The Goal of Formation and the SPC Ministers

Transcription

DECEMBER 2011
Incarnating Christ in the World:
The Goal of Formation and the SPC Ministers
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CONTENTS
editorial1
GROUNDING THE IDENTITY OF OUR PAULINIAN EDUCATION
Sr. Gemma Moralita, SPC
19
MESSAGE FROM THE PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR
Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero, SPC
2
100 VOICES BRIDGE 100 YEARS IN 100 MINUTES by Sr. Bernadette Racadio, SPC
3
HEALTH CARE MINISTRY ADMINISTRATORS’ FORUM
Sr. Adelina B. Javellana, SPC
22
VOICES ABOUT THE ONE HUNDRED VOICES
A Peek Within One Thank You From One Hundred Voices
Sr. Connie Aletta Simbol, SPC
4
VIVA ESPAÑA! WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011
Vocations Fair
By Sr. Josephine Ramada, SPC
23
OLCC AND SPUQC TEAM-UP
Sr. Jean Rose Malfetria, SPC
Sr. Maria Socorro Marcos, SPC
8
SPCHCM: GO FOR LIFE!
Sr. Ma. Celeste F. Rivas, SPC
24
PRINCIPALS FORUM21
MOTHERS ON THE TAWID-TAWID BLOCKS Sr. Connie Aletta Simbol, SPC
10
SPC PASTORAL MINISTERS’ ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
Sr. Romina Manalaysay, SPC
25
“NURTURING THE EARTH… TRANSFORMING LIVES”
Sr. Auralita Intal, SPC
12
THE BEGINNING OF SPC PRESENCE IN ARITAO, NUEVA VIZCAYA
Sr. Pricille Lapuz, SPC
26
Faces of the SPC Disaster Team
Sr. Joyme Cabangbang, SPC
13
2011 JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS 14
NEWSBITS27
TWO FOR THE JOURNEY Sisters of St. Paul Who Are Blood Sisters
Sr. Ann Christine Moscoso, SPC
30
CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER15el
Sr. Recel Cachuela. SPCn2
PRAYER and the SPC33
Sr. Mary Cyril Corpus, SPC
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL IN ROME AND FRANCE
OBITUARIES36
16
NEW MISSIONARIES17
FRIENDS OF ST. PAUL 3RD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Sr. Adelina Javellana, SPC
18
SISTER MAURA’S CORNER 4
Sister Antoinette de St. Joseph Bengzon, SPC
37
DECEMBER 2011
EDITORIAL STAFF
Sr. Caritas de St. Paul Sevilla, SPC
Sr. Bernadette Racadio, SPC
Editors
Sr. Ma. Dee Lacson, SPC
Sr. Arcelita Sarnillo, SPC
Sr. Emily Louise del Castillo, SPC
Sr. Remedios Sandalo, SPC
Sr. Ma. Consuelo Celis, SPC
Coordinator Contributors
Our Lady of Chartres Convent
203 Provincial Road, Antipolo City
658-7505 to 06
II |
P.T. Martin
Publication Consultant
Mervin Concepcion Vergara
Art Director
Sr. Merceditas Ang, SPC
Moderator
Consultant
Two significant occasions are captured
by the cover: Christmas and the
100 Years of SPC Formation in the
Philippines. But more importantly,
the cover likewise capsulizes the
essence and goal of SPC Formation
translated and concretized in the
various ministries in the Philippines:
Incarnating Christ in the world. Thus,
what is a more appropriate image
than that of the nativity scene which
bears the incarnated Christ, and that
of the Potter’s Hands in the process
of molding and remolding the clay in
each of us as we go about Christifying
the world.
Editorial
Rejoice, Sisters of St. Paul,
Philippines!
To reach
100 years
alone is
enough
reason to
celebrate
because
this is a
rarity.
“With hands held in praise, with hearts full of thanks, let’s celebrate our roots, our lives today,”
goes the refrain of the tricentennial song, Rejoice! Sisters of St. Paul -- setting the tone and the
raison d’etre of the Sisters’ Concert, 100 Years in 100 Voices. Yes, it is One Hundred Years of
SPC Formation in the Philippine Province, and this indeed calls for rejoicing!
To reach 100 years alone is enough reason to celebrate because this is a rarity. But to reach 100
years of formation work is magnanimity magnified in one sweep, because it carries with it God
and people’s generosity through the years, through the countless faces that have come and gone,
in the midst of varied phases, paces, and places which have conjured through time and space,
to co-create with the Divine Caller, the called and the chosen in the religious life from 1911 to
2011!
Formation, from a wider perspective, is not just about the Sisters and their religious life. It
includes those who work with the Sisters in their various ministries, because they, too, help
shape-up the Sisters and vice versa. Their presence helps the Sisters discover, relish, and cherish
their gifts of being. And through a sharpened awareness of their process of becoming, they
can give themselves unreservedly to others and to God wherever they are assigned. Thus, the
celebration of 100 years of SPC Formation extends likewise to the SPC ministries of teaching,
healing, pastoral caring, and other expressions of the SPC charism that the Sisters are doing. It
even embraces the young and the old—from the aspirants to the aged Sisters in the Vigil House
and the Mère Monique Home—because every phase of religious life has its own flavor, favor, its
checkered hues, its own glories, its own plethora of possibilities—all leading to the joy and sense
of fulfillment in hoping to live God’s mystery of forever in the now.
In a sense, the spirit of Formation is the spirit of Christmas. Christ has exemplified supreme
magnanimity by entering our humanity with all its mess, so that He can lead us to the path of
His glory. By giving His life to us, He has modeled real selflessness and unconditional loving.
Formation teaches us that unless we put on Christ, unless we live Christ, our religious life, our
ministry has no meaning.
Let us rejoice, then, Sisters of St. Paul in the Philippines, for this magnanimous centennial event
celebrates our very root, our lives with Christ! Celebrating with us in spirit, no doubt, are the
first seven SPC Sisters who landed in Dumaguete City, the cradle of the SPC Congregation in
the Philippines, and the other foreign Sisters who followed suit, because they braved the sea,
the sun, and the wind to come to our shores to share with us their own formation. In the spirit of
gratitude and unity, therefore, let our voices blend with the 100 voices in concert thanking God’s
one hundred years of grace and blessing in our Congregation, in our country. Rejoice!
A blessed Christmas and a bountiful New Year to all!
Sr. Caritas de St. Paul Sevilla, SPC
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Message of the Provincial Superior
T
hank you so much for your
prayers, greetings of cheers and
wishes. I, too, have no other wish
but for this Christmas to be the best and
holiest for you!
Advent is the season in the liturgical
year, which is a preparation for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Word Incarnate, and I say, truly it is.
For me, it has an added dimension. It is
a transforming preparation, not only in
terms of being docile to God's will but
in being one with Him in His pains and
solitude. But I could truly, truly say that
never have I experienced the absence of
God's presence and love even in times
of hardships, discomforts, and pain. The
more He manifested Himself strongly in
moments of weakness and difficulties. I
could say then that Christmas this year
is something different. It has taken on a
new meaning, a new value, a message
full of mercy, thanksgiving, and hope.
Now I understand when an author said,
“That Christmas can only be understood
as the introduction to the Paschal
Mystery because Bethlehem is the first
step on the road to Calvary.”
My dear Sisters, as we welcome
Christmas this year, let our hearts be
filled with gratitude for this “all-enduring
gift of all gifts, a gift meant for all of us.
It is a gift that can never be exhausted for
it is meant to be shared. Jesus Christ is
the gift that keeps on giving.”
Christmas is a time of joy, for God has
entered into our world to draw us into
His presence. Let us share this joy with
our Sisters, with our families and friends.
Let us rejoice, “For the people who
walked in darkness have seen a great
light; upon those who dwelt in the land
of gloom a light has shone….For a Child
is born to us, a Son is given us… He
will be the Messiah: Wonder–Counselor,
God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of
Peace.”
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Christmas is a time of Hope …
Emmanuel has come into our midst. God
is with us! Even in the midst of stark
realities, of unending disasters ravaging
our country, and turmoil within brought
about by too much politics and thirst for
power, still we have all the reasons to
keep on hoping because God is faithful.
As the Holy Father, the late Blessed John
Paul II had said, “Hope has a face, a
name: Jesus Christ, God with us.”
My dear Sisters, let this Christmas be
a time for Jesus to be born anew in our
hearts. Let us ask for a heart that is pure,
a heart that reaches out to forgive, a
heart that is full of compassion, a heart
that is joyful, a heart that has patience
in waiting, a heart that can withstand
suffering, like Mary, who always remain
pure, undefiled, obedient to God’s will
and who suffered in the silence of her
heart. Because of this commitment
of Mary, declaring her fiat, her “yes,”
Christmas happened.
Let us pray for peace, peace in the world,
in war-torn countries, and especially
for peace here our country, our beloved
Philippines. Let peace ring in our hearts,
the peace that the Angels sung, “Peace
on earth goodwill to all mankind.”
Let us also continue to pray for our
brothers and sisters in Mindanao and
the Visayas, especially in Cagayan de
Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, etc., who were
victims of the recent typhoon Sendong.
It was a devastation and no matter what
help we give could never commensurate
the lives and properties that were lost
and damaged. As a Province, we are
consolidating all our efforts and are
collaborating with the Church, the civil
authorities, and non-governmental
groups, to address the needs of our needy
brothers and sisters. Maria Reyna Xavier
University Hospital is the center of our
operations for Relief, Medical Services
and Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing
(CISD).
I wish to thank our Sisters from all over
the Philippines who have volunteered
to assist our Sisters in Maria Reyna
Xavier University Hospital, in various
capacities, and also those who have
generously contributed in cash or in
kind. I am also grateful in a special way
to the Sisters who are in the helm of
the Province’s Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Team for their commitment
and leadership. Thank you dear Sisters
for your generosity and self-sacrifice.
With the Provincial Administration,
I wish you a blessed Christmas and a
peaceful New Year!
100 Voices Bridge
100 Years in 100 Minutes
How long was the concert again? Believe it or not__ just more
than an hour!
That is what the magic of the arts can do. That is what an
orchestration of music, poetry, and dance can achieve. Call it
complementarity. Call it a work of genius, modesty aside. Call
it by any other name, but the Sisters’ Concert, dubbed as 100
Years in One Hundred Voices, held at the Fleur-de-lis Theatre
of St. Paul University, Manila, on November 22-24, 2011 swept
off the audience’s feet in all the days of performance! And at the
end of every show was a rousing thunderous clap and a standing
ovation!
After Sr. Emily Louise del Castillo, SPC, Assistant Provincial
for Formation, gave her introspective introduction regarding the
event, who would not be touched by the opening salvo of it all,
not with “pomp and circumstance,” but with a solemn darkness
that gradually gave way to the shimmer of lighted candles in
varied hues melting the mist that enveloped the shrine of Our
Lady of Chartres onstage? Who would not be mesmerized by
the purity of tones on different levels coming from 100 Sisters
singing, Toi Notre Dame (You, Our Lady)? And as the singers
raised their candles higher and higher, who would not be
magnetized by their rich voices sampling the crescendo and the
decrescendo of fine music, and the Sisters’ firm fiat to Mary, their
Mother and Model?
Following another solemn darkness which ended the first scene,
the young Sisters on formation sang and danced, interpreting
Fr. James B. Reuter’s lyrics of The School of the Wooden
Shoes, set to music by Sr. Teresita Estrellita Orlino, SPC, and
choreographed by Dr. Pamela Ortiz-Bondoc. Garbed in the
attire of the peasants in Levesville-la-Chenard, France, the place
of origin of the SPC Congregation, the Sisters very colorfully
swayed and swirled so naturally and gracefully! Then the 100
Sisters came in again , and they sang two songs: 100 Years
Ago, the story of Formation in the Philippines, penned by Fr.
James B. Reuter, S.J., notated to music by Sr. Ma. Anunciata
Sta. Ana, SPC; Te Deum from the Prayers of the Church, and
composed likewise by Sr. Anunciata. An audiovisual presentation
on The Landmarks of our Origin at the side of the stage came
after.
The next breath-taking surprise for the audience when the
floodlights of the stage went on was the piano ensemble of
four sisters on four pianos interpreting Ryan Cayabyab’s
Nais Ko, arranged by Nhick Ramiro Pacis; and Ralph
Federer’s Rhapsody in D Minor. The pianists were: Sr. Ma.
Theresa Asencio, Sr. Ma. Corazon Querubin, Sr. Remedios
Sandalo, and Sr. Veneranda del Rosario. The dexterity of
their fingers and their aptness of timing were so precise that
one would not suspect eight hands on the keyboards because
they produced a singularity of sound and a richness of tones.
Kudos to our talented Sisters!
After another audiovisual presentation on A Day in the Life
of a Novice, six Sisters presented an organ ensemble, Hooked
on the Classics, arranged by Rosemarie Asencio-Jose, Sr.
Theresa Asencio’s sister.The organists were Sr. Ma. Theresa
Asencio, Sr. Corazon Querubin, Sr. Remedios Sandalo,
Sr. Nicole Dabalus, and Sr. Veneranda del Rosario. Their
pieces and rendition produced an uproar from the audience.
Organ Ensemble, “Hooked on Classics”
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“A Word, A Touch, A Look,” performed by Sisters in Formation
“Blue” with the Guitarists
Part III displayed the Sisters’ ease in
playing the guitar and the hand-drum: Sr.
Ma. Eden Orlino, Sr. Norma Michaela
Que, Sr. Evelyn Aguilar, and Sr. Cecille
Asuncion Cabahug accompanied the
young Sisters’ dance and song rendition
of three songs, namely, Every Heart Is
Ready and Blue written by Francisca
Quitoriano and put to music by Sr. Ma.
Eden Orlino, and A Word, A Touch,
A Look written by Sr. Lilia Therese
Tolentino, interpreted musically by Sr.
Sofia of the Infant Jesus Balena.
And then, the 100 voices lorded over
the last scene with their rendition of The
SPC Opus Magnus consisting of the
original compositions of the Sisters of St.
Paul of Chartres arranged by Eudinice
Palaruan. The veteran soloists, young
and old, like Sr. Estrellita Teresita
Orlino, Sr. Mary Sarah Manapol, and
others, came in and out to lend variety
and emphasis to the songs.
Finally, after a short AV presentation on
The Concert in the Making, the audience
got their surprise seeing five Sisters
holding the Gandingan (Sr. Evangeline
Anastacio), Dabakan (Sr. Cecille
Asuncion Cabahug),Agong (Sr. Agnes
Lawrence Catalan), and Kulintang
(Sr. Ma.Eden Orlino) positioned at
the sidestage, and Sr. Ma. Corazon
Querubin on the keyboard. They
accompanied the young Sisters’ song
and dance masterpiece, We Are Filipinos,
written by Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. and
given melody by Sr. Estrellita Teresita
Orlino SPC. The audience was put in a
quandary, as to where to focus their eyes
because both the center stage and its side
were performers par excellence!
