Clara Echarte, General Consultor in charge of Formation

CLARA ECHARTE, the General Consultor in charge of Formation visited the Philippines recently to familiarize herself with the Sisters in Formation. She had a chance to see also the Houses of Formation at the Manresa Compound where she stayed most of time and also the Juniorate House in Marikina. She was toured by the Sisters in the community to the places where the Sisters have their apostolate. She had an encounter with the team of Formation and had an exchange of ideas on how the formation program is being done in the province. She also shared the mind of the General Government about this aspect.

She was able to visit the House of Formation of the vice province of China-Taiwan to meet the young Chinese sisters.

Accompanied by Sr. Amelia Alejan, Sr. Clara took the opportunity of visiting some of the tourist and historical sites in Manila like the Ayala Museum where she got to see the presentation of the History of the Philippines where the Spanish period was highlighted.

Her visit coincided with the death of Sr. Isabel Perez, a Spanish missionary Sister and was able to experience first hand seeing the poor people, young and old, staying up at night at Sr. Isabel'sr wake and paying her their last respects. Surely it was a touching experience for Clara to see the poor lining up to view her, praying tro her, and participated in her funeral mass as well as brought her body to be buried. All these people were those whom she ministered at the squatter's area where she spent most of her years while assigned at Manresa Retreat House.

Clara enjoyed some precious time with the elderly Sisters at Tahanan Candida Maria de Jesus.