Canossian Daughters of Charity

January 29, 2023

In the cool breeze morning of Tagaytay, as the mighty sun slowly brightens the new day, together we give glory and praise to the Triune and Loving God through the solemn celebration of the Eucharist with Lauds integrated.  Fr. Son’s homily on the Beatitudes, was an invitation from the Lord:” Come to me, I am your Justice and Love. Become the Love of God to your brothers and sisters”.

Our being, body and soul was warmed by a body prayer led by Sr. Nancy Tagle and an opening prayer guided by Sr. Marichel Pulido.  Sr. Maria Elena, the Moderator, asked to greet each other with ”Titig ng Pag-ibig”.

Bright-eyed to begin the day’s task, the Capitular Sisters proceeded to listen to the proposed resolutions on the emerging poverty – migration/human trafficking, JPIC and care for the young through Youth Ministry. After each presentation, we had silence then a time for clarifications, questions, and recommendations.

Having listened to the comments in the plenary, the groups gathered again in the afternoon for revisiting, reviewing and editing our Proposed Resolutions.  Before the afternoon plenary session, the lively unfreezer and engaging video recap of the previous day stirred us to laughter. 

Then the Presiding Council – Sisters Lilia, Gliceria and Regina gave us a surprise talk.  They expressed their gratitude for a free flowing, very lively and enriching sharing of the participants and for dreaming big for the Province.  This dream which will propel the Province to a dynamic response to the needs around us must also be matched by our realities that we are aging and diminishing in active members.  This advice for prudence was welcomed by the Sisters as they saw the great opportunities in store for us when we tap the capability of our lay partners to be involved in our ministries in a more extensive sphere.

Grounded in our realities, the groups presented their proposals beginning with Sr, Cynthia and Sr. Estrella on the Lay Canossians’ appeal to give them a wholistic formation. The assembly proceeded further to the listening , scrutinizing, revising and finally the approval of the proposed resolutions on  Interculturality, Governance, Formation, Migration/Human trafficking, JPIC and Youth ministry.  The long loving look meditation on ‘Letting Go and Letting Come’ with Mary was a moment of solitude to integrate all that has been during the day.