We salute the conductors, Sr. Anunciata
Sta. Ana and Sr. Estrellita Teresita
Orlino; the accompanists, Sisters
Theresa Asencio and Sr. Corazon
Querubin; the assisting artist, Jenny
Joey Medina; the choreographers, Dr.
Pamela Bondoc and Winston Lopez;
the coaches, Edna Padilla, Jonathan
Coo, and Jenny Joey Medina. We
congratulate the coordinators, stage
managers, costumes and props. Special
kudos to Sr. Agnes Lawrence Catalan,
the ever-punctual and persevering
resident voice trainer of the young Sisters
in Antipolo including us, young once,
who tried her patience inadvertently, but
Sister always kept her cool. Singing with
her in this concert affirmed her openness
and optimism that we could sing well if
we wanted to and if we were serious to
learn. And we did learn and sing well! To
all the other unsung heroes and heroines
who made this performance a real opus
magnus, we are spellbound by your
generosity!
When the excitement had calmed down,
Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero, SPC, Provincial
Superior and Producer of this concert,
came in with her message of gratitude,
elucidating the essence of Formation and
its impact on the SPC ministries. She said,
“Formation is the school of the heart, the
school of interiority….” This put the event
in proper perspective.
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This concert was a real spectacle to
behold and to listen to!
Finally, we laud the indefatigable
director of the show, Sr. Ma. Eden
“We are Filipino” performed by Sisters in Formation
Orlino, SPC a composer, singer,
instrumentalist, and stage designer who
made the “miracle” happen! To direct
and block 100 Sisters on stage in only
about a week of formal practice, to
squeeze 100 years into 100 minutes of
performance, what more can we ask
from our direk? She must have done a lot
of reflecting and praying to the God of
Formation to make things happen. And
the good God nodded from the heavens!
On earth, Sr. Eden’s family of musicians,
especially Sr. Estrellita Teresita
Orlino, conductor, singer, composer
and formator; and another sister whom
we fondly call Manang Nadi (Edna
Padilla), an award-winning voice and
choir trainer, gave all their support to
their youngest ading. Congratulations.
We can not ask for more.
Kudos and thank God to the other
schools that housed us. To St. Paul
University of Manila through its
president, Sr. Lilia Therese Tolentino,
and its superior, Sr. Ma. Vicenta
Estrella, the SPUM Sisters, faculty, staff,
and personnel, thank you for the effort,
the generosity, and the home away from
home!
If there is one thing that lasts in this
concert of 100 voices, it is the experience
of oneness in joy, gratitude, charity,
and love which will hopefully become
a legacy beyond 100 minutes and 100
years!
Thank you, generous God, for one
hundred years, as we look forward to
another 100 years of blessing and plenty!
Thank You, Thank You!
A Voice about the
One Hundred Voices
A PEEK WITHIN ONE THANK YOU FROM THE ONE HUNDRED VOICES
S
ome agreed it was a “big
miracle.” The participants
considered it very enriching.
Family and friends who saw it said
it was a spiritual experience, and our
students described it as fun. Maybe
it was all these, but I consider the
concert, “100 Years in 100 Voices,”
as very special gift, an advanced
Christmas present from God because
of the many beautiful experiences I
had in it.
The concert was held towards the
end of the celebration of a hundred
years of SPC Formation in the
Philippines. The concert was an idea
of Sr. Lilia Thérèse Tolentino and
Sr. Maria Anunciata Sta Ana for
the Centennial of St. Paul University
Manila which was picked up for
the Centennial of SPC Formation
in the Philippines. God has made
this event possible in many different
ways through many different people
and events. These are the blessings
wrapped in this one big gift.
Thank you for our Leaders!
In her Message during the concert,
Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero, our
Provincial Superior, expressed her
thanks, among others, to the Sisters
who participated in the concert and
the members of their communities
who took over their work during the
practices and days of performance. I
am grateful to Sr. Zeta and members
of the Provincial Council, whose
presence and support affirm their
love and for having given us a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to sing our
songs and to deepen our relationship
with God and our Sisters. I am also
grateful for our formators whose
efforts over 100 years produced
thousands of SPC religious willing to
walk the path of Jesus in the spirit of
our founder Fr. Louis Chauvet.
Thank You for SPUM and other
SPC communities
Whenever we prayed in the Chapel
of the Crucified Christ at St. Paul
University Manila, I felt one with my
Sisters, both living and dead, because
in that chapel, I remembered, “This is
the first formal site of our Novitiate.”
My Sisters and I are also grateful
for Sr. Lilia Thérèse Tolentino
and Sr. Ma. Vicenta Estrella for
providing us with the venue and our
other needs for the final rehearsals
and the concert, and for all the
communities who have hosted our
weekend practices. Your generosity,
Sisters, inspired us to give our best in
thanksgiving for this great event.
Thank You for the camaraderie!
The concert was a time for me
to know better my Sisters in the
Congregation. It was a privilege
to interact with those Sisters from
other communities, especially those
assigned in Visayas and Mindanao,
and also a chance to reconnect with
Sisters who were still in formation
when we were starting our religious
life, but are now assigned in other
places. What drew us closer, apart
from the meals, the practices for the
dancers, and the short recreation,
were the groupings of the voices. As
an alto, I felt blessed to have Sisters
who were gifted with the memory
and the voice and who were always
willing to help us who knew only the
tone. For a minute we knew it, and
the next minute we forgot it (senior
moments). We enjoyed repeating
the notes with the help of our more
“experienced” Sisters. For me, it was
a concrete experience of fraternal
life, the concern of those who knew,
and the humility of those who readily
asked for help.
Thank you for the good examples
of my Sisters
Another aspect of community
that really dawned on me was the
example of our senior Sisters in the
choir. They had that inner strength
in them and they were disciplined –
the way they sang at attention, the
way they walked, talked, ate, and
prayed. That the choir was of mixed
ages was another blessing because of
the lessons I learned from the ones
older and the ones younger than I.
In a way, the concert also brought
100 Sisters from different levels of
formation and different formation
models. It also brought together our
own joys, dreams, aspirations, and
challenges as SPCs which we talked
about more deeply between the
practices.
Thank you for our musicians
I was also amazed how Sr.
Anunciata Sta. Ana, Sr. Estrellita
Orlino, and Sr. Agnes Catalan, and
| 5
Young Sisters musicians during the 1960’s
patiently taught us how to sing and
perform well. Sr. Estrellita taught
us to “activate” all the muscles and
body parts that would help us sing
better and bring out the beauty of
our God-given voices. Sr. Anunciata
had different techniques for each
day so we could give the quality
that she wanted from us. We were
all astounded as we watched the
piano and organ ensemble during the
final rehearsals. Truly, our Sister-
musicians made good use of their
God-given talents.
They, and all our gifted musicians
and singers, were the epitome of
patience and understanding to most
of us who were simply singers. So
that when Sr. Lilia Tolentino said
in her Welcome Remarks that the
participants in the concert were the
“crème de la crème,” I believed it
more in terms of perseverance in the
“The School of the Wooden Shoes” performed by the Sisters in Formation
6 |
singing and practices because all the
Sisters sang as well because they
were singing for the Lord.
I am also grateful to our other
musicians whose compositions we
sang in the concert, most of them
dead while some of them are no
longer with us in the community.
“The original SPC compositions
presented in the concert are fruits of
formation,” the Introduction says,
“SPC Opus Magnus” performed by 100 Voices
by way of relating how the “fever”
of composing songs for the liturgy
spread like wildfire in the SPC
community among SPC formands,
from the late 60’s, onwards, the word
of God, culled from the pages of their
journals.
Thank you for the gift of our SPC
Vocation!
During our stay in SPUM, our
enterprising Sisters from the
provinces and other islands scheduled
their trips to Manila earlier to be able
to go to Divisoria, to buy things for
the canteen, supplies for the schools
and hospitals, and gifts to be given
to Sisters. I realized then how each
Sister of St. Paul tries to do her best
in her mission place, especially for
the poor.
“That is one of the blessings of the
concert -- to be able to sell things at
much cheaper prices compared with
the stores around the school,” one
Sister told me. Then I realized how
a Sister of St. Paul is also simple
– doing things she never imagined
doing before she entered the convent.
Some enterprising Sisters also used
the free mornings during the concert
days to do some work. I was one of
those and I discovered -- the SPUM
community room as a working area
for the time being.” Some were
working on the computer, and some
were writing or making phone calls.
It was really a home away from
home with the SPUM Sisters very
welcoming and available.
The best part of the concert was the
time for prayer. Those were the
times I listened to God telling me
again how much He loves me and I
thanked Him for His love shown in
all events there in SPUM.
Thank you for Mary our Mother!
The first number of the concert was
our opening prayer and as we sang
Toi Notre Dame (“You, Our Lady”) a
song to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It
was a fitting start to pay tribute the
lady who first said “yes” to God and
thus showed us how true obedience
and to the Father’s will.
Thank you for the gift of
Celebration!
The rehearsals and the concert days
were also moments for celebration and
bonding among us, the participants.
First, almost every day, we had Sisters
in the choir who celebrated their
birthdays. Second, we had the feasts
of the saints, especially St. Cecilia,
the patron of musicians, and we felt
especially graced because we were
gathered during her feastday. And
third, we had each other to celebrate
every moment. When I said goodbye
to other participants in the concert,
I thanked God for each one. I said,
“Lord, this is your gift to me, to us.”
Sr. Maria Eden Orlino, our Concert
Director, ended her introduction with
the following, “The concert 100 Years
in 100 Voices is our simple Thank you
to the Giver of talents and treasure,
with immeasurable height, depth,
and width. The songs are just small
bites in the big perspective of the
music world, but everything is now
magnified because we are offering
them back to God.”
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Sr. Ana Maria Reyes, SPC Novice, with the Tawid-Tawid children
Sr. Eva Maamo, SPC, with the adult patients
OLCC and SPUQC Team-up
Sr. Jean Rose Malfetria, SPC and Sr. Maria Socorro Marcos, SPC
I
n line with the celebration of the 100 years of SPC Formation in the Philippines,
the SPC Formation Team, Sisters in the Initial Formation and the Provincial
Auxiliary Community in collaboration with De Salle University Medical Center,
St. Paul Hospital Cavite, Our Lady of Peace Hospital and other lay volunteers,
conducted a Medical-Surgical Mission with Feeding in Tawid-Tawid, Antipolo City
on October 1, 2011.
Armed with much prayer, the team braved typhoons Pedring and Quiel to deliver
medical, surgical, and pediatric services as well as laboratory examinations like
urinalysis, to 287 clients who were also provided with free medicines. While
consultations were going on, a session on waste management was given to medical
patients waiting in line. Apart from this, catechesis was given to 300 children who
were beneficiaries of the feeding program.
“If God is with us, nothing can be against us.” (Rm. 8:31) These words became
so real in our experience when we started the mission at 8:00 AM despite the dark
clouds and drizzling rain. We were deeply moved with compassion as we ministered
to the people whose faces mirrored the poor and suffering Christ. The team was able
to facilitate and manage the activities with much enthusiasm and fervor even in the
midst of the strong winds that brought down some of our tents and the rains.
We could only thank God for all that had been. It was He who saw us through. It was
He who willed the little miracles to happen. To Him be the glory!
8 |
Proposing Vocations
in the Local Church
Sr. Ma. Emily Bucot, SPC
“Proposing Vocations in the Local
Church” is the theme of the 48th World
Day of Prayer for Vocations which is also
the theme of the Vocation Promoters’
Assembly held at Our Lady of Chartres
Convent on September 1-3, 2011.
Sr. Emily Louise del Castillo, SPC,
in her welcome message, directed
the participants’ attention to the word
propose, not impose, emphasizing that
we can only invite, suggest, recommend
or put forward the idea of vocation,
especially religious vocation, but
only God can touch the heart of any
young lady to embrace religious life.
She presented for reflection the three
images of a vocation promoter namely:
sower, expectant mother, and shepherd.
According to her, a vocation promoter
is a sower who sows the seed and who
patiently waits till the seed grows. Only
God, however, can make the seed grow
at the right time. The Provincial Assistant
for Formation said that a vocation
promoter is a mother about to give birth
because promoting vocation is also a
Paschal event. There is a need to show to
the young that new life can only emerge
if one is able to feel and accept the pain
of dying to oneself. The third image is
that of a shepherd. Vocation promoters
need to have a close relationship with
God, the Good Shepherd. They are
entrusted with the delicate role of
shepherding those who are searching for
a deeper meaning in life.
Sr. Ann Christine Moscoso, SPC, in
her perspective setting, encouraged all to
pray for more vocations and presented to
the participants the desire of many who
thirst for the Divine and the vocation
promoters’ challenge to be catalysts in
bringing them closer to Him. The Church
is in search of shepherds -- selfless,
dedicated individuals who will take care
of their sheep and who are willing to
give themselves to God for the good of
the Church.
How can God be heard by many when
His voice and invitation are drowned by
the noise around and the values of the
Gospel eclipsed by the consumeristic
values of the world? Challenging the
participants, Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Santos,
keynote speaker and Vocation Director
of the Diocese of Antipolo, presented
the many difficulties vocation promoters
have. He emphasized that the person
of the promoter is a factor in promoting
vocations. The promoter must first and
foremost be genuine. “You wear your
habit, but does your habit co-relate with
your habits?” he asked. The promoter
must be convinced of the importance of
what he is doing, of the Church’s need
for more shepherds who will tend her
sheep. He must also be creative. Giving
estampitas, posters, and other give-aways
would not suffice, what with the presence
and influence of Facebook, Twitter
and other social networks. How can a
promoter make God’s voice and call be
heard above the din brought about by all
the social media? How will the young
be attracted to choose consecrated life?
Furthermore, the Vocation Director of
the Diocese stressed, the promoter must
include himself as part of the package,
part of the product’s quality. Good
witnessing is a must. How can one
attract people to love and follow Christ
when he himself does what is opposite?
Hardships and sacrifice will bear fruit
and will give meaning later on. He
encouraged those present never to give
up, no matter how challenging the tasks
may be, because everything is for the
greater honor and glory of God.
| 9
Mothers on the
Tawid-Tawid Blocks
A
few days after Christmas of
2003, on New Year’s Eve of
2004, a firecracker hit the head
of Lani Santillan and damaged her
eyes. She woke up in a hospital and
all throughout her confinement, she
was holding a rosary. That was all the
comfort she needed to face life without
the vision from her right eye. She would
have wanted to pray the rosary but she
couldn’t, for she did not know how.
“Dati, hindi ako marunong mag-rosary.
Noong naaksidente ako, hawak ko lang
ang rosary pero hindi ko nadadasal kasi
hindi ako marunong.” Eventually, Ate
Lani, as she was fondly called, was
discharged from the hospital.
That year, 2004, proved a year of
fireworks for Lani, not only because
she was hit by one, but also because,
when she fully recovered, she was made
the Coordinator of Block 5 at TawidTawid, a neighborhood near Our Lady of
Chartres Convent. As Coordinator, she
would gather the mothers of her block on
Sunday afternoons and wait for a Junior
Sister assigned to their block to lead the
rosary and facilitate the Basic Ecclesial
Community faith-sharing after the rosary,
all of which took place from 2:00 to 4:00
in the afternoon. After the faith sharing,
the group would transfer the image of the
Blessed Mother to another house where
it would stay for a week until the next
Sunday. With her children, Lani would
also begin her regular Sunday Mass
attendance at the OLCC chapel every
Sunday, a practice she keeps to date.
