7th PROVINCIAL CHAPTER- HOLY FAMILY PROVINCE (July 15-20, 2023)

With the disposition of the Psalmist of the day’s readings, “Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!”, we embarked on our 7th Provincial Chapter with the theme: “Reimagining Spaces for the Charism, in Synodality, Committed with the Emerging Reality”. It was actively participated by the 27 delegates coming from the different communities of the Holy Family Province, 5 of whom were chosen by right and the rest elected by each Community-Taller. The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit has been very palpable throughout the Chapter.

On July 15, we began the day with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Genaro Diwa. In order to dispose ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit we spent the day in prayer with the material provided by the Provincial Team using the Book of Ruth with the following topics distributed in 3 moments of prayer:

1)    A Wounded Alliance

2)    Reinvented Alliance

3)    An Open Alliance

The grace asked by each one of us is to have a listening heart and the gift of discernment to choose the paths, and the options presented to us in this Provincial Chapter to give new vigor and freshness to incarnate our Charism in the world of work today. 

The Opening Rite of the Chapter started at 5:00 pm with one-hour Eucharistic Adoration followed by Marcie’s Welcome Address, the Opening of the Provincial Chapter, and the Commissioning Rite of the Chapter Delegates.

The opening Mass of the Chapter on July 16 was presided by the Provincial of the Claretians in the Philippines- Fr. Elias Ayuban, CMF. In his homily, he gave us a good reflection regarding the theme of our chapter thereby, motivating and disposing us to be better attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit during the days ahead of us. 

After Marcelina’s presentation of the Organization and Procedures to be followed during the Chapter which the group approved after a few clarifications and modifications and the election of the members for the different services to be rendered during the chapter like Canvassing, secretarial work, moderation, coordination, and communication, the group was ready to engage themselves in the 7^th Provincial Chapter which lasted for 6 days.

The Highlights of the Chapter are as follows:

Ø A very comprehensive report of Yolanda Pugal on the Memoria on the Life and Mission of Holy Family Province from 2017 to 2023 and of Alma Miranda’s report on the Financial Status of the Province during her 6-year term as the Provincial Administratrix- 2017-2023

Ø The approval of the document on the five Fundamental Themes with their corresponding Objectives, Lines of Action and their corresponding Activities, and Expected End Results happened after going through the process of personal reading and reflection, then sharing in small groups and in the plenum for clarifications, revisions, and enrichment. The 5 themes are as follows:

Theme 1 Community-Taller that lives and manifests the passion for

                 Jesus and the Utopia of the Kingdom

Theme 2 Economy and Spirituality of Care

Theme 3 Preferential option for women

Theme 4 Vocation ministry and youth leadership

Theme 5 Josephine Family, a new space for living and transmitting the

                Charism

Ø The election of Lillian Ocenar as the Provincial Coordinator, Jennifer Uy as the Provincial Vicar, and Belinda Sangalang as the Provincial Administratrix

Ø Closing Mass on July 20 presided by Fr. Pedregosa, OP. At the end of the Mass, Marcie gave her acknowledgment and declared the Closing of the 7^th Provincial Chapter and this was applauded by all the sisters present.