LUZON CLUSTER ASSEMBLY
(April 4-7, 2013)
PROVINCE
OF THE HOLY FAMILY
SIERVAS DE SAN JOSÉ
Theme: OUR FAITH IN JESUS IN NAZARETH ON THE
CROSS...NOW RISEN...IMPELS US. ALLELUIA!
The 6th Luzon Cluster
Assembly commenced with the Eucharistic celebration at 6:30 a.m. presided by
Fr. Luciano (Nonong) Pili of the St. Joseph Formation Center. His homily
disposed us for our task for four days. It was centered on the Kingdom of God
in which we are called to live today impelling us paradigm shifts, behavioural change
and living from our core where God dwells. He made a suggestion for all of us
participants of the assembly to have an appreciative evaluation: to affirm one
another, to strengthen present relationships and to focus on positive elements,
not so much on past failures.
Highlights of the 6th
Luzon cluster assembly:
o The talk of Mr.
Edwin Lopez on faith at the beginning of the first session on the first day had
truly touched and inspired us. He is really a man of God, sent for all of us.
He shared with us a lot of his personal experiences in order to get across to
us his very important message: Our faith is rooted in the language of the cross
and the language of the cross is the language of love. Where the cross is,
Christ is. (John of the cross). Mr. Edwin Lopez works with the formation of
priests, religious and lay being the head of the Lay Force based in San Carlos
Seminary. He is a professor, and also the Managing Director of EWTN, a catholic International Network and a Board Member of TV Maria.
o The “balitaan”
where each community shared its significant experiences during the year brought
joy, closeness and inspiration to all of us. We came to know better each
community and learned a lot from each of them.
o Through the sharing
on the evaluation of the Communitarian Apostolic Project which touches on
Community life in three dimensions namely sisterly relations, spirituality and
formation, the living out of the Charismatic values/element, the OMG elements
and practices, the New Trends of Religious Life, Economy, Communication, and Care
ofCreation we have seen and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit all throughout
the year leading each community in its effort to be faithful in the living out
of our giftedness as Siervas de San
Jose.
o As was agreed upon
during the Luzon
Cluster Assembly 2012, each community
was tasked to make its own Pastoral Care
of Vocations (PCV) Program. And to be
able to reach out to all the provinces/areas
of Luzon, each community was given
specific places to cover up for vocation
promotion. However, any community that
needs reinforcement can solicit the help of
the other communities.
Cluster Assembly 2012, each community
was tasked to make its own Pastoral Care
of Vocations (PCV) Program. And to be
able to reach out to all the provinces/areas
of Luzon, each community was given
specific places to cover up for vocation
promotion. However, any community that
needs reinforcement can solicit the help of
the other communities.
As shared during
the evaluation, there had been creative efforts exerted in most of the
communities in order to promote vocations. Some communities were able to engage
in vocation activities in the places/areas assigned to them. They were able to
conduct its own Life Direction Series and vocation talks in different schools
and colleges. Some sisters were able to join Vocation camps organized by different
parishes. The sharing on this truly encouraged all of us to work more to
promote vocation making it as the community-taller’s priority.
o The report done
by each community regarding their initial systematization of its work on women
enabled us to sense how the spirit of our
foundress and founder has been inspiring each community to be able to
respond to the needs and plight of women workers and of young women at risk,
the mission closest to the heart of Francisco and Bonifacia. It was amazing to
know what the sisters have done so that each taller de Nazareth could be a
haven of peace and contentment for all the simple women workers employed in it,
including the sheltered young ladies of Rosario, Cavite, the collaborators of
the Provincial House and assisted students/parents of Mandaluyong.
o Each community
was very open and honest to share its areas of concern affecting its
community-taller and cluster. The Provincial team took note of it. It was so
wonderful to hear the different ideas/suggestions of others regarding
particular concerns for they showed how each member care for each other.
o It was the first time
that the novices were asked to join in the Cluster Assembly. Their active
participation in the reporting and in the liturgy made the sessions more alive
and meaningful. Meanwhile, the juniors were present, too, and were very active.
The venue was very conducive for the meeting because of the simple but
meaningful decoration designed by them creating a blissful ambience. One of
them was also assigned as a secretary for the day and her recap was very good.
o There was a very
smooth flow of the sessions/activities during the four days. The assigned
moderator for each day was at her best while each secretary gave a very
comprehensive recap before sessions were began each day.
We have felt so much the
indwelling presence and the nearness of the spirit of our Risen Lord as we
begin each day with the celebration of the Eucharist and through the different
communal prayers before and after our whole day activities. We have felt the
incessant prayers of our sisters in the province and in the whole congregation.
Surely in the silence
of their hearts they have journeyed with us. Their greetings have animated us and made us feel their love and companionship.
of their hearts they have journeyed with us. Their greetings have animated us and made us feel their love and companionship.
We felt so lucky to have
with us the other members of the Provincial Team: Milagros Maravilla
(Provincial Coordinator/C-T Butina),Marcelina Sta. Cruz (Provincial Vicar/C-T
Mandaluyong), and Elma Tuzon(PNG cluster Coordinator/observer). We are truly
grateful for their encouraging presence and wise interventions. Sr. Alice, our
Cluster Coordinator was at her best in spearheading the cluster assembly. Her
initiative to meet the five local coordinators for two separate days in order
to prepare for the assembly has bore much fruit.
And so at the end of our
Cluster Assembly, we, as Luzon Cluster would like to express our deepest
gratitude to all our sisters, collaborators and friends who have prayed for us
and accompanied us in our journey as a cluster during these four days. And
above all, to God who has blessed us with everything we needed in order to have
a very fruitful and spirit-filled evaluation of our life and mission and a shared-effort
of initially systematizing our work with women in communities. God, who reveals
Himself in Nazareth has shown us his tremendous love and goodness at every
moment during the assembly and we believe that he will continue to be with us
through the spirit of the Risen Lord, impelling us to live faithfully the
charism our founders bequeathed to us. Amen.
Alleluia!
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