Another mother, Lumen Buque, agrees
that the community prayer introduced
by the Sisters is the number one factor
that has helped their community become
more united and their families more
Christ-centered. Lumen is the Core
Leader of all the six blocks in TawidTawid.
10 |
“Dati Sister, ang mga babae dito ay nagaaway, nagsasaksakan ng paying. ‘Yun
lang naman ang armas na meron sila,”
she relates. “Ngayon, parang nahawa na
kami sa mga madre, pinong kumilos at
madasalin.” She added that there are still
people who drink, gamble, and fight but
they are manageable. “Hindi na magulo
dito katulad noon, at ang mga bata at
pamilya hindi na napapabayaan,” she
says.
When asked how she was selected to
be the Core Leader of the whole TawidTawid community, she said at first, her
neighbors just pointed her out to the
Sisters. She added that she did not like
to refuse because the selection comes
from God.
Now, Ate Lumen says she finds joy
in welcoming the Junior Sisters every
Sunday and helping them in any way
she can. She has also found solace in
seeking the help of the Sisters in spiritual
and physical matters. Ate Lumen has
become acquainted with Sr. Felicitas
Bernardo, SPC, who, as Principal of
Our Lady of Peace School in Antipolo
City, started a school attached to OLPS
in Tawid-Tawid a couple of years ago
to give education to the young. “Pag
kailangan ko ng prayers Sister, nagte-text
ako kay Sr. Felicitas at awa ng Diyos,
talagang gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko,
tapos, ang problema ko, umaayos.” Ate
Lumen’s son entered the seminary of a
religious Congregation and is now on his
first year of studies.
For eight years now, different groups
of Junior Sisters in their first year after
first profession of vows, brave the oneo’clock-in-the-afternoon-heat to cross a
hill, the reason why the community was
named “Tawid-Tawid.” The first group
of Juniors who made their apostolate in
Tawid-Tawid were Sisters who made
their temporary vows in 2003.
Sr. Josephine Ramada, Juniorate
Directress from 2003 to 2007, said
they started the apostolate in TawidTawid after learning that Sr. Maria Dee
Lacson, whose group was undergoing its
spiritual renewal in 2001, “discovered”
and visited the place. After that, Sr.
Josephine said they first went to the area
to ask the residents their needs. “We
learned from them that the mothers
wanted to be catechized; so, we
scheduled catechesis and the praying of
the rosary on Sunday afternoons so that
the mothers would be free,” she said.
Eventually, the schedule was moved to
Saturday afternoons. She added that
when the Juniors started administering
to the mothers, they saw the need to
catechize the children as well. A Sister is
usually assigned to gather all the children
from each block and be with them for
lessons on the catechism.
What sort of training and preparation do
the young Junior Sisters undergo before
they are plunged into this apostolate?
Sr. Emily Louise Del Castillo,
Provincial Assistant for Formation
and Juniorate Directress, said that the
Summer Catechetics that the Juniors
attend for three summers help a lot in
their apostolate. The Theology classes
of the first year Juniors also give them
a solid foundation in the Catholic
faith, which they, in turn, share with
the mothers. Two years ago, Sr. Emily
introduced a BEC Session every Friday
night among the Junior Sisters to prepare
them for their mission of conducting the
weekly faith sharing in Tawid-Tawid.
On the first Saturdays of each month, the
Junior Sisters gather all the mothers in
one session and give them Catechesis.
Lani says that after eight years of being
a Block Coordinator, she has learned to
pray the rosary by heart and leads the
family rosary each night. “Kahit po si
Sr. Melleniza and Sr. Jean Rose prays the rosary with the mothers
Oliver, Sister, yung special child ko,
marunong mag-rosario,” she says. Over
the years of attending the block rosary
and faith sharing, Lani says she has also
noticed changes in her attitude. Where
before she used to nag her husband and
her children a lot, now she says she can
say things in a nice manner. She has also
avoided saying bad words and teaches
her children not to say bad words. She
has also learned to be more charitable.
“Dati, wala akong pakialam; kung ayaw
mo sa akin, ayaw ko rin sa iyo. Ngayon,
kung masama man ang loob mo sa akin,
babatiin pa rin kita.”
Being involved in these spiritual
activities also has challenges. Lani
says that her being involved in this
apostolate sometimes draws out jokes
form her husband and friends. “Sinasabi
nila sa akin, Lani, bakit hindi ka na
lang mag-madre,” she says. Despite
all these jokes, she remains steadfast in
her mission as block coordinator and a
devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On the whole, Lani describes her
experience in praying and working with
the Sisters as “happy.” “Marami akong
natutunan – humingi ng tawad, huwag
magtanim ng galit, kasi nga nagsisilbi
sa Diyos,” she adds of her conversion
experience.
In a way, the involvement of young
Sisters in formation in the lives of their
neighbors in Tawid-Tawid shows how
the SPC Formation Program has evolved,
especially in response to the needs of
the times and the needs of its formands.
Thus, as the Sisters of St. Paul celebrate
the first centennial of formation in the
Lani, (center) listens to the monthly catechism conducted by the Junior Sisters
Philippines, it has included the residents
of Tawid-Tawid in its outreach activities
such as medical and surgical mission and
feeding. The people of Tawid-Tawid
have been and continue to be part of
every young Sister’s life and mission.
The dreams of the people, they make
their own.
Lest we think that the experience of joy
and conversion comes only from the
people they administer, the Junior Sisters
who serve the Tawid-Tawid mothers and
children and their families attest that
this apostolate is one of their “Galilee”
experiences, something they would
always look back to with joy. Needless
to say, the Juniors say that the feeling “is
mutual” with regard to the grace-filled
experiences of the mothers in TawidTawid.
Sr. Donna Belle Cadigal, SPC, a fifth
year Junior Sister, says that their weekly
apostolate gave her an opportunity to
practice one of the five priorities of the
Philippine Province, Direct Service
to the Poor. Sr. Donna Belle’s group
made its apostolate in Tawid-Tawid in
2008-2009 as first year Juniors. “As I
went out of the convent every week, the
experience gave me an opportunity to
see beyond myself; to be in touch with
the many poor around me and see the
many portraits of Jesus in them.” Since
the Juniors walked to and from TawidTawid, Sr. Donna Belle added that it gave
her and the other Sisters “time to bond.”
She also said it gave her an opportunity
to work with her Sisters, especially
during Advent and Lent when they would
organize and conduct Recollections for
the mothers.
Sr. Gella facilitating the BEC session of the
mothers in her block
It is always said that the Sisters should
be able to empower the people they
work with and work for so that when
they are ready, the people, may, in turn,
continue the work themselves. When
asked if they feel they can manage now
that they have been with the Sisters
for eight years, they say with a smile,
“Siyempre, Sister, mas maganda kung
may madre, may patuloy na gumagabay
at pag nawawala ang madre, maraming
pumapasok na ibang relihiyon.” Reason
enough for the Sisters to continue their
weekly “pagtawid-tawid” to TawidTawid for the mothers on the TawidTawid Block!
| 11
“Nurturing the Earth…
Transforming Lives”
T
his time, the tables were turned.
On February 12-16, 2011, 145
Sisters from 90 Congregations all
over the country met at the Carmelite
Missionary Spirituality Center in
Tagaytay City, to be “formed” into
“nurturers of Mother Earth,” and I was
blessed to have represented the SPC
Congregation.
Our group, known as the Association of
Women Formators of the Philippines,
meet yearly to discuss how best we can
help the Sisters we are accompanying
and at the same time, contribute to the
most pressing needs of the times.
Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara,
was the keynote speaker he presented
three major points: the ecological crisis,
our prophetic role and the participation
of the religious. He emphasized that
“if you want to cultivate peace, you
must protect creation.” He also read
to us the Pastoral Letter of 2010 on
the “Protection of the Environment,”
with the call of Vigilance to the plight
of the poor and the farmers and to be
instruments of healing and protection
of the environment. He shared the
projects of the different Congregations
in nurturing the environment: The
Assumption Sisters have a proactive
development program, the Franciscan
Sisters their Eco Spirituality Center and
the Canossian Sisters have many projects
on the care of creation.
Fr. Orley Sapuay, MS, gave a
theological foundation in Nurturing the
Earth through his talk on, “The Holy
Trinity: Well-spring of Formation
Ministry and Spirituality.” He focused
on the relationship of the Holy Trinity
and its on-going role in our life and on
creation.
Sr. Leticia Garcia, DC, gave two
presentations, Creation Principles and
Formation of Women. She emphasized
that we will find our Creator where we
are. There can be no inter-relatedness
unless we are different from others;
hence, we should not fear being different.
The differences among formands should
not be denied. Uniformity makes
identity, but our own values and virtues
build up our interiority.
In the afternoon, she focused her
presentation on “Living Out the Vows in
the Context of Environmental Crises,”
emphasizing that “we adapt the living of
the vows to our present milieu, not for
oneself but for the poor.” She cited this
analogy, “A religious has a pair of shoes;
the poor has none: we live according to
a budget; we made the vows but it is the
poor who lives it.” She defined poverty
as our call to care for material property
for the good of the poor. The virtue of
charity is over and above our vow of
poverty. The more relevant we are, our
life and mission, the more vocations we
will have as a Congregation. Poverty
also demands justice, respect for things.
She cited the building of SM Baguio,
where 700 pine trees were cut down.
Obedience is the call to listen to and
follow the laws of nature. Chastity
demands an integrated sexuality which
respects the feminine principle for a
wholistic formation.
Carmenia Lourdes “Chin-Chin”
Gutierrez emphasized on Environmental
Advocacy, presenting problems of the
environment and what we could do as
individuals and as a Congregation.
At the end of that afternoon, I joined
PDDM and Pastoreli Sisters for the
sharing and action planning and share
what we are doing in OLCC, with the
involvement of our formands, in saving
the environment. We resolved as a
group to plant more trees, continue waste
segregation, and composting.
On the fourth day, we went to CELL
(Center of Ecozoic for Learning and
Living) and to Calaruega.
On Day 5, we had a day of integration
and the induction of a new set of officers.
Sr. Auralita Intal (standing,
in gray habit) with several
members of AWFP
12 |
SPC Bocaue reaches out
to Calumpit, Hagonoy
typhoon survivors
Ernie Guillermo
Faces of the SPC
Disaster Team
“…But You are the God of the lowly, the helper of the
oppressed, the supporter of the weak, the protector of the
forsaken, the Savior of those without hope.”
Judith 9:11
The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres Philippine Province,
in its desire to consolidate and strengthen its response
as a Province to the disasters that plague the country, reorganized its Disaster Team and came up with the Disaster
Risk Reduction Management on August 9, 2011. A core
team, sub-teams, and committees for each region in the
country were also organized for a unified and dynamic
response as well as fast delivery of services.
Responding to the Bulacan Victims
Sr. Joyme Cabangbang, SPC
These words inspired the SPC Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Team (DRRMT) of Luzon II to went to
Calumpit, Bulacan on October 4, 2011 for food and
clothing distribution, after the onslaught of typhoon
Pedring. It was spearheaded by Sr. Arcelita Sarnillo,
SPC, Provincial Assistant for Health, Sr. Emily Louise
del Castillo, SPC, Provincial Assistant for Formation, and
Sr. Ma. Nilda Masirag, SPC, St. Paul University Quezon
City President, with the help of the High School Parent
Officers, University Staff, students and SPC Junior Sisters.
At the two relocation sites, goods were distributed to
families while the Junior Sisters interacted with victims
who were mainly distraught over what had happened to
them; yet, they still believed in God’s providential care.
A few lost their loved ones while many lost their homes.
They still expressed their faith and trust in the Lord,
whose presence they felt through all the people who came
to help them in their hour of need.
After hearing the heart-rending stories and grateful
expressions of the typhoon victims, the team left the place,
filled with thanksgiving for a rewarding day. We were
indeed given the opportunity to see His face among those
people who might have appeared to have nothing and yet,
in our eyes, had everything. They had God on their side,
whose mercy and generosity knows no bounds, and whose
love is limitless. They have Him, who will never forsake
them, with the assurance that, “I am with you always until
the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:9-10)
As a response to the hapless conditions of the typhoon and flooding survivors
in Calumpit and Hagonoy, both low-lying towns of Bulacan, St. Paul College
of Bocaue distributed over 600 packs of assorted food items and clothings on
October 25, 2011.
The goods were brought to the survivors by volunteer teachers and students led
by Sr. Bernadette Racadio, SPC, the School Directress and High School Principal,
and Sr. Ma. Gemma Moralita, SPC, the Christian Formation Head and Outreach
Coordinator.
Calumpit and Hagonoy were badly hit by tropical storm Pedring which caused
these low-lying towns over a month of flooding since the typhoon made a land
fall on September 27, 2011. Appeals for help were floated on the Internet and in
social networks including the famous Facebok and Twitter. Reliable sources also
passed on the appeal for help via text messages, including those coming from the
clergy in the affected towns.
Bulacan officials described “Pedring” as the worst typhoon that ever hit the
province in recent memory. At least 10 people died, the most number of fatalities
in a single province, and the damage to properties was estimated to almost
breach a billion pesos. The entire province was declared under state of calamity.
Burst dikes and water released by authorities from dams that reached critical levels
isolated many parts of the province for some weeks.
Though Bocaue was also hit by flooding, the town was able to recover in just a few
days as the water subsided in a matter of hours. Moved by the calls for help, SPCB
immediately raised some goods by making appeals to students and parents to
give voluntarily for the survivors. A mass was held were the goods were offered.
More goods were generated even during the Investiture Ceremonies of the CAT
Officers as all the 4th Year students were requested to give more goods for the
outreach project for Calumpit and Hagonoy.
Even the officers of the Paulinian Family Circle of St. Paul College of Ilocos Surr
were able to bring relief goods for the victims when they visited SPCB for their
benchmarking and exchange program activities on October 14, 2011. They also
donated a check of P10,000.00 for the purchase of additional goods for the victims.
Rev. Fr. Gerry Fortunato, the Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in
Calumpit gladly received the convoy of relief goods and brought the group to San
Miguel, Calumpit for distribution. Local leaders were immediately notified by Fr.
Gerryand the recepients were already lined up when SPCB Outreach Volunteers
arrived. About 400 families received a pack of rice, noodles, canned goods,
toiletries, including clothings from the SPCB community.
Meanwhile, a week after the distribution in Calupit, over 200 packs were sent to
Hagonoy, through the Parish and National Shrine of St. Anne.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 59
deaths and damage to property at P8.8 billion for the combined destructive
effects of “Pedring” and “Quiel,” another typhoon that followed “Pedring.”
