The community of the Provincial Motherhouse (PMH) caught the ripples of HAPAG-ASA which was launched by the Archdiocese of Manila’s Pondo ng Pinoy, the pro-poor program established in 2004 by former Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Rosales, D.D. This HAPAG-ASA is a charity drive that takes care of feeding thousands of malnourished children all over the world. The funding of this project is generated from the contribution of 25 centavos coins given by parishioners and other Community members.
Sharing with joy
Table of Hope
The PMH community decided to share on this nationwide feeding program for children. Heeding the call of our present Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle during this Lenten Season, the community became involved in the plight of malnourished children. The center of our feeding program is in Maria Clara, Sampaloc, Manila where our Sisters are involved in the Alternative Learning System of the Rosary Province. Every Saturday we bring to Maria Clara cooked food, fruits and packed candies. There, we serve nutritious lunch to some 70 to 80 street children from 5 to 12 years old coming from different barangays of Sampaloc, Manila. These children are previously organized by our Community Social Worker. We observed that these children are used to going from one feeding center to another. After their meal they usually ask for paper bag to put whatever food they could still bring home to share with other members of their family.
We look forward with joy to every Saturday when we can share our time, treasure and talent with these street children of Sampaloc, Manila. We are grateful to Maria Clara and pre-Novices Community for offering us their place and for their willingness to help us in needs.
Hapag-asa says to you and me -
one thing is certain: a sacrifice can change… Someone’s life today, a country tomorrow and even change a history forever.
The Cebu City Government thru Cebu City Women’s and Family Affairs Commission spearhead-ed the 2012 Women’s Summit on March 21 in the University of the Philippines (UP) Conference Hall, Lahug, Cebu City. The theme for this year’s summit was “Women Weathering Climate Change: Govern-ance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility”. The conference was not only attended by the differ-ent sectors of the society but also in groups with different religious beliefs. It started with an opening ritual performed by the UP UPSTAGE invoking the four elements- earth, wind, fire and water. The sum-mit was an opportunity for women to reflect on criti-cal issues confronting them especially climate change and how to help them prevent and prepare for the coming disaster. Disaster has its gender impact in which women and children are mostly affected and more vulnerable in the sudden onset of disasters.
Miss Remedios Rikken, chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women and the keynote speaker of the summit discussed about climate change mitigation, adaptation and disaster risk re-duction management. She strongly emphasized that women should not think of themselves as victims but agents of change. Atty. Gloria Estenso-Ramos, head of Philippine Earth Justice, also shared her experiences about the challenges in fighting for the environment. She shared her opinion about the peril of having reclamations and building flyo-vers in the city that will not only endanger the en-vironment but also the lives of the people.
After the talk, open forum and reporting of the different sectors about their personal expe-riences of the climate change and their sugges-tions to help the environment, the drafting com-mittee presented a draft resolution addressing climate change and disaster preparedness. The draft resolution was adapted and approved by the body. The women who attended the summit came home empowered and with hope in their hearts for their future and for the environment. Sr. Clarissa Cañedo represented the SSpS in the summit.
On March 31, the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants (SBI) hosted Detention and Deportation: A Faith Response at St. Scholastica Academy. The SSpS were well represented by Sr. Agathe Bramkamp, Sr. Elwira Dziuk, Sr. Monica Mabel, Sr. Angelica Oyarzo Chavol, Sr. Aprilia Untarto, Sr. Salud Osorio, Sr. Rebecca David and Sr. Rose Therese Nolta. Rev. Edward Shea, OFM, spoke first on “The Moral Imperative and the Effects of Detention and Deportation on Families” while Elena Quintana, Ph.D. of the Adler Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice shared about “The Effects of Detention and Deportation on Children. A panel included a person released from detention, a relative of a person deported as well as a representative of a parish offering accompaniment to released detainees. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta spoke about the “Journey of Hospitality with Thuy Nguyen”. There were displays of programs assisting immigrants which included the Holy Spirit Life Learning Center where one could have a sample of home -baked cookies and see some of their activities, as well as SBI Education Committee offering learning resources on immigration. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta had a role in preparing these materials.
