Celebrating the Birth Anniversary of our Mother Foundress
On the day of the 228th birth anniversary of dear Mother Foundress St Mary Euphrasia, much joy was shared and abundant blessings were received in our various communities.
Quezon City
In Quezon City, Mass was presided by Fr Ed Verdadero, an associate priest of the Eudists. He affirmed how the spirit of St Mary Euphrasia remains alive in the present mission of the congregation. Later in the morning, the blessing of the corner lot, where a Good Shepherd building intended for services for the poor will be built. Sisters and partners joined together with the team of builders for the prayer and ritual blessings.
In the afternoon, the acceptance ritual of the Prenovices Leatriz Ongsamson, Marisse Lorono and Reah Deseree Uy was held at Christine Hall. It was attended by sisters and some partners in mission in the compound. (see related news)
In the evening, we had a sort of “preview” of the new governance in the region as sisters gathered for thanksgiving dinner and farewell dinner for Sr Chaw Su Su Aung of Myanmar in the Euphrasian Community. Sr Lulu Fabia noted how the Sr Chaw Su, helped by the Vietnamese sisters and Prenovices prepared the sumptuous dinner for all to enjoy. Describing the community experience of the past year with Sr Chaw Su and the Vietnamese sisters, Sr Lulu said, “if this experience with you is the sample of the restructured unit / region, the congregation faces a bright future!”
Baguio City
In Baguio, a “new” place of prayer / “Dasalan” was blessed after the Mass with the sisters and partners in mission led by Fr Willy, SVD. The old coffee shop and snack bar which had not been used since the pandemic was converted into an inviting prayer space where tourists and customers can spend and enjoy quiet time. This is also adjacent to the existing SME garden where the stations of the cross are also located.
In Legaspi, the sisters, partners in mission and program participants celebrated with the Redemptorist fathers, brothers and partners in mission. Our Good Shepherd Home was their chosen recipient for their annual fund-raising event during the feast of Mother of Perpetual Help last June 27. Aug 1, a day after SME’s birthday is also the feast of their founder St Alphonsus Ligouri.
VisMin
In Cebu, SME’s birthday was celebrated along with the recognition day for students from their community-based programs. It was a day to celebrate the academic performance and accomplishment especially of those who graduated, living testimonies of the saving mission that St Mary Euphrasia left us.
In Mindanao, a Mass was held in Cagayan de Oro with the women and the TISAKA (Tingog sa Kasanag) volunteers. In Kalilid, our student scholars had storytelling of SME’s life, poster-making, prayer walk and tree planting.
Indeed, to this day we feel the powerful and providential intercession of Mother Foundress with all the blessings the Good Shepherd is showering upon us!