Rev. Father Gerry Fortunato, Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Calupit
receives the Sisters led by Sr. Bernadette Racadio, SPC, Directress-High School
Principal, when teh group paid a courtesy call for the distribution of relief goods to the
typhoon and flooding survivors.
| 13
April-May 2011 Renewal Group (5, 25, 30, 35
years from entrance to Novitiate)
Silver Jubilarians 2011
June-July 2011 Renewal Group (40, 45, 50, 60 years
from entrance to Novitiate)
2011 Jubilee Celebrations
The celebration of Silver, Diamond and Golden Jubilees is
always a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the Sisters
of St. Paul of Chartres. Yearly, two Jubilee celebrations,
one for the Silver and another for the Diamond and Golden
Jubilees, highlight the 40-day Spiritual Renewal Program of
our Sisters under Sr. Teresita Estrellita Orlino, Directress for
Continuous Formation. The celebrations are held at Our Lady
of Chartres Convent in Antipolo.
The Silver Jubilee was held on May 7, 2011. The year’s Silver
Jubilarians: Sr. Mauricia Hofeleña, Sr. Evelyn Aguilar, Sr.
Nenita Leonardo, Sr. Maria Theresa Asencio, Sr. Azucena
Nate, and Sr. Maria Consuelo Celis.
Most Reverend Socrates Villegas, DD, Archbishop of
Lingayen-Dagupan was the Main Celebrant and Homilist
during the Silver Jubilee Celebration.
On July 16, 2011, eight Diamond Jubilarians marked the
sixtieth year of their entrance to the Novitiate in 1951.
Four attended the ceremonies in OLCC: Sr. Emilienne de
Jesus Mendoza, Sr. Marie Blanche Amando, Sr. Eugenie
de Marie Madronero, and Sr. Marie Christine Suarez.
Golden Jubilarians 2011
14 |
Three celebrated their Jubilees in the SPC Vigil Houses: Sr.
Madeleine Sophie Ravelo, Sr. Julie Thérèse Tecson, and Sr.
Mary Ignatius de la Rosa. The eighth Diamond Jubilarian,
Sr. Gemma of the Cross Barcena, passed away a few weeks
before the Jubilee celebration.
On the same date, 13 Golden Jubilarians celebrated their
entrance to the Novitiate in 1961. Nine were in OLCC for
the celebration: Sr. Mary Loyola Marcelo, Sr. Catherine
Thérèse Guiuan, Sr. Marie Valerie Alonzo, Sr. Mary Philip
Galeno, Sr. Marie Pierre Marañon, Sr. Angelica Castor, Sr.
Cecilia Andrea Perez, Sr. Anna Domingo, and Sr. Francis
Mary Mortola.
Two Jubilarians marked their Jubilee in their mission countries:
Sr. Anne Charles Sia, missionary to the United States, and
Sr. Clemence Marie Mira, missionary to Hawaii. Sr. Xavier
Bual and Sr. Gertrude of the Sacred Heart Jamias celebrated
their Jubilees in the SPC Vigil Houses.
The main celebrant and homilist for the Diamond and Golden
Jubilees was His Excellency, Most Reverend Gabriel V.
Reyes, D.D., Bishop of Antipolo.
Diamond Jubilarians 2011
Formands
Christmas Get-Together
The annual Christmas Get-together on
December 20, 2011, was subdued yet still
of joy in anticipation of the birth of Jesus.
The celebration started with a meaningful
year-end liturgy that presented the activities
undertaken during the centenary of SPC
Formation in the Philippines. The liturgy
also ushered the Sisters to feel the abiding
presence of our Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, our
God-with-us. In the liturgy, the Sisters also
remembered with gratitude and honor our
visionary leaders, Fr. Louis Chauvet and
Bishop Frederick Z. Rooker; the First Sisters
in Levesville; the seven pioneer SPC Sisters
in the Philippines; our Congregational leaders
and Formators; and all the Sisters who have
gone before us. We continue to ask for their
intercession, together with that of our Blessed
Mother and St. Paul, as we endeavor to be the
bearers of Christ to our brethren, especially
our poor brothers and sisters.
SPUQC Community
Presentations from the different communities
followed after lunch. The Sisters in
Formation, with the special participation of
the Formators, made a creative presentation
of the 2011 Revised Mass Text. Our Sisters
from the Vigil House, led by Sr. Mary Angela
Barrios with their Christmas greetings,
entertained the Sisters with their songs,
dances, and a tableau of the Holy Family.
The community at St. Paul Hospital Cavite
rendered a dance number with their graceful
moves and simple yet colorful costume.
St. Paul University Manila mesmerized us
with a dance number from our Vietnamese
Sisters and led us to a deeper reflection on
the mystery of incarnation. St. Paul College
Pasig with Cardinal Santos Medical Center
presented a beautifully-choreographed dance
with colorful flamingo costume and beautiful
props. St. Paul University Quezon City and
St. Paul College Makati traced the history of
the then St. Paul College Quezon City with
Sr. Recel P. Cachuela, SPCn2
the Sisters in costume as grade school and
high school students and Sisters in the black
habit.
The Christmas message of Sister Zeta
Caridad Rivero was read by Sr. Merceditas
Ang, Porvincial Assistant for Education.
There, Sr. Zeta led us to a reflection on
Advent and Christmas, despite challenges
to her health. It resonated with my own
feelings of joy and pain. I was happy with
the presence of my Sisters and for all the
blessings that continue to pour our way, yet
I felt a twinge in my heart for the survivors
of the recent typhoon Sendong. I realized
that times may be difficult, yet there is
always reason to celebrate because God is
with us and dwells among us. The grace of
God is sufficient for us. Hence, even amid
the challenges, we welcomed with joy the
coming of our Lord.
SPC Vigil House Sisters
| 15
SPECIAL
Tracing SP C Roots
Spiritual Renewal
In 2011, the General Council has scheduled four Spiritual Renewal periods of
one month each with the hope that the spiritual experience on an international
level will give a renewed awareness of the demands of the Sisters’ religious
consecration and increase the spirit of unity among the participants and all
Sisters.
The following were the dates for Renewal: April 3--May 5, 2011; May 11-June
13, 2011; September 4-October 6, 2011; and October 12-November 14. Two
groups began their renewal in France while two began theirs in Rome.
The following Sisters participated in the Spiritual Renewal:
First Group: Sr. Mary Aurelie Cortes, Sr. Vivina Margarita Init, Sr. Norma
Torres, and Sr. Gaudelia Baluyot
Second Group: Sr. Paulina Maria Dy, Sr. Madeleine Joseph Galvan, Sr. Maria
Eden Orlino, Sr. Gloria de la Cruz, and Sr. Carmelita Villanueva
Third Group: Sr. Lolita Leonita Bomongcag, Sr. Aurora Averilla, Sr. Virginia
Charlon, and Sr. Milagros Jugar
Fourth Group: Sr. Susana David, Sr. Rosita Ermalin Racoma, Sr. Ophelia
Santiago, Sr. Maria Pagulayan, Sr. Ma. Danilla Garces, Sr. Ma.
Teresa Gabriel, Sr. Rosario Piguing, and Sr. Dolores Garde
The Second group of Renewalists in
front of the Mother House in Chartres
16 |
NEW MISSIONARIES
I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost.
1 Corinthians 9:22
As Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, we keep alive our missionary daring which impels us to be available for the
service of all.
In this spirit of missionary daring, eight missionaries were prepared and sent off to foreign shores from the
Philippine Province in 2011. Seven of the eight new missionaries were in Our Lady of Chartres Convent in
Antipolo for a Mission Orientation Program under Sr. Teresita Estrellita Orlino, Directress for Continuous
Formation to prepare them for their mission to Hawaii in the United States and In Jerusalem.
The new missionaries are:
Ireland
Sr. Marcelle Thérèse Bual
St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Parish,
Mililani, Hawaii
Sr. Alma Esmero and Sr. Jane Tion
St. Anthony School, Honolulu, Hawaii
Sr. Jennifer Dayday and Sr. Anielyn Delicana
Jerusalem
Sr. Regina Cobrador
St. Joseph School, Waipahu, Hawaii
Sr. Fidelia Villa and Sr. Judith Abique
| 17
Friends of St. Paul National Assembly
Sr. Adelina Javellana, SPC
O
ctober 22-24, 2011 were
memorable days for the Friends
of St. Paul (FSP) in Mère Monique
Home (MMH), Iloilo City. One hundred
eighty-five (185) participants, Sisters
and lay, coming from our different
communities all over the country, found
themselves in the beautiful, friendly and
warm ambience of our Mère Monique
Home welcomed by the Friends of St. Paul
Steering Committee led by Sr. Arcelita
Sarnillo, SPC, our FSP over-all coordinator
and our FSP local coordinators and Sr.
Mary Philip Galeno, SPC, MMH Superior
and by her community of aged yet
active and young-at-heart Sisters. Our
participants were indeed true to their
name, Friends of St. Paul because, as one
group after another arrived, there was
so much excitement meeting Sisters as
well as friends from other communities.
It seemed that two years ago, after the
last assembly, was quite a long time that
“hellos and how are yous” were unending
to fill the gap of time and distance.
“Perhaps, this was what the communities
exactly felt every time St. Paul set out for
his mission or arrived from his missionary
journey.” We were all welcomed by a
sumptuous dinner prepared by St. Paul’s
Hospital and the St. Paul University, Iloilo
community.
The first day of the assembly opened with
a laughter-filled “official” welcome done
by Sr. Mary Philip Galeno, SPC, followed
by the Perspective Setting of Sr. Arcelita
Sarnillo who enumerated the assembly
objectives. The general objective was to
bear witness to the Gospel in our daily
life, wherever we find ourselves, while
the specific objectives were: to deepen
our understanding of our mission of
proclaiming the Word of God based on
one’s baptism; to cultivate a prayerful
reading of sacred scripture – lectio divina;
to develop a deeper appreciation of the
relationship between Word and Eucharist;
and to re-affirm with generosity our
commitment to serve the Word of God,
Jesus, in the least of our brethren.
Sister Mary Rosella Faypon, SPC,
gave the first conference on Lectio
Divina, which focused on its meaning,
origin, importance and purposes,
and methodology. She gently but
emphatically shared this “spiritual
18 |
reading” or “reading the word of God,”
which means more than simply reading.
With Scriptural texts, in moments of
reading and reflections, in prayerful music
or silence, the assembly literally went into
the very experience of reading, listening,
praying, meditating and even “desiring
deeply to live out” the Word of God. The
whole experience was not easy for most,
but it stirred up a big challenge in both
the will and the heart to beg the Spirit
humbly for guidance, enlightenment,
discernment, patience and perseverance.
It is a daily invitation and the decision
to make it, a “part of one’s life” as a daily
commitment as well!
We were also fortunate to have with us
Msgr. Jose Marie Delgado, a sought for
speaker, professor, formator and parish
priest, who shared with us the theme
of the assembly: “The Word of God and
the Lay Faithful in the Church Today.”
Msgr Delgado based his sharing on
the Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
(Verbum Domini) of the Holy Father,
Benedict XVI, to the Bishops, Clergy,
Consecrated Persons and the Lay
Faithful on the Word of God in the life
and mission of the Church. It is, “ along
these lines that the Synod called for
a pastoral commitment to emphasize
the centrality of the Word of God in the
Church’s life and recommended a greater
biblical apostolate, not alongside other
forms of pastoral work, but as a means
of letting the Bible inspire all pastoral
work. Furthermore, as he stressed on the
Trinitarian Life as the basis of communion
in the Church, he affirmed the Church’s
mission to evangelize and to radiate a
people “made ONE with the UNITY of
the TRINITY.” It was quite a heavy reality
presented to us, but it deepened and
widened our participants’ perspective
of the Church’s life and mission with the
TRINITY as the source and model: The
Church, -- being the People of God, Body
of Christ and Temple of the Spirit! The
first day was a day of personal prayer,
reflection and a Holy Hour, as all the
participants observed silence even at
mealtime to relish the input received on
the Word of God.
The second day became more inspiring
and challenging with Fr. Ramonito
Maata, a true-blooded Paulinian, gifted
with effective communication skills
and love for music and catechesis, who
dynamically shared on “The Word of God
and the Eucharist.” He pointed out the
essence of the Word and GOD, the Word
and Humanity, Scripture as the word of
GOD, the word in the Liturgy, and finally,
with great emphasis for a deepened
understanding and appreciation, of
the WORD and the EUCHARIST. He
not only explained comprehensively
the different parts of the Eucharist
and their significance, but thoroughly
discussed the theological foundation of
the Eucharist. It was another profound
sharing, very much value-laden and
enriching. These feedback and insights
were well expressed during the group
sharing the participants had with their
respective local communities and cluster
coordinators. It was really soul-searching,
as realizations and resolutions were made
from the conferences and sharings.
After dinner came the socials where
all participants presented their talents
and giftedness in well-prepared dance,
song, drama, and video presentations.
Congratulations to all! It was a show of
simplicity, dying to self to give life and
joy, generosity and love of which our
Spirituality as Sisters and Friends of St.
Paul is deeply rooted. There was not only
fun but also an experience of faith lived
and shared!
The last day was an Act of Thanksgiving to
Our Lady, Mother and Model, of complete
trust and surrender, of deep love and faith
as we went on a pilgrimage praying a
decade of the rosary in every church we
visited: Our Lady of Candelaria in Jaro;
St. Anne in Molo; St. Thomas Villanueva
in Miag-ao; and Holy Infant Jesus in
Tigbauan.
That was a beautiful experience of
PRAYING TOGETHER for common
intentions and for gratefulness and
praise! The shared lunch on the beach
culminated the three-day assembly,
everyone filled not only with intellectual
inputs but with a deepened faith and
spiritual life nurtured with the Word of
God and the Eucharist!
Grounding the Identity
of Paulinian Education
Sr. Gemma Moralita, SPC
A first-hand experience of Paulinian
education, spirituality, and identity,
is what can best describe the 22nd
SPC Educators’ Congress and 7th
International SPC Educators’ Congress
held at St. Paul College Pasig on May
12-14, 2011.
Through the meaningful liturgical
celebrations, intellectual and integrative
expositions, and actual and engaging
demonstration of its theme, “Spirituality
and Excellence: Edge of Paulinian
Education,” the objectives of the
Congress were highly met with success.
The highlights of the Congress were:
• The admirable participation of
512 delegates from all sectors of the
SPC Philippine Province: Education
Ministry, Health Care, Pastoral Ministry,
Provincialate and Formation and from
other countries: Vietnam, Korea, and
Thailand.
• The affirming perspective setting of
Sr. Merceditas Ang, SPC, Provincial
Assistant for Education, who, referring
to the theme of the Congress said, “This
is an educational reputation that we can
claim with pride and confidence, and has
withstood the test of time.”
• The clarifying, grounding, and
articulation of Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero,
SPC Provincial Superior, who, after
quoting the first verse of the Spirit Song,
“Spirit of Wisdom enlighten my mind,
make me see things as they are. Spirit
of Wisdom enlighten my words, let my
mouth speak words of truth,” exclaimed,
“That is what our work of education is
all about. All the learning, all the facts,
all the skills – all these are to lead us to
the truth, to the Eternal Truth who is God
Himself.”