On March 31, the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants (SBI) hosted Detention and Deportation: A Faith Response at St. Scholastica Academy. The SSpS were well represented by Sr. Agathe Bramkamp, Sr. Elwira Dziuk, Sr. Monica Mabel, Sr. Angelica Oyarzo Chavol, Sr. Aprilia Untarto, Sr. Salud Osorio, Sr. Rebecca David and Sr. Rose Therese Nolta. Rev. Edward Shea, OFM, spoke first on “The Moral Imperative and the Effects of Detention and Deportation on Families” while Elena Quintana, Ph.D. of the Adler Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice shared about “The Effects of Detention and Deportation on Children. A panel included a person released from detention, a relative of a person deported as well as a representative of a parish offering accompaniment to released detainees. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta spoke about the “Journey of Hospitality with Thuy Nguyen”. There were displays of programs assisting immigrants which included the Holy Spirit Life Learning Center where one could have a sample of home -baked cookies and see some of their activities, as well as SBI Education Committee offering learning resources on immigration. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta had a role in preparing these materials.
“God has called us as Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit from different nations and cultures and sends us in the dynamism of the Spirit to radiate new life in the risen Christ.” (13th Gen. Chapter).
Yes, Jesus is risen and He has poured out the Spirit of Living Water on all creation – ourselves included. All we need to do is open ourselves to this outpouring of Life and let its presence and action awaken new life in us. The flow of life is always present and inviting us into its light, guidance and healing. If we can only lay ourselves open to this flow of New Life! We will experience ourselves as being loved, being used, being prayed through – and we realize that we are no longer just wading and walking, but actually swimming and floating, carried by the Spring and Source of Life.
Then even the hardships and challenges always present lead us in the direction of growth and bearing fruit anew each month, each day. We will then know that life is not about you or me, but we will be about life and hope. We are witnesses to the Risen Lord when we experience our life in, with and through this Lord of Life. Each day we are watered by the Flow of Life from the sanctuary. Witnessing to God’s great love in Jesus’ Resurrection is not just a matter of beliefs, dogmas and morality, but a way of seeing all of life with the mind and heart of Christ—a way of communion, nonviolence, collaboration, transformation, of commitment to life, respect and mutuality—
whatever the diversity.
In this contemplative stance is continual missionary fruitfulness. Behold the Risen Lord makes all things new! Let us be His bold and confident Witnesses! How? Just let the outpouring the Spirit of Living Water work in our heart, mind and actions of the Congregational Directions of the Last Chapter. Yes, this is a way to radiate the New Life and Hope of the Risen Lord who makes all things new—even our own hardened and fearful hearts! Blessed Easter!!
Transforming Spirit of God, Come!
You who pray in us, through us, with us, for us, and in spite of us. Come!
Kindling Spirit, Come! Inflame our waiting hearts.
Shine your light into the places of deepest darkness and uncertainty
in our fragile world.
Anointing Spirit, Come! Great Compassion and Softener of our Spirit,
Be the common ground on which we walk,
Be the common heart from which we talk
Be the common breath that heals, restores and blesses.
Transforming Spirit, Indwelling Presence, Come!
Fire of Life and Love, awaken in us the possibility for new life,
new vision and renewed energy.
We thank you for your sustaining love that enables life
To be created each day.
Transforming Spirit, Fire from within,
Bring the power of transformation into our lives.
When our spirits sag and our lives crumble,
Be comfort and strength, warmth and healing.
Penetrate deep within us.
Transforming Spirit of Pentecost, You are our deepest hope.
Blow us inside out with your mighty wind
Make us blaze with your power
Come, change us, transform your world. Amen
Prayer from:Whispers of the Spirit – Pentecost 2011
Photo: SSpS’ Mother House’s Church
One Sunday, it was on the 10th April 2011, we, the sisters of Kemerovo community were very happy to welcome ten girls from our parish to our house. They came to our house in response to our invitation for a special gathering, a gathering only for girls and sisters.
There were three reasons why we invited them;
Firstly, there are two girls who have told us that they have felt a wish to enter our Congregation. So we wanted to give them a way to get to know about us through this meeting. For God nothing is impossible; who knows? Maybe through this gathering there will be more girls who want to become nuns.
The second reason was that we noticed some distance between them. Through the theme, dynamics and prayers which we presented to them, we wanted to help them realise how important working together and helping each other are.
The third thought was to help them prepare for Easter. For some girls, this Easter would be their first Easter. Starting from this background, we planned three activities.
We began by introducing each other. On that occasion we asked them to choose one person to share with. Each pair found a place to talk. During that time they shared about who they are. After 20 minutes they gathered again in the big group (in our living room), and each one shared about the other person with whom they had been talking. What interested was that they also spoke about the first time they came to know the Catholic faith and decided to become members of our parish.
