Good Shepherd Sisters and
Mission partners participated in the various events during the visit of Pope
Francis to the Philippines on January 15-19.
Several days before the
Pope’s arrival, groups of sisters also visited the places where he would go.
On January 15, Sr. Juanita
Dano was one of the volunteers who served as marshals to keep peace and order in the Taft Avenue and Quirino Avenue area where Pope
Francis would pass to reach his official residence, the Apostolic Nunciature.
Susan Montano and a group of sisters and mission partners from the 1043 compound were near Villamor
Airbase. They were among the thousands of well wishers who first saw Pope
Francis on his pope mobile that night of his arrival.
The next day, January 16, Sr. Socorro Galvez,
a contemplative in the Diocese of Virac and Sr. Minela Alvarez, apostolic
sister of the Diocese of Ilagan were at the Manila Cathedra when Pope Francis met
with religious men and women from the different dioceses.
At the Good Shepherd Convent in Quezon City, the girls of Euphrasian Community
interpreted the song, We are all God’s Children, theme song of the papal visit,
during the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Jim O’Donnell. January 16
marked the 180th year of the establishment of the Good Shepherd
Generalate. It was Pope Gregory XVI who approved the establishment of the
Generalate in 1835.
Photo: Sr. Myra and BK residents.
In the afternoon, Sr. Myra Atian accompanied the children of Bukid Kabataan during
the Pope’s meeting with families at the Mall of Asia.
| + Kristel Mae Cleofe Padasas - Bridgetine | |
|
Kristel Mae was born on June 22, 1987, in Barangay |
On January 17, while the Pope was in Tacloban, Sr. Francia Blando and several
religious of the Sisters Association in Mindanao (SAMI(N), travelled to attend
the Eucharistic Celebration at the Tacloban airport. That Mass was a profound
experience for Pope Francis and an expression of deep solidarity with the
people who came despite the signal # 2 raised due to typhoon “Amang.”
On January 18, Sr. Maureen
Catabian and several sisters from the Euphrasian Community started as early as
3 a.m. to be at the University of Santo Tomas to be witness to the meeting of
Pope Francis with the different
religious leaders, and later for the Pope’s interaction with the youth at the
pontifical and royal university.
At UST, the Holy Father began his prayers by acknowledging the loss of life of
Kristel Mae Padasas, a young volunteer during the Papal Visit. Kristel was dead on arrival at the hospital
when the scaffolding for the speakers at the Tacloban airport collapsed due to
strong winds and hit Kristel. Later, it
was known, that Kristel belonged to Batch 2004 in St. Bridget School Buhi.
Five sisters volunteered
in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Health Care's efforts during the papal visit: Sr. Ananita Borbon, Sr. Ailyn
Binco, Sr. Emma Marzan, Sr. Loreen Granada and Sr. Cielo Matuloy. Fr. Dan Cancino, MI of CBCP ECHC, our five sisters and other volunteers braved the cold and rainy Sunday at
the Luneta and made visible God’s love by taking care of persons with
disabilities (PWDs) who were all eager to meet the pope.
Photo: RGS and Fr. Dan during the orientation for volunteers.
.JPG)
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) informed
Sr. Regina Kuizon to be among the provincials and mission partners to represent
the association at the January 18 Mass . Sr. Corazon Demetillo, president of the
Institute for Formation and Religious Studies represented the mission partners
of IFRS. Like Srs. Socorro and Sr. Minela, the two sisters Regina and Corazon stayed
at the residence of Sr. Carmela Cruz’
sister, Ate Rose.
A call from the AMRSP
to respond to the request of the
Philippine National Police to gather more than a thousand religious women to
serve as human barricades and secure the Quirino Grandstand. Sr. Lita Clemen
and some 10 sisters from the congregation responded favourably to the call.
Students of St. Bridget College Batangas interpreted too the papal visit theme
song, “ We are All God’s Children,” at the school grounds.
As all these events were
taking place, like many other Filipinos who offered prayers and sacrifices for
the safety of the Pope, Good Shepherd Sisters, apostolic and contemplative, followed the Holy Father through
the means of communications – television, radio, newspaper and the internet.
All were touched by the mercy and compassion that served as theme of the papal
visit and demonstrated his great affection and love for the poor and
marginalized in society.
Today, the congregation (1835 January 16 2015) continues
its mission of mercy and reconciliation entrusted by the Good Shepherd as we
serve families especially women and children and as we uphold the integrity of
creation.
| Reflections from Bukid Kabataan |
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