 Final Profession of Sr. Maria Charlita Puerto of the Holy Family As the Congregation celebrated our 173rd Foundation Anniversary, grace outpoured upon the Philippines-Thailand Province as we joyfully witnessed the Final Profession of Sr. Maria Charlita Puerto of the Holy Family, RA, last 30 April 2012 at Assumpta in San Simon, Pampanga! Rev. Fr. Mateo Sanchez, SJ, who was Sr. Charlita’s Spiritual Director for some years was the Main Presider and Homilist during the Eucharistic Celebration that was solemn and beautiful.  Rev. Fr. Mat Sanchez, SJ It was a celebration of a school community that has journeyed with Sr. Charlita for the last five (5) years. Indeed it was a moment of grace and blessing for Sister as well as for the Province that is delighted to have a sister for life in Sr. Maria Charlita, who was radiant in her simplicity. 
Song of Thanksgiving - For So Long...
 Litany of the Saints The word engraved in her ring is from the Gospel according to St. Matthew, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS UNTIL THE END OF TIME.” This has marked and will continue to accompany Sister in her Religious Life in the Assumption. This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar. Add Comment EIGHT (8) SISTERS CELEBRATE JUBILEE! 05/04/2012
 Assumption Iloilo Chapel On Good Shepherd Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Easter – 29 April 2012 (would have been the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, a special feast for the Congregation), some 600 sisters, relatives and friends gathered at Assumption Iloilo to celebrate the Anniversary of Religious Profession after --- 25 Years (Silver) Sr. Ma. Salvacion Estil of the Presentation of Jesus, RA 50 Years (Golden) Sr. Rita Imelda Lizares de l’Incarnation, RA Sr. Maria Estela Infante de l’Enfant Jesus, RA Sr. Josefa Margarita Derayunan de Jesus-Marie, RA Sr. Iris Marion Clark of the Whole Christ, RA 60 Years (Diamond) Sr. Maria Paz de Moreta de la Mere de Misericorde, RA Sr. Maria Carmela Montelibano del Niño Jesus, RA Sr. Caridad Eugenia Yusay de la Ste. Famille, RA.  Assumption Iloilo Chapel The celebration was marked by a triduum preparation for our 8 Jubilarians facilitated by the Province Formation Team from April 26 – 28. In the spirit of communion, when possible, Jubilees in the Province are celebrated together and this time Assumption Iloilo was unanimously chosen as the venue where all the eight Jubilarians either come from and/or have served and lived. The Main Presider and Homilist was the Most Reverend Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD, the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro who is known and close to the Assumption and in whose Archdiocese most of the Jubilarians have been assigned. Host Archbishop of Iloilo, Most Revered Angel N. Lagdameo, DD as well as Most Rev. Antique Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo, DD were also there to celebrate together with Rev. Fr. Conrado L. Casas, Jr., Parish Priest of Xavier de Kibangay Parish as well as Rev. Fr. Fortunato M. Abiera. 
Procession for the Preparation of the Gifts
Sr. Ma. Salvacion Estil
Sr. Iris Marion Clark
 Jubilarians and others The chapel was teeming with relatives and friends of our Sisters happy to partake of this joyous event. Noteworthy were the presence of friends from Cagayan de Oro, Antipolo and even Santiago, Isabela! It was truly a day of grace – a Jubilee celebration – a blessing for all – an experience of COMMUNION in this year of preparation for the General Chapter! 