The second part of the activity was a game. Each of them was asked to write down something good about themselves on a plain piece of paper. Next step, as a group they had to cross a sea. Those papers would help them to do it, but there was a crocodile in the sea. If they put a paper on the “water” and no feet on the top of it, then the crocodile would take it. The papers that would help them to cross the sea become less. They needed to talk to each other about how they would do the task. With that game we hoped that these young girls would learn how to work as a team.
We ended the gathering with a final prayer in our chapel. The girls and sisters sat in a circle and Sr. Agata led us in a reflection of the scripture text John 17: 21, “May they all be one as you Father are in me and I am in you. May they be one in us; so the world may believe that you have sent me.” To help us in that reflection, Sr. Natalia had prepared 13 rolls of paper which contained the words of the scripture text. It was made in a nice format. She put them in front of tabernacle. Then we were asked to pick one. With instrumental music as background, Sr. Agata read the scripture, after that we read in silence and then said a word or a phrase which touched us. Some of the girls not only said a word, they also shared why it was touching for them. With Sr. Natalia’s good talent for playing the guitar, this gathering became more alive.
There are good signs and comments which we have heard not only from the girls, also from the families. Some of the mothers told us that when they came home, they did not stop talking about the gathering. Moreover, when the girls met us, some of them asked, “When it will happen again?” We hope we can do it again following Pentecost next month. Please help us with your prayers that the girls here will open their hearts to His Calling and be willing to take part in His mission, especially to be members in our Congregation.
Sr. Jose, SSpS
tks to Sr. Jacqueline Mulberge, SSpS for reviewing and correcting the English.
Sister Nisha Joseph of the Holy Spirit Sisters was awarded the Bishop Clemens award for her outstanding contribution to the communication media on March 20.
Navachetana, Bhopal presented her the award for working for empowerment of women through media creations.
Sister Nisha in her documentary films portrays the “feminine face of God”. She gives priority to empowerment of women.
Her first documentary film titled “The Dawn” was released in 2007, to mark the event of the platinum jubilee of, Holy Spirit Sisters (Ssps) arrival in India. The film portrays Ssps missionary activities in India.
The second documentary film named ‘The Footsteps on the Mountain” was released in 2008, portraying the Holy Spirit sisters’ missionary endeavors in the North Eastern parts of India.
She produced many documentaries in collaboration with Ishvani Kendra, Pune.
The documentaries included “Touched by God’s Love” on the victims of HIV- AIDS, “A struggle for survival” on quarry workers demands for basic rights and “Daring Women”- on how empowered women can transform the society.
The latest documentary named Prerana deals with the indomitable spirit of a 21-year-old girl born with cerebral palsy.
In order to promote inter-religious harmony, the sister released a DVD song album titled “Abba” in 2009.
Sister Nisha conducts seminars and workshops mainly on media-related topics for educationalists, formators, youth and students.
She is a member of the National Communications Resource Team and the joint secretary of the Regional Communication Commission (M.P., CG)
Presently she is engaged in bringing out an audio-CD addressing the current issues like global warming, girl child, nature …and three other documentaries namely The Potter and the adolescents, Five Senses, and The Magnificient Woman.
By Sister Rosina ssps
Source: www.religiousindia.org, published in 30 March 2011
Implementing “Being Authentic Witness”, the Junior SSpS of Yogyakarta district embrace the transgender group as friends and relatives.
Our relationship with this group started from the frequent meeting and greeting on the way to campus and our concern for the fact that they are being marginalized and regarded negatively by the surrounding society.
In the beginning we were also afraid to deal with them but our sincere intention encouraged us to go to the streets and look for them, to invite them to have lunch in our community, to initiate a relationship. Several times we tried in the morning, afternoon, even at night and couldn’t find them in the places where they used to “ngamen” (sing and ask for money). We learned that many of them had to escape out to neighboring towns to avoid the City Guards. Some of them were arrested and others had to be taken to the hospital because of the violent actions of the Guards. That’s why they reduced their activities of “ngamen” on the streets, usually at cross-roads with traffic lights.
We had no luck until once, by chance, two junior sisters met two of them at their “ngamen”. They were so happy when we greeted them and they invited us to be present at the National Independence Day celebration in a Public Hall, since they were asked to sing on the show. Of course we welcomed the invitation happily and attended along with them.
