
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| February |
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CGS
-Virac. Blessings. Gratitude to God for the Funding received for the
Construction of the Chapel at San Isidro Village, Our Lady's Subdivision,
Virac, Catanduanes, the approval of the construction from Sr. Cecile Torres
and the Province Leadership Team, and additional sisters int he community
Srs. Socorro Galvez CGS and Mira Han CGS.
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| March |
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March 1. Sr. Victoria Joson RGS left for Paris, France to work in the ministry for Filipino migrant workers.
March
22. Lapuyan Community
transferred permanently to Pagadian and had a shift of ministry from parish
work to residential ministry.
Pagadian.
March 25. Blessing of Balay Paglaum sa Maayong Magbalantay, a
shelter home for women and girls in difficult situation.
Sisters officially started residential ministry in
Pagadian diocese.
March 23. Iligan City: First anniversary of the blessing of the Convent beside the housing project
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| April |
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RGS –
Cagayan de Oro. Agents of the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a
cybersex studio on April 23. It was the first of its kind. It was
rather a big studio operated by two Swede nationals. On April 24 Good
Shepherd Sisters got a call from a lawyer friend asking us them for help to go
to the NBI office where 21 young women were being held--18 were classified as
victims while 3 were classified with the Swedes as accused. Sr. Regina
Pil RGS, local leader of CDO, said the Sisters were asked if they could house 8 of the victims since there was
not enough place at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Sisters considered it as a gift from Mother Foundress on her feast. This
was the beginning of our being involved in the cybersex case. Until now
the case drags on in court with many twists and turns.
Renewal of Vows of
temporary professed sisters, Srs. Loreen Granada, Angelita Clemen, Diana
Madulara, Leah Ann Espina, Arlene Guab, Ana Cielo Matuloy in Quezon City. Sr.
Kristiana Maria NKR Prasetyo, the Indonesian contemplative sister renewed her
vows in Tagaytay.
April 23.
SMEIDFI (St. Mary Euphrasia Integrated Development Foundation, Inc) at the Christine Hall in the
Provincialate; meeting of Board of Trustees and turnover of the previous board to the new one and
designation of the new CEO for SMEIDFI, Sr. Ailyn Binco RGS.
A Think
Tank Committee was created in preparation for the 2012 Centennial of Good
Shepherd presence in the Philippines. Members included: Srs. Lydia Ebora, Fe
Mendoza, Bernadette Guzman, Juliet Abrigo and Celeste Engutan CGS.
SBC. Joint celebration Sr. Amabilis
Oliva’s Diamond Jubilee and Sr.
Estelle Antigua’s Golden Jubilee of Profession of
Vows. April 24. 2009 in Quezon City.
Maryridge. April 25. Sr. Herminia Mendoza celebrated her Diamond Jubilee of Religious
Profession in Tagaytay.
The list of assignments for the various communities in the Philippine Province
was released. Good Shepherd Sisters are missioned in 24 apostolic communities
and 4 contemplative communities. There are 144 apostolic sisters and 22
contemplative sisters who are final professed. There are 6 apostolic and four
contemplatives who are temporary professed. There are 33 Filipina sisters in
foreign mission in France. Angoila. Austria, Canada, Ethiopia, Hongkong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macau, Senegal, Taiwan, Thailand and USA.
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| May |
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May 2, 2009. Davao City. Golden Jubilee of Profession of
Vows of Sr. Mary Josephine Bacaltos RGS. Mass was held at the Ateneo de Davao.
Coordinators' Meeting, May 5-7, in Baguio City for new coordinators and
coordinators renewing a second term. Province Leadership Team facilitated the
meeting.
Four Junior Sisters began
their six month (May-October 2009) International Experience: Sr. Loreen Granada
RGS and Leah Ann Espina RGS in Thailand, Sr. Angelita Clemen RGS in
Hongkong and Sr. Diana Madulara RGS, South Korea.
Sr. Maureen Catabian RGS attended the meeting of Core Team of the newly-formed Good Shepherd Asia-Pacific Justice and Peace (APJP) on May 11-20 in Bangalore, India.
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| June |
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Sr. Annalyn Esguerra RGS came back to the Philippines after finishing her international experience in Hongkong.
June
9, 2009.
First Anniversary of the establishment of Women's Desk in the four parishes in
the Diocese of Malaybalay. Sr. Grace Butalid RGS, is the coordinator of Women's
Desk in the Diocese of Malaybalay. The four parishes are located in Valencia, Maramag, Don Carlos and Quezon.
June 13 – July 9. 29th Congregational Chapter of Good Shepherd Sisters in Angers, France.
Sr. Cecilia Torres RGS, province
leader, with Sr. Henedina Mananzan RGS, apostolic delegate and Sr. Ma. Teresa
Pomar CGS, contemplative delegate, represented the Philippine Province during
the Chapter.