Sr. Caridad Eugenia Yusay
I have a confession to make. When I received Sr Margarita’s invitation to preside and preach at this mass, I gladly accepted but I was embarrassed to admit to her that I knew next to nothing about Saint Marie Eugénie. Fortunately, Sr Margarita was kind enough to send me some pamphlets about Mother Foundress. And I must say that the grace that I received from my spiritual reading this week has been the grace of getting to know a wonderful woman, an extraordinary religious, and truly a Saint for our time. Jesuit connection As a Jesuit, I was curious whether there was some Jesuit influence in the life of Saint Marie Eugénie. And I did find a Jesuit connection of some sort. In 1866, Saint Marie Eugénie went to Rome to ask for formal Approval of her Congregation. During that trip, she visited the room where Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, wrote the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. It was the same room where he died. After hearing Mass in that room, she wrote to the sisters: “Saint Ignatius knew all the pains of a foundation; he learned through experience that it is through suffering that the works of God are born …” And suffering did come for Marie Eugénie. While she was in Rome, she was attacked personally and her character and fitness to govern the Congregation was criticized. Her ecclesiastical superior in Paris was delaying the approval and spreading rumors about her capacity to govern. (I would like to make a disclaimer: this ecclesiastical superior was not a Jesuit!) She returned home to discover that her intentions and her character were being dragged through the mud. She decided to offer her resignation. The offer was not accepted, but it seemed to appease the ecclesiastical superior who decided to postpone further action against the Congregation until the end of the year. But before the end of the year the ecclesiastical superior died suddenly; the Archbishop signified that he was perfectly happy with the Congregation and the Decree of Approval of the Institute was signed 1867. The morale of the story? Especially for scheming priest clerics: think twice before picking a fight with religious sisters; think really, really hard before quarrelling especially with Assumption sisters! Peligro kaayo! Icon During the ceremony of her canonization on June 3, 2007, an icon of Saint Marie Eugénie of Jesus, Foundress of the Religious of the Assumption was hung at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. In the icon of Saint Marie Eugénie of Jesus, we contemplate Marie Eugénie standing on the Earth that she loved as the place of the Incarnation of the Son and where humanity can render glory to the Father. In her hands she holds what she was passionate about: the transforming proclamation of the Gospel and Christ in the mystery of the Eucharist. These three iconic characteristics sum up Saint Marie Eugénie’s life and spirituality: • Centrality of the Eucharist • Gospel proclamation of the Kingdom • The world as the place of the Incarnation A word on each of these three. First iconic characteristic: Christ in the mystery of the Eucharist In her path to holiness, she was drawn ceaselessly by the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Of special significance was her first Holy Communion, which she had made on Christmas Day when she was 12 years old. Her First Holy Communion was a fundamental experience in her life. “At my First Communion which I made alone, I was seized by the infinite grandeur of God and my extreme littleness. I was so strongly struck that for a moment everything around me disappeared.” “Lost in my God, my soul forgot all the rest, … I no longer saw nor heard anything, I no longer felt the presence of anything except God, whose immensity seemed to suspend and absorb all my faculties.” One of her constant prayers was: “It is for You alone, O my God that I am here before the Blessed Sacrament; you are the all of my life; my thoughts, my weariness, my feelings all belong to You.” As an essential part of her Eucharistic spirituality, Saint Marie Eugénie teaches us the importance of patiently, endlessly listening to Jesus Christ, welcoming Him and imitating Him. This means Jesus reigning in our hearts, Jesus Christ recognized as the one who chooses us to makes us his friends. As our gospel says “I call you friends since I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father (Jn 15,15).” This experience of the utter greatness of God, which drew her in adoration, marked her profoundly. It contained within it her particular spiritual path and the way she would offer to those who joined her. Adoration, love of Jesus, especially in the Eucharist and love of the Church were to be the specific marks of the Religious of the Assumption. Second iconic characteristic: Gospel proclamation of the Kingdom In her credo, she declared: “I believe that we are placed in this universe to work for the coming of the Kingdom of God in ourselves and in others.” Her primary means of proclaiming the gospel was the apostolate of education. For Marie Eugénie, a truly Christian education was one that enabled the pupils to develop in themselves the mind of Christ, to see and judge the world and their own lives from His perspective. Intellectual development mattered and that was one reason why studies were so important for the sisters. Nevertheless, for her it was more important that the students develop a sound judgment based on faith, than that they learn a great many facts. What mattered was not so much what they knew as the kind of people they were. She looked for strength of character, generosity, simplicity, truthfulness and courage. She wanted to develop the spirit of self- sacrifice, so that the girls should become capable of living for others. To teach them that love never says ‘that is enough.’ To achieve this would be to create a different world, a world more like the Kingdom of God on earth. And for this she longed. Such an enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God was never going to settle for the mediocre, or for the routine and ordinary. To the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience which characterize religious life, she and the first sisters added a fourth vow “to consecrate my whole life to extending the Kingdom of God in souls.” It is not surprising that Marie Eugénie responded enthusiastically to the request in 1848 of an Irish missionary bishop for a community to accompany him to South Africa. It was a heroic venture: the sisters were the first nuns to set foot in South Africa and the difficulties they had to face were extraordinary. But they were stretching too far – it took six months for a letter to arrive from one community to the other – and the link between Paris and South Africa broke. A break-away congregation, the Missionary Sisters of the Assumption was set up. Marie Eugénie suffered enormously over this break, because the communion which bound the sisters together had been broken. She was ready for her sisters or for herself to go to the ends of the earth for Jesus Christ, as long as they remained “one mind and one heart intent on God.” In 1850, when the sisters in South Africa were already in difficulties, she agreed to another foundation overseas, in Richmond, Yorkshire and this time it was successful. Numbers in the Congregation grew and other foundations followed in France, Spain, England and Italy. By the time of her death in 1898 there were 1100 sisters and communities all over the world, including the Philippines and Nicaragua. The readiness to go anywhere to extend the Kingdom of God continues in the Congregation and today the Religious of the Assumption have houses in 35 countries, including 11 African countries. Third iconic characteristic: The earth as the place of the Incarnation of the Son “It pains me to hear this earth called a land of exile. I consider it a place of glory for God.” Saint Marie Eugénie saw the world as a place needing to be transformed into God’s Kingdom. Her spirituality was not one of flight and separation from the world. No, her spirituality was one of engagement with and transformation of the world. With the harsh experiences of her childhood, she could easily have seen the world as a land of exile from which it was desirous to escape. There was the death of her nine year old brother and one year old baby sister, both in the same year when she herself was only five years old. Her father, a banker and politician was often away from home. Then suddenly as a consequence of the revolution in 1830, he went bankrupt. Anna Eugénie was thirteen. Her parents separated and the family split up and she went with her mother to Paris. In 1832 her mother was taken ill with cholera and died within a few hours. At the age of fifteen, Anne Eugénie was totally alone. It would not have been surprising if she wanted to escape from the world where she experienced many trials. But no, the world was the place where God could be found. Saint Marie Eugénie teaches us to gaze at God in contemplation in order to learn how to gaze at the world with the eyes of God. From God’s perspective, we can see that the world is in need of compassion, love and salvation. We can see multitudes of hungry people we cannot feed, homeless people we cannot shelter, battered women and children we cannot protect, cases of corruption and injustice that we cannot remedy. But our faith will help us see that the Lord guards His Church. He keeps watch with us on those long nights of confusion and helplessness in mission. Jesus also helps us grow in compassion towards our neighbors. And in our weariness the Lord comes. He is near. He is Emmanuel. But we need to hear his voice and to follow his direction. We need to see realities with His eyes. We need faith. Without faith fueled by love, we cannot truly be a missionary Church of Jesus Christ. It is only by the vision provided by faith that the Church could meaningfully cast its nets in the vast seas of the world and history. The new evangelization requires putting in the mind and eyes of the Lord again, a transformation coming from prayer. Then we see differently. A child, especially the unborn is no longer seen as a burden but a gift, the