On the beautiful morning of September 10, 2024, at 10:00 in the morning, at St. Candida Hall of Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Inc., the CIC Educative Community celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass to thank and praise God for the grace of Venerable Vicenta Alonzo Guilarte,  with Rev. Father Ildefonso Cachuela, Jr. as the celebrant.  The unveiling of the picture frame of Venerable Vicenta was truly touching, her holy face mirroring her deep love and strong attachment to God, and the solemnity of the Mass penetrated the very being of a true-blooded CICnian.  Such a blessing is an infrequent opportunity, hence, all of us CIC Hijos and HIjas are grateful and humbled by the example of Venerable Vicenta’s zealous and bottomless servanthood of God’s love to His people.

A gift to the world, a person of exemplary character, finding happiness in doing God’s will, a blessing to the Congregation of Hijas de Jesus is  Venerable Vicenta Alonzo Guilarte as Pope Francis approved the decree of her heroic virtues on June 21, 2024, in Rome.

It is a marvelous and jubilant day that another sister from the Congregation of Hijas de Jesus is raised to the next level of the altar towards sainthood.  Venerable Vicenta is a name that resonates with her simplicity and magnanimity in living the virtues that are very beautiful in the eyes of God.  In her unique way of spending her religious life,   her porter’s lodge served as a sanctuary to different people with various concerns, finding comfort and strength in their encounter with her.  She used to be a light to people’s vague journey in life, to some with confused thoughts and feelings, and an eye opener to those losing hope and desperation as she used to assure them of God’s never-ceasing love and compassion.

Venerable Vicenta inspires us CICnians to be grateful for her as an Hija de Jesus and reminds us that living for God is a grace we should all desire.   Moreover, she is an exemplary example of living a life most pleasing to God.    With her as our model,  all of us   Hijas and Hijos of St. Candida in all her schools all over the world may imbibe and witness in our lives her virtues of loving the least and the last, model of being obedient and docile to God’s will.  Knowing her simple and unique way of living her life for God, rest assured that we, the youth of today’s time be able to see the essence of being closer to Jesus, knowing Him and the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother and our Mother too, as we continuously grow in our faith through the intercession of our dear Foundress, St. Candida Ma. de Jesus.

Some photos of the event...

The author poses with the picture of Venerable VIcenta Guilarte

By Ms. Lane M. Sumagaysay