They seemed happy to see us come and they greeted us in a friendly manner. At that event we met and had a conversation with Rully, the coordinator of Ebeneizer Transgender community with around 10 transgender members. Miss Rully is also a member of the Kebaya (= Keluarga Besar Waria Yogyakarta, which means Yogyakarta Transgender Extended Family) led by Mama Vin. As a researcher and formator, Ms. Rully also teaches children in the jungles of Papua, in cooperation with friends from Gajah Mada University. In Kebaya Rully and other transgender friends are also conducting ODA (ODA =Orang Dengan AIDS/HIV, meaning People With HIV / AIDS) assistance, either among the transgender people, or women and children.
Flag Ceremony
On August 17, 2010, we sisters in the community of Yogyakarta and our transgender friends celebrated our National Independence Day. We held a flag-ceremony and some games such as fashion show, a “krupuk eating” competition, singing competition etc. and closed with lunch together. Our transgender friends, represented by Ms. Rully, expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the hospitality and openness of the sisters, and hoped that the togetherness and friendship would be continued in the future. From our sisters, Sr. Sanctisima, the activity coordinator, and Sr. M. Christina, the community leader, expressed our joy and thanks for their coming and participation. The community always welcomes their presence and will happily include them in the next activities.
Fashion Show
Our friendship and togetherness became stronger when we visited one of their members who was sick and also went for prayer for the death of their member. We were touched when they came to greet us at Christmas, and we shared some food such as rice, sugar, etc.
We embrace our transgender friends, we want to be their friends, so we can show them that a transgender person is a human being like us, not an object of abuse. Our dream is that the transgender people can be accepted by society as part of them.
Junior Sisters in Biara Roh Suci, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Thank you to Sr. Jacqueline Mulberge, SSpS for reviewing and correcting the English.
SSpS Provincial House in Bolivia before the landslide.
Dear Sisters,
I share with you another article wrote by a SVD missiologist from New Zeland who was passing few days in Bolivia just when the landslide took place in La Paz.
Ma Cristina, SSpS
Rome, 6 March 2011
If you had to leave your home and were allowed to take only five items with you – what would you take? That is a question from a game about choosing priorities. Recently the game became a reality. I was visiting Bolivia with the intention of learning more about indigenous theologies and also to visit Fr Dennis Nyaura SVD, a missionary from Papua New Guinea. I was with Fr Dennis in Cochabamba when a telephone message came through that there was a landslide in the city of La Paz and that our SVD confreres there had been told they might have to evacuate their house in the barrio of Callapa for fear that landslide would engulf the whole area. That is shocking news in itself, but what added to my concern was the fact that my computer containing all my research work, along with important documents such as my passport were in that house. Jesus told his disciples to travel without a second tunic. I doubt if he had to consider the importance of passports for his disciples.
That Saturday night the Divine Word missionaries and Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit in the barrio of Callapa received phone calls from families in a nearby barrio asking for help. The families had received news of an immanent landslide and the municipal authorities were demanding that they leave immediately. Fr Savio Nedupillil tells how he and Brother Josimar Ferreira went to help. “We went to Kupini and found people in that neighborhood desperately trying to remove their valuables. The police were insisting that they leave quickly. Once we heard of the situation we too tried to convince them to leave. Human life is much more important than belongings. We were tying to console them, but at that stage we thought that our house much further down would be safe. The sisters also went to help. The sisters were having a meeting with their Congregational leader Sr. Maria Theresa and there were 15 sisters there at the time doubling the normal number in the house. Nevertheless they invited the evacuated families to come and sleep at the sister’s house.
Sister Odette tells of her shock when they opened the door on Sunday morning and saw huge cracks opening up around their house. “People warned us that it would get worse, so we took what we could carry and walked in the heavy rain to the relative safety of the other side of the river. We were shocked when the rear portion of our house crumpled and the police told us that it was too dangerous to salvage all our things as the house could totally collapse.”
