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Province
of Philippines – Japan
March
16-22, 2020
Transformed by Love, Passionate for Mission
With gratitude and hope we, the
delegates of the 2020 Province Chapter of the Congregation of Our Lady of
Charity of the Good Shepherd Philippines-Japan, gathered on March 16-22, 2020
at the Divine Child Auditorium, St. Bridget School, Quezon City.
It was an open chapter and the first
as Philippines- Japan Province, participated in by 47 apostolic and
contemplative professed sisters, 3 lay partners in mission and 2 novices. Due
to the community quarantine amidst the corona virus pandemic, we missed the
presence of other delegates outside Metro Manila.
The Chapter was a journey of affirming
our growth and owning our inconsistencies. The Spirit- filled dialogue with
partners in mission impelled us to seek reconciliation. It challenged us to transform our attitudes
and mind sets which blocked the authentic witnessing of our charism of
compassion and mercy.
In the face of the decline in the
number of sisters and few religious vocations in the province but blessed with
committed lay partners in mission, we are called to explore innovative ways so
that our charism and mission continue to be responsive to the changes in
society.
The present climate emergency crisis,
more complex forms of violence against women and children, state repression and
unabated human rights violations call us to a prophetic response. We hear the cry of the poor and of Mother
Earth.
We open ourselves to God’s
transforming love in order to witness to the Good Shepherd spirituality in
community and mission. We will continue
contemplative dialogue and communal discernment as a way of life as we commit
ourselves to:
· Formation of Good Shepherd partners in mission towards integration and
co-responsibility
Create a team of
partners in mission to formulate a joint formation program considering their
profile and needs.
· Restructuring of ministries and
communities for effective response to emerging issues
Sustain our Women,
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (WJPIC) thrust that permeates our
lifestyle as we restructure communities and mission.
·
Realistic and concrete program for integral
ecology
Concretize and
live out “Laudato Si” in communities and ministries in response to Climate
Emergency and Care for our Common Home.
· Relevant and responsive team
leadership on all levels that is relational, consultative and participative
Practice friendship model of leadership (cf. John 13) that values
listening, engages in consultation, and discernment.
·
Stewardship for sustainability for mission
Ensure effective and efficient
stewardship of material and human resources towards sustainability of mission.
Recommendations:
·
Formation of Good
Shepherd Partners in Mission
1.
That as partners in mission, we attain a common understanding of the
levels of partnership, integration, co- responsibility for mission and
interculturality.
2.
That Mission Development Program be evaluated and continued.
·
Restructuring
of Ministries and Communities
1.
That a mechanism for assessment, consultation, consolidation,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation be set to maximize human and material
resources.
2.
That the consolidation process of ministries and communities be
continued.
3.
That the 3 St. Bridget Schools be under one school system.
4.
That an intentional inter-level formation community be explored.
·
Integral
Ecology
1.
That a
formation on cosmic spirituality be given to sisters and lay partners in
mission, recognizing our interconnectedness and practicing SAPAT (simple
living) principle.
2.
That zero waste
management be implemented with emphasis on the refusal of “single use plastics”
in all communities and ministries.
·
Relevant and
Responsive Team Leadership
That we have a common understanding and
practice of consultation in all levels in communities and ministries. In accordance with Art. 87 of our
Constitution, we engage in communal discernment, collaboration and delegation
as we honour the Spirit at work in each one.
·
Stewardship
for Sustainability for Mission
1.
That a
strategic financial management be in place in all communities and ministries
that includes planning, budgeting, monitoring, reporting, accounting controls,
and risk management.
2.
That a
Province Human Resource Management Team be created to review and update
standardized human resource policies and procedures, and monitor implementation
and compliance with congregational values and government regulations.
3.
That there be
an assessment of all our properties, ensure compliance of government
requirements, proper documentation, determine utilization, maintenance and the
required procedure in the acquisition and alienation of properties.
4.
That St. Mary
Euphrasia Integrated Development Foundation, Inc. (SMEIDFI) and Ministry Office
be strengthened to ensure fund generation, optimal use of resources, networking
and sharing of information, capacity building and monitoring.
5.
That a proper
allocation of resources be observed.
Directives:
·
Formation of
Good Shepherd partners in mission
That the Province Leadership Team (PLT) creates
a team of partners in mission to formulate a Joint Formation Program
considering their profile and needs.
·
Integral
Ecology
1.
That the PLT
allocates province funds:
a.
To maximize our lands and farms using the sustainable agriculture
technology and turning them into ecological centers for learning and healing.
b.
To tap the use of renewable energy (solar, wind energy) and to create
facility for rainwater collection.
2.
That PLT creates a team to ensure the implementation and
monitoring of the programs.
·
Team Leadership
1.
That all persons in leadership practice the friendship model of
leadership (cf. John 13)
2.
That the PLT reorganizes the province secretary’s office to be the
communication center of the province.
3.
That PLT comes up with a practical mechanism to actualize
interculturality and integration of Philippines-Japan
At this critical point in our national
and global history, let us all be “Life- Giving Seekers” as we heed the call of
the prophet Micah ‘to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our
God’ (Micah 6:8).
With St. John Eudes and St. Mary
Euphrasia we move forward with courage, being transformed by love and passionate
for mission. We acknowledge the significant contribution of all partners in
mission, the efforts of the Preparatory Committee and the prayerful support of
our communities.
We are grateful to Sr. Brigid Lawlor,
our Chapter facilitator who also acted as the representative of Sr. Ellen Kelly
and the Congregational Leadership Team.
We thank Sr. Mary Regina Kuizon and
the outgoing Province Leadership Team. We welcome Sr. Mary Susan Montano, the
new Province Leader and her team who will be formally installed at a
Eucharistic celebration on June 29, 2020.
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