Mary Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel: A Gift of God – A Labor of Love
Provincia Filippine - Australia - Saipan - Taiwan
Inserita il: 27/02/2014
7 commentario(i) ...
“How infinitely rich He is in grace!” (Eph. 2:7)
All of us, Pastorelle in the province, have dreamed for a long time to have a school chapel we could call our own. It was, in fact, also the earnest desire of Sr. Alberta Scalet, our first Italian missionary, and the ultimate wish of Sr. Innocenza (Maddalena) Turra before she died--to have a chapel erected in the school compound. However, we believe it was but part of God’s loving providence that He called Sr. ‘I’ (Sr. Innocenza) back to her real home almost two years earlier before her dream on earth was realized, so she could better intercede to Him for us.
From the early years that our first Italian Missionaries started the Congregation in 1965, the Sisters have been using one of the classrooms as improvised chapel both for the community and the school children. With the Department of Education and Culture’s memorandum advising to construct a separate building from the school, we utilized the open space for many years for the school monthly liturgical celebrations, until the time we were able to provide our school children with a gymnasium which served as venue both for varied academic and religious functions for the past 6 years.
With the very alarming weakening of moral values which JGSS was not spared of its serious and complicated problems besetting the society, among today’s youth in particular, we feel the urgency of bringing back the sense of the sacred in our midst by making our school again a praying community--a holy place, where all of us in the school community: Sisters, teachers, school personnel, students, alumni and parents, could come together more often for common worship for our much needed spiritual nourishment and strength to sustain us, co-partners in the pastoral mission. We are confident that with Mama Mary’s presence in our midst, to whom this chapel is dedicated under the title, MARY MOTHER OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHAPEL, more little angels will be coming in to our school to be formed by none other than Mama Mary herself, as she did with her Son, Jesus our Good Shepherd.
After almost 50 years of patient and hopeful waiting, the ‘hour of God’ has struck, the persistent prayers, sacrifices freely offered, and concerted efforts of all who generously contributed and lovingly labored to make this dream come true, was finally rewarded. The Blessing of Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel on February 12, 2014, marked the birth of a new beginning like a common celebration of life for all of us. Hence, there’s no better way to thank the Lord for this awesome gift of His love and mercy, than through the Celebration of the Eucharist presided by Most Rev. Reynaldo Evangelista, D.D., Bishop of Imus, together with the concelebrating priests from the Diocese of Imus and the Pauline Family. As sincere token of our gratitude to all who helped us bring this ‘Gift of God’ to its completion, from the Table of the Lord we proceeded to offer the agape of simple merienda to all present.
In faith we look forward to a better tomorrow for Jesus Good Shepherd School as the PI-AU-SA Province prepares for the celebration of our 50th year of pastoral presence in the Philippines in 2015. We believe the ‘best’ is yet to come from the Heart of Jesus, but this will only be realized if each of us coming in to this “House of God” will continue to allow ourselves to be purified by him--be truly converted and formed after the image of Mama Mary’s own Son, Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
So be it. Help us, O God!
“If the Lord does not build a house, then in vain do the builders labor.
And in vain does the watchman stand his guard, if the Lord is not his help.”
(cf. Ps. 127)
Pastorelle Sisters
Leggi i commenti
Sr.Candida
12/03/2014 | 22:09
Congratulation!
May Mother Mary bless all who visit this beautiful Chapel, and inspire more vocation to
the Church of today.
sr rosanna benedetti
05/03/2014 | 18:08
I appreciate your effort to build the Chapel for Imus school.
I am very happy and enjoy with all of you.
May Mary and his Son to help you in bulding the christian coomunity in Imus and around it.
May God bless you all.
sr Rosanna
Sr Mary
02/03/2014 | 04:14
It is a beautiful chapel. I have seen it with my own eyes. We share in the joy of this graced event and give thanks for every person, past and present, who has worked to make the dream come true. Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for all who will enter this sacred place!
sr. aida
28/02/2014 | 04:53
To God be the glory! To those who labored hard and contributed in whatever way they could towards the completion of this beautiful Chapel, thank you and congratulations. May our dream of making Jesus Good Shepherd School a "praying community" be realized.
sr Anna Genovese
28/02/2014 | 02:22
I rejoice with you for the wonderful dream fulfilled. May our Mother Mary accompany and protect each one of you. Congratulation!!! Anna
Pasquina Crepaldi
27/02/2014 | 17:03
Complimenti! E' uno splendore. Che Maria Madre del Buon Pastore protegga voi e ogni bambino che venendo a scuola possa imparare ad amarla come Madre. Un fraterno saluto a tutte sr Pasquina
sr Rita
27/02/2014 | 12:42
What a wonderful memorable long awaited day! Thank you for sharing something of the great joy and may our Blessed Mother Mary be your constant companion.
