8th Luzon Cluster Assembly: “WAKE UP THE WORLD” November 20-22, 2015

The 8^th Luzon Cluster Assembly with the theme: “WAKE UP THE WORLD”, held at St. Joseph Conference Room of the Provincial House from November 20 to November 22, 2015 was participated in by 39 sisters from 6 Communities-Taller: 29 Perpetually Professed Sisters, 6 Juniors and 5 Novices. It started with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Archbishop John Ribat, MSC (Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea). 

Archbishop John Ribat, MSC

Interculturality, unity in diversity, interconnectedness and solidarity characterized the celebration, disposing the sisters for their work and encounter for 3 days. All throughout the Mass, the Archbishop  prayed for  a fruitful assembly for all the participating sisters, so that,  they may be God’s loving presence and influence in the Church and in the world.  

Sr. Alicia Blanquisco, SSJ, Luzon Cluster Coordinator, welcomes and orients
the participants of the 8th Luzon Cluster Assembly 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 8^TH LUZON CLUSTER ASSEMBLY:

o   The two half-day conference given by a religious, Sr. Iñigo Joachim, SSA, a well-known international speaker from India on the topic “A Call to Consecrated Life: WAKE UP THE WORLD” held at the Institute of Formation and Religious Studies on November 18-19. The Luzon Cluster Assembly participants attended this conference as a preparation for the coming three days of encounter

o   Sharing of the highlights of the lived experiences by each Community-Taller and its celebration of the Year of Butinya, the Year of Consecrated Life and the Year of the Poor.  

o   Well-prepared updates in photos and videos reported by the congregational link persons of the: Commission on Formation and the Commission  on Economy, the sisters in-charge of the Talleres de Nazaret Commission, Pastoral Care of Vocation, Women and related areas, the Committee on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Social Action  Group and the HFP Volunteer Program, together with the Taller de Solidaridad Project in Estancia, Iloilo. The Bolivia Experience was also shared followed by the report on the outcome of the encounters held for a better understanding of the lay vocation and the LJ/SSJ integration. The Juniors were not outdone as they gave an echo of the seminars they have attended, all towards the enrichment of one’s consecrated life.

o   The outcome of a series of community study on the elements of the   Organic Model of Governance using the tool provided by the Province. This was worked on in groups, in the Assembly and later presented to the plenary. The reports reflected the commonalities in their understanding of each element, the positive experiences and difficulties, and the areas they need to strengthen. The Cluster came up with priority elements which each community will work on for the remaining term before the Chapters namely: Responsible Freedom and Mutual Accountability.

The creative presentation of each C-T symbol which expresses the C-T’s experiences during the deepening of the 5 elements of the OMG was really touching and inspiring.

Offering of the C-T Symbol (C-T Madres Mayores)

Offering of the C-T Symbol (C-T Rosario)

o   The talk of Fr. Gerard Timoner, OP, Provincial Superior of the Dominican Order in the Philippines, on Consecrated Life/Year of the Poor, on the last day of the Assembly, challenged us to be models of holiness and awakened us to the call to go to the periphery, to the new faces of poverty.

Fr. Gerard Timoner, OP (Provincial Superior)

o   The sisters, finally, came up with “5 priority challenges”   which they have discovered together and agreed to deepen on and to bring to life in the communities.  

 

The 8^th Luzon cluster Assembly opened us up to a new chapter in our life as SSJ, to boldly heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit, to go into the DEEP and to rekindle more and more the Passion for Christ and the Passion for Humanity and for Mother Earth.

To all of YOU who have been with us in our journey during our 8^th Luzon Cluster Assembly: MUCHAS GRACIAS! THANK YOU SO MUCH! MARAMING SALAMAT!