St. Bridget College Batangas pays tribute to Good Shepherd Sisters during the closing activity for the centennial of presence in the Philippines.
An 8 a.m. Mass presided by Msgr. Rafael Oriondo was held at the SBC Manuela Q. Pastor Auditorium. Concelebrant was Fr. Ericson Tio.
Sr. Florencia Tio welcomed the Sisters from various communities and invited the sisters and students to watch, "Yakap ng Pastol," the creative presentation of the Good Shepherd mission in the country, beginning with the inspiration of Bishop Giuseppe Petrelli of Lipa and the arrival of the first Irish Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippines. The presentation covered a century of development of the Good Shepherd mission that was woven in the life and story of the Filipinop people. The musical by Amado Hagos and his brother Rafael, was staged by Bridgetines from the elementary, high school and college departments.
Sr. Lydia Ebora, SBC President, also paid tribute to the missionaries who came to the Philippines and began in Batangas the Good Shepherd mission of evangelizing and caring for the students, especially the least. From the first community in Batangas, the Good Shepherd Sisters developed into a Province that cared for people in need, especially women and children.
Photo: A scene when American Good Shepherd Sisters are interred at the Los Banos Camp.
At the end of the musical, the Good Shepherd sisters were asked on stage while Sr. Regina Kuizon presented to the audience composed of students, faculty and parents the current ministry of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippines and encouraged them to pray for vocation to the Good Shepherd and to be courageous to answer the call to religious life.
The song, "Sandaang Taon," composed by Sr. Lorenza Sanggalang and set to music by Sr. Aimee Olaguer was sung by all. Later faculty members approached the sisters and handed them special tokens from Batangas.