Meanwhile, Brother Josimar and Fr Savio were at the nearby SVD house recovering what they could. Fr Piotr Nawrot SVD was trying to save his library. “I have a valuable library of books and a unique collection of indigenous music. As the cracks in the house started to get bigger I set up a tarpaulin outside under some trees and started trying to move my whole library of over a thousand volumes. It was a huge task, especially in the heavy rain. Two Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit came to help me – Sr Acha and Sr Carolina. The authorities would not allow them to enter their own house, so they kindly came to help me. It is a thought-provoking experience trying to decide what is most valuable. Here I was evacuating my library – the work of over 30 years research in Musicology. But then there was our chapel. I placed the blessed sacrament under the tarpaulin with my books and had to decide what else from our chapel should be saved. Here we were along with thousands of other people – like ants carrying what we could to safety as the cracks in the ground developed into crevasses.” On Sunday afternoon the cement bridge allowing people to cross the flooded river collapsed making the salvage task even more difficult.
It was a particularly sad time for the sisters because some sisters were involved in pastoral work in the communities and had got close to the people. Many live very simple lives surviving from one day to the next. That was one of the reasons why the sisters decided to live in the Callapa bario. Now the communities were being dispersed and the poor surviving in temporary shelters. Sr. Odette tells how, “on the road as we left I was moved by the way people would ask for an address or a telephone number so that they could keep in touch.”
Despite the sadness and the difficulties it has been an extraordinary time. So many people offered to help. Sr Odette says that she experienced God in the expressions of care and solidarity shown by so many people during the evacuation time. The desperate situation revealed the goodness of many people. Fr Nawrot tells how the local authorities did an excellent job mobilizing the police, armed forces, civil defense and municipal workers. “We gave our valuables into their hands and they carried them over a kilometer across the river to where we could bring transportation on the other side. Nothing we gave them went missing.” Even high-ranking officers such as a Colonel would shoulder heavy items and carry them to safety.
This is not the first time that there has been landslide in La Paz, a city of over a million people perched in canyons at 3,640 meters (11,900 ft). Nearby El Alto also with over a million people is even higher. Aircraft have to land at twice the normal speed there because of the thin air at such an altitude. This has been one of the biggest landslides ever, affecting over 1,500 homes and 5,000 people.
Archbishop Edmundo Abastaflor came on Friday along with the Nuncio and Bishop Oscar Aparicio to celebrate mass near the neighborhood. He spoke about how God through Jesus shares in our suffering. From our ruined SVD house we brought a statue of the Blessed Mother – the Virgin of Copacabana – patroness of Bolivia. We placed the statue in front of the makeshift altar at the gates of a mental health institution. Pointing to the statue the Archbishop noted how Mary had lost her house too and that she and her Son were with us at that time of suffering. Most people in Bolivia are Catholic. The fact that we did not take the statue of the Virgin of Copacabana away, but left her there overlooking the scene brought consolation to many people. Many cures and miracles have been attributed to the Virgin of Copacabana, perhaps the greatest, that of the faith of Francisco Yupanqui who carved the original statue over 400 years ago, and the faith of the millions of indigenous people who came after him. I am sure it is a miracle that no one was killed in this huge landslide that left 5,000 people homeless.
Now many people are camped with some of their possessions and are being cared for by church groups and the armed forces. The government is providing immediate help and has promised financial relief in the future.
Fr Wigner Cando SVD who came from Cochabamba to assist tells of his feelings of sadness, but also a strong sense of solidarity. There is a popular story in La Paz about a spirit woman in the guise of a very ugly person who came to Callapa several years ago asking for accommodation. People turned her away. So, as the story goes, she cursed them, saying that one-day they too would be begging for accommodation. The popular story stresses the importance of helping others in need. Jesus had a similar message when he said that if we give a cup of water in his name, we give it to him. Some people no doubt remember the story of the spirit woman, but I am sure that the care and concern for one another in these days has come from Christian faith and a sense of basic human concern. The word from many people about their experience is that of “solidarity”.
There are other countries where looting and chaos would take over in such a situation. This did not happen in La Paz. Despite the terrible loss in material terms people have demonstrated heroic solidarity. Through the experience I have been privileged to gather new insights into local theologies and have also had time to consider my sense of priorities. My SVD brothers saved my computer and my passport and I leave Bolivia deeply impressed with the way people have cared for and supported one another during this time of natural disaster.
This is the message accompanied the pictures, sent by Sr. Maria Cristina, SSpS, General Councilor:
Dear Sisters,
Here few pictures from BOLIVIA sent by the SVDs.
Sister Odete mentioned that they tried during the pass days to bring out of the house all what they could with the help of many people especially SVDs, military groups and volunteers…
The destruction was terrible and paradoxically we have this Sunday Gospel reading connected with these facts!
MC Rome, March 5, 2011