• The contextualizing keynote speech
of His Excellency Bishop Rolando
Tria-Tirona, OCD D.D., which lucidly
showed the many faces challenging
Catholic schools in an increasingly
secularized society. He ended by
pointing all back to Jesus, the Great
Teacher.
• The opening wide of the doors
of education in Vietnam, Thailand,
Japan and the Philippines through the
enlightening sharing of best practices
in the integration of spirituality and
excellence:
* Sr. Elisabeth Vang, SPC of Danang,
Vietnam and Sr. Marie Mai, SPC, of
Saigon, shared how they keep their
kindergarten pupils and those with
special needs due to disabilities, subtly in
touch with spirituality in excellent subtle
ways.
* Sr. Erlinda Gesilva, SPC showed
how a unitive number of Catholic
schools are making a big difference in
the life in Thailand, a Buddhist country,
through inter-faith and inter-religious
dialogue and tolerance they practice.
* Dr. Batchiba Lacdoo, adapted
the framework from the dissertation
of Sr. Ma. Nilda Masirag, SPC, and
enumerated the interlink of spirituality
and excellence in the various annual
activities of SPC Philippine Paulinian
schools, and the incredible recognition
that a number of schools are able to
sustain.
* Sr. Bernadette Padawel, SPC, read
the sharing prepared by Sr. Maria Bosco
Khato of Japan, with accompanying
images of the devastation caused by the
earthquake and tsunami, and made the
participants feel an invisible connection
with the Japanese people. The hope that
Sr. Maria stressed in her “shared-letter”
which they had stirred in Japan and
faithfully communicated echoed loud
and clear.
• The per school-workshop on the
integration of spirituality and excellence
gave the schools’ representatives the
opportunity to modify their action plans.
| 19
Delegations from Thailand, Vietnam and Korea
• The day-long heart-rending
exhortations of resource persons and
authorities addressed the professional,
individual and institutional quests for
marked spirituality and excellence.
Concerns and issues in the Department
of Education (DepEd) and the
Commission on Higher Education were
clarified, paving the way for better
planning, particularly regarding the
K+12 move of DepEd, and avenues
for more collaboration with regard to
CHED’s multiplying demands for higher
education.
• The personification of spirituality and
excellence in Dr. Josette Biyo which
showed her noble dearies to bring out the
best from her students and surface the
good in each educator’s heart and dream.
• The teaching demonstrations which
were in themselves teaching-learning
endeavors to both teachers and students.
The articulation of commendations and
Bishop Rolando Tirona, D.D.
20 |
recommendations was expressive of
spirituality and excellence.
same time benchmark with their proven
accomplishments.
• The exemplary cultural presentation
which were distinctly Filipino and truly
entertaining performed by students
and faculty from St. Paul College of
Parañaque, St. Paul College Makati,
St. Paul College Bocaue, and St.
Paul University Surigao were truly
entertaining and distinctively Filipino.
• These shared breakthroughs were
concretized vis-a-vis the presentations
of SPU Dumaguete on Community
Extension Services, SPU Quezon City on
Extra and Co-Curricular Activities, SPU
Manila on Campus Volunteer Program
and Clowning as Innovative Intervention
in Teaching Gospel Values, SPC San
Rafael on Peace Education in Paulinian
Schools, and Communication Foundation
for Asia’s Rev. Fr. Stephen Cuyos,
MSC, on Netiquette.
• The effective innovations which were
presented by St. Paul College Pasig
through its high school academic chair,
Mr. Ronald Santos, St. Paul University
Iloilo and Philippines’ Presidents Sr.
Carolina Agravante, and Sr. Remy
Angela Junio, and St. Paul University
Surigao Vice President for Christian
Formation, Sr. Aileen Bonifacio placed
a concrete “face” of spirituality and
excellence before the educator-delegates,
making them look into their respective
institutional undertakings and at the
Dr. Patricia Licuanan
The three fruitful days of the Congress
once again set a general compass for
clear directions and thrusts for school
year 2011-2012. The experience left
our hearts “burning” and our motto,
“CARITAS CHRISTI URGET NOS”
echoing, unraveling and leaving a clear
path of spirituality and excellence
towards the author of all, GOD.
Dr. Yolanda Quijano
Dr. Josette Biyo
Principals’ Forum
Understanding by Design (UbD) + Differentiated Instruction(DI)
What kind of teaching promotes high
quality learning? The SPC instructional
leaders tackled this concern. Determined
to stand-out in teaching innovation, the
Principals and Academic Coordinators
of the Paulinian schools gathered at the
St. Paul Renewal Center in Alfonso,
Cavite for an in-depth seminar-workshop
on “Understanding by Design and
Differentiated Instruction.” For two
days, on November 29-30, 2012, the
participants immersed in workshops
and discussions facilitated by Ms. Rita
Atienza that crystallized the concept and
process of UbD as a framework, and
explored on the integration and effective
implementation of Understanding by
Design and Differentiated Instruction.
The animated inputs and learning
activities provided ample opportunities
for academic discussions, clarification
of misconceptions on the UbD and DI
framework and philosophy, and analysis
on how the teaching-learning process and
desired outcomes can be improved.
UbD has been implemented in our SPC
schools much ahead of the other learning
institutions. We are a leading force in
this regard. The UbD template has
inspired and challenged the teachers to
design their own lessons in a way that is
most meaningful and interactive to the
learners. Gone is the traditional textbook
coverage lesson plan. We have modified
straight chalk talk and lecture with
interactive learning activities and more
student-centered instruction. Indeed, the
UbD has revolutionized the creativity
of the teachers in designing curriculum
units, performance assessment, and
classroom instruction that lead the
students to better understand the content
of what we teach and to develop critical
thinking skills.
Continuing knowledge and mastery
of the UbD will be more meaningful
and interesting when integrated with
differentiated instruction. Actually, in a
typical classroom, our Paulinian teachers
try their best to cater to the diverse
needs and interests, and different abilities
and learning styles of students. It is
imperative to match teaching strategies
with the learning styles, otherwise, the
teaching-learning process will not be
effective at all when some students are
learning well and advancing rapidly
while others are lagging behind and
experiencing difficulty in coping
with schoolwork. The differentiation
can target the content, process, and
product. It really entails creativity and
preparation of the teacher to use multiple
approaches in the same classroom so as
to accommodate the variety of aptitudes,
interests, needs, experiences, and
personalities of individual students.
Definitely, it is challenging and
worthwhile to combine two powerful
teaching theories, namely, Understanding
by Design and Differentiated Instruction,
in designing our lessons. It ensures
optimum learning outcome in the
context of a more comprehensive
approach of the levels of learning and
processing information. We want to
make Paulinian education more relevant,
holistic, transformative, and responsive
to the diverse and increasing needs and
demands of learners. Our curriculum
and instruction are enriched with
spirituality and social responsibility,
thus putting “added value” to Paulinian
education.
| 21
Health Care Ministry
Administrators’ Forum
Sr. Adelina B. Javellana, SPC
S
eptember 17, 2011 marked a
significant and meaningful event
for Hospital Administrators in the
SPC Health Care Ministry after a forum
held at the initiative of Sr. Zeta Caridad
Rivero, SPC.
The gathering of Medical Directors,
Chiefs of Clinics, and Medical
Education Directors became a reality.
It was meaningful because, the leaders
practically renewed and strengthened
their relationship with the SPCs through
“Collaborative Partnership,” the theme
of the forum which had the following
objectives:
1. To deepen the spirituality of Health
Care Leaders and rediscover the
meaning of Christ-centered Leadership
and Compassionate Service.
2. To explore strategies of strengthening
collaborative partnership among
Medical Staff and Administration,
and build up effective leadership in a
healthy work environment.
The gathering was very much animated
by the presence of Sr. Zeta Caridad
Rivero, SPC, Provincial Superior, who
gave the keynote message on the theme.
22 |
She comprehensively brought us to the
new concept of Collaborative Health
Care leading to the transformational
stage of the Health Care Ministry. The
following were some of her insights from
the book, Rebooting Business and the
World, “the advent of Collaborative
Health Care found itself already in
the Web putting the patient into a new
context -- enabling a new model of
medicine that would give us a system that
is cheaper, safer, and better than what
we have today. Because patients are
engaged in their care, they manage their
own health more effectively, reducing
costs and improving outcomes.”
Aside from introducing this new concept
of collaborative health care, Sr. Zeta
also emphasized the rootedness and
commitment of the Health Care Ministry
in the ethical and religious directives
of the Catholic Church and its social
responsibility. This emphasis encourages
Medical Staff leaders to strengthen their
support and partnership, especially in our
efforts towards actualizing the Ministry’s
core strategy: “Transforming lives
through Christ-centered Health Care
services.”
The forum was also truly blessed with
the availability of our invited guru on
Spirituality, Father Ramon Bautista,
SJ, who inspiringly talked on Leadership
Spirituality. The challenge posed was
on the call for “Servant Leadership”
as the “core and guide” even with the
advent of advanced technology and
stress on human excellence. Fr. Mon
pointed out that Spirituality is our way
of living out our Christian Faith; our
Christ-like loving, and this is articulated
in our Creed (Doctrine), Code (Worship)
and Cult (Way of Loving). He further
emphasized that the “signs of the times
affirm directions towards a highly
secularized society which eventually
creates a culture of depression and
despair that even basic human needs
are not met and GOD and FAITH are
displaced.” Consequently, to survive,
violence and aggressiveness become
apparent behaviors. Our Spirituality
offers a counter-culture to address
such “signs of the times,” namely,
the Spirituality of Vocation, which
is our universal call to holiness, the
Spirituality of Forgiveness and Healing,
and the Spirituality of Hospitality and
Compassion. Time for prayer and
reflection before the exposed Blessed
Sacrament followed Fr. Mon’s sharing
with a given set of questions for
reflection to be shared per hospital later.
In the afternoon, we had Dr. Pureza
Oñate, Medical Director of Perpetual
Succour Hospital, talked on the
“Collaborative Leadership.” She
strongly pointed out that with the
emerging theories of management
practice and leadership skills and
attributes, collaboration needs leaders
who can safeguard the process, facilitate
interactions and patiently deal with high
levels of frustration. “Getting value
from difference” must be in the heart of
the collaborative leader’s task, as she/
he has to learn to share control and to
trust a partner to deliver, even though
that partner may operate very differently
from her/himself. This is a tall order for
all Administrators and Nursing Service
Directors, together with their Doctorpartners, because there are circumstances
and situations in the work place or in
the organization itself where being
administrative-leaders may seemingly
run counter to the clinician-leaders role
our doctors play. Open communication
and re-alignment of our hospital’s visionmission and priorities will definitely
bring clarity and single-mindedness
in our perspective and direction. And
this is where Collaborative Partnership
becomes real.
Dr. Oñate shared to the group her
personal and professional experiences,
as she worked closely with our SisterAdministrators. She dynamically
answered many relevant questions and
clarified issues and concerns coming
from her own colleagues in the forum.
The session was very revealing and very
informative, especially for those of our
medical staff leaders who are working
closely with our Hospital Administrators
for the first time in the Health Care
Ministry. The feedback was confirmed
SPC Health Care Ministry lay counterparts join the Opening Ceremony
when the participants were grouped
according to hospital to discuss barriers
of collaborative partnership in their
respective settings and the measures
that could be implemented to bridge any
gaps.
It was a day really worth remembering
for all. The doctor-participants were also
amazed at the hospitality and warmth of
their host, Perpetual Succour Hospital
Cebu and felt awe and wonder at the
excellent hospital services and facilities
of PSH, as well as those of other owned
and administered hospitals which they
came to know as they benchmarked with
one another in best practices, systems
and technology, and resource-sharing.
The forum ended with everyone’s aim
and desire to have such gatherings
regularly.
VIVA ESPAÑA! WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011
Sr. Josephine Ramada, SPC
Vocations Fair
The World Youth Day (WYD) 2011
held in Spain, was a unique opportunity
for evangelizing youth and promoting
vocations, and at the same time, for
increasing awareness on the universality of
the Catholic Church. This was one of my
experiences as I attended the World Youth
Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain last September.
The experience helped me feel united to
the one Church. Those days I felt one with
the Catholic Church with the Holy Father.
There were SPC’s from Italy, USA, Korea,
Australia, and Vietnam.
In keeping with a tradition begun in previous
years, WYD 2011 featured a Vocations Fair in
the Parque del Retiro, were nearly 68 stands
were set up, each representing a different
movement or institution in the Church.
Sr. Josephine Ramada (background)
with SPCs from other countries in the
SPC Vocation Booth
The Vocational Expo 2011 aimed to help
young people attending WYD to experience
first hand the vocations that existed in the
Church and find encouragement in their
search for God’s will in their own lives.
It was also an opportunity for religious
families, movements, associations of faithful,
and other church institutions around the
world to present their charism to hundreds
of thousands of WYD participants. The
Vocational Expo had representatives from
many different countries, including: France,
Norway, United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Guatemala,
Chile, and Peru.
On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations,
Benedict XVI highlighted that, “in this time
as well, when the Lord’s voice runs the risk
of being drowned out by so many other
voices, every ecclesial community is called
to promote and safeguard vocations to the
priesthood and the consecrated life.”
Various musicians entertained the crowds at
the exhibit. At the SPC vocation booth, the
Sisters had several kinds of literature about
the Congregation, as well as USB souvenirs
with the SPC on them that contained the SPC
origin and history and the different countries
where we could be found. The booth was
well visited, both by prospective candidates
and by people who wanted to let us know
how much they appreciate the SPC’s working
in their home countries. It was an uplifting
and humbling experience to hear their
appreciation.
| 23
SPCHCM:
Go for Life!
Sr. Ma. Celeste F. Rivas, SPC
T
his year’s Annual Assembly of the SPC Health Care
Ministry touched on the present issues that beset our
country and the world today. Held at St. Paul College
Pasig on July 29-31, 2011, the theme for this year’s assembly;
SPC Health Care Givers: Caring for God’s Creation, covered
the rich topics discussed in the three-day assembly, which was
well-attended by the 12 hospitals in the Ministry, including its
newest member, the Indigenous People’s Hospital in Aritao,
Nueva Vizcaya.
Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero, SPC, Provincial Superior, paved the
way for an eager disposition and positive interest to participate
in the activities and talks through her opening message. Sr.
Zeta’s reminder on their big role in not merely preserving, but
loving God’s creation in all its forms – from living to non-living
organisms -- was made more explicit.
The first-day topic focused on caring for the environment with
the sharing of a competent speaker from Dumaguete, Atty.
Manuel Arbon. The topic on caring for life, with a thorough
and detailed discussion on hard facts and truths on the evil
that is Responsible Parenthood was attentively listened to by
all the participants. No one can deliver this straight from the
heart than pro-life speakers like Dr. Angelita Aguirre and Dr.
Ligaya Acosta. The third-day topics were equally interesting
and relevant for they touched on the basics of caring for life –
being prepared for natural and man-made disasters, aiming for
total wellness of body, mind and spirit and fulfilling our roles as
pastors and healers in the ministry with speakers: Dr. Renato
Solidum, Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan and Fr. Arturo Arnaiz,
CICM.
