Holy Family Province

9^TH LUZON CLUSTER ASSEMBLY

HOLY FAMILY PROVINCE

November 26 – 30, 2016

Theme: WOMEN DISCIPLES OF JESUS IN A CHANGING WORLD: CHALLENGES

On November 26, the Luzon Cluster Assembly whose Theme was: WOMEN DISCIPLES OF JESUS IN A CHANGING WORLD: CHALLENGES opened formally.  Fr. Nonong Pili of St. Joseph Seminary came to preside the opening mass at 6:30 a.m. The Pre-novitiate Community, in-charge of the day’s liturgy.

At 8:30 a.m., the sisters of the Cluster did the “Caracol”, a devotional procession typical in the Tagalog region to honor Mary our Lady Of the Rosary, on their way to the Assembly Room which was simply yet artistically  prepared with the theme of the encounter. The big letters of the word CHALLENGES  pervaded the meeting room. Once everybody was gathered and the opening prayer offered, Alicia Blanquisco, Coordinator of the Luzon Cluster welcomed everybody and gave the necessary introduction and orientation. The sessions began with Belinda Sangalang acting as Moderator and   Maria Bernadette Reyna as Secretary. Every Community-Taller presented the highlights of their life and mission to everybody’s information and enrichment.

                                                  

Milagros Maravilla gave the background Situationer from the results of the Evaluation of the Life and Mission of the Congregation 2015. The task for the day was for the Cluster to arrive at the most significant Challenges or Issues to be presented to the Provincial Assembly in January. A consensus will have to be made on all the reports from the communities collated and presented by Jennifer Uy, Angelina Gergil Lucidos and Alicia Blanquisco. This was the task given to them by the Luzon Cluster Coordinating Group in the period of preparation. After a day of lively and interesting deliberations, the Group arrived at a consensus on the three (3) Issues or Challenges: WOMEN, INDUSTRIA CRISTIANA AND INTERCONNECTION.

27 -29 (Sun.-Tues.) Second Day – Fourth Day of the Luzon Cluster Assembly. After the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Joy of the Claretians and prepared by the Novitiate Community-Taller, the sisters of the Luzon Cluster gathered to begin the 2nd days’ task: Evaluation of the Living Out of the Organic Model of Governance. Led by the Moderator of the day Erlinda Garaci, the community reports were read followed by the reading of the collated report on the practice of the different elements of the Organic Model: Authority, Responsible Freedom, Interdependence, Participation and mutual Mutual Accountability . The process of clarification and verification of the reports took quite a time since the sisters will have to answer the following in treating every element: What do we value from this experience; Difficulties encountered in the living out of this element; How to confront these difficulties and; What does this experience teach us about the element that we are working on. The same guide questions were applied to the other elements: such as: Interconnection, Communication and information, Discernment as a habitual attitude of searching for the will of God, Consensus and Modes of participation with the sub elements: Consultation, Elections and the functions of Commisions.

On the 3rd and 4th day the Cluster dealt with Sisterly Obedience and Structure. Well prepared liturgies for the celebration of the Eucharist; the Morning Praise and the concluding Vespers gave life and maintained the enthusiasm of the sisters throughout the period of deliberations and discussions. The ice-breakers in between sessions kept everybody awake and participative inspite of the heavy content and sometimes, dragging interventions. The skillfull leading of the moderators: Belinda Sangalang, Erlinda Garaci, Rochelle Repaso and Crystiliza Celestial enlivened the participation and encouraged spontaneity and ease in the process. The brief but substancial recaps of the different secretaries for the day: Maria Bernadette Reyna, Belinda Sangalang, Angelina Gergil Lucidos, Delia Labay and Paz Banaria put the sisters in tract for the days’ tasks.

November 30, Last Day of the Assembly. The culminating mass was celebrated by Fr. Nonong Pili whose homily coincided with the introductory message of Paz Banaria of the Provincial House Community.

Marcelina Sta. Cruz presented the report and the results of the International SSJ and LJ Encounter which she and her sister, Concepcion Sta. Cruz, a Lay Josephine, atended in Salamanca, Spain last August. This comprehenesive report was a good material for information and motivation of the young sisters who made a very good representation and a very active participation during the assembly.

It was later on agreed that some scheduled reports meant for the information of the Province were set aside for the incoming Provincial Assembly: Commissions, Committees Report, such as: JPIC, Social Action Group, Group on Women, Formation, etc. However, Raquel Pacaigue did her reporting on the Pastoral Care of Vocation Ministry and the Commission on Economy, through Violeta Layson, presented the newly revised, translated and printed Document on Economy with the accompanying guide for reflection and study in communities. The sisters gave credit to Ma. Flora Perez who did the arduous task of translating the document.

The last sessions in the afternoon consisted of the conclusions, Concerns of the Cluster and other matters to be presented to the Provincial Assembly in January. Evaluation sheets were distributed before the closing and finally the thanksgiving prayer prepared by the Madres Mayores Community. Alicia Blanquisco as Cluster Coordinator, expressed her gratitude and thanked each one, especially those who have formed part of the organization, preparation and execution of the Assembly. In a bright and happy tone, the 9th Luzon Cluster Assembly ended with the singing of the Vespers hymn: Thank you Lord.

The sisters were left looking forward to the planned outing of the whole group to Phillip’s Sanctuary in Antipolo on December 4, Sunday.