By St Bridget College (Visit: www.sbcbatangas.edu.ph)
As the Carpenter’s song goes: “… one of the few things worth remembering”, thus, is the visit of Sr. Brigid Lawlor, the Religious of the Good Shepherd Congregational leader to St. Bridget College in the occasion of the Good Shepherd Centennial Presence in the Philippines. Preceded by the 18 RGS missionary sisters several minutes ahead, Sr. Bridgid and her entourage reached SBC campus at about 9:45 in the morning of October 5. Reminiscing what had probably transpired during the arrival of the first RGS sisters in Batangas (minus the horse-drawn carriage), a hundred years ago-- beaming well-wishers composed of the archbishop of the Diocese of Lipa, Most Reverend Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, DD., the Batangas Community Good Shepherd sisters, student-representatives from the grade school, high school and college, school administrators, faculty and staff and parents warmly received the sisters with lei of daisy.
The sisters who came were as follows: Sr. Brigid Lawlor, Sr. Cecilia Torres, the Provincial Leader, Sr. Anya Borbon, Sr. Tarcila Abaño, Sr. Mercy Ang, Sr. Tomasita Antigua, Sr. Angela Battung, Sr. Yolanda Borbon, Sr. Rita Danganan, Sr. Mercy De Leon, Sr. Stanislaus de Polonia, Sr. Bernard Derayunan, Sr. Gemma Dinglasan, Sr. Stella, Mangona, Sr. Carmelita Medenilla, Sr. Bonaventure Mirasol, Sr. Felicitas Nisperos, Sr. Lourdes Sevilla, Sr. Rosa Villoria, Sr. Rosalina Wee, Sr. Celeste Yuzon and Sr. Erline Bacol. They were joined by two lay mission partners, Mrs. Tess Barsaga and Mrs. Nellie Juan.
A very solemn Eucharistic celebration with the theme: Celebrating Life with Compassion, Embracing the Challenges with Hope” held in the SBC-Manuela Q. Pastor Auditorium officiated by Archbishop Arguelles concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Conrado Castillo and Rev. Fr. Noni Dolor of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception parish followed.
“Things would have been different, had the RGS sisters did not arrive in the Philippines. We ought to thank the pioneering RGS for the beautiful past and the promising future they gave us. SBC has been a source of future evangelizers of the world since then.” Thus, stressed by the Archbishop.
A short program in honor of Sr. Brigid and the missionary sisters ensued after the celebration. The program was highlighted with the 1969 classic song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel and John Denver’s “Annie’s Song”, both favorites by Sr. Brigid and rendered by teachers-- Mr. Sid Pelingon and Mr. Rafael Hagos. Cultural dance numbers were also performed by the Performing Arts talents of the grade school, high school and college students. To all these, Sr. Brigid expressed her simple but profound message of gratitude for the warm and wonderful reception accorded to all of them and left these words: “ Be faithful in following the inner light which pleases God which He gives to each one of us…may we walk together in the light and let it shine throughout the world.”
Sr. Lydia, the School president then thanked all the students and faculty and staff for all the fervent prayers and collective effort to make the coming of the Sr. Brigid and the missionary sisters smooth. She likewise, greeted all the teachers “happy teachers’ day”. She also extended her deep gratitude to God for the more than 100 priests and religious alumni produced across the 100 years of the institution.
The heartfelt singing of the Centennial hymn with animation participated by everyone including Sr. Brigid and all the guests ended the program in the morning.
After the hearty lunch, Sr. Brigid met with the leaders of the SBC adopted communities like Buklod Unlad ng Batangas I of Brgy. Dumantay, Cuta, Maruclap, Libjo Callejon and the SBC Community Center mothers whom she thanked genuinely for allowing the RGS sisters to fulfill their mission through them.
A musical play was the highlight of the afternoon activity. Entitled “From Light to Radiance”, the Performing Arts talents under the direction of Mr. Amado Ariel Hagos III, traced the coming of the first Good Shepherd sisters in the Philippines, in Batangas in particular and the continuous glowing of their lights in the service of their mission. The rendition captured the foundation of the various houses and communities of the RGS in an artistic manner more than historical. At the end of the play, the RGS through Sr. Brigid’s message, uttered their delight on seeing their story on a different light up stage in the manner which is appealing to the younger generation.
A quick tour along the grade school, high school and college corridors where groups of students awaited Sr. Brigid facilitated a nippy yet unforgettable encounter between her and the students. Sr. Brigid’s fondness with the little ones was shown as she gladly posed for souvenir shots with them.
After the show, the RGS sisters were brought to the St. Mary Euphrasia parish in Brgy. Kumintang, Batangas City for a short visit.
The day ended with a dinner of Sr. Brigid and the RGS missionary and Batangas Community sisters with some SBC alumni joined by the institutional officers and school heads in Sampaguita Farm courtesy of the city Mayor, Honorable Vilma Abaya-Dimacuha.
- SBC-Batangas