The 11th Visayas-Vietnam
Cluster Assembly with the theme “United in Mission, Making the Charism Visible”
was held at Holy Family Home, Iloilo City from May 6-8, 2019. C-T Iloilo was
the host, accommodating all the sistersof C-T Silay, C-T Cebu and C-T Vietnam, together
with the Provincial Coordinator, Marcelina Sta. Cruz and Provincial Team
Member, Jennifer Uy. The total number of
22 participants in the three-day Cluster Assembly was marked by the perfect
attendance of the twenty (20) sisters composing the cluster which
included among them Sr. Victoria Terrenate, VV Cluster Coordinator, who is a PT member also, thus
making the assembly a privileged space and time with the presence of the other two PT members.
The presence and
action of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Mo. Bonifacia and Fr. Francisco
were truly palpable in all the activities and encounters. The sisters actively and
enthusiastically participated and were all enriched and renewed in the process.
They were also strengthened and nourished in the celebration of the Eucharist
presided by Fr. Dennis of the Congregation of the Stigmatists.
It was edifying
to witness all the members of the four communities willingly rendering different
forms of service asked or required of them. At the end of the Assembly, it
became evident that there developed among them a strong sense of deep bonding
as a Cluster, of investing greater commitment to become intercultural
communities and of exhibiting a deep desire to be true disciples of Jesus giving
witness to His person and his words: "By this all men will know that you
are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)
The following are
the highlights of the Cluster Assembly:
v The
one-hour encounter with Jesus during the Eucharistic Adoration as each one
reflected on what has been deeply stirred in her as a Sierva de San Jose living
the SSJ mission interculturally, set everyone’s disposition to be constantly
connected with him.
The small and big group sharing of the fruit of
prayer/reflection on the article, “Living
the Mission Interculturally: Faith,
Culture and the Renewal of Praxis”, was very enriching, satisfying and
likewise challenging as they went through the process of deliberation and consensus of the 3 main challenges the
cluster committed itself to live out.
v The
very much participated, enjoyable and enriching CULTURAL NIGHT where each C-T
presented one or two important cultural practices in their respective places through
songs or dances while wearing costumes typical of their place of assignment. Likewise,
most of the participants displayed eagerness and excitement to get to know the C-T HIGHLIGHTS and at the
same time had a relish of the food shared by each Community-Taller.
v Marcie
brought the sisters closer to the Congregation when she gave the echo of what
transpired during the last Team of the Congregation Meeting held in Congo.
Through her power point presentation, the sisters came to know the sisters and
their realities there. Her sharing on the strategic plan and Holy Family
Province Operative Plan disposed the sisters in sharing their own communitarian and apostolic plan.
v The
sharing of the communities-taller of their apostolic projects on women,
transmission of charism/vocation ministry, sustainability and viability of
their apostolic presences and the C-T’s 3 Dimensions invigorated their identity
as women-worker religious belonging to a Congregational body as they were
enriched by the lived realities and the communitarian and apostolic experiences
and endeavors of each C-T. In singling out what is prophetic and transformative
from the sharing, each C-T came out with two main prophetic signs/actions which
it intends to live out as a community and to share with others in their
ministry.
v In
spite of the difficulties encountered especially in convoking SSJ vocation, the
sisters exclaimed that there are, indeed, many signs of hope, as they listened
to the Report from the different commissions: Vocation Ministry and
Spirituality, Women, Communication and Social Development, and the updates on
LJ-SSJ Integration Project.
v The
group accepted Vicky’s proposed Cluster projects namely- sharing of vocation
modules and materials; making music video featuring selected songs from Dear
God and from Amor’s collection of songs and at the same time depicting SSJ life
and mission; identifying persons among Silay LJs who can be trained by Luzon LJ
as leaders so that LJ Silay can take care of the other possible LJs in the
Cluster. The group added the following:the Cluster to come up with one common vocation
ministry program; that when searchers are ready, to have one common activity
for them; to solicit the help of Fr. Dennis for possible production of Vocation
skits/presentations, etc…
v Jennifer’s
very passionate sharing regarding the Formative Community gave birth to a spontaneous,
very enriching, honest and challenging sharing about their own experience of
community life from the juniors and some senior sisters.
v The
sisters were very much grateful for all the special services rendered during
the assembly: facilitation by the Cluster coordinator, accommodation,
moderation during the sessions, documentation, liturgical and food preparation.
The different greetings and prayers offered for their fruitful assembly coming
from the different C-Ts and places were deeply appreciated, too.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
LORD! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU, OUR DEAREST SISTERS IN THE WHOLE
CONGREGATION!
I have greatly enjoyed peeking into life in the Cluster.. will be there soon peace and hope in daily life
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