youth are not a problem but a promise, women are not objects but persons, laborers are not machines but partners, the poor are not a nuisance but our jewels, and the creation is not an object of manipulation but a sign of God’s sustaining love. These and many more comprise the miraculous transformation of our world, but only if we see with the eyes of Christ. Whenever we see as the Lord does, there is hope! In conclusion, let me share with you what I have discovered about the love life of Sr Josefa and Sr Elnora. Do you want to know some juicy chismis about their love life? Gusto mo mahibalo kung kinsa ang ilang mga loves? Saint Marie Eugénie said, “If you could see into the heart of a Religious of the Assumption, you should find these three loves: Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the Church.” If we could see into the hearts of Sisters Josefa and Elnora, we will discover their three loves: Jesus, Mary and the Church. The very same loves of their foundress, that exemplary woman, that Saint for our times. My good friends, let us ask Saint Marie Eugénie to intercede for us so we may have the same three loves and that in us: “All comes from Jesus Christ, all belongs to Jesus Christ, all must be for Jesus Christ.” Saint Marie Eugénie, prayfor us.  A 6:00 PM Eucharist marked the celebration of the Solemnity of our mother, Saint Marie Eugenie of Jesus. 70 Religious of the Assumption with the presence of Srs. Lucy (Tanzania), Marianne Therese (Denmark), Roshni (India), our Vietnamese and Thai Juniors, the Filipinas from Luzon, 2 Little Sisters of the Assumption, 4 Oblates of the Assumption and some 14 Augustinians of the Assumption with their Novices and Postulants provided for the INTERNATIONAL character of the simple and solemn gathering. It was indeed an experience of COMMUNION. This year’s celebration was especially honored by the presence of 2 Superiors General – Fr. Benoit Griere, AA and Sr. Felicia Ghiorghies, OA who came with two of her Korean and one Vietnamese Sisters and Fr. Miguel Dias Ayllon, AA, the Provincial Superior of the AA North America-Philippines Province. One could palpably feel the joy of our dear Mother – St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus to see us all gathered in a genuine spirit of FAMILY! A meeting took place the following day among the two Superiors General, the 2 Provincial Superiors (AA and RA) and the Superior General’s Delegate to Vietnam that was an occasion and an opportunity to deepen the reflections on the calls and invitations for the Assumption in Asia! The words of our mother and saint who is by our side is a constant reminder and an assurance that “we can do nothing by ourselves…we can do all with God!” In and with HIM we take the stance of LISTENING and persevering to walk along the path of WISDOM, COMMUNION and PROPHECY! March 10, 2012, Immaculate Conception Chapel, XU-CDO  Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ, President, Xavier University Main Celebrant  Fr. Bobby prepared an excellent homily. Everybody got to know St. Marie Eugenie and understood the icon.  Ms. Ana dela Fuente, accompanist and conductor, trained the Campus Chapel Aides as choir  The AMA-College students with Ms. Ceci Pefianco and Sr. Chit, RA  Delsa Mortola, Esper Dacudao, Ana dela Fuente and Friends  The Campus Ministers  Mrs. Cagalawan with Sr. Margarita, RA and friends Xavier Ecoville Children 03/09/2012
 The Xavier Ecoville partner beneficiaries are all smiles as this day marks a step closer to their dream of having a permanent home  Construction on the new homes of Sendong affected families is set to begin. A groundbreaking ceremony at 2 pm today marks the start of the construction of the permanent shelter at Xavier Ecoville, Xavier University and the Local Government of Cagayan de Oro’s joint relocation and resettlement project situated in Lumbia. At the groundbreaking, XU is also signing a memorandum of agreement with Habitat for Humanity Philippines for the construction of the permanent houses. 573 row houses will be built on the 5-hectare lot, adjacent to the temporary bunkhouses where 249 households (out of a target of 500) are presently staying. Besides Habitat for Humanity, the other major donor for the permanent houses at Xavier Ecoville is UnionBank Foundation. Other donors are the Chinese Ladies Association of Sacred Heart Parish Cebu, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, and Friends of the Religious of the Assumption . Xavier Ecoville is not just a housing program but a community building program. XU aims to develop a thriving and healthy community at Xavier Ecoville. In addition to the house and lots, Xavier Ecoville will have a chapel and community center. Fr. Roberto C. Yap, together with the Board of Trustees and Partners, led the unveiling of site plans. It was then followed by the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with Habitat for Humanity, XU’s main partner in building the houses. The blueprints were then signed by the various stakeholders of the Xavier Ecoville. There was also the blessing and descent of the Capsule, and the