THE FOUNDRESS

St. Candida Maria de Jesus
Foundress

The Social Apostolate Team Meeting:
A FORMATION OF HEART & MIND
by Sr. Thelma Barbarona, FI

Last 12-13 June 2011, seven members of the Social Apostolate Team of the Philippine Province had a meeting at Mater Dei Community (Quezon City) & this was facilitated by the Provincial Superior, Sr. Georgita Hormillosa.  On the first day -- feast of the Pentecost, the group asked for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to be truly attuned to God’s stirrings.  After the prayer, Sr. Georgette immediately clarified to the group its role as the Social Apostolate Team of the Province. The team members then started to read & reflect on the articles of the Existential & Updated Reading of the Formula of the Institute (EURF) particularly numbers 20-29, after this, each one shared her insights / thoughts on what social apostolate means. Everybody became more clarified and was able to arrive at a common understanding that social apostolate springs from the perspective of the Word of God. It is not just a matter of strategies, methodologies, know-how or skills.

Another point that the group reflected upon and shared is the Church’s social doctrine criteria as well as the Congregation’s criteria towards its social pastoral activity and how this is translated in practical terms. Sr. Georgette also shared on the meaning of work in the light of the social doctrine of the church; she based this from the materials of the International Team on Social Apostolate of the FI Congregation.

On the whole looking back, one can say that this was not just an ordinary gathering but a formation of hearts and minds of the persons directly involved in the social apostolate ministry of the Province. The members of the Team cannot thank Sr. Georgette enough. Happy and fired by the Holy Spirit, we hope to continue to become agents of change in our society.

[see photos]