Two Good Shepherd Sisters
from the Province of Philippines-Japan will make their Perpetual Profession of
Vows on September 8 at the Good Shepherd Chapel in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
Photo: Srs. Mai and Hoa, with Sr. Emma, directress of Temporary Professed Sisters
Sr. M. Nguyen Thi Bach Mai
and Sr. M. Teresa Chu Thi Nguyet Hoa will make their perpetual commitment
during the Eucharistic Celebration to be presided by Bishop Paul Toshihiro
Sakai of the Archdiocese of Osaka. Several priests from Osaka and the Toyonaka
Catholic Church will concelebrate,
Their commitment will be
witnessed by Good Shepherd Sisters --apostolic and contemplative—lay mission
partners, family members and friends.
Photo: Sr. Therese Iitsuka, local leader of RGS Toyonaka, Bp Paul of Osaka and Sr. Regina Kuizon, province leader.
Sr. Goretti Vo, of Vietnam
(East Asia Province) who is in Japan to attend the ceremonies said that Sr. Mai
and Sr. Hoa, both Vietnamese sisters heard the call to be missionaries to
Japan. They went to Japan in 2007 to begin their formation, learning the
Japanese culture, especially studying the Japanese language.
In 2014 when the Sector of
Japan and the Philippine Province began the journey of unification, the sisters
were engaged in conversations, and communication became frequent that called on
the sisters to study English, the link language of the congregation, that
facilitated dialogue and eventual request for unification.
Sr. Ellen Kelly,
congregational leader, approved of the unification and on April 24, 2017
established the Province of Philippines-Japan, during simultaneous Masses in
Quezon City and Osaka, attended by sisters from the two countries. (Read message of Sr. Ellen about Unification) Sr. Ellen,
Sr. Yvette Arnold, congregational secretary, and the Province Leadership Team members
apostolic sister, Sr. Ludila Panaligan and contemplative Sr. Elena Jalop, and Unification Team member Sr. Tarcila Abano attended
the Osaka celebration while Srs. Frances Robinson, Jude Ellen Golumbieski,
Japanese sisters Regina Munemoto and Euphrasia Katoh with lay mission partner
Tanabe were in Quezon City for the celebration.
File Photo: Temporary Professed Sisters who were in the Philippines in 2018.
Srs. Mai and Hoa, were
sent to the Philippines for English language course with Sr. Natividad Lucero
and had their theological studies in Vietnam in 2018 and 2019. They, together
with Sr. Clara Loilo of the Philippines, were also part of the young sisters from
27 countries preparing for Perpetual Profession of Vows who were invited to go
to Angers, France for two-month session on “Love, the Heart of the Universe,”
organized by the Congregational Leadership Team. Sr. Clara will pronounce her
Perpetual Vows in the Philippines on December 12, 2019.
The three communities in
Japan – Toyonaka, Enzan and Sendai-- look forward to this September 8
ceremonies. The Province of
Philippines-Japan is composed of 20 apostolic communities and four
contemplative communities, whose mission is to express God’s mercy and
compassion. (View Maps of communities) The apostolic sisters have schools, residences and ministries for
families, especially women and children, while the contemplatives pray for the
intentions of the Church, and specifically for the work of the apostolic
sisters. PLT members who are in Osaka for the celebrations are Sr. Regina Kuizon, Sr. Ananita Borbon, Sr Carmelita Arenas, Sr. Ronafel de Leon. Sr. Emma Marzan arrived earlier to lead the Integration session of the two sisters.
Sr. Mai has been missioned
to Sendai community while Sr. Hoa will go to Enzan community in the Diocese of
Yokohama.
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| "A person is of more value than a world." - SME | Good Shepherd Statue infront of the Good Shepherd Convent in Toyonaka. |
