Philippines-Japan Province Chapter Begins

 

March 16, 2020

 

Philippines-Japan Province
Chapter Begins


The 2020 Province Chapter of
the Religious of the Good Shepherd in Philippines-Japan started on March 16,
2020 at the Divine Child Auditorium of St. Bridget School in Quezon City with
the chapter theme “Transformed by Love, Passionate for mission. The opening
liturgy was highlighted by indigenous dance and the procession of the
participants with the Chapter candle to the Chapter Hall. Community products
were offered in the centerpiece highlighting the importance of economic justice
and integrity of creation. Newspaper clippings of local and global situations
were also posted.

 

Sr. Regina Kuizon, incumbent Province Leader opened the
Chapter and said, “This sacred moment has been challenged by the Taal Volcano
eruption of January 12 and the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) that has become
pandemic.” These events led to the change of venue and change of dates. There
would have been more sister delegates in this third open chapter if not for the
present global crisis. The other sister delegates were advised not to come when
the “lockdown or community quarantine” was announced. Providentially, Sr.
Brigid Lawlor our former Congregational Leader arrived early. She will both be
the Chapter facilitator and appointed delegate of Sr. Ellen Kelly, our present
Congregational Leader. The latter is unable to come due to the lockdown in
Italy.
Pictures courtesy of Ms. Jecar Enoroba and Sr. Tess Figueroa


FORMAL
OPENING OF THE 2020 PROVINCE  CHAPTER
Province of Philippines-Japan
Sr. M. Regina T. Kuizon RGS
President, 2020 Chapter

Calling Forth of Province Chapter Delegates

Today, March 16, 2020, we are gathered for the 2020 Province Chapter.  This sacred moment has been challenged by the Taal Volcano eruption of January 12 and the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) that has become pandemic. This would have taken place only on March 19, 2020, feast of St. Joseph, patron of the work of the Good Shepherd, and would have involved more participation of our sister-delegates. They are united with us in prayers in the 24 communities in the Philippines and in Japan.

I, with the consent of the apostolic and contemplative
councils, have appointed Sr. Mary Natividad Lucero as the Chapter Secretary of
our 2020 Province Chapter, the 11th for the Philippines, the third
open Chapter and the first for the Province of Philippines-Japan.

We now request the Chapter Secretary, 
Sr. Mary  Natividad to make the
roll call of delegates. On hearing your name each delegate is requested to
acknowledge your presence and signify your acceptance of the noble task as
Delegate by responding:

PANGINOON, NARITO AKO. (Here I am, Lord).

Apostolic Delegates
Ex-Officio
Contemplative Delegates
Ex Officio

Invitees:
Second Year Novices- Assistants
Lay Mission Partners
Secretariat

 

Dear Delegates of our 2020 Province Chapter,

“The Province Chapter is a privileged time in the history of
a province. Through dialogue and prayers the chapter assesses the life of the
province, renews its fidelity to the charism and plans for the future. It calls
each sister to openness, conversion and greater zeal so that the unique gift of
Christ, the Shepherd, may overflow into the Church and the world.”
                                                         - Constitution 98, Paragraph 1

This is an OPEN CHAPTER.


“An Open Chapter is a means of providing greater participation of sisters at
province chapters. It enables each sister to be involved in the chapter
according to her availability.”
                                                          - Province Administration Manual,
                                                            Appendix 9,
#1

Our Chapter, with the theme, “Transformed by Love, Passionate for Mission,”
calls us to commit ourselves to the sacred responsibilities during these days
of the Chapter. We have experienced flexibility in facing the challenges of the
present situations in the country and in the world. We are called to active
participation and prayerful discernment  during
these days of our Chapter.  We are called
to be  creative in our responses  and  plans for the next six years in the Province
of Philippines-Japan.

Let us listen to the spirit of Jesus, the Good Shepherd,
speaking to us through one another and our brothers and sisters. We pray that
God’s Spirit will envigor us, even if we miss the presence of our other
sisters,  but know that deep within our
hearts, we feel  the proximity of each
one through prayers, in the Philippines and Japan and in the other 70 countries
where Good Shepherd Sisters are.  Sr,
Ellen Kelly, our congregational leader, Sr. Frances Robinson apostolic
councillor and Sr. Jude Ellen Golumbieski, contemplative councillor,  unite their sentiments and hopes for all of
us and are grateful to Sr. Brigid Lawlor, our facilitator who carries with her
the wisdom of a sister who has vast knowledge and love for St. Mary Euphrasia, the
congregation and for our province.

 I HEREBY DECLARE THE
2020 PROVINCE OF PHILIPPINES-JAPAN CHAPTER, THIS 16TH DAY OF MARCH
2020, HERE AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT, QUEZON CITY, FORMALLY OPENED.