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“For what great nation is there that has God so near to them, as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call on Him?”

This text from Deuteronomy in today’s first reading, March 15, has been the real experience in this Chapter. The illumination we have received during these days, the messages and the challenges are very much connected, and even succinctly put in the homily of Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod, who celebrated the Mass to close the Chapter. The Holy Spirit has been doing his work among us.

Before the Holy Eucharist, the Capitulars met for the last session in the morning. The Chapter Routine was made, then, Sr. Ma. Luisa Garcia, General Vicar, addressed to the assembly her message to close the Chapter.

She encouraged the sisters not to forget the experiences that made them who they are, however not to remain complacent. Instead, to launch into the new horizon for the new chapter in the life of the Vice Province. She likewise added to remind the different experiences in the Chapter: the caresses of God, the meeting with the sisters – listening and feeling the accompaniment of each other, the illuminations that undoubtedly helped everyone to strengthen and renew their covenant and penetrate the mystery, especially the invitation of placing Jesus at the center of their lives as the source to be generators of life… furthermore, she invited everyone to keep themselves open and available and not to be afraid to make way for what is new to effectively become true farmers/sowers of the Good News.

Ultimately, together with the gratefulness expressed by Sr. Ma. Luisa, for the wonderful outcome of the Chapter, the Capitulars were also expressing their gratitude, first to the Lord who has made everything possible. To Sr. Blanca Nidia Bedoya Salazar, General Superior and the Council that is affectionately represented by the meritorious presence of Sr. Ma. Luisa Garcia Casamian, General Vicar, to the previous Government Team of the Vice Province for all their love and preparations, to the Novitiate community for all their warm accommodation, to the committees in the Capitulars who faithfully did their job. All the Capitulars who seriously did their part, the friends who sent their greetings and supported us and all the sisters in the communities of St. Clare Vice Province and in the whole Congregation whose prayers were strongly felt in the course of the Chapter.

May the Lord continue to inspire and guide the way of the Vice Province.

“Remember your mercies, O Lord” is the responsorial Psalm for today’s Psalm, Psalm 25 that Fr. Roy Christian Jesulgon reiterated in his homily on the 5th day of the Chapter, March 14, 2023. This was aptly said to the Capitulars and to the new Government Team of the Vice Province proclaimed yesterday, who need God’s mercy to carry out their responsibilities, all their desires and aspirations as generators of life.

In the conference after the Chapter Routine, the Capitulars were privileged to have an on-line talk directly from Vietnam with Most Reverend Joseph Dao, Bishop Emeritus of Xuan Loc Diocese, Vietnam. In his beautiful talk on ¨Consecrated Women, Generators of Life”, he was asking the sisters “What is this life?” He quoted John 1:4, saying that Christ is life. The challenge now is how to present Christ in the present world. Bishop Dao gave a nice reminder of the centrality of Christ in our existence to be an effective channel in going to the heart of the people.

After the talk, the presentation of the proposed Objective and the Chapter Commitments by the Commission on Redaction followed. There was then an open forum with a good participation of the Capitulars where it can be seen the synergy in mind and heart as sisters having the same goal and desire for the good of the Congregation.

In the afternoon, the approval of the proposed Objective and Chapter Commitments took place and the result of the Chapter’s evaluation was presented.

It was a delight for the Capitulars to greet the Community of the General House even if it was only on-line, a moment of exchanging wishes and expressing gratefulness for the Vice Province of St. Clare, Asia and the General Superior, Council and Community.

This day finished with everyone feeling blessed, grateful, satisfied and hopeful.