4th Provincial Chapter – phase 2

Provincia Filippine - Australia - Saipan - Taiwan

Inserita il: 17/04/2018

2 commentario(i) ...

Quezon City 8-13 April 2018

Twenty Pastorelle Sisters travelled from the North and South of the Philippines, Australia, Saipan and Taiwan to gather for the celebration of the second phase of the 4th Provincial Chapter in the Provincial House, from 8 to 13 April, 2018.

The opening Eucharist was celebrated in our chapel and presided by Fr Rey Edward Reyes SSP. In his homily, he highlighted the relevance of the objective of the 9GC, and explained the meaning of pastoral as a movement toward the other, always attentive to the needs of the other, and that Mary exemplifies pastoral motherhood par excellence.

Mass was followed by the official opening of the Chapter. Singing the Veni Creator Spiritus, the capitulars proceeded to the meeting room carrying a candle, flowers and the Bible which was enthroned, and a short prayer took place. Sr. Arsenia then addressed the capitulars with a heartfelt message and, after each one had been called by name by the Provincial secretary, and responded “Here, I am”, she declared open the 2nd Phase of the 4th Provincial Chapter. The words she spoke, “How nice it is to start our Provincial Chapter within the octave of Easter, we carry in our being the experience of having encountered the Risen Christ and the joy in your heart is radiated in your face. May the light of the Risen Christ continue to shine among us during these days of our Chapter”, set the tone for the entire experience of this significant event in the life of the Province and the Congregation, and in the life of the Church.

At the conclusion of her opening message Sr. Arsenia introduced Sr. Purisima Tañedo as the Moderator for the Chapter. Sr. Purisima also led the capitulars in the spirituality day. She gave two presentations. The first one on the Gospel of the day, John 20:19-30 and the second focused on how God reveals his care for His people as father and mother, using seven biblical texts which are also the foundations of our pastoral motherhood.

For the proceedings of the Chapter, the twenty participants were grouped into four and given the names of the four significant women in the Old Testament: Rebecca, Rachelle, Ruth and Judith. They worked seriously, with high spirit of collaboration, participation and sacrifice.

Under Sr. Purisima’s guidance, the capitulars carefully examined all the documents given them; those coming from the 9th General Chapter and those produced from the First Phase of the Fourth Provincial Chapter. Through personal work, group sharing and plenary sessions, contents of those documents shed light which made it easy for the capitulars to accept and own the objective, the priorities and the lines of actions of the Congregation for the sexennial 2017-2023. With deep desire to deepen the prophetic gift of pastoral motherhood in our context, the modality of implementation of the lines of action of each area was carefully reflected upon and discussed both in the group and in the assembly. When the Chapter participants reached the final approval of the Provincial programmation for 2018-2023, it was really a time to celebrate with wine for it was a real experience of new life.

The conclusion of the Chapter took place in the context of a suggestive prayer service within which each capitular was once again called by name, and around the Eucharistic table where the Good shepherd continues to feed us. Fr. Alex Collera, OCD was the principal celebrant. Not by chance the Chapter ended on the first day of the novena to Jesus Good Shepherd.

The capitulars have now returned to where they came from, certain that there, the risen Lord awaits them, together with their fellow sisters to continue to “wake up the world” with the gift of pastoral motherhood, given to us.

Sr. Narcisa Peñaredonda SJBP

Leggi i commenti

Sr. Aida V. Virtudez

18/04/2018 | 08:54

Thank you Sr. Brenda for the prayers with which you have accompanied us during our Chapter and on the days to come. God bless us all.

Brenda balingsa

17/04/2018 | 11:13

Well done sisters. Congratulations. Very proud of you all. The Good Shepherd has truly blessed you. Continue to live the pastoral motherhood like mary.