Philippine District celebrates Golden Jubilee

On the 22^ndof August 2019

the Society of the Sacred Heart

marked its 50^th year of presence

and mission in the Philippines.

The celebration was held on the 24^th of August at Bahay Madre, Montalban, Rizal, where the RSCJ had their novitiate and where they presently have a community, a prayer center, and the St. Madeleine Sophie Foundation.

The theme of the jubilee was “The Lord has done marvels for us.”

The spirit of thanksgiving was highlighted in the Eucharistic liturgy

presided by Noel Vasquez SJ, with concelebrants Dionisio Miranda SVD,

Rey Peñagunda of the Archdiocese of Cebu, and SJ Provincial Jun Viray.

Indeed, “we remember…. we celebrate…. we believe…..”!

Providing much joy, warmth, and a sense of the One Body was a significant number of RSCJ who came from provinces with direct connections to the Philippine foundation: the Japan province where the first Filipina RSCJ entered the Society and which continues to have close ties with the Philippines, the Korea-Chinese province with ongoing collaboration in formation and mission, the Indonesia Area leadership team; and representatives from the USC and ANZ Provinces, and the new missions of the ASIANZ Region.

Messages likewise came in from the Central Team and Mother House community, as well as Pilar de Tuero (ESP) and others who have been in the Philippines. The mission partners, family members, and friends present felt that they were part of the interwoven journey that we were celebrating. With a big parachute put up for the event, the intermittent rains did not dampen everyone’s spirits in any way.

The communities in Cebu and Ormoc also had celebrations before the 24^th, while the SHIFT community in Northern Samar carried on the festivities on the 27^th even without the RSCJ whose flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Truly the Society charism and mission continue through the Sacred Heart Family.

Digna Dacanay rscj

August 31, 2019

Section |International News