Day 9 · September 18, 2002

Day 9 · September 18, 2002

Schedule
6:30 a.m.	Mass
	Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB, presider
8:30 a.m.	Session/ Echo Mechanism
	Evaluation
10:30 a.m.	Closing Liturgy
	• Formal Closing of the Chapter: Sr. Lydia Ebora. Provincial Coordinator
	• Asperges
	• Council of Elders – Words of Wisdom of Former Provincial Coordinators to New Leadership
	• Sr. Carmelita Cruz’ Address to the Provincial Councillors and Major Councillors, Delegates
	• Response of RGS/CGS Sisters
	• Magnificat- “Ang Puso Ko’y Nagpupuri
	• Mission Sending and Anointing of the Feet of the Delegates- Sr. Guadalupe Bautista, General Councillor
	• Sayaw ng Kapatiran

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‘Bring the Good News to the Poor’

The last day of the Joint Provincial Chapter and Assembly dawned bright and clear making us hopeful that we could have the blessing of the new statue of Our Lady in clear weather. The 6:30 a.m. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB, provincial of the Don Bosco fathers and brothers in the Philippines. Right after Mass, we processed to the garden for the blessing.
The sun shone brightly although a slight haze already covered Taal Lake. After Fr. Gustilo had blessed the lovely statue of Our Lady—Mary on the Ridge—we sang Stella Maris in Tagalog. It was a beautiful start for the closing day of the Chapter and Assembly.

The final session consisted of an evaluation with two simple guide questions and a closing ritual. After Sr. Lydia declared the Chapter officially closed, the “elders” present in the Chapter shared their words of wisdom, and the incoming Provincial Team, RGS Provincial Council and CGS Major Council made their responses led by Sr. Carmelita Cruz. Sr. Carm stressed that the first condition of discipleship is to believe in what God can do through us.

The ritual of sharing wisdom was patterned after the traditional lumad (indigenous people) practice as explained by Sr. John Dumaug. Prior to the sharing, we had a short penitential rite, confessing our omissions and errors and calling upon our ancestors in the spirit, from St. Mary Euphrasia, St. John Eudes, Blessed Maria Droste, and our own RGS sisters to intercede for us.
The ritual concluded after most of the chapter delegates expressed their sentiments of thanks, affirmation, disponibility for the coming years.

Then Sr. Guadalupe anointed the feet of each delegate with the missioning words, “Blessed are the feet of those who bring the good news to the poor.”

The concluding rite was the circle-dance “Sayaw ng Kapatiran” which involved all the participants in a joyful ending to the Eighth RGS Provincial Chapter and the First CGS Assembly.

From the Junior Observers

•	Openness to listen to each other was evident, naipaabot at napakinggan ang lahat ng aspirations
•	The apostolic and contemplative dimensions of the Good Shepherd life was strongly felt.
•	Gratitude to God and to the other was a constant refrain of each delegate.
•	The Chapter/Assembly manifest the mutuality and Feminist Mode of Transformational Leadership
•	The process was dialogical, inclusive. There was a prayerful atmosphere.
•	The concerns and desires of the sisters in initial formation were taken seriously, and we feel were being listened to
•	I feel that the whole province is journeying together with a common vision.
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Words of Wisdom from former Provincial Coordinators

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