F.I. REGIONAL ENCOUNTERS
Manresa School, Paranaque City, April 5-6
Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus, Iloilo City, April 12-13

A two-day Regional Encounters attended by all Sisters in the Philippine Province were organized in separate places and dates last month April.  The Encounter in Manresa School, Paranaque City on April 5-6 was participated in by all the sisters in the Metro Manila Area and a few sisters from the other regions who happened to be on home visits. The other was in Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus in Iloilo City on April 12-13, 2008 attended by the Sisters from Panay, Guimaras, Cebu and Mindanao.

The Opening day started with an orientation and setting up of objectives of the encounter namely: To gain more clarity in the understanding of the documents of the OAC and the SEA in the light of the modifications made on CND 228 by the 16th GC; to continue the discernment on the restructuring process of the Province, contributing data and information based on reality, prayerful reflection and careful study of the data gathered; to collaborate positively to the discernment and decision-making process as asked for by the Determination of the 16th GC and the EURF (cf. Det. 13, 15;  EURF 33-47). The Sisters’ participations and active involvement were noticeable throughout the encounter. They shared their sentiments, feelings and thought particularly in matters of concern: their life and mission as Hijas de Jesus and what the Congregation is asking of them at this point in the history of the province and in the Congregation.

The activities during the day were done in prayerful moods giving time to personal reflection and study on the different topics presented by the Provincial Government. All the topics discussed were very essential parts of the daily life of every Hija de Jesus. The OAC, the document least known to the Sisters have been explained and discussed, as Sr. Georgita Hormillosa, Provincial Superior, guided and enlightened the sisters about this important document.  

Connecting past and present in the restructuring process was a revisit of the past years wherein the whole Province underwent the organizational renewal. Here, the Sisters underlined the dispositions and attitudes of the Sisters that helped facilitate the process of the ORGANIZATIONAL RENEWAL (O.R.)  namely: Openness to grow and the willingness to try something new; A positive stance, a lot of good will and big desires to really move forward so that our response to the needs of today can be effective; A very welcoming attitude to whatever is offered to us:  we are often happy, we feel high whenever there is something new.

On the other side, they also pointed at the dispositions and attitudes of the Sisters that slowed down the process of the O.R. :Tendency towards complacency and passivity especially after the newness has passed; Difficulty in articulating our inner desires, to put them into practice and following through; Seeming lack of inner freedom to speak our mind:  there seems to be some blocks that hinder us from saying what we truly want to say and feel.

Personal and Group reflection and sharing followed as they were guided to think of  positive attitudes and dispositions to convert them to positive sustained action,  dentifying 3 facilitating attitudes in oneself which can help the restructuring process move forward as what blocks they encounter personally and in community. Then they were asked to give recommendations for all of us to gain more responsible freedom and courage to express ourselves as an important part of our collaboration in the restructuring process. The small group sharing became a venue for a very lively exchange by the sisters as  they group looks for consensus and/or common responses. These were reported during the general assembly. The same process have been done throughout the encounter which enabled the sisters to express themselves and shared the fruits of their reflection as very important part of the whole process.

Before the day ended, the sisters were given documents for their home assignment, to be read and reflected. This referred to PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE UPDATED DATA ON THE RESTRUCTURING PROCESS;  these were the Ages of the Sisters this year, and  the ages of the sisters as projected after five years. And using these as a sign of the present reality of the province  that within the next five (5) years - from 2009 to 2014, they were asked if there will be enough Sisters to take the office of Local superiors for the 19 communities of the Province as animators and spiritual leaders;  if there will be enough Sisters to carry on the different offices in the apostolic works as Directresses, Principals, Treasurers and other administrative functions; if we will be able to sustain our insertion works and insertion communities; if our facilities for the elderly and sick Sisters will be enough for their special needs at this stage. 

After having reflected on the 4 questions they were asked;  What resonances (reactions, feelings, doubts, resistances, etc.)  were provoked in them;  After studying the data given, what recommendations can they  give in relation to the restructuring of the Province. The groups after the sharing made a report to the assembly.The topic on Budget making and a practical activity on how to make it was a very interesting part in the assembly where the Sisters were confronted with the ways the communities and individual sisters have lived their vow of poverty and how they could make this vow real living example of simplicity as what Mother Candida wanted her Sisters to strive and live out.

A Study and Reflection on the documents, “FAMILIAL AND SOCIAL RELATIONS”  and “NORMS ON FAMILY VISITS” had been taken up with great interest and enthusiasm as they  revisited  the existing norms of the Congregation. Here the sisters were asked reflect on those two documents to deepen their  knowledge and assimilation of the criteria on familial and social relationships as guide for discernment and to update the document, “Norms on Family Visits for the Philippine Province”. An activity followed to reinforce their knowledge and understanding of the same.

Nearing the end of the encounter, the Sisters were asked to MOVE AHEAD:  LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH AGES OF LIFE. Using a powerful visual presentation, the Sisters were guided to LOOK BEYOND THE GOLDEN YEARS OF CONSECRATED LIFE. It reminded everyone  that the journey will be as a Body, carrying  out a ministry with all the Sisters and encouraged thus they were to  prepare ourselves to live the third age of life joyfully, with all the opportunities that it offers to seek and find God in all things. They were also invited to  ask from each one the knowledge and acceptance of oneself, one’s qualities and limits, and that it is necessary that all prepare, with responsibility, in diverse areas according to the interests and the possibilities of training of each one, to facilitate our dedication to new tasks. And to channel as well, the apostolic potentials of the Sisters of this age when it is foreseen that they have to leave a determined type of work, and give them opportune accompaniment.  Within the wide field of mission, it is important to look for new possibilities of service, so that all may continue living their consecration with fidelity and apostolic fruitfulness that is not tied to efficiency or responsibility in the tasks, but that God be glorified and served during and throughout our life. And finally,  to favor  and cultivate the contemplative dimension, which characterizes the life of an Hija de Jesus. The Determinations, GC XV, #45 had been very clear sources of inspiration and encouragement as it urges all the sisters, by Cultivating the contemplative dimension which helps deepen in our vocation in order to offer whatever service we do to the Lord more generously and faithfully, and to offer it to others with greater simplicity, serenity and wisdom.

After this presentation, the sisters were confronted with more realities, as they were shown the statistics on the positive side of going beyond our years, the dreams of the sisters, their desires of reaching the ideals, living life concretely both the human, fraternal and spiritual dimensions of living the consecrated life. They were also faced with the downsides of realities: the health problems, the still negative attitudes and dispositions of a few which have diminished or even hindered the fruitfulness of the mission. But in all that have been, the sisters gave a very active response, very hopeful in looking at the future with purposefulness, that giving their all, no matter how little, is a sign that the kingdom would be at hand.