Dr. Ligaya Acosta
Dr. Angelita Aguirre
Fr. Arturo Arnaiz, CICM
After three days’ work, the participants went back to their
respective provinces with new insights and ideas as well as
spirited vigor to put into action the plans made in response to
the challenges of the assembly. The heart of God keeps beating,
pulsating in the SPCHCM bloodstream as the Breath of Life
sustains it for LIFE itself.
Atty. Manuel Arbon
24 |
SPC Pastoral Ministers’
Annual Assembly
Sr. Romina Manalaysay, SPC
T
his year’s Pastoral Assembly
was held at St. Paul Center for
Renewal in Alfonso, Cavite on
June 17-18, 2011. The event focused
on the theme, “Pastoral Ministers
as Stewards of God’s Creation.”
Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and
Lay Pastoral Ministers from all
over the country, numbering 70
participants attended the gathering.
These participants had been actively
helping the poor in many ways to
mold and uplift their knowledge and
dignity as human beings.
The Pastoral Assembly enriched the
participants spiritually, intellectually
and physically because the invited
speakers were masters in their own
field of specialization. They spoke on
the beauty of God’s creation and the
big challenge to take care of it. The
participants felt privileged to pause
for a while, discern, and make a good
decision to respond generously to the
preservation of the beauty of God’s
gift.
As a young sister who attended the
assembly for the first time, I felt
graced by the wonderful experiences
I had and the more I desired to
stay where I was and give myself
generously as a consecrated person in
the pastoral ministry. I was inspired
by the good disposition and aura of
the pastoral workers -- their way of
living and acting and the inner joy
within themselves that showed that
they really loved what they were
doing.
How did these things come out
naturally from them despite the
hardships they were experiencing
under the heat of the sun and other
sacrifices just to serve the poor?
Isn’t it a true sign of responsible
stewardship?
As we continue to respond to God’s
invitation to care for His creation,
let us also pray that others may see
the face of God in everything He has
made.
The SPC Pastoral Ministers
| 25
Msgr. Vic Tugadi receiving the gifts
from the people, Sr. Arcelita Sarnillo
and Sr. Cecille Asuncion
The Beginning of SPC Presence in
Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya
Sr. Pricille Lapuz, SPC
“When God calls, He sustains. If God wants
it, He will make it happen, no matter how
impossible it seems.” This is how the first
community of Sisters at the first indigenous
hospital opened by the Sisters of St. Paul of
Chartres describes its experience in Aritao,
Nueva Vizcaya.
Fr. Vic Tiam, blessed the Sisters’ cloister
and graciously welcomed them. They
attended their first Mass in the parish church
where they were joyfully welcomed by the
parishioners, thanking them for generously
giving themselves for the service of the many
people in the parish.
In 2010, Bishop Ramon B. Villena of the
Diocese of Bayombong wrote to Sr. Zeta
Caridad Rivero requesting SPC Sisters to
administer the Indigenous Peoples’ Hospital
focused on serving the tribal and non-tribal
residents of the Diocese. On February 5,
2011, a permission to establish a community
in the Diocese of Bayombong was granted by
the General Council, encouraging ministries
to the indigenous peoples and authorized the
opening of a new community of SPC Sisters
in the hospital for indigenous tribes in Aritao.
The Sisters were overwhelmed by the words
expressed by the people, and their longing to
have a hospital in their municipality. Even
in the town public market, people would
approach the Sisters and said, “Thank you,
Sisters, for coming to help alleviate our health
needs.”
On June 1, 2011, the first IPH Sisters arrived
in St. Paul Hospital Tuguegarao where
they temporarily stayed for two months
because their cloister was not yet ready for
habitation. They transferred to Aritao on
August 6, the Lord’s Transfiguration. The
St. Paul’s Hospital Sisters headed by Sr.
Edith Christine Aguirre gladly brought
them to their new home and helped fix some
of their things. The Parish Priest of Aritao,
26 |
On August 28, many SPC Sisters, religious
Sisters from the Diocese, friends of the
Sisters, residents in the village, the staff and
SAGIP scholars of the Indigenous Peoples’
Apostolate witnessed the installation of Sr.
Cecille Asuncion Cabahug as the first IPH
Local Superior and the Blessing of the OutPatient Department with Msgr. Vic Tugadi
as the main presider and Fr. Neil as the
concelebrant.
The SPC mission in Aritao is our Founder’s
gift to the Diocese of Bayombong. This
is how I understand the special “love” of
Fr. Chauvet to the Philippine mission. It
is amazing to know that God chooses and
uses ordinary women to further the growth
of His Kingdom. It is not about the great
women of God but a Great God! He never
fails. The life of a pioneering Sister is
not glamorous; it is full of hardships and
requires a lot of sacrifices. We experience
doing all the convent chores as if we are
“helpers” and sleep late at night to finish
the day’s work. Yet, we find meaning in all
that we do, especially working, eating, and
relating with various indigenous people who
will soon be our partners in the apostolate.
The unique feature of Indigenous Peoples’
Hospital is the active participation of some
indigenous professionals (scholars) who
have been tapped to serve their fellow tribes
so that IP patients shall feel truly at home.
They had their training at St. Paul’s Hospital
Tuguegarao.
The hospital has an initial capacity of 30
beds and it delivers diagnostic and outpatient
services. The facility has consultation rooms,
an emergency room, pharmacy and basic
laboratory. The hospital is staffed full time
by IP professionals. Doctors are available
for consultation from Monday to Friday.
Pathologists and other specialists come as
necessary.
NEWS BITS
Most Reverend Gerardo Alminaza and Bishops, Sr. Zeta and the Provincial Council, and Sisters from Iloilo and other parts of the country after the Holy Mass.
Ode to Joy and Thanksgiving
Centennial Celebrations of St. Paul Hospital Iloilo
Abe Florendo
On a bright and sunny morning, St Paul’s
Hospital Iloilo marked its 100th year,
but this was just a budding forth, a new
beginning.
To kick off the centennial festivities,
early in the morning of February 15,
2011, a motorcade festooned with
balloons and banners wound its way
from General Luna through the major
thoroughfares of the city. The motorcade
ended at the St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Cathedral in Jaro. With the call to
worship through the native budyong, the
processional led by the Sisters of St. Paul
of Chartres, followed by the hospital
community, the Provincial Council, guest
Archbishop Fernando Capalla, and
the main celebrant, the Most Reverend
Gerardo Alminaza, Auxiliary Bishop
of Jaro, walked down the aisle to the
magnificent main altar. The lighting
of the Paschal candle was followed by
the Penitential Rite read by Sr. Marilyn
Rigor, SPC, the new Superior of the St.
Paul Hospital Iloilo community.
The Apostolic Blessing was read during
the Mass. Sr. Ma. Linda Tanalgo, then
SPHI Administrator, extended thanks to
God and to all present, “for giving us the
privilege of serving the health care needs
of this part of the country.”
In her message, Sr. Zeta Caridad
Rivero, SPC Provincial Superior, said,
“The Centennial Year is not yet over.
As long as there are those whose bodies
need healing and whose spirit needs
nurturing; as long as there are those
whose hearts and hands are willing to
be the channel of God’s loving – so
long will the God-with-us incarnate His
loving presence in the emergency rooms,
in the wards, in the laboratories, in the
x-rays, in the operating rooms, in the
offices and corridors of St. Paul Hospital
Iloilo.”
After the Mass, with the jubilant ringing
of church bells, the assembly gathered
in front of the cathedral and released
100 doves. The following projects were
undertaken in the week-long Grand
Centennial celebrations:
• A Special Centennial Outreach
Clinic, spearheaded by SPHI and
Mother Antoine Center Foundation,
Inc (MAC), conducted free medical
consultations and laboratory
examinations, even medical and
surgical help and treatment for patients
who could not afford such treatments
not only from Iloilo but from other
places in Panay.
• Seminars such as that offered practical
nurses’ tips on how to help them
improve their “hireability” and “selfworth.”
• Faith in One Dream: The Musical,
a courageous effort by local talents
to compose the music, choreograph
and produce a musical that drew its
inspiration from Fr. James Reuter’s
Bread of Life,” which he wrote to
mark SPHI’s earlier anniversary.
| 27
The theme revolved around the theme of a need for a hospital in Iloilo, a
determination to keep it afloat above the vicissitudes of history, especially
the war, and an unflagging thrust toward modernization.
• Float Parade with four big floats depicting the history of the hospital and
the SPC Congregation: the hospital personnel float, the float of the Sisters’
community, the float of the doctors, and the float of St. Paul University
Iloilo. These floats were flowed by balloon-festooned vehicles carrying
personnel, friends, benefactors, well-wishers, and St. Paul School Barotac’s
drum and lyre ensemble.
A Fun Run that climaxed the week-long centennial celebration that started
at eight in the morning with 800 participants, all wishing to run the five
kilometers and hoping to get to the finish line.
Releasing of 100 doves in front of the Jaro Cathedral
2011 Vocation Camp-In
Campers as they listen to Sisters in Formation share
their vocation stories.
A vocation camp-in, dubbed, YouForm@100.SPC, was held in Our Lady of Chartres
Convent in Antipolo City on December 10-11 as part of the celebration of the 100
Years of SPC Formation in the Philippines. Activities for the whole night event
kept the campers on their toes: Sharing of vocation stories and presentation from
Sisters in formation; Catechism on SPC Spirituality; vocation talk, spiritual direction,
confession, Eucharistic Adoration, SPC Museum tour, lighting of 100 candles; rosary
procession; games and animation; and the Holy Mass.
Perpetual Succour
Celebrates 75 Years
SPUQC is 65!
The celebration of the Holy Mass opened
the “Evening of Thanksgiving” on the
75th year of Perpetual Succour Hospital
in Cebu City. This was followed by, “An
Evening of Thanksgiving,” featuring an
audio-visual presentation, entitled, “PSH
through the Years,” that was shown,
together with the PSH jingle, “PSH:
Christ’s Healing Place,” and the giving
of special awards. A special tribute was
given to Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero for
having served as PSH administrator for
27 years.
On July 7, 2011, St. Paul University
Quezon City launched its 65th founding
anniversary. The Mère Marie Micheau
Gymnasium was the venue for the
Eucharistic celebration officiated by
Bishop Rolando Tirona, OCD, who
emphasized the significance of Jesus’
words at the Last Supper: “Do this in
memory of me.” In his homily, Bishop
Tirona said God gifted everyone with
memory or remembrance and he equated
this with the notion of celebration with
his favourite acronyms, namely, CIA
(Celebration, Inspiration that leads to
Action) and IPOD (Intimacy with God,
Presence before Him in prayer, Openness
to formation, and Dedication to duty).
Special wards were also given to the
PSH staff who joined the Congregation
of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres:
Sr. Estelle Marie Camagan, Sr. Elvira
Theodore Ibardolasa, Sr. Lydia
Merino, Sr. Arcelita Sarnillo, Sr.
Henrietta Esmero, Sr. Marilyn Rigor,
Sr. Santanina Maria Bernaldez, Sr.
Marian Rosario Pnce, Sr. Carmelita
Buot, Sr. Nenita Leonardo, Sr. Pureza
Aranas, Sr. Ma. Celeste Rivas, Sr.
Michelle Cristy Fernandez, Sr. Joyme
Cabangbang, and Sr. Riza Mae Inoc.
28 |
Sr. Azucena Nate, SPC
After the Mass, Sr. Nilda Masirag, SPC,
University President, awarded the first
Mother Marie Anne de Tilly Professorial
Chair to Dr. Ronel Dela Cruz, Program
Chair of General Education of the
College Department. Then, the Mother
Barbe Foucault Cafeteria, a new edifice
of the school, was blessed.
The theme of this year’s commemoration
is “Celebrating 65 Years of God’s
Graces.” The University President
stressed that it is essential for the
SPUQC family to celebrate 65 years to
express gratitude to God and all those
who unceasingly contribute to the
fulfilment of the university’s VisionMission.
The following activities were also
undertaken: health activities for the
entire community on July 11 to 15,
2011; recitation of the Paulinian prayer;
the showing of a video presentation
of SPUQC history; the Marian Youth
Camp on December 8 to December
9 with the theme, “65 Roses for the
World -- Radiant Offering of Service
for Excellence and Spirituality;” and the
staging of a Broadway Musical entitled
Brigadoon, February 15-18, 2012. It
will showcase the theatrical talent of the
students, employees, Sisters and some
alumni of SPUQC as a component of
their holistic formation. SPUQC is truly
on-the-go in its celebration of 65 years of
God’s graces. Cheers!
Bicol Sanitarium Marks 25 Years
Bicol Sanitarium celebrated its 25th Foundation Anniversary on May 6-10, 2011
with the theme, “Empowering People towards Growth and Development.” On May
10, 2011, the highlight of the festivities was the celebration of the Holy Mass with
Most Reverend Jose Rojas Jr., D.D., Bishop of Libmanan, as presider. The other
activities that were held to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Bicol Sanitarium were:
Clean and Green Contest; Costume Parade; Street Dancing, Carabao Race; and the
Search for Outstanding Samahang Pook ng Bicol Sanitarium Leaders.
SPUP Our Lady of Chartres Chapel Blessed
Our Lady of Chartres Chapel in St. Paul University Philippines was blessed by His
Excellency Most Reverend Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, D.D., Archbishop
of Tuguegarao, on February 2, 2011. Sisters from St. Paul University Philippines,
St. Paul Hospital Tuguegarao, and from St. Paul School of Aparri attended the event.
The Renewal of Vows of the perpetually professed Sisters was incorporated in the
Mass and the consecration of the altar and the blessing of the tabernacle. The statue
of Our Lady of Chartres outside the chapel was also blessed, together with the busts
of Fr. Louis Chauvet and Marie Anne de Tilly. The “Plaza de Martires” was also
blessed to give tribute to two Dominican martyrs.
The Heart of the Center: The New Chapel of SPCR
Sr. Ofelia Ga, SPC
With the blessing of the new chapel of the St. Paul Renewal Center in Alfonso, it is
possible for retreatants to follow Jesus as described in the Bible, “Jesus went up on
the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples,” (John 6:3), for the newly
built chapel is on a hill at the heart of the Retreat Center.
Less than a year after the construction began, the chapel was blessed on September
12, 2011. His Excellency, Most Reverend Luis Antonio Tagle, D.D., of the Diocese
of Imus, was the main presider. Concelebrating was His Excellency, Most Reverend
Jesse Mercado, D.D., of the Diocese of Paranaque, and several priests who had been
regular retreatants of the place. The occasion was graced by Sisters from nearby
SPC local communities, representatives from the local government, benefactors, and
friends. The chapel was designed by Architect Edison Lacsa and constructed by
Engineer Romeo Bagain.
Indeed, the Chapel of Our Lady of Chartres is the abode of all who seek and long to
be rejuvenated, more so, to be steeped in their relationship with God. It is a haven of
silence, solitude, and prayer.