ceremonial shoveling of dirt where a representative family of the partner beneficiaries has participated. Xavier Ecoville relocatees and representatives from the different humanitarian organizations were in attendance. Among the notable government officials present were Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Cong. Rufus Rodriguez of the City’s 2nd District, and Mayor Vicente Emano. “I am very excited about it, very hopeful, and very touched by so many people who are wanting to help,” Fr. Yap enthuses. “It was amazing [that] when we started it, we are not sure what will happen but certainly the response of people was overwhelming, I think they were inspired with what Xavier did.” A chapel, community center and 573 row houses are to be constructed in the Ecoville. It is expected that within one month, DPWH will start to prepare the road and drainage system. The construction of houses will run within six months, but might run until the end of 2012. The bunk houses currently being occupied by the relocatees are temporary. With the construction of the permanent houses, each family will have a house and lot. Each house will be allocated 50 square meters: 20 square meters of floor area, 15 square meters at the back of the house, and another 15 at the front for their own garden. Along with that, the University is committed to providing them with livelihood training to help them earn a living.  Yesterday March 8 2012, some Xavier Ecoville children attended the Kalinga ng Sining kid’s program at 3:00 in the afternoon at the covered courts of Brgy. Lumbia. The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts worked closely to make this event possible. Children from the different evacuation centers around Cagayan de Oro city were in attendance. The opening prayer was led by a child from Xavier Ecoville who was in tears while thanking the Lord for sparing her life during the flood. But the emotional air was shaken off by the presence of TV personality and comedian Mr. Garry Lim who hosted the event together with CCP representative Ms. Chinggay Bernanrdo. Xavier University Cultural dance Troupe performed the opening number. This was followed by a series of soothing music rendered by the Novo Concertante singing group. The Capitol University Dance Troup also wowed the excited children with their unexpected body movements. Waway Saway sang a child-friendly Talaandig folk song about a baby monkey while Bayang Barios serenaded everyone with a song of hope titled Bagong Umaga. One of the highlights of the event was the advocacy drama staged by Xavier University actors and LAKAN. It dealt on proper waste segregation and water, health and sanitation. After the program, all the kids received Kalinga ng Sining gifts and were treated to some snacks. True enough, art therapy brought smiles to the faces of the children.  Last Saturday February 25, 2012- Xavier Ecoville had its first youth day with the theme “Unite as One”. It was held at 2 in the afternoon at the multipurpose center. The activity was a brainchild of the youth beneficiaries themselves. They were very hands-on in carrying out the preparations: from the planning process, to the setting up of the stage, down to implementing the actual program. The afternoon saw a lot of talent potentials as songs and dances were being staged number after number. No one was too young to participate in the event as the performers came from different age brackets. Their supportive parents took turns at cheering their hearts out for their children. It was a joyous first for the young Xavier Ecoville community. The youth took the initiative to extend their efforts in creating venues that could deepen their relationship with one another.  February 24, 2012- 35 households affected by the typhoon Sendong were brought to Xavier Ecoville, a resettlement project in Lumbia. This initiative is led by Xavier University in partnership with the LGU of CdeO. The beneficiaries included in the 5th batch of households relocated to the temporary bunkhouses in Xavier Ecoville were from West City Central School, Macabalan evacuation center, Xavier Heights covered courts, Kilometer 5 elementary school and Xavier University main campus covered courts. There are now a total of 165 households with approximately above 700 individuals residing in the temporary shelters of Xavier Ecoville.  Wednesday February 29 2012- The 6th batch of partner beneficiaries has moved in to the temporary shelters in Xavier Ecoville. This batch has the most number of households transferred since the site has opened last January. A total of 84 households were successfully relocated from Cagayan de Oro City’s evacuation centers which include Macasandig, Lapasan, Cugman, City central School, Brgy. 13, Camaman-an, Macabalan, West City Central School and Xavier Heights. At present, there are already 249 households residing at Xavier Ecoville. The figure has reached almost half of the total targeted number of households to be given new homes and new lives after the typhoon Sendong.  Xavier Ecoville kids meet Juan Tamad |
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