The Philippine Province of the Good Shepherd belongs to an international congregation. It is linked to the other units in the congregation and is represented in international meetings and networking.
Congregational Assembly of Contemplative Sisters
The Congregational Assembly for Contemplative Sisters
(CACS) was held in Quito, Ecuador, Aug.
8-21, 2014.
The assembly was participated in by contemplatives from
the different units, provincials with contemplatives in their units and mission
partners.
The document, Focus for the Future, written during the 2008 contemplative assembly was
also reviewed. It will be recalled that during the 2008 assembly the contemplatives also approved their
recommendation to approve the Integrated Constitutions. At the 2009
Congregational Chapter, the delegates including the elected contemplative delegates to the chapter voted unanimously on the Integrated
Constitutions. This had implications on
the government structures of the congregation that created an apostolic and
contemplative councils that assist the
congregational leader.
Philippine delegates to 2014 CACS were Sr. Elena Jalop,
Sr. Ronafel de Leon and Sr. Regina Kuizon.
The 2014 CACS is
a preparation to the 2015 Congregational
Chapter 2015. Nine delegates were elected to the Chapter: Sr. Elena Jalop of the Philippines and Sr.Bridget Kanjirakattu of Southwest India for Asia
Pacific; Srs. Lilly Kunnanattu and Agnes Baron of the International
Contemplative Community for Europe/RIMOA; and Srs. Raquel Toledo of Canada and
Maureen Johnson of Mid North America for North America; Mirian Colala of
Ecuador, Luz Maria Chacon of Central America and Maria Jose de Lima of
Southeast Latin America for Latin America.
The delegates will attend their respective
intercontinental assemblies (ICA).
Leadership Training for Asia Pacific held in Kuala
Lumpur
The Province Leadership Team (PLT) of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the
Philippines and the leadership teams of nine other units in the region attended
leadership training organized by the Congregational Leadership Team in Kuala Lumpur from September 21-October 2.
The Philippine
PLT is composed of Srs. Regina Kuizon, province leader; Srs. Ananita Borbon, Ludila Panaligan,
Carmelita Arenas, Susan Montano (Apostolic Councillors) and Srs. Elena Jalop and Ronafel
de Leon (Contemplative Councillors).
The 54 sisters of the 10 unit leadership teams come from the
Provinces of Australia- Aotearoa New Zealand, Central East India/Nepal,
East Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar Thailand, Vietnam), Indonesia, Northeast Asia (
China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan), Philippines, Singapore-Malaysia,
South West India, Sri Lanka-Pakistan and Japan Sector.
Srs. Susan Chia and Elaine Basinger, with
Evelyn Fergus, Josita Corera, Melina Ong and Ronafel de Leon as planning
committee, facilitated the session. The
session uses a Co-responsible Approach to Leadership for Mission Today.
The leadership session uses an experiential and co-learning model. It is
experiential because it creates an open, trusting and positive
environment for leaders to share lived realities, challenges and hopes of
the future. It also enables leadership teams to relate and work together in
ways that will bring about mutual and trusting relationships.
The 2014 Congregational Leadership Session for Unit
Leadership Teams in Asia Pacific concluded with hope for greater solidarity and
cooperation in the region in the areas of justice and peace, formation, mission
development, and mission partnership.
Present during the sessions are CLT members Srs. Armelle Dehannault, Eliene Barros, Susan
Chia, Jude Ellen Golumbieski and Maria Teresa Pomar.
Asia Pacific ICA
The Asia Pacific Intercontinental Assembly was held iat Genting View Resort in
Malaysia from October 5-18, 2014.
Philippine Delegates are Srs. Regina Kuizon, Ludila
Panaligan, Corazon Demetillo, Alicia Andres, Clara Lina Loilo, and Ms. Maricel
Sevilla (Lay Mission Partner).
Sr. Rekka Chennatu, biblical scholar and currently
provincial of the Religious of the Assumption in Pune, India was the resource
person. She developed the themes of Moses and the Exodus, the Samaritan Woman, the Washing of the Feet
and the Good Shepherd story in the Gospel of John.
Each unit in Asia Pacific region is represented by a mission partner. The
Provincials and Mission partners also discerned on the two lay mission partners
who will go to Angers for the 2015 Congregational Assembly. Nine mission
partners from the five regions have been
invited to attend the first two weeks of the chapter. It was in 2003 that for
the first time six mission partners were present for five days at the
congregational chapter.
Sr. Brigid Lawlor and members of the apostolic and contemplative councils Sr. Susan Chia, Eliene Barros, Rita Lourenco, Armelle Dehennault, Jude Ellen Golumbieski, Reina Escobar and Ma. Teresa Pomar to attend the AP ICA.
The Philippine delegates to the Congregational Chapter
are: Sr. Alicia Andres, elected delegate
and Sr. Regina Kuizon, ex officio.
Sr. Elena Jalop will be one of two representatives of Asia-Pacific contemplatives.
The theme of the 2015 Congregational Chapter is, "Energized by the
Spirit, we risk together for mission." The Chapter will be held at the Good Shepherd Mother House in Angers, France from June 7 to July 2, 2015.
APC Circle of Province Leaders' Meeting
Sr. Brigid Lawlor and the Congregational Leadership Team attended the Asia Pacific Circle of Province Leaders meeting on October 4 and 17.
The province leaders present were Sr. Anne Manning of Australia- Aotearoa New Zealand, Sr. Sabina Pathrose of Central East India/Nepal, Sr. Regina Htoo htoo of East Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar Thailand, Vietnam), Sr. Catharina Supatmiyati of Indonesia, Sr. Marie Jean Bae of Northeast Asia (China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan), Sr. Regina Kuizon of the Philippines, Sr. Joan Marie Lopez of Singapore-Malaysia, Sr. Bridget Paily of South West India, Sr. Francine Muthugala of Sri Lanka-Pakistan and Sr. Elizabeth Takeda of Japan Sector.