Paco community welcomed with joy the celebration of the renewal of vows of Sr. Yoko Kiyota on January 21. The Eucharistic celebration was presided by no less than Fr. Carlo Bittante, Canossian Superior General with his Councilor Fr. Pietro Bitelli and 3 other Canossian priests from New Manila seminary – Fr. Jao Leoveras, Fr. Ralph Santos and Fr. Allan Dizon. Sr. Lilia Nuesca, Provincial Leader, together with Sr. Maria Magdalena and Sr. Charito Balancin received her vows. Sr. Valeria Martines, Provincial Leader in Japan, joined the Mass via zoom. It was a festive day as Sisters from San Juan community where Sr. Yoko stays for integration of her apostolic experiences in the Province and Sisters from other communities were also present.
Sr. Yoko is a Japanese sister who is having her apostolic immersion in the Province since September in preparation for her Perpetual Vows. She spent her Novitiate here and the Sisters are very happy to see her again after so many years. She had her apostolic exposure in Lipa, a school community and then in Nueva Ecija, a pastoral community serving the Diocese of San Jose in health, catechetical and indigenous peoples ministries.
Sr. Yoko will return to Japan on Feb 6. We wish her a joyful celebration of her final Vows and pray that she may continue to serve the Lord faithfully in carrying out her mission of charity as a woman of the Word, loving without measure.
