Representatives of various provinces joined the Good Shepherd Asia Pacific Partnership meeting held in YWCA Fort Canning Road, Singapore from August 12 – 14, 2010.
Participants included delegates from the nine Provinces in Asia Pacific --Philippines, Sri Lanka/Pakistan, Indonesia, India/ Nepal, Japan, East Asia (Thailand, Vietnam,Myanmar), Singapore / Malaysia, Australia/Aotearoa/New Zealand and Northeast Asia (Korea, Macau. Taiwan and Hongkong) – and come from 18 countries.
There were 18 RGS sisters and 15 Good Shepherd Mission Partners during the meeting hosted by the Province of Singapore/Malaysia.
The theme of the meeting was: “Co-responsibility for Mission.” Facilitator was Sr. Anne Dalton of the Province of Australia/Aotearoa/New Zealand Province.
GSAPP (Good Shepherd Asia Pacific Partnership) Core Group Members were also present during the meeting. The team is composed of Sr. Noelene White, Gendrie Klien Breteler, Theresa Symons, Sashirekha Natarajan, Sr. Euphrasia Mesomklin, Sr. Sumanthri Tissera.
Photo: From left, Sr. Ananita Borbon, Ms. Nelly Juan and SR. Patricia Perez.
Link Persons who attended were: Livia La Rocca – Australia, Melina Ong – Singapore / Malaysia, Sr. Añanita Borbon – Philippines, Antonia Symonds – East Asia’ Sr. Deanna Pereira – India / Nepal andSr. Theresa Thong – Northeast Asia.
Participants shared the common Hopes of the gathering: How to make Joint Formation Program for sisters and mission partners; Better understanding of Partnership / Co – responsibility; Concrete directives for Good Shepherd Partnership; Strengthen commitment to Good Shepherd partnership; Networking, communication (local, regional, province level); and Clarification of the role of the Province Link Person for the GS Partnership.
Talks were also presented by resource persons also gave input during the sessions. They include: SME and Lay Partnership – by Sr. Deanna of Pereira of India; Co-responsibility and Congregational Directions –by Sr. Pam Molony, Province Leader of Australia; Partnership in Asia Pacific – by Theresa Symons (Singapore / Malaysia Province) and GendrieKlien Breteler (Australia Province)
During the meeting the roles of the Link Persons and GSAPP Core Group Members were also identified. Several provinces also presented the Good Shepherd Partnership Program. These are the Philippines, Singapore/Malaysia, India/Nepal andAustralia/NZ/Aotearoa.
Delegates from the Philippines were Sr. Añanita Borbon, Sr. Patricia Perez, Ms. Nelly Juan.
In 2008, representatives from the Philippines also attended the Asia-Pacific Partnership Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.