St. Paul College Pasig
Blessing
The façade of St. Paul College Pasig Complex
On December 8, 2011, the Solemnity
of the Immaculate Conception, the
first two floors of the St. Paul College
Pasig Complex, which houses
an auditorium, a gymnasium and
multipurpose halls, was blessed. The
statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Sr. Joseph, and St. Paul were also
blessed after the Holy Mass.
Sr. Elvira Ibardolasa receives her tribute from
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ, D.D., and Fr.
Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ as Sr. Adelina Javellana
and Sr. Maria Bernaldez looks on.
New Operating and
Emergency Room at
MRXUH
Sr. Claudette Yecla, SPC
The new Operating Room and
Emergency Room of Maria Reyna
Hospital now Maria Reyna Xavier
University Hospital was blessed on May
8, 2011. Preceding the blessing was a
Eucharistic Celebration with Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma, SJ, D.D., as the main
celebrant and Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin,
SJ as the homilist. The celebration was
participated by MRXUH employees,
members of the SPC Provincial Council,
priests, religious and guests.
The cutting of the ribbon and blessing of
the Operating Room and the Emergency
Room were simultaneously done. Sr.
Zeta Caridad Rivero, SPC, Provincial
Superior, with Fr. Villarin, cut the ribbon
in the Emergency Room, while Sr.
Arcelita Sarnillo, SPC and Dr. Ruth
Beltran, board member, did the ribbon
cutting in the Operating Room.
After the blessing, a short program
took place and a tribute was given to
Sr. Elvira Ibardolasa, SPC, outgoing
Administrator, and Fr. Jose Ramon
Villarin, SJ outgoing president of Xavier
University. Sr. Ma. Celeste Rivas,
SPC, the new Administrator, and Sr.
Henrietta Esmero, SPC the new superior
of the MRXUH community of SPC
Sisters, were presented to the visitors.
Sr. Cecile Cabahug, SPC was also
given appreciation for her time spent in
the institution. Agape was shared after
the tribute and introduction. Joy and
solidarity among those present in this
gathering filled the evening and hearts
were filled with praise and gratitude to
our generous God who makes all things
possible.
| 29
Two for the Road Less-Traveled
Sisters of St. Paul who are Blood Sisters
N
Sr. Ann Christine Moscoso, SPC
o one can fully understand the beauty and the mystery of God’s call. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of
men.” (Matthew 4:19; New American Bible),” Jesus said to His first disciples. In Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul
of Chartres, many have responded to this summons. For more than a century on the Philippine soil and a century of SPC
Formation, hundreds of courageous young ladies have heeded the voice of the Lord and have inspired many to come and follow,
too. They have inspired other ladies and even their own biological sisters. Just as Jesus called both James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, He, too, may call blood sisters to love, serve, and be with Him.
Sr. Ma. Consuelo Celis, SPC, during her stint as Vocation Directress, asked these Sisters to write and share their vocation stories
that they may inspire many. Printed here are three stories of blood sisters in the Congregation, the first in a series.
Special Bonding
“Lord, make us one in loving You by
drawing all to Yourself.” This is always
my prayer.
Sr. Marina, my blood sister, and I, come
from a family of 12 siblings, because
in 1914, our dear parents got married
at the age of 20 in Surigao, Surigao del
Norte. We were six girls and six boys:
Sister Marina, being the ninth and I,
the seventh. Both of us were born on
the ninth month, September, and our
feastdays fall on September, too.
When we were young children, we were
fond of the SPC Sisters, our neighbors,
and also of the Dutch Fathers or the
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. They
were fond of us, too, and had touched
our lives so much that our vocation to
the religious life was kindled by their
love and gentleness. That was before
World War II. After the war, classes
were resumed and we studied at San
Nicolas School (SNS). While in high
school then in college taking up an
Elementary Teaching Certificate course,
Sr. Marina and I had our barkadas
under the guidance of the Sisters and a
spiritual Father (director) who were our
“crushes.” Sister Marie du Rosaire Vogel
named Sr. Marina’s “gang” the Lucky
Seven, while Sister Rose Encarnacion
named my “gang” of three, “Las Tres
Marias.”
30 |
Sr. Adeline Calderon, SPC
Sr. Marina’s Spiritual Father was the late
Bishop Charles van den Ouwelant, MSC,
before he became a bishop because
he was our professor in religion. My
spiritual father was Father Rudolf van
Es, the Superior of the MSC. They were
friends of my father. Unfortunately,
when I asked to enter the convent, my
father objected in spite of the visits our
Spiritual Fathers made at my father’s
office. But the prayers of the Sisters
stormed heaven. I got sick and my
parents sent me to Manila for treatment.
It was providential that my oldest sister
and her husband transferred their
residence to Manila and they brought
me with them. I had the chance to
go to the Novitiate in Quezon City
to finally realize my desire to enter
the convent. I was brought by my
sister Elvira and my aunt, Josefa
Kaimo. But I had to write my
father a long, long letter
telling him the reasons why
I wanted to give myself
to God. He was one
of my reasons for
entering the convent,
and I learned that he
cried over my letter,
according to my
mother and sisters.
When it was time for Sister Marina
to leave home for the convent, my
father gave his full consent because he
realized that we Sisters were not totally
cutoff from the family. The Mistress of
Novices, Mother Anne Patrice Cahill,
broke the news to me that my sister
had applied for admission, but she was
hesitant because the Bishop was trying to
take her for his diocesan Congregation,
the “Missionaries of Mary” in Butuan,
Agusan. But I told Mother Mistress I
would be happy if my sister joined me
in the same Congregation. So Sister
Sr. Marina and Sr. Adeline Calderon
Marina entered the novitiate in 1957, the
year of my perpetual vows.
As religious in the same Congregation,
we have a special bond between us in
whatever we do. We are both happy
in our vocation and this we owe to the
Great God of Love, who has helped
us grow in His love. Our family is
likewise happy and thankful to the Lord
for our religious vocation, a blessing
and a grace. Words cannot express our
gratitude to our Lord for calling both
Sister Marina and me to the religious
life, to the same Congregation. We have
remained faithful until this time of our
lives, our Serenity Years, because God is
more faithful to us.
“Seventy-Seven Times” (Mt. 18:21-22)
Sr. Maria Angeles Racadio, SPC
Seven in the bible is a perfect number.
Jesus, in His answer, makes seven more
enigmatic and in fact quite a mystery
in meaning as it is walled out from
His Divine heart beyond all human
calculations.
It is in this contrast that I share what
it means to us two blood sisters, Sr.
Bernadette and me to have been called to
the SPC Religious Family. If today there
is a great indifference to anything about
God and religious life, to be a religious
is a rarity or say one is enough. As some
say, “Two or more would be foolishness
and selfishness.” But the proclamation
of Religious Life, the SPC at that, is a
wonder-gift of God. The bottomless,
countless blessings of God, the “seventyseven” times as the culture of love, is a
need.
Sr. Bernadette and Sr. Angeles Racadio
“neutralizer.” But our complementariness
is indeed a blessing. Thank God for a
greater gift and grace. Our common
and capital blessing is that of being
born from parents of faith who lived it
by example that helped us shape and
reshape our lives.
Sister Bernadette and I have a big gap in
age. I am the oldest daughter; she is the
younger one. She is outgoing and relates
with people readily and with ease. She
is open and frank, expresses what she
thinks and feels and keeps no grudges.
She has a good sense of play which my
brother Freddy had said makes her keen,
receptive, relaxed, and free.
The story of our call to the SPC
Religious Congregation is peculiar. To
mention some limited highlights: both
of us escaped from our parents, but in
different ways. Sr. Bernadette used a
Visayas PAASCU Accreditation ploy
that ended in reconciliation only when
she was a Postulant at OLCC. Mine was
a night escape of an outing day, a family
get-together with some relatives. The
orchestration of my escape was made by
the Sisters in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, but I felt
FREE, BRAVE, and STRONG.
I am different in that I am a homebody,
I like art and the beautiful and the rain.
I am dutiful and I believe in doing and
giving the better and the best. I am
serious, with a very little sense of play
because I was sickly as a child, hence,
my intense protection from heat and
cold. I am a Libra and a water dragon,
which make me a “bridge” and a
For me, the Congregation of the
Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres is my
sole Congregation. Sr. Bernadette
was younger and so she explored the
Religious of the Cenacle. Some months
later, she wrote Mother Marie de la Criox
Javelosa, SPC, then Provincial Superior,
a very touching letter, part of which said
that while she had been going elsewhere
in search of the best possibility for her,
she realized that all the while, she had the
HOME she was looking for. By HOME,
I presume that it was Sr. Bernadette’s
heart for the SPC Congregation itself
because Sister Bernadette is pure
Paulinian-bred, except when she was
transferred to for a year to an SVD-run
school, because I entered the convent and
my mother was strongly opposed to this.
But she brought her back to St. Paul’s
after she was enlightened.
Our SPC Congregation, we feel, is an
extension of our family we left behind in
love, care, concern, growth-promoting
and non-condemning, forgiving and
understanding; and our Sisters, the
sense of belongingness. Thus, this
thought has been a liberating experience,
eliciting appreciation and love which
make adjustment easy and welcome. We
become what we are and are called to be
by God: Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres.
My Sister Bernadette and I were chosen
before we existed. The grace of vocation
and all else are only a celebration and
a joyful thanksgiving… remembering
always the mystery of God’s love.
“SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES.”
| 31
Together Forever
When the SPC Sisters went to our
home in Siargao to ask my parents’
permission for me to enter the convent in
2000, my father told them, “Of course,
Sisters. Although I love my daughter
very much and hate to see her leave
us, I would offer her to God. You may
take the rest of my children -- my three
other daughters, if they desire – and my
wife too.” We all laughed. And at that
moment, I felt so blessed that God had
given me a loving family and had called
me to the Religious Life. He was there
to support and affirm me in my chosen
vocation through my Sisters in the
community and my family.
On March 2, 2001, six months after my
entrance in the convent, God took my
father. This tragedy pained me and my
family because his death was brutal and
sudden. But despite this seeming loss,
God did not cease pouring marvelous
Sr. Ailene Escañan, SPC
blessings on us, one of which was my
mother, who supported and understood
me in my weakest moment. She was so
generous in offering me to the Lord even
after my father’s death when I told her I
could not wait for my father to be buried
because the time given to me to stay
home was up. She said, “I will support
you, Child, wherever you’re happy. If
you will find life in the convent difficult
and you will be unhappy, just feel free to
come back home to me.”
When our father died, Sr. Claire, who
was working as a nurse in Taiwan asked
to go home for 10 days but after that, she
realized that her stay in Taiwan did not
make her happy. She decided to be with
our grieving mother instead and stay in
the country for good. She went back to
work in the hospital where she worked
before she went abroad. When our
mother told Sr. Claire of her plan to visit
me in the convent, Sr. Claire went
with her because we had not
seen each other during the
wake and burial of our father.
It was in Antipolo where
Sr. Claire realized that God
had a different plan for
her. Initially, she was
attracted to the peace
and serenity of the
place. She also
loved the singing
and the prayer.
She said she was
so overwhelmed
with the feeling
that she wanted
to enter, given
the chance,
something I was
not aware of at
that time.
Weeks after
that, Sr. Ma.
Consuelo told
Sr. Ailene and Sr. Claire Escañan
32 |
me she had a surprise for me but did
not tell me what it was. When I learned
that my sister Claire was going to enter
the convent a week from then, I did not
know what to say. I was happy inside
but I also knew that this was not an easy
life. I poured all this to Jesus by saying,
“Jesus, I believe that you are the one who
called her; so please be with her always.”
One sister who also had a blood sister
in the congregation told me once, “It
is not easy to have a blood sister in
the Congregation, so, pray very hard.”
During the first stage of her formation,
we did not feel this yet, but in the
Novitiate, we felt this because we were
living together in one community – I was
in my second year of Novitiate and she
was in her first year. We experienced
difficulties together but we were able
to talk things out especially our painful
experiences. Doing this made us
closer to each other. We became more
spontaneous in showing our concern and
care for each other.
It is only now that, as perpetually
professed sisters, Sr. Claire and I can
truly say, “How wonderful it is to have a
sister in the convent! For me, it is a life
almost patterned after Jesus – a life of
joy, pain, and hope.” Past experiences
gave Sr. Claire and me the privilege
to live our Christocentric Paschal
Spirituality. Having a blood sister in the
convent adds more color and meaning
to my life as a religious. It is also fun
seeing the Sisters really trying to figure
out who is who between Sr. Claire and
me because we look alike.
Our relationship as SPC Sisters has
deepened, and together with our Sisters
in the congregation, we journey to follow
our dear Friend and Lord Jesus with joy
in our hearts and we hope that no matter
what happens, we will persevere together
in saying “YES” to His call.
Prayer
and the
Sr. Mary Cyril Corpus, SPC
The Spirit comes to help us in our
weakness, for we do not know
how to ask; but the Spirit Himself
intercedes for us with the groans that
cannot be expressed. And He who
sees inner secrets, knows the desires
of the Spirit praying for the holy
ones; for he prays according to the
will of God. (Rom. 8:26-27)
**********
The poem, To Our Father Louis
Chauvet, Priest, by Mother Marie
Paul Bord, SPC, former Superior
General and historian of our
Congregation, depicts our founder
priest in constant dialogue with God.
The inspiration to start a community
of young girls to help in his parish
comes in prayer. The young lady
who helps him start the community
is a woman of prayer; the three
young girls, the first members of
the community, pray like angels.
Conceived and born in prayer, the
SPC cannot exist without prayer,
According to the poem, our founder
was ever ready to follow.
The wind of Beauce, the breath of the
Spirit.
Each of us felt this wind that led us to
the Congregation, and helped us stay
within these past years to this day!
O Holy Spirit of Wisdom and Love,
praise to You. Thank You!
**********
SPC
Sister Theresina of Jesus Santiago,
in her monograph series No. 2,
Father Louis Chauvet: A Glimpse
into his Spirituality, 1996, pp.17 to
18, claims that our history of origins,
based on the notes of Father Louis
David, mentions the word piety
recurrently as a virtue that stands out
in the life of our Founder and in the
kind of parish and Christian Life he
endeavored to mold in Levesville,
and as one of the strengths of Marie
Micheau and Barbe Foucault. Our
Father Superior, Father Charles
de Truchis who succeeded Father
Claude de Marechaux, “summarized
the qualities required for admission
into the Community in two words:
PIETY and WORK” (Monograph,
p.18).
The Draft of a Rule for the Sisters of
Saint Maurice de Chartres specifies
piety as one of the qualities of girls
who wish to join the Community
(p.28) and of the Mistress of Novices
(p.48)
**********
What is piety? Drawing from the
research done by Sister Theresina,
piety is one of the seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit, the only one that
resides in the will. It is the worship
of God as Father with the secondary
effect on the will to love everyone as
brothers and sister. (Monograph, p.
18-19)
| 33
In other words, piety is interpreted by
Mother Marie Paul Bord in the poem
cited above, as prayer. Our Founder,
Father Louis Chauvet, was a man of
prayer or of deep piety, in the words
of Father David. Our first Sisters
were women of prayer, or piety.
