TAIZE EXPERIENCE - PHILIPPINES

Quezon City , Formation House  : Taize Experiences of the Sisters

On Feb. 1 the young pilgrims started coming from all over the world. We were blessed to have some of them with us in our Retreat House  for a couple of days before proceeding to Don Bosco for the 5-days gathering... One of the TAIZE brothers, Bro. Jean-Jacques Frere, was the one facilitating, orienting and leading the prayers in our house. Taize prayers are solemn and simple, penetrating the heart. Short scripture passages were read in different languages as well as intercessory prayers. Prayer and extraordinary Christ-like life - this we saw in the Taize brother who was with us...As we opened our hearts to the pilgrims, we were enriched by the experience of praying together, preparing for the event together. I cried when they chanted Taize song as part of their goodbye... I know I did not deserve their presence, their kindness, their simplicity and ascetical life, yet God gifted our community with their presence, something we are forever grateful to God, to the Taize brothers and to the pilgrims.

For those 35 and above, we were able to attend the evening prayers in Don Bosco... The fresh breath of the Spirit filled our hearts as we chanted the hymns, listened to scripture passages and listened to the insights of Taize prior, Fr. Alois. The pilgrims and us, hungry for God, hungry for prayer, were drinking from the well, from the living water that Jesus offers... Yes! we will never be thirsty again.. As Fr. Alois said, the Holy Spirit is in us, filling our lives with hope, love and peace... even when at times, we do not feel God's presence, the Holy Spirit is there in us, with us...

Lord, I pray, that these beautiful experiences of prayer, of your loving presence, help me to grow, to change and to receive the conversion that I so desire...so that I too could give witness to your love, your kindness, your poor life.. Amen.                                              Sis. Teresita Buen - Filipina

This was my  first experience to joined the prayer of taize community. It was very nice and wonderful because many young people came from different parts of the world with the desire to pray  together and to grow in love , faith and Hope in Christ.

At the same time we shared our experiences, our joys and our faith to one another. This experience of praying together help me to be more closer to God .        Novice  Lermin - Indonesian

I am grateful to God and to our sisters who had given me this opportunity to pray together with people from different parts of the world which helps me to strengthen my faith and the same time to trust God more .I was so inspired by the different songs that sung repeatedly.           Postulant Roshani  - SriLankan

 

Anticipating this prayer, I felt the love of God in me.  I am very grateful to God for this opportunity that made me happy. I am happy because I encountered different young people like me with the  same desire to seek God. At the same time it had also challenge my faith to be more close to Him and with  other people and to be a witness to the WORD of GOD to others specially in simplicity.     Veronica Barreto - East Timorese

ST. NINO CATHOLIC SCHOOL BLESSING

GUIMARAS, PHILIPPINES : On December 8, 2009 ,on the Feast of  the Immaculate Conception the blessing of the 2nd phase of the St. Nino Catholic School or known as SCNS was realized. The Provincial of the Claretian Missionaries was the one who celebrated the Eucharistic celebration and did the Rite of the Blessing.
Among those who came from our Claretian family  were our Provincial  sis. Teresa Hasimoto and sis. Inocencia Rodrigo,  Sis. Teresita Buen coming from Quezon City community and with the special participation of Fr. Bernardo Blanco, cmf . We were also glad to have with us our Architect Engr. Noel Palad and wife and  as well  the ever supportive  Honorable Mayor of Guimaras.

A short program was prepared where students and teachers had wonderfully entertained the guests  with their dances and singing . Lunch was served . All ate and were satisfied. We thank God for this marvelous manifestation of his great love for His people in Guimaras. God had provided and will continue to do so !

125th DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF ANTONIA PARIS

The openning celebration of the 125th death anniversary of our Maria Antonia Paris.
January 17, 2010 , Formation House, Quezon City, Philippines.

HOW NICE IT WAS TO BE THERE

Sis.. Anastasia Wio, from Indonesia, togetrher with Sis. Everdina Ruste ,Philippines   were among the 34 participants who took part in the  workshop-seminar prepared by the General Government on "Identidad y pertenencia... " held last 28th of December and lasted until  the 6th of January. It was an experience of  Wonder, overwhelming, wisdom-filled and the challenge to care to love and embrace what is truly ours ...IDENTITY.

We thank the province for the opportunity given to Anas and Dina  to be part of that great event of the Congregation. We also thank the General Government for the initiative and all that had been to make everything possible and smooth going.