Religious Sisters of Mercy Philippines Hold Their Seventh General Chapter (Philippines)

On April 9-13, 2012, the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Philippines in our 22nd year of autonomy as a Religious Congregation,  with Pontifical Right since 1981, and our 57th year of presence in the Philippines,  held our 7th General Chapter of Affairs to review Mercy Life and Ministry with the theme, “Mercy @ 57: Create Pathways to Renewal, and Rediscover New Forms of Mission in the context of Mercy Spirituality and Community Dynamism”.

The Chapter Preparation Committee was chaired by Marian Ladrera rsm, a member of the Philippines Leadership Team. Marian had published in a previous issue of Mercy E-News the Prayer for the Chapter requesting/inviting all Mercy Sisters around the globe to join the RSM Philippines in prayer.

The Chapter was facilitated by Rev. Father Cruzito Manding CSsR,  Provincial Superior of Cebu Redemptorist Province in the Philippines. His opening message was a call to honesty in sincere humility to discern where God is leading us to in our restructuring/refounding of the Congregation in an “Areopagus”. He reminded us that the Chapter is a call to conversion from our doubts, worries and fears to a deeper commitment of Faith as Mercy Sisters.

Forty-three professed Sisters ranging in age from 78 to 25 participated in The Chapter.. The age range was so broad that participation in discussions and other activities was very diversified but so animated.

The concerns discussed included the following: Relationships in the Community, Governance, Financial Sustainability, Formation, Spirituality and Religious Life. Our facilitator emphasised that our proposals for discussions and deliberations needed to be doable, measurable and time-bound.

The sharing was free-wheeling, animated and spontaneous. We discussed helping each sister in Formation grow psycho-spiritually and professionally. Matters of empowerment and collaboration through consultative governance were given good attention. Proper training and adequate preparation of young Sisters for their mission assignments were determined as actions to be taken. The needs of sick, and elderly/old sisters were also addressed.

In summary, we ended the Chapter with hopeful hearts and lively spirits manifested in the celebration of the Eucharist and socialization at the beach, thanks be to God.

Messages to: M. Carmela N. Cabactulan rsm