Luzon Cluster Assembly

LUZON CLUSTER
HOLY FAMILY PROVINCE
Quezon City, Philippines

February 24, 2012

Dear Sisters,

Greetings to all of you from all of us gathered for the Luzon Cluster Assembly!

As our Assembly, focused on the theme ”Attentive to listen to the Spirit, in connection with humanity, we weave the future and build the Kindom, ” draws to a close, we share with you our significant experiences of the Cluster journey we have began last February 20, 2012 with a Eucharistic Celebration. The Assembly proper started with the presentation of the Strategic Plan by Milagros Maravilla, our Provincial Coordinator, together with Marcelina Sta. Cruz, the Provincial Vicar, Alicia Blanquisco, the Luzon Cluster Coordinator, and Sr. Lucrecia Camiring, a representative of the Talleres de Nazaret of Holy Family Province.

The main task of the Assembly, which is the formulation of activities for the Actions which correspond to the expected results of the eight Strategic Objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Congregation for 2011 – 2017 the Team of the Congregation and other SSJ sisters have elaborated during the their meeting late last year, was done by the thirty members of our Assembly, in eight small groups, with assiduity and joy, and with active participation, responsible freedom, interdependence, belongingness, and shared authority, according to the spirit of the Organic Model of Governance. The result of each small group meeting was presented to the body for study, reflection and finalization. All the eight Strategic Objectives were tackled with the same sisterly climate that pervaded the small group meetings, each result being a fruit of love, of serious and hard work.

The Cluster process was made more meaningful and lighter by the prayers and greetings of solidarity sent by the General Team and the other sisters from the different communities of the Holy Family Province and other Provinces, the Lay Josephines and some of our collaborators and target sectors, as well as from other individuals. The contextualized Eucharistic celebrations and other liturgies, the healthy meals, and the sharing of prayer-work and spontaneous recreation enhanced the life of the Cluster during days of our Assembly.

As we end this Cluster Journey, we heartily thank you, our sisters from the Congo Cluster and from the other Provinces of the Congregation, for having accompanied us with your prayers, love and support that made us feel our communion with the whole Congregation. By the abiding presence of God in us and among us, the distance that separates us and the varying cultures that make us different from one another were transcended and the sense of belonging to one big SSJ family remains. With you, our sisters, we are rooted in the past with St. Bonifacia and Fr. Francisco as our inspiration, vibrant in the present with St. Joseph as the model of our work, and enthusiastic and full of hope for the future, guided by Mary, our mother, and Jesus in Nazareth, the constant reference of our life and mission as Siervas de San Jose.

Abrazos muy fuertes,
Vuestras hermanas en Luzon

Introduction to the closing Eucharistic Celebration – Luzon Cluster Assembly Feb. 20-24, 2012

In the Gospel reading for today, the disciples of John asked Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast and why the disciples of Jesus not. Jesus’ answer was direct. How can you expect the wedding guests to fast while the groom is with them. Jesus wanted to show them that fasting was for a reason and not just mere observance of the law and the precepts. It is the rending of the heart for a cause, It is the disciplining of the self for something worthwhile to sacrifice for… when the groom is gone.

It is no coincidence that we went into a fast during this assembly to commemorate the beginning of the season of Lent. Not only did we fast from food but we also went into the rigorous discipline of work, of hours of listening and sharing input for the enrichment of our Strategic Plan. Work is our discipline, work is our legacy, work is our saving grace.

On the last day of our gathering as a Cluster, let us celebrate for a work well done and let us humbly offer our task accomplished. Let us celebrate while the groom is with us.