10th VISAYAS-VIETNAM CLUSTER ASSEMBLY Feb. 2-4, 2018

“Impel the Congregational Project from a Global Vision In Fidelity to the  Charism”

The twenty-one (21) sisters of Visayas-Vietnam Cluster coming from the four (4) Communities-Taller  of Silay, Iloilo, Cebu and Vietnam gathered together  on February 2-4, 2018 for their 10^th Cluster Assembly. This annual event became very significant because of the presence for the first time of all the members of the Provincial Team namely: Sr. Marcelina Sta. Cruz, the Provincial Coordinator, Sr. Yolanda Pugal, the PNG Cluster Coordinator and Provincial Vicar, Sr. Jennifer Uy, the Luzon Cluster Coordinator and Victoria Terrenate, the Visayas-Vietnam Cluster Coordinator.

The Cluster Assembly had preparatory activities on the 1^st of February. C-T Silay, the host community, welcomed the participants with a joyful Ilonggo song and set the mood for the very enriching and creative updates from all the C-Ts regarding their life in the community and apostolate including their outreach activities to the peripheries.

WELCOME SONG FROM C-T SILAY

SPECIAL WORDS OF WELCOME FROM MO. MAG ON BEHALF OF THE C-T

The Cluster assembly formally started in the morning of February 2^nd at the Bonifacia Hall of St. Theresita’s Academy.  The ambience of the place, the presence of all the sisters in the Cluster with the most appreciated and inspiring presence of the Provincial Team, the simple but meaningful Opening Prayer and the following heartwarming Welcome Address and Orientation of Victoria, made all of us feel and experience the loving and guiding presence of God through Jesus in the Spirit and that of our foundress St. Bonifacia and founder Fr. Francisco. We felt ready and very well motivated for whatever task ahead of us.

WELCOME ADDRESS AND ORIENTATION FROM SR. VICTORIA TERRENATE

“A cluster assembly is an event we look forward to for many reasons: being together as a cluster body is a time for renewal and revitalization of our call as SSJs; a precious moment of bonding with one another, of sharing and listening to our stories, desires, dreams, concerns and inquietude as we reflect, pray, do the common search and make decisions pertaining our cluster. 

The theme, 'Impel the Congregational Project for a Global Vision in fidelity to our Charism', is not only directed to the General Team nor to the Provincial Team, nor to the Cluster,but it is a congregational project we own personally and make vibrant in our daily journey as Siervas de San Jose." (Excerpts from Welcome address and Orientation of Sr. Victoria Terrenate)

The following were the highlights/accomplishments during the three-day gathering:

v Personal reflection followed by a very enriching, enlightening and challenging sharing in small groups and in plenum on the material on material- "Faith-filled Leadership", by Christine Anderson, fcj. 

GROUP 1

GROUP 2

GROUP 3

GROUP 4

v Sr. Marcelina’s very clear presentation of the SSJ Strategic Plan 2017-2023. It was very heartening and challenging for the group to know the four Strategic Objectives with their corresponding Lines of actions, expected results and concrete activities. 

SR. MARCELINA'S PRESENTATION OF SSJ STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2023

v The distribution of the copies of HFP Operative Plan 2017-2023 to each sister during the opening Mass, after a meaningful prayer of acceptance and commitment to the Plan. All of us were touched when we took hold of it.

v  On the following day, each of the four members of the Provincial Team took turns in presenting to the group the 4 Strategic Objectives of the HFP Operative Plan 2017-2013 which was followed by personal reading and reflection, then sharing in respective communities-taller. In the plenum, everybody cheered because the over-all rate of acceptance by the C-Ts was 10 and after the reporting and some interventions, the consensus on the cluster concrete activities and projects was finally reached.

 

v Marcelina's presentation of the enriched Communitarian Apostolic Plan Instrument to which we felt very grateful to have as our guide in making our Apostolic Communitarian Plan .

v   Updates of Marcelina regarding the Congregational Juniorate in Medellin, Columbia, communications from the General Team, financial concern of Holy Family Province and other concerns of the C-Ts of V-V Cluster brought us a sense of belonging, interconnectedness and solidarity.

v The participants' evaluation of the Cluster Assembly was very positive and the sisters were all grateful for the wonderful experiences of charismatic renewal and joy of being Siervas de San Jose... We especially acknowledged and affirmed the edifying presence and active participation of the eldest sister in the province, Magdalena Braganza.

SR. JOY(left) and MO. MAG(right), HOLY FAMILY PROVINCE YOUNGEST AND  OLDEST SISTERS RESPECTIVELY 

As we end our Cluster Assembly we would like to express our deepest gratitude to God’s never ending presence, accompaniment and guidance, and to all of you our beloved sisters the world over and our dear collaborators in the Holy Family Province who joined us through your prayers, sacrifices, words of greetings, love and encouragement sent to us through texts, letters and emails. Thank you so much, dear sisters and collaborators. We really felt loved and supported by all of you.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN. ALLELUIA!