A cold, breezy morning welcomed us for the Day 3 of the 5th Provincial Chapter of Application. A solemn Eucharistic Celebration and Morning Prayer commenced it. Fr. Son, priest of the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete led us to reflect on the faith of Abraham and the disciples of Jesus who were with Him in the boat. In his homily, Fr. Son encouraged us, the Capitular Sisters to persevere in faith as they read the signs of the times.
Sr. Luzviminda Mojica, FdCC, the morning’s moderator lively shared the flow of the day which was immediately followed by an Opening “Body” Prayer led by Sr. Nancy Tagle, FdCC. The latter animatedly guided us to be constantly mindful of God’s presence during these days of the Chapter as we also invoked the intercessions of our Canossian Saints and Our Lady of Sorrows. To keep the vibrancy of the day’s proceedings, the participants were invited to move with the dance video: “Kumusta ka na?”, which really energized us.
We are privileged today to have with us, Ms. Carmen Bautista, President of the Lay Canossian Association (LCA) in the Philippines. Sr. Cynthia Magsino, FdCC introduced her as one of the Lay Canossians (LC) of the Canossian Fathers. Since 2011, the LCA statutes combined the LCs of the Canossian Fathers and Sisters. Carmen presented the LCA membership with a total of 168, mostly elderly, 60 years and above. Furthermore, she shared the different ministries of the Lay Canossians in making Jesus known and loved in their own homes, parishes and communities. She also engaged us with their expectations from their respective Sister Animators such as regular kumustahan, continuous presence, animation and support to their various programs and activities. We enthusiastically listened to the presentation of the different ministries to the poor of the Lay Canossians. After her sharing, we expressed our gratitude and affirmations on the presence of Lay Canossians in the different ministries of charity. We, likewise, conveyed our hopes for a regular collaboration among the Lay Canossians, the Canossian Fathers and Sisters. Sr. Lilia Nuesca, FdCC and Sr. Estrella Vasquez, FdCC gave a white shawl to Ms. Carmen as a symbol of the Sisters’ appreciation to her and to all members of the Lay Canossian in their dedication to the poor. Afterwards, the we went to our respective working groups (Interculturality, Governance, Formation, Youth, Human Trafficking/Migration and JPIC) to go over and discuss the proposals from the communities and to come up with proposed Chapter Resolutions. Eagerness, joy and dedication were felt as we shared, discerned and agreed on our respective group’s proposals.
Later in the afternoon, we were once again energized with a dance exercise video and the video recap of Day 2. At this time, Sr. Ma. Elena Adre served as the moderator where each working group presented and shared our outputs. We were able to initially deliberate on the areas of Interculturality, Governance and Formation where we zealously commented and determined for what we deemed as highly necessary resolutions.
The day ended with an LLL – Long Loving Look – at everything that has transpired today. Sr. Ma. Elena Adre facilitated it which helped us to be aware of our hearts’ stirrings on the different encounters we experienced. It was culminated with the praying of Vespers which captured the many expressions of the Sisters’ thanksgiving for the graces and blessings they experienced all throughout the day.