By Sr Maria Ana Cielo B Matuloy, Province of the Philippines – Japan
“Your leaders come to visit, and suddenly you’re all in uniform!” was the playful remark of Fr. Percy Bacani as we all sat in matching shirts with our partners-in-mission during Mass together with the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) who had come to visit us.
Such a comment brought smiles to our faces as we aren’t always known for wearing matching shirts!
With the last scheduled visit of the CLT to the Philippines cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic we were greatly eager and joyful to welcome our Congregational Leader, Sr. Joan Marie Lopez, together with three apostolic (Srs Josita Corera, Marie-Françoise Mestry, and Yolanda Sanchez) and three contemplative (Srs. Sadhani Welmillage, Cristina Rodriguez, and Edith Olaguer) members of her council.
In honor of their visit, two major gatherings were organized: one in Quezon City for sisters and partners-in-mission from across Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, and another in Cebu for those from the Visayan Islands and the island of Mindanao, including all contemplative sisters.
These two-day sessions covered essential topics from our Calls to Action such as Contemplation, Universal Culture of Justice, Partnership and Leadership.
Participants were invited to connect with their inner selves as the session begin with contemplative prayer, seeking to recognize the indwelling of God—the source of all we bring to our mission.
This sharing offered the CLT a personal glimpse into the life of the province, showcasing a range of experiences, from humorous to emotional, inspiring to unsettling. Each story reflected the challenging truths of life in mission and community.
The Spirit spoke through the wise voices of the elderly, the curious and idealistic vision of the young, from long-time partners and those new to journeying with the Good Shepherd. The commitment to the mission was evident, alongside the struggles of fostering just and loving relationships.
Meetings also took place with the province leadership, formation, and safeguarding teams, complemented by visits to various ministries and communities, including shelters, economic justice programs, schools and the Maria Droste Wellness Center.
Our elderly and sick sisters were delighted to welcome the sisters. Of course, there was also time for rest and enjoyment of nature’s wonders in the chilly mountain town of Baguio and the scenic holiday town of Tagaytay.
During the CLT visit, we also welcomed contemplative sisters and their unit leaders from Sri Lanka, India, and Korea. The three contemplative leadership team councilors facilitated a further six days of engaging sessions specific for the contemplative sisters.
During these sessions sacred space was devoted for prayer and discussion on themes including Contemplative vocation and our search for the face of God, the Cosmic Christ and updating of our theologies, and Mary Magdalen, our model for the contemplative life.
With October being Indigenous Peoples’ Month in the Philippines, the CLT’s visit to Baguio was perfectly timed for a Cordillera cultural experience, where they enthusiastically participated in traditional dances.
The Barrio Fiesta in Quezon City, the Sublian Festival in Batangas, and the Sinulog dance in Cebu added vibrant local flavors, delighting our cherished guests.
This visit was a beautiful reminder to all sisters and partners-in-mission of what unites us despite our diverse lifestyles, cultures, and vocations. We are deeply gratitude to our sister leaders for their selfless commitment to journey with us, bringing the love energy of our global mission.
Yes, we may have looked good in our matching shirts, but we felt even better embodying the spirit of unity in the mission of the Good Shepherd, striving to give our best and follow in the example of St John Eudes, St Mary Euphrasia and all those who came before us did.
