St. Joseph School Celebrates Mother Foundress Feast:

Hail to the Mother Foundress!

           The 96th year of the commemoration of our Mother Foundress' death started with a Triduum which launches the “Coins for the Poor” program of the school. The students will drop coins in the empty plastic bottles every day and the amount that will be gathered will be donated to the victims of flash flood in Western Visayas. On the last day, August 8, 2008, a solemn Mass was presided by Rev. Fr. Mario Cesar Inarsao.  This is a real thanksgiving to God for the gift of His faithful servant, Blessed Candida Ma. de Jesus who serves as an inspiration to the F.I. Sisters and Lay Educators and the whole educative community.

           Imitating Mother Foundress in her love for the poor, the students decided to offer omelet sandwiches. First, they themselves prepared them, after which the whole student body went out and walked through the streets of San Miguel, Guimaras waving banners which silently proclaimed the message of Juanita to those whom they met particularly the poor to whom they gave omelet sandwiches and juice. The scorching heat of the sun was never a factor for the students and teachers to give up their acts of giving, for their faces mirrored the gladness of their hearts as both young and old recipients expressed their “thank you” from their hearts.

   

The preparation of the Omelet sandwiches

 

Going out to the streets...

    

Under the heat of the sun, to share with the poor...

 

          “Where there is no room for my poor, neither there is room for me.”  There is no other way for the students to understand the situation of the poor than to experience what our poor brothers and sisters are going through with each passing day. As Mo. Candida lived her life for the marginalized, the whole Saint Joseph School Educative Community gathered and shared the “poor man’s meal”. All that they had for lunch are the common food served in the table of those who could hardly eat. Eating with bare hands in banana leaves, with dried fish and tomatoes as their viands,grilled eggplant and steamed okra. The activity enabled them to understand the plight of the poor, and helped them thought in a limited way what is meant by their school maxim: “Josephian…a brother…a sister to all”.

          Strengthening of fraternal relationship within the community was the last part of the celebration with the animation prepared by each year level in honor of our Foundress. With the F. I. Youths on the lead, parlor games which aimed to develop camaraderie and cooperation within the groups took place. At the end of the day, the whole assembly shouted at the top of their voice saying:

Viva la Madre Candida! Viva! Viva! Viva!