32ND ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF RELIGIOUS TREASURES (PART):                    

                                 

Sr. Thelma Barbarona, member of the Core Group of PART during the Registration of participants                                 

          Last Nov. 5-8, 2008, some Hijas de Jesus sisters attended the annual gathering of Religious Treasurers’ held in Davao City. It is a yearly meeting of Religious sisters ,priests with the help of some experts in various fields of economic administration and  discussed some important current issues which commonly affect the life and mission of  the religious congregations and the church as well.

          The theme of the year’s convention was: PARTNERS TOWARDS FULLNESS OF LIFE: PROCLAIMATION AND ACTION FOR RENEWAL AND TRANSFORMATION.

 

          The keynote speaker was no other than the famous shepherd Most. Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle, DD, the Bishop of Imus. Some of the important points he emphasized which worth remembering were as follows:

          The first part of his sharing was from the John 10:3:.16,  I came that they might have life and have it to the full. Fullness of life is not a thing but Christ Himself. The Religious life through the vows is a way of telling the world that we have found life in Christ, poor, obedient and interiorly free – intimate relationship with Christ. The Religious is a prophetic critique of a society that finds life from false promises and choice of this age.

          The second part is the Role of a Treasurer who is also a Religious. We are consecrated person first then a Treasurer. (For whom and whose spirit do we manage our resources)?

1. The treasurer should be able to show to the rest the true spirit of stewardship and the treasurer is not an owner.
2. As a conscience of the Community. To provide a conscience to the community servanting to life-style, foster of a behavior, and others
3. To mirror of God’s caring and providence with clear delieanation of needs and wants, to be sensitive to the real needs of the community abd be the image of the Providential God.
4. Treasurers should be model to have less
5. Treasurer as a voice of justice and fairness, images of transparency, support, of stewardship and accountability.
6. We should administer the gifts of the spirit in the community. 

           
Last point for reflection for the Treasurers:  “In what area as a treasurer and steward do I need to grow in order to be more serviceable to the community?"

 

Fr. Capicci, Rogationist; Sr. Alfonse, OSB, Sr. Remedios, DC; Sr. Evelyn, RVM; Sr. Alice, RVM; Sr. Thelma, F.I.; Fr. Joel, MJ; Sr. Beth, FMA (Core Group of PART 2008 )

 

The Participants of the Philippine Association of Religious Treasurers, Grand Men Seng Hotel , Davao City, November 5-8, 2008

 

by Sr. Thelma Barbarona, F.I.