JUNE 27th: Reunification through merger OLC and OLC Good
Shepherd
As one enters the Chapel, one gets the
significance of the occasion immediately for on the right of the altar wall is
a huge tarpaulin depicting the ICON for the reunification through merger of Our
Lady of Charity and Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. The icon pictures St. John Eudes and St. Mary
Euphrasia, founder and foundress of the two congregation celebrating the
reunification.
Sister Mary Patricia Perez gave the
introduction before the Eucharistic celebration which was officiated by Father
Ron Bagley, a Eudist priest and concelebrating with him were Father Bob, another Eudist priest and Father Rico,
O’Carm.
Sister Mary Patricia traced the
history of both congregation and the 7 years Journey of Enrichment the two
congregations went through.
And today was the culmination of that
Journey. On this feast of the Solemnity
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, rejoicing
in various parts of the world the union of Our Lady of Charity and Our Lady of
Charity of the Good Shepherd took place : the two Congregations became ONE.
reunification took place after Father Ron’s homily. Sr. Mary Cecilia Torres gave Sr. Stefania
Simona Aceti, OLC of Italy the Good Shepherd Constitution and RGS symbol. Then they both signed the Frame with the Icon
of Reunification which was also signed by all sisters, priests and guests
present, witnesses to this joyful event.
Photo: Sr. Stefania received congregational symbol from Sr. Cecile.
The concluding hymns of the Mass aptly
brought the spirit and reason for the celebration: “We are Companions on the Journey” and
“Welcome to the Family” as the RGS sisters gave Sr. Estefania a welcome
embrace.
JUNE 28th: Thanksgiving for Sr. Mary Cecilia Torres and
her Council
On the eve of the Installation of the
Incoming Province Leader: Sr. Mary
Regina Kuizon, the rite of thanksgiving
for the outgoing Province Leadership Team took place before Vespers.
Sister Sue
Sinense read the introduction saying:
“we raise to the Father through Jesus,
our Gratitude for all that has been for
Sr. Cecile’s humble self-giving as
servant leader for the past six years,
for the
Wisdom and zeal and dedication ,
together with her Council: Srs. Patricia
Perez,
Pilar Quemada, Ananita Borbon and
Marie Goretti Bool. We acknowledge the
love
And generosity of their service.”
Through the
song, I thank My God, the sisters expressed their sentiment of
gratitude which was followed by blessing the outgoing Province leadership team:
May
you walk with God in the daily unfolding
May
you live in God in His constant compassion
May
you increase in His infinite wisdom in His Passion for Peace
May
you walk with God and live in God and remain with God forever. Amen.
JUNE 29th: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul: Installation of Sr. Mary Regina Kuizon
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300 guests: RGS Sisters from different
communities, Priests, Sisters from other Congregations, family and relatives of
Sr. Gina, Partners in Mission, friends, and benefactors, were all excitedly present to witness the transfer of
leadership of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
(RGS) from Sr. Mary Cecilia Torres to Sr. Mary Regina Kuizon.
Presider of the Eucharistic
celebration was Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of the Archdiocese of
Lingayen-Dagupan and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines. He was assisted by Father
Fred Dulay of the Missionaries of Jesus and Father Ron Bagley of the
Congregation of Jesus and Mary and Msgr. Ding Coronel. Retired Jesuit friends Father Sim and Father
Rudy did not concelebrate but were seated with the sisters.
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Archbishop Soc was truly appropriately
chosen to preside for indeed he knows Sr. Gina well. It was he who brought Sr. Gina to the Good
Shepherd Novitiate. His homily was very
personal and directed to Gina as that of a Father. He challenged Gina with the color of the day
– RED – not for blood but for fire – to be on fire with love. Three things to
remember:
1.
From
all eternity, it was God’s plan that you would be Provincial, nothing to be
grateful to the delegates who elected you.
Ask for the grace of fidelity like Sts. Peter and Paul, not that you
would be like them, crucified or beheaded, but if it should come, embrace it with
love. Bawal sa RGS ang duwag, may lakas
loob, matapang kasi alam na hindi iiwanan ni Jesus.
2.
Ask
for the grace to be spirit filled always, enthusiastic all the time, always
with a sense of wonder, of mystery, on fire for God. Bawal tamad at kuripot, generous with yourself until there is no more
to give, no hesitation, no fear, without counting the cost; and
3.
Be
aware of your fragility, of sin, human weakness. Look at your own fragility, remember the
mercy of God and share with your sisters the compassion that comes from the
pierced side of Christ. Be like the
Shepherd, it is the care of the weak and the loss that will bring us to heaven.
If time should
come that you begin to ask questions if God has abandoned you, it is a time to quit, go to the Good Shepherd,
together walk with him for nothing is impossible with God.
The rite of transfer of leadership
took place after the homily. Sister
Cecilia Torres, after reading the ratification letter of Sister Mary Brigid
Lawlor, Congregation leader, confirming Sr. Regina’s election, took the symbolic
leadership candle and lighted it from the Province Chapter candle and gave it
to Sr. Gina praying:
After accepting
the candle and offered to our Blessed Mother, Sr. Gina recited her Act of Faith and Fidelity. She promised to “ strive to keep alive the
spiritual and apostolic vitality of the Congregation so that in union with
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, we may continue to be ‘Spirit-fired, we risk with
hope for mission.’” She signed the
Province Book in the presence of all and countersigned by the presiding
prelate, Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
In response the RGS sisters present
all stood up and renewed their vows and sang the aspiration of St. Mary
Euphrasia in tagalog.
Before giving the final blessing,
Archbishop Soc gave his last advice to Sr. Gina: Bawal ang masungit, urging her to be always
happy and on fire with love. Sr. Gina
received his assurance of support when hard times come. He can no longer take her back as he promised
when she was a postulant, but he can accompany her to the Heart of Christ.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, Sr.
Regina gave the context of choosing the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul for her
installation, thank all those who came and participated in the celebration and
invited all to a simple but delicious lunch.
- Sr. M. Marcia Mercado RGS