Srs.
Yolanda Borbon, Tarcila Abano and Regina Kuizon who belong to the Philippine
Province were also at the Chapter. Sr. Yolanda attended during the report of
the Congregational Treasurer, Sr. Tarcila, a member of the staff of the Spirituality Center was
one of the organizers of the pilgrimages, and Sr. Regina covered the
Congregational Chapter with the communications team.
Other Filipinas who
attended the Chapter represented other units: Sr. Fe de Paz (Angola); Sr. Edith Olaguer (New York), Sr.
Mercy de Leon (Mid North America).
June 28. Sr. Virgo Espineda RGS and
Lourdes Sevilla RGS left for Masserano, Italy to run the program that assists trafficked women and children, abused migrants.
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| July |
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July 3, 2009. Sr. Brigid Lawlor, reelected
Congregational Leader of Good Shepherd Sisters
July
5, 2009. Five
Apostolic and Three Contemplative Councillors were
elected members of the Congregational Leadership Team
headed by Sr. Brigid Lawlor. Sr. Maria Teresa Pomar CGS, from Tagaytay
community, was elected contemplative councilor. This is the first time for the
congregation to have a contemplative council.
July
9, 2009.
Conclusion of the 29th Congregational Chapter
July 31. Contemplatives - Butuan City. Renewal of Vows of Sr. Ronafel de Leon CGS.
Sr. Luzminda Obnimaga RGS celebrated her silver jubilee of Profession of Vows.
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| August |
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Bahay
Ugnayan. Holds regularly every month, a Community Day with Sisters from
Blessed Maria Droste Infirmary.
Bahay
Ugnayan: Venue for regular meeting of Interfaith Dialogue Forum organized by
Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, founder of SILSILAH Dialogue Movement in Zamboanga. Sr.
Marion Chipeco RGS assists.
Congregational
Chapter Echoes
August 16-17 - Baguio; August 22-23 - 1043
Communities; August 28-29 - Malabon, Tahanan, Welcome House, Malate and Isabela;August 30-31
Sr. Celeste Engutan CGS was elected member of the Philippine Province contemplative council, succeeding Sr. Maria Teresa Pomar CGS who was elected member of the contemplative council of the Congregational Leadership Team.
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September
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September 10. Sr. Regina Kuizon RGS arrived from the Good Shepherd Generalate in Rome, after six years as communications
coordinator of the congregation.
Srs. Minela Alvarez RGS, Emma Marzan RGS and Laarni Bongato CGS attended the
Sept. 9-29 Session for Young Sisters in Angers, France.
Congregational Chapter Echoes
Villa Maria and CGS-Cebu; September 4-6 - Batangas, Maryridge, Bahay Pastulan, Bukid
Kabataan, CGS-Tagaytay; September 16-19 - Mindanao and CGS-Butuan (CDO venue) September 24-25 - Bicol and CGS-Virac
Chapter Echo in Bicol. All the Good Shepherd Communities
in Bicol (Buhi, Naga, Legazpi, Virac) were gathered together last September for
the echo of the General Chapter. The echo was held in Betania Retreat
House, Iriga City.
Srs. Cecil and Deena arrived at the venue a day before.
Sr. Mary
Ofelia Endaya RGS has been recommended by Prof Thelma Lee Mendoza to the
Philippine Association of Social Work, Inc (PASWI) to be a Board Examiner of
Social Work. A presidential appointee on August 7, 2009, Sr. Ofelia took her oath last
September 24, 2009 before Commissioner Lapena and Nilo Rosas at the
Professional Regulatory Commission.
Typhoon Ondoy (international codename, "Ketsana" hit the
Philippines, on September 26 claiming thousands of
lives, destroying homes and
properties and causing floods in many parts of Luzon.
Heart of Mary Villa, the Good Shepherd in
community in Malabon was submerged in water.
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| October |
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A Eucharistic
Celebration at the Good Shepherd Chapel in Quezon City to launch the
three-year preparations for the 2012 Centennial of Good Shepherd Sisters’
presence in the Philippines, was held on October
3.
October 5. Sr. Mary Mercedes Yap RGS passed away in Cebu City.
October 13. A medical
team of Good Shepherd Sisters and friends offered free medical services and
medicines to the victims of typhoon Ondoy in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City on October 13.
As an aftermath of typhoon Ondoy,
that damaged buildings in Heart of Mary Villa and rendered flooded
most of the property, 19 babies from the HMV nursery were transferred to the
Good Shepherd Compound in Quezon City on October 16.
Good Shepherd Baguio. Typhoon Pepeng caused landslides
and floods in Baguio-Benguet, causing death and damage to our neighbors,
strawberry farmers, staff, and students’ families.
