MIL ALBRICIAS at the TAHANAN GARDEN , Quezon City

          December 7, 2008, 11:00 A.M., at the interior garden of Tahanan Candida Maria de Jesus, the communities of Manresa Retreat House, Mater Dei, Chinese Formation House and, the Tahanan Candida Maria de Jesus as host, gathered together in a very festive mood  at this eve of the Solemnity of  the Immaculate Concepción. The garden was well prepared, beautifully and colorfully decorated with flowers and  the statue of the Immaculate Concepción placed at its center. The sisters brought along with them bells of different sizes and shapes, as well as native sound makers like spoons and forks, gongs and , ready for the noise barrage usually done after the Rosary and during the singing of Mil Albricias.

          The first part of the program was the singing of the opening song “Mil Albricias”, a beautiful song that narrates the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Concepción by Pope Pius IX. A short “ambientacion” was read by Sr. Editha Linterna which set the mood of the celebration as it also  explained the meaning of this beautiful event in the life of the Congregation. (See separate note.) The recitation of the Rosary was  noteworthy as it was recited in different tongues: First mystery in Spanish, 2nd in Tagalog, 3rd in Chinese, 4th in English and 5th in Cebuano. It was also interspersed with the singing of the “Our Father” in those languages, and  some Marian Songs. One could feel the solemnity of the occasion as well as the gracefulness by which the praying was made.

          After the Rosary, the atmosphere burst into sounds and songs as the assembly rang the bells, etc,  while Mil Albricias was sung once again. At the end of the singing, everybody yelled “Viva la Inmaculada! and Viva la Madre Candida! What a happy celebration of this  tradition  that the  communities have been doing for the past years, making the anniversary of the Congregation an occasion well worth commemorating.

          At 5:00 P.M. in the afternoon, the Sisters gathered once more, this time at the Manresa Retreat House Chapel for a common praying of the Vespers. They made their  devotional Renewal of Vows together, prayed before the Blessed Sacrament during the Holy Hour. Here, the Sisters prayed together, bringing before the Lord all their concerns, the concerns of the Congregation, and the concerns of all people of the world, bringing all the needs of this present time.

          All returned to their communities in a very joyful mood, and looking forward to the next day for the real celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Concepción in a thanksgiving Mass together.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

          A simple but very solemn mass was held at the Manresa Retreat House Chapel at 6:30 A.M. today, December 8, 2008, first to join the whole Church in honoring Mary’s Immaculate Conception, and second, in celebrating the 137th foundation day of the Congregation of the Hijas de Jesus. Fr. Lonie Bjorg, MSSP, joined the communities of Manresa Retreat House, Tahanan Candida Maria de Jesus, Mater Dei and the Chinese communities in praying for all the Hijas de Jesus all over the world.

          A resounding and heartfelt singing of the Hijas de Jesus Hymn, Clara Estrella, at the end of the Mass brought to mind the beginnings of  this Family that was born in 1871 in Salamanca through a simple, uneducated woman but what a woman! Mother Candida who professed to love God alone and who, at the end of her life fulfilled exactly this when she said: “… I cannot recall a single moment that was not lived for God.”

          As we celebrate this special day, we remember and thank God for the gift of Mary, our Mother, who is our Patroness and guiding Star.

           We thank God for our Mother Foundress, and we pray that she may be canonized very soon.

           After the Thanksgiving Mass, breakfast was in common for all the sisters, sharing in the joy and warmth of a family in the celebration of  its birth, its life and its mission.

 

Viva la Inmaculada! Viva Madre Candida!

 

Mary Immaculate, Star of the Morning, chosen before the creation began...

Mary Immaculate, our guiding star...