As the year 2009 was
ending, Good Shepherd Sisters were united in thanking God for the year that
passed. In the Philippines, Masses were offered on December
31 as thanksgiving for the graces received during the year.
The country was ravaged by calamities, natural and human-made but the goodness
of people and communities, local and international, has been great, and help
was given to victims.
There were many good
things that happened in 2009, in the ministry and in the people we serve and
the people who work with us. Let us take a look at some of the highlights of
the year that passed. (We will try to complete the list this week.)
Highlights of the Year 2009
January
January 1. Mary, Mother of God.
Euphrasian Residence has been offering residential services through two
programs> Crisis Intervention (1-18 weeks)and New Life Program (19 weeks - 1
year); through the latter the services user can avail of home study program and
formal education.
Heart of Mary Villa. "Homecoming." January 18- July
18. An adoptee from the Netherlands stayed for six months in HMV to
experience her Filipino roots. She was involved in taking care of the babies in
the nursery and in the various activities in DamayanCommunity Center, especially during the summer
program.
Tahanan Community. Intensive involvement in ecological efforts of the
archdiocese, regular unclogging of canals. Increased number of
people joining Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC).
Sr. Yolanda Borbon RGS, left for Rome January 29 to apprentice with
Sr. Helen Anne Sand, treasurer general, that will prepare her for the mission
after the Congregational Chapter in July.
February
CGS
-Virac. Blessings. Gratitude to God for the Funding received for the
Construction of the Chapel at San Isidro Village, Our Lady's Subdivision,
Virac, Catanduanes, the approval of the construction from Sr. Cecile Torres
and the Province Leadership Team, and additional sisters int he community
Srs. Socorro Galvez CGS and Mira Han CGS.
March
March 1. Sr. Victoria Joson RGS left for Paris, France to work for Filipino migrant workers.
March
22.Lapuyan Community
transferred permanently to Pagadian and had a shift of ministry from parish
work to residential ministry.
Pagadian. March 25. Blessing of Balay Paglaum sa Maayong Magbalantay, a shelter home for women and girls in difficult situation. Sisters officially started residential ministry in Pagadian diocese.
March 23. Iligan City: First anniversary of the blessing of the Convent beside the housing project
April
SBC. Joint celebration Sr.
Amabilis Oliva’s diamond jubilee and Sr. Estelle Antigua’s golden jubilee of
Profession of Vows. April 24. 2009 in Quezon City
May
May 2, 2009. Davao City. Golden Jubilee of Profession of Vows of Sr. Mary Josephine Bacaltos RGS. Mass was held at the Ateneo de Davao.
Coordinators' Meeting
June
June
9, 2009.
First Anniversary of the establishment of Women's Desk in the four parishes in
the Diocese of Malaybalay. Sr. Grace Butalid RGS, is the coordinator of Women's
Desk in the Diocese of Malaybalay. The four parishes are located in Valencia, Maramag, Don Carlos and Quezon.
June 13 – July 9. 29th Congregational Chapter of Good Shepherd Sisters in Angers, France.
Sr. Cecilia Torres RGS, province
leader, with Sr. Henedina Mananzan RGS, apostolic delegate and Sr. Ma. Teresa
Pomar CGS, contemplative delegate, represented the Philippine Province during
the Chapter.
Srs.
Yolanda Borbon, Tarcila Abano and Regina Kuizon who belong to the Philippine
Province were also at the Chapter. Sr. Yolanda attended during the report of
the Congregational Treasurer, Sr. Tarcila who worked at the SpirituatlyCenter was one of the organizers of the
pilgrimages, and Sr. Regina covered the Congregational Chapter with the
communications team.
Other Filipinas who
attended the Chapter represented other units: Sr. Fe de Paz (Angola); Sr. Edith Olaguer (New York), Sr.
Mercy de Leon (Mid North America).
June 28. Sr. Virgo Espineda RGS and
Lourdes Sevilla RGS left for Masserano, Italy to work with the program
for trafficked women and children, abused migrants.
July
July 3, 2009. Sr. Brigid Lawlor, reelected
Congregational Leader of Good Shepherd Sisters
July
5, 2009. Five
Apostolic and Three Contemplative Councillors were
elected members of the Congregational Leadership Team
headed by Sr. Brigid Lawlor. Sr. Maria Teresa Pomar CGS, from Tagaytay
community, was elected contemplative councilor. This is the first time for the
congregation to have a contemplative council.
July
9, 2009.
Conclusion of the 29th Congregational Chapter
Legazpi,
Bicol Cluster Gathering. July 31
August
Bahay
Ugnayan. Holds regularly every month, a Community Day with Sisters from
Blessed Maria Droste Infirmary.
Bahay
Ugnayan: Venue for regular meeting of Interfaith Dialogue Forum organized by
Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, founder of SILSILAH Dialogue Movement in Zamboanga. Sr.
Marion Chipeco RGS assists.