The Asia Pacific NGO Forum on Beijing + 15 was held October
22-24 at Mirriam College in Quezon City. Good Shepherd Sisters and lay
partners from Asia represented the congregation.
Thirteen delegates were from the Asia Pacific Justice and Peace Network while
24 were from the Philippine Province. The delegates stayed in Good Shepherd
Community and Bahay Ugnayan.
A Statement on Anti-trafficking was
issued by the APJP.
Welcome House.
Mary Kay Phil chose Welcome House as a corporate concern. Staff come by
groups to for creative activities. The company's foundress has a heart
for children and women victims of abuse. Mary Kay also helped in rebuilding houses damaged by Typhoon Ondoy.
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| November |
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Maryridge.
October 15-November 10 Completion of the 7- week flood control structures
project to prevent erosion of Maryridge property. This project included
construction of parking lot, cross drain and open canal widening, construction
of new canals, widening of existing canals, construction of open canal, apron
and stone masonry wall and construction of slope protection wall. We are very
grateful to Bahay Pastulan Community who generously assisted in financing the
project.
Maryridge.
November 20-27 Maryridge Community was privileged to welcome and provide
accommodations for 115 delegates to the 5th Asian Youth Day, a regional
assembly of Asian youth delegates from the member conferences of the Federation
of Asian Bishops Conference which was hosted by the Diocese of Imus. Inspired
by the Synod on the Word of God and the FABC Plenary theme on Living the
Eucharist, the highlights of the 8-day event included 3 day Parish/Host Family
experiences, plenary sessions on the Word and Eucharist, subregional reflections
and deepening experiences, workshops and meaningful prayers and liturgies.
About 2,500 Asian Youth delegates from Hongkong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Macau,
China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines,
Indonesia, runei, East Timor, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
Mongolia, Turkmenstan and Asian delegates from Australia and Germa ny
paticipated in the event.
Triduum,
to prepare for the November 21 Renewal of Vows, held in Bahay Ugnayan
and Euphrasian Community, with Sisters contributing to Pondo Euphrasia,
an educational fund for poor but deserving students.
Tahanan Community promotes eco-friendly environment. Use of non incandescent lamps.
November 23. Fifty seven (57) men, women
and children were massacred in Maguindanao. The Women Justice Peace and
Integrity of Creation WJPIC) Office issued a statement condemning the act.
Sr. Victoria Joson RGS arrived from Paris, France.
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| December |
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Province Teams Meeting. Apostolic
and contemplative Good Shepherd Sisters and two lay mission partners were in Quezon City for a two-day Province Teams
meeting, Dec 2 and 3. The teams included Ministry/W-JPIC, Formation, MARTA
(Material Resources), Good Shepherd Partnership and Province Leadership Team.
The teams met 1) to share stories of highlights, challenges and hopes;
2). to weave the “newness” in our Province Team plans; and to celebrate the
blessings of the year. The theme of the meeting was, "Weaving Strands of
Newness." Candlelighting and Rosary
for justice for victims of Maguindanao massacre as a solidarity action were
held on the last day of the meeting with SBS students and staff.
Bahay Ugnayan. December 5, 2009. General Assembly of Good Shepherd Mission Partners
CGS Cebu – December 6, 2009. Community’s visit to the Alay
Bahay and household staff. Contemplatives prayed with them and listened to
their hopes and aspirations.
December 10. Death of Sr. Mary
Assumption Ocampo RGS (Avelina H. Ocampo), first Filipina Good Shepherd Sister,
at the age of 102.
December 11. Sr.
Brigid Lawlor RGS, congregational leader, wrote to Sr. Cecilia Torres RGS,
province leader of the Philippines informing her that the new link councilors of
the Congregational Leadership Team for the Philippines are: Sr. Susan Marie
Chia RGS for the apostolic sisters and Sr. Jude Ellen Golumbieski CGS for the
contemplatives.
RGS- Davao City.
Center for
Overseas Workers (COW) celebrated International Migrants Day on December
18, with the theme, “Asserting Migrants Rights... Government's
Accountability”.
Iligan City. December 24. First anniversary of
the blessing of the Housing project, 14 houses of evacuees, victims of
war of MILF on August 14, 2008.
Caroling.
Good Shepherd Sisters led by Sr. Madeleine Nicolas RGS sang Christmas Carols to
generate funds for the infirmary. They visited the Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales, SBS Community in Quezon City and those gathered for the
traditional Christmas lunch at Good Shepherd Community.
Christmas
Concert. Flutist Rey Sison and pianist Ingrid Sta. Maria performed for the
children of headstart program in Bagong Silangan and Good Shepherd
Sisters and friends in Quezon City. Venue was Euphrasian Community
Hall.
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