Using Mother Marie Paul’s preferred
word for the same reality, prayer,
we daughters of the prayerful parish
priest of Levesville, are expected to
be women of prayer in order for us
to obtain what he called his greatest
blessing: to hear that my daughters
walk in the truth. To be able to see
and walk in the truth, we must be
close to the Father and the Son
through the Holy Spirit. How else
can we see the Light that shines in
the darkness, who is also the Truth,
the Way and the Life? Loving our
brothers and sister is the secondary
effect of the worship of God, our
Loving Father. Our filial relationship
with Him produces in us love of
others, His other children. If we are
close to Him who is love, and who
created us in His image and likeness,
we become more and more like Him,
creatures of love.
**********
Still on p. 19, Sister Theresina writes:
“St. Thomas (Aquinas) adds that
the gift of piety also perfects and
intensifies the soul’s filial love for the
Blessed Virgin, whom it considers as
a tender Mother in whom it has the
confidence that any child has for its
mother. Piety moves us to love all
34 |
persons and to be drawn to things
related to the Fatherhood of God
and to the Christian brotherhood. It
enables us to discover the religious
meaning hidden in all things. It leads
us to filial confidence to adoration, to
abandonment.”
**********
We are Sisters of Charity. Our spirit,
spirituality, charism is Charity
(Capitular Acts, 1989). Our mother
and model is the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the Mother of God, and our
patron is St. Paul, the Apostle (Book
of Life, p. 12). St. John Chrysostom
likened like the heart of Paul to
the heart of Christ (Cornelius A.
Lapide, SJ, The Personality of St.
Paul. Boston: the Daughters of St.
Paul, 1979), the heart that loves
infinitely. How can we be Sisters of
Charity without contemplating the
life of Mary, she who pondered all
the events in her life in her heart?
How can we follow in the footsteps
of Paul without reflecting on his
letters and on how to change from
persecutor to persecuted to death for
the sake of Jesus Christ? How can we
be like these two great saints without
invoking their help? How can we
bring Jesus Christ to the persons
we teach and minister to without
Christ in our hearts, in our lives? We
really have to spend time in prayer,
in meditation, in contemplation. Not
once, not twice, but regularly.
**********
“Pray at all times.” (1 Thessalonians
5:17)
It is remarkable that neither Draft
of the Rule nor Instructions on the
Rule of the Sisters of St. Paul of
Chartres bears a chapter or section
entitled prayer or piety. Going over
the two books one finds that prayer,
conversing with God, invoking
God and the like together with the
dispositions and milieu in relation
to these, are integrated within each
chapter. In the Draft, however,
chapter 13 Daily Rule, which is
actually the daily horarium with
instructions on how to go about
the daily schedule, shows that
most of the day the Sisters are to
be at prayer, meditation, praying
the eight Liturgical hours of the
Blessed Virgin, Spiritual reading,
reading from the New Testament
on their knees, memorizing or
having instruction on Scripture,
meals with spiritual reading, Mass,
study and work. Even at work they
are to be recollected, reflecting on
the readings. In their goings and
comings, silence is to be observed,
and solitude is valued as the
atmosphere necessary for intensive
and fruitful prayer.
Instructions, on the other hand, has
Chapter XXIX On the Method of
Conversing with God in the Ordinary
Actions and Occurrences of the
Day (pp. 105-108), and Chapter 30
Model of Christian Life (pp.109113), an exhortation for the Sisters
to take Jesus Himself as their model.
The last chapter, Chapter 31, is A
Method of Meditation by Monsignor
Marechaux (pp.114-118).
Our holy Mentors wanted to make
sure prayer is to be integrated every
minute in the convent, from the rising
at five o’clock in the morning until
bedtime at 10. To them prayer is a
sine qua non of a life of consecration
as a Sister of St. Paul of Chartres. To
abandon prayer is to give up this life.
They are not the only ones who think
so. Saints throughout the History
of the Church and consecrated life
have the same teaching; they were
men and women of deep piety, like
our Founder, who were constantly in
communion with God.
**********
Back to our novitiate days, I
remember that as we worked,
sweeping, dusting, husking, or
mopping the floor, or preparing the
vegetables, as long as we were two
or more and within hearing distance,
we prayed the Rosary. We took turns
to lead. The leader did not stop her
work at all. She did not hold a string
of Rosary beads. She counted the
Hail Mary’s aloud each time so as
not to miss any for each decade,
thus, first Hail Mary, second Hail
Mary, etc. Instead of hampering
our task, this made us work better,
faster, happier, because we felt
closer to the Lord and His Blessed
Mother. Another practice was to bless
every half hour. Whatever we were
doing, except when we were having
instructions or were at meals, or in
the chapel, we paused for a while
and the leader would say in French
or English, Sisters, let us remember
that we are in the Holy presence of
God, and the rest would respond,
and adore His Holy name. When we
starched our cornettes and stretched
them on the mold to dry, we prayed
the Rosary and the De Profundis for
the holy souls in purgatory asking
them to pray for us for good weather
so that our cornettes would dry in the
sun beautifully and without the smell
of spoiled starch. These practices
kept us recollected and in touch with
the Almighty.
Many years later, very often I go
back to some of these practices
especially praying the Rosary when
my hands are busy and the task does
not require full mental attention. Or I
would pray the chaplet of the Divine
Mercy. If the task is too short to
allow the whole Rosary or Chaplet, I
pray short ejaculations, like Jesus, I
Love You or Jesus, increase my love
for You, Mother Mary, help me, or
any prayer or melody inspired by the
Holy Spirit. This practice keeps me
from harmful distractions, thanks to
that novitiate training.
**********
In the morning, long before dawn, He
got up and left the house, and went
off to a lonely place and prayed there.
(Mk. 1:36)
You should be awake, and praying
not to be put to the test. (Mt. 26:41)
…build up your strength in union
with the Lord and by means of His
mighty power. Put on all the armor
that God gives you, so that you will
be able to stand up against the devil’s
tricks. For we are not fighting against
human beings but against the wicked
spiritual forces in the heavenly
world, the rulers, authorities, and
cosmic powers of this dark age.
Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s
help. Pray on every occasion, as the
Spirit leads. For this reason, keep
alert and never give up; pray always
for all God’s people (Eph 6:10-18).
**********
Prayer that reaches only the lips
but not the mind and much less the
heart is only lip service. It is not
real, authentic prayer and it does not
result in growth in the spiritual life
regardless of the number of years
one has been “praying.” “Lip service
prayer” does not lead to greater
intimacy with the Lord nor to a
“sense” of God, and what He wills.
It does not lead to a more virtuous
life, according to matters of the
spiritual life.
**********
May mother Mary, St. Joseph, and St.
Paul lead us to the center of our lives,
Jesus Christ, God-made-Man, every
moment of our lives.
| 35
OBITUARIES
The members of the Congregation remain united beyond death through the Communion of
Saints. The Sisters of St. Paul remember in prayer their deceased sisters and recommend them to
God in the course of the liturgy.
Book of Life and Statutes 49
SISTER CARMELITA CHUA, SPC
+ February 6, 2011
61 years old, 30 years professed.
Died in: Perpetual Succour Hospital,
Cebu City
SISTER JACINTA DE MARIE QUINDO,
SPC
+ March 10, 2011
Died in: St. Paul’s Hospital, Iloilo
Assigned in Perpetual Succour Hospital
in Cebu City; Medical Center Manila;
St. Paul College Manila in Malvar; Cebu
Doctors Hospital in Cebu; and St. Paul
University in Surigao.
Assigned in St. Paul College of Makati;
Sta. Lucia Institute in Ilocos Sur; SPCM
House of Studies; Apostolic Nunciature
in Manila; St. Gabriel Academy in
Caloocan; St. William’s School in San
Marcelino, Zambales; Sto. Niño High
School in Gitagum; St. Paul School
Barotac Viejo in Iloilo, and Mère
Monique Home in Iloilo.
SISTER LIDWINE DE JESUS TESORO,
SPC
+ March 3, 2011
Died in: SPC Vigil House, Taytay
Assigned in Sta. Lucia Institute in Ilocos
Sur; St. Paul College Manila; St. Joseph
Institute in Candon; St. Paul College San
Miguel in Bulacan; Patronato de Nuestra
Señora de Lourdes Free Medical-Dental
Clinic and Dispensary in Singalong,
Manila; St. Paul School in San Rafael; St.
Paul School of Aparri in Tuguegarao;
St. Anthony Parish School of Manticao
in Misamis Oriental; St. Paul College
in Dumaguete; Carmel Academy in
Palauig, Zambales; and SPC Vigil House
in Taytay, Rizal.
SISTER AUGUSTIN ROJAS, SPC
+ March 4, 2011
Died in: SPC Vigil House, Taytay, Rizal
Assigned in St. Paul College Manila; St.
Paul College Bocaue; Sta Lucia Institute
in Ilocos Sur; St. Paul’s Novitiate in
Quezon City; St. William’s School, San
Marcelino; Mount St. Paul in Pico and
SPC Vigil House in Taytay, Rizal.
SISTER ANGELES FRANDO, SPC
+ March 13, 2011
Assigned in St. Paul Hospital’s in Iloilo;
Santiago Hospital in Isabela, Notre
Dame de Lourdes Hospital in Baguio,
General Santos Doctors’ Hospital in
General Santos City; Our Lady of Peace
Home in Calamba; and SPC Vigil House
in Quezon City and in Taytay, Rizal.
36 |
SISTER ROSA BAUI, SPC
+ May 27, 2011
94 years old , 69 years professed.
Assigned in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; San
Miguel Bulacan, St. Paul College in
Tuguegarao; Sacred Heart of Mary
Institute in Aparri; St. Paul College of
Bocaue; St. Paul College Quezon City;
St. Paul College Manila; St. Paul College
Dumaguete; Regional House in Cebu; St.
Paul Academy in Goa; SPCM Pedro Gil;
St. William’s School, San Marcelin; UST
Hospital; Our Lady of Chartres Home in
Calamba; and SPC Vigil House in Taytay,
Rizal.
SISTER VICTOIRE DE JESUS
MAJAROCON, SPC
+ June 16, 2011
Died in: Perpetual Succour Hospital,
Cebu City
Assigned in Culion Sanitarium in
Palawan; St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo;
Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu;
Bishop Noa Home for Senior Citizens
in Michigan, United States of America;
Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital in
Baguio City; and University of Sto.
Tomas Hospital, Manila.
SISTER GEMMA OF THE CROSS
BARCENA, SPC
+ June 22, 2011
Died in: SPC Vigil House, Taytay Rizal
Assigned in St. Paul College in Quezon
City; St. Paul School Medellin in Cebu;
San Nicholas College, Surigao; St. Paul
College in Paranaque; St. Anthony
School, Singalong in Manila; St. Gabriel
Academy, Caloocan; and Vigil House in
Taytay, Rizal.
SISTER MARIE HORTENSE BABARAN,
SPC
+ August 3, 2011
Assigned in San Nicholas College,
Surigao; Makati Catholic School; St. Paul
College Tuguegarao; St. Paul College
Paranaque; St. Paul College of San
Miguel in Bulacan; St. William’s School
in San Marcelino, Zambales; Kabankalan
College, Negros; St. Paul College
Dumaguete; St. Paul School Medellin in
Cebu; St. Paul College in Quezon City;
Carmel Academy, Palauig, in Zambales;
and SPC Vigil House in Taytay, Rizal.
SISTER MARY CYPRIAN
MONTEVIRGEN, SPC
+ September 18, 2011
101 years and six months old, 72 years
professed.
Assigned in St. Paul’s Hospital, Iloilo;
Culion Sanitarium in Palawan; River
View Hospital, St. Paul School San
Miguel in Bulacan; and SPC Vigil House
in Taytay, Rizal.
SISTER ROSE MARY LOPEZ, SPC
+ October 7, 2011
95 years old, 73 years professed
Assigned in St. Paul College Dumaguete;
St. Paul College in Vigan; St. William’s
Institute, Magsingal in Pangasinan;
San Nicholas College in Surigao; St.
Paul College of Bocaue in Bulacan; St.
Paul College of Paranaque; St. William’s
School in San Marcelino, Zambales; St.
Augustine’s School in Iba, Zambales;
St. Paul Convent in Nueva Era; St. Paul
Academy in Goa; and SPC Vigil House in
Taytay, Rizal.
SISTER MARIA LOURDES BATERINA
+ October 14, 2011
Assigned in Sta. Lucia Institute in Ilocos
Sur; St. Joseph Institute in Candon;
Notre Dame de Lourdes in Baguio;
Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu;
Manila Doctors’ Hospital in Manila;
St. Paul School in Nueva Ecija; St. Paul
College Manila - Malvar; St. Paul College,
Tuguegarao; Notre Dame of Surallah
in South Cotabato; St. Paul Hospital,
Tuguegarao; De La Salle University
Medical Center in Cavite; and SPC Vigil
House in Taytay, Rizal..
SISTER ELLEN DU ROSAIRE PEREZ
+ October 29, 2011
Died in: Mère Monique Home, Iloilo City
Assigned in Singian Memorial Hospital
in Singalong; Maria Reyna Hospital, in
Cagayan de Oro City; St. Paul College
Manila; Medical Center Manila; Manila
Doctors’ Hospital; University of Santo
Tomas Hospital in Manila; De la Salle
University Medical Center in Cavite and
Mère Monique Home in Iloilo City.
SISTER GREGOIRE DE MARIE DE LEON
+ October 31, 2011
Sister Maura’s
Corner -4
Sister Antoinette de St. Joseph Bengzon, SPC
The following entries in the Journal of Sr. Maura reveal the
profound and pressing concern of our Lord for Superiors.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Pray for Superiors. It is through them that the love of God in
the Community either blossoms or dies. Woe to that Superior who
allows souls under her charge to languish for lack of a proper
atmosphere for the growth of the love of God in her house.”
“Pray for Superiors. They have many responsibilities in the
direction of souls and apostolic works.”
“Pray for Superiors that they may see the proper ends of apostolic
works.”
Sister Maura comments:
“This was during the Superiors’ retreat. I prayed much and I
suffered much during those days, a suffering of the soul which I
cannot describe and put down in words. God alone knows how
much I suffered.”
REFLECTION
• Do I remember to pray for those who are in authority?
• How often do I pray for my local Superior?
Assigned in Chinese General Hospital;
Hospital Español de Santiago in Makati;
Clinica Singian in Manila; France; Notre
Dame de Lourdes Hospital in Baguio;
Maria Reyna Clinic in Cagayan de Oro
City; Patronato de Nuestra Señora de
Lourdes Free Medical –Dental Clinic and
Dispensary in Singalong, Manila; Culion
Sanitarium in Palawan; St. Paul School
in San Rafael; Cebu Doctors’ Hospital in
Cebu City; St. Paul College Manila House
of Studies; Quiapo Parochial School in
Manila; Sta. Cruz Mission, Lake Sebu
in Koronadal City; SPC Vigil House In
Quezon City; Bicol Sanitarium; SPC Vigil
House in Taytay, Rizal.
| 37
38 |

The Goal of Formation and the SPC Ministers

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