THE FOUNDRESS

St. Candida Maria de Jesus
Foundress

WITH GOD IN THE JOURNEY
(Recollection of CHJ Alumni)

Last June 4-5, the Alumni Association Officers especially through the efforts of its President, Lilivic de la Cruz and Vice President Linda Que organized a series of half-day recollections for the alumni. Sr. Catherine Cheong, FI facilitated the recollection. The participants were divided into four groups: (1) those who are still in college (2) the young professionals, (3) the mid-lifers and (4) the seniors. The activity was a preparation for the celebration of Colegio de las Hijas de Jesús' (CHJ) Diamond Jubilee.

The recollections were part reunion, filled with laughter, nostalgia and sharing and an encounter with Jesus as the Alumni, in various stages in their journey, pondered on the purpose and meaning of their lives.

Names of the sisters who loved and formed them, as well as their many teachers, were recalled.  Never missing was the recall of the many pranks they played, the places in the school most dear to them. They went around the school grounds, happy to see the many changes. And as they encountered Jesus in their prayer, they were spurred more to work for the good of our human family, never forgetting Mo. Foundress' words, "Where there is no room for the poor, there is no room for me."

[see photos]

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MINI-RECOLLECTION EXPERIENCE
By:  Linda Que

1. BEING  HIS  INSTRUMENT

a. Being  Martha  70%         
b. Being  Mary     30%
c. The joy of seeing souls being touched
d. The privilege of serving Him
e. The gift of joyous reunion & camaraderie
f.  The blessing of feeling His hand & His presence

2. HEARING  HIS  MESSAGE

• Affirmation
• Approval
• Affection
• Reminder to love
• Challenge to love more, especially the poor
• Challenge to do more

3. MISSIONING

• I have made you whole.  Now help others to be whole & to experience my love.
• I have blessed you `beyond belief.’   Now be a blessing to others.

4. REALIZATIONS / INSIGHTS

• I am where God wants me to be.
• My walk continues to be & gets more exciting (even) in midlife & close to the senior years.
• How has He shattered my ego?  Where was my breaking?  When did I feel pain the most?  Pride / own agenda / I do not know everything.
• I am dependent on Him.  
• He satisfies.
• He is always faithful.
• I must work at being more Mary.

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I have gone through my Hijas days with a "close connection" with God.  Now, in my adult life, my faith has been tested on several significant occasions.  I am most grateful to be back in our school where I can be guided and nourished to grow in my walk. 

We needed more recollections now at our age and time more than anything, because the seed was planted in Hijas & we hope to grow more way beyond our school days.   -  Arlene Alindong

The session gave me the affirmation to rest in the Lord while waiting for the time for me to start my volunteer work in Camphill, a community for adults and children with special needs. I worry where to get the money for airfare and a lot of other stuff but the Lord said to me to be still. I am trying to be just like that, be still. :) I hope more small group sessions like this will happen soon.          -Tiffany Freires

The retreat opened my mind to the meaning of my life, to feeling a sense of belonging to a group & at the same time enkindling a sense service for others, also to having self-confidence that there is an unlimited room for improvement within oneself while continuing to move forward to a clearer horizon. (I believe this is because I am a CHJ alumna...) Everybody has aged, but not for me. Ageing is not to brood, sulk, be depressed (by looking old), to feel pain, fear and watch the afflictions that challenge one's happiness. Growing old is to be joyful and be fulfilled!

The sharing portion was the best part of our group. We learned to share each other’s difficulties and trials in life. We talked about the wrong-doings we made and also came up with suggestions in order to move from the negative to the positive point. We share about what we can give to our loved ones when we are called by God. Our common denominator was -- to teach them to be in good terms with others and most importantly to believe in the power beyond ourselves----------GOD! - Yoly Galvez