The Elementary Department of St. Bridget College in Batangas City celebrated Sisters' Day last October 21.
Sr. Florencia Tio RGS, principal of SBC- Elementary, on behalf of the pupils and faculty of SBC, sent invitations to Good Shepherd Sisters and those belonging to other congregations to attend the Mass and the program to mark the occasion.
(Photos: Courtesy of Sr. Teresa Danganan RGS)
Some 52 Good Shepherd Sisters representing various communities in Luzon participated in the event. Among the Sisters who came, besides the RGS in SBC Batangas, were from Good Shepherd Community, Euphrasian Community, Heart of Mary Villa, Tahanan, Bukid Kabataan, Welcome House and Maryridge. The Contemplatives from Tagaytay, Cebu and Butuan were also represented.
Sisters in initial formation-- those in the pre-novitiate and novitiate-- also joined the celebration. The presence of Sisters in temporary profession from Myanmar, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines highlighted the international character of the Good Shepherd Congregation.
Sisters' Day is an annual activity of the Elementary Department to awaken children's awareness of vocation to religious life.
This year's celebration began with a Eucharistic Celebration which was followed by a program that featured song and dance numbers from students, sisters and faculty members. Good Shepherd Sisters, led by Sr. Marites Mahinay, national vocation directress, also rendered a medley of current popular songs to the delight of the audience gathered.
After the program, held at the school gym, the sisters visited the students in their classrooms. The visits provided them with a venue for the interaction of sisters and students who asked more questions about the life of sisters and the ministry of the congregation. The children also gave gifts to the sisters.
In the afternoon, Sisters, students and their parents watched the presentation, "Peter Pan", held at the St. Bridget College Manuela Q. Pastor Auditorium.
St. Bridget College, which started as St. Bridget Academy in Batangas City, was established in 1913, several months after the first Irish missionaries arrived in the Philippines on October 4, 1912.
The Good Shepherd Sisters will celebrate in 2012 the centennial of the Good Shepherd presence in country, and in 2013 the centennial of St. Bridget College.
(Regina Kuizon RGS)
View: Photo Gallery - SBC Sisters' Day