Sr. Virgo marks silver jubilee as RGS

Submitted by regina on Sun, 06/08/2014 - 18:02

Sr.
M. Virgo Espineda celebrated her 25th year as a Religious of the
Good Shepherd during a Mass on Pentecost Sunday, June 8 at the Good Shepherd
Home in Naga City.

Presider
of the celebration was Fr. Vincent Concepcion, parish priest of the Nuestra
Señora de Catipanan (Our Lady of the Covenant) parish in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Present
during the celebrations were the members of the RGS Naga Community led by Sr. M.
Lea Comia, Sr. Virgo's mother and siblings who came all the way from New
Zealand and New York, USA,  the staff of Hablondawani Counselling Center and the girls in the residence.

Sr.
Virgo was born on July 11, 1962 in Sorsogon, Sorsogon City. She is the youngest of
five children of Felix Espineda and Consolacion Gabat.

She
studied elementary and high school in Sorsogon and finished Bachelor of Science
in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas in 1983. Responding to
the call to religious life, she joined the pre-novitiate in 1985, entered the
novitiate in 1987. On May 31, 1989, she made her first profession of vows in
Quezon City. Her perpetual profession of vows was held on May 31, 1994, also in
Quezon City.

Sr.
Virgo has helped in the different ministries in particular for women and
children of the Good Shepherd congregation as counselor, group mother, music
teacher, values education teacher, community organizer, program coordinator,
local community coordinator, among others. She has helped in the accompaniment
of trafficked women in New Zealand and has been involved in the ministry to
migrant workers in Italy.

 

Before
her assignment in Naga, she served as local leader of RGS Pagadian community.

 

Photo: Sisters sing St. Mary Euphrasia's Aspiration (Mithiin).

 

COME, HOLY SPIRIT, FILL THE HEARTS OF YOUR FAITHFUL AND ENKINDLE IN us THE FIRE OF YOUR DIVINE LOVE.
Introduction before the Eucharistic Celebration


by  Sr. M. Angelina Sanchez

This morning, as
we gather here, we celebrate three very special occasions. First and foremost,
we commemorate the first coming of the HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE APOSTLES which we
call PENTECOST. Second, the feast of BLESSED MARIA DROSTE ZU VISCHERING, a Good
Shepherd Sister born in Munster, Germany also known as SR. MARY OF THE DIVINE
HEART. Third, the blessing of the 25 years of our dear SR. MARY VIRGO ESPINEDA
as a Good Shepherd Sister.

Indeed today is
a day of rejoicing, a day of thanksgiving for the wonders God has done for
us,  a day of gratitude for God’s amazing
love and fidelity, a day of recommitment to this LOVING GOD. 

It is also a day
of special thanksgiving for the presence of the family of Sr. Virgo for giving
her with love  and generosity to the Good
Shepherd Congregation.  Today she feels
deeply  the intimate embrace of love and
support  from Mama and her siblings.  It is, indeed, a family reunion for them.

Photo: From left, Sr. Elenita Belardo, Sr. M. Angelina Sanchez, Mrs. Consolacion Espineda, Sr. M. Virgo, Sr. M. Lea Comia.

With deep joy we
join Sister today in thanking God for the gift of  her Good Shepherd  vocation . All these past 25 years have been
for Sister Virgo a passionate journey to God through a life of love and
zeal  for the poor, the oppressed, those
afflicted with human weakness. Because she herself has experienced the merciful
love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, she has given her life to the lost, the
strayed, the injured to bring them to the Heart of Jesus and restore in them
the beauty of God’s image and dignity of God’s children.  “United 
with all people in their struggle with sin and their need for
reconciliation,” Sister has witnessed among them the power of God’s mercy,
promotion of justice and peace, and integrity of creation.

Let us make
present in today’s  Eucharistic
celebration all those who have been a part of Sister’s life and transformation
and those whose lives she has touched especially the girls, women, families and
communities to whom she was a presence of Jesus the Good Shepherd. May the Holy
Spirit continue to set her on fire with love and zeal for the glory of God and
the salvation of persons.  Let us join
her in singing…

AS I SING MY HEART’S THANKSGIVING
AND  MY EYES LOOK HEAVENWARD… WHAT AM I
THAT YOU SHOULD LOVE ME AS YOUR DEAREST LOVE OF ALL.