Congregational
Chapter Echoes
August 16-17-Baguio; August 22-23-1043
Communities; August 28-29-Malabon, Tahanan, Welcome House, Malate and Isabela;August 30-31
September
Congregational Chapter Echoes
Villa Maria and CGS-Cebu; September 4-6 -Batangas, Maryridge, Bahay Pastulan, Bukid
Kabataan, CGS-Tagaytay; September 16-19- Mindanao and CGS-Butuan (CDO venue) September 24-25- Bicol and CGS-Virac
Chapter Echo in Bicol. All the Good Shepherd Communities
in Bicol (Buhi, Naga, Legazpi, Virac) were gathered together last September for
the echo of the General Chapter. The echo was held in Betania Retreat
House, IrigaCity.
Srs. Cecil and Deena arrived at the venue a day before.
Sr. Mary
Ofelia Endaya RGS has been recommended by Prof Thelma Lee Mendoza to the
Philippine Association of Social Work, Inc (PASWI) to be a Board Examiner of
Social Work. A presidential appointee on August 7, 2009, Sr. Ofelia took her oath last
September 24, 2009 before Commissioner Lapena and Nilo Rosas at the
Professional Regulatory Commission.
Typhoon Ondoy (international codename, "Ketsana" hit the
Philippines, on September 26 claiming thousands of
lives, destroying homes and
properties and causing floods in many parts of Luzon.
Heart of Mary Villa, the Good Shepherd in
community in Malabon was submerged in water.
October
A Eucharistic
Celebration at the Good Shepherd Chapel in Quezon City to launch the
three-year preparations for the 2012 Centennial of Good Shepherd Sisters’
presence in the Philippines, was held on October
3.
October 13. A medical
team of Good Shepherd Sisters and friends offered free medical services and
medicines to the victims of typhoon Ondoy in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City on October 13.
As an aftermath of typhoon Ondoy,
that damaged buildings in Heart of Mary Villa and rendered flooded
most of the property, 19 babies from the HMV nursery were transferred to the
Good Shepherd Compound in Quezon City on October 16.
Good Shepherd Baguio. Typhoon Pepeng caused landslides
and floods in Baguio-Benguet, causing death and damage to our neighbors,
strawberry farmers, staff, and students’ families.
The Asia Pacific NGO Forum on Beijing + 15 was held October
22-24 at MirriamCollege in Quezon City. Good Shepherd Sisters and lay
partners from Asia represented the congregation.
Thirteen delegates were from the Asia Pacific Justice and Peace Network while
24 were from the Philippine Province. The delegates stayed in Good Shepherd
Community and Bahay Ugnayan.
A Statement on Anti-trafficking was
issued by the APJP.
Welcome House.
Mary Kay Phil chose Welcome House as a corporate concern. Staff come by
groups to for creative activities. The company's foundress has a heart
for children and women victims of abuse. Mary Kay also helped in rebuilding houses damaged by Typhoon Ondoy.
November
Triduum, to prepare for the November 21 Renewal of Vows, held in Bahay Ugnayan and Euphrasian Community, with Sisters contributing to Pondo Euphrasia, an educational fund for poor but deserving students.
Tahanan Community promotes eco-friendly environment. Use of non incandescent lamps.
November 23. Fifty seven (57) men, women and children were massacred in Maguindanao. The Women Justice Peace and Integrity of CreationWJPIC) Office issued a statement condemning the act.
Sr. Victoria Joson RGS arrived from Paris, France.
December
Province Teams
Meeting.
Apostolic
and contemplative Good Shepherd Sisters and two lay mission partners were in Quezon City for a two-day Province Teams
meeting, Dec 2 and 3. The teams included Ministry/W-JPIC, Formation, MARTA
(Material Resources), Good Shepherd Partnership and Province Leadership Team.
The teams met 1) to share stories of highlights, challenges and hopes;
2). to weave the “newness” in our Province Team plans; and to celebrate the
blessings of the year. The theme of the meeting was, "Weaving Strands of
Newness."Candlelighting and Rosary
for justice for victims of Maguindanao massacre as a solidarity action were
held on the last day of the meeting withSBS students and staff.
Bahay Ugnayan. December 5, 2009. General Assembly of Good Shepherd Mission Partners
CGS Cebu – December 6, 2009. Community’s visit to the Alay
Bahay and household staff. Contemplatives prayed with them and listened to
their hopes and aspirations.
December 10. Death of Sr. Mary
Assumption Ocampo RGS (Avelina H. Ocampo), first Filipina Good Shepherd Sister,
at the age of 102.
RGS-DavaoCity.
Center for
Overseas Workers (COW) celebrated International Migrants Day on December
18, with the theme, “Asserting Migrants Rights... Government's
Accountability”.
IliganCity. December 24. First anniversary of
the blessing of the Housing project, 14 houses of evacuees, victims of
war of MILF on August 14, 2008.
Caroling.
Good Shepherd Sisters led by Sr. Madeleine Nicolas RGS sang Christmas Carols to
generate funds for the infirmary. They visited the Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales, SBS Community in Quezon City and those gathered for the
traditional Christmas lunch at Good Shepherd Community.
Christmas
Concert. Flutist Rey Sison and pianist Ingrid Sta. Maria performed for the
children of headstart program in Bagong Silangan and Good Shepherd
Sisters and friends in Quezon City. Venue was Euphrasian Community
Hall.
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