With hearts united in communion and hope, 162 F.I. Sisters, Faculty, Staff, and Friends of St. Candida from the Hijas de Jesus schools of Panay and Guimaras—Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Pototan; Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus, Iloilo City; St. James Catholic High School, Maasin; St. Joseph School, Guimaras); and St. Candida School, Estancia—gathered for the Talk on Filiation and Fraternity held on November 6, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:15 p.m. at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Pototan. The Team on Educative Action of the Province of the Hijas de Jesus Congregation organized this event.

The program opened with a reflective audiovisual prayer led by Mr. James Christopher L. Barrios of SJCHS, followed by a warm welcome from Mrs. Lane M. Sumagaysay, CIC Principal, and the introduction of the speaker by Mrs. Edna G. Giner, CHJ Principal.

In an enlightening session, Sr. Georgita Hormillosa, F.I., Representative of the Congregation in the Apostolic Works at Stella Maris Academy, Davao, deepened the participants’ understanding that filiation signifies one’s spiritual identity as a child of God, and fraternity calls everyone to live in communion with others as brothers and sisters. On this insight, she invited everyone to reflect on their "spiritual DNA" and how their lives mirror God’s love.

Drawing from the life of Mo. Candida, Sr. Georgita shared how the foundress discovered her identity as a daughter of God and drew strength from it amid the challenges of her time and vocation. Inspired by this, she encouraged discernment as a means of filial conversion—aligning one’s actions with God’s call.

Relating faith to present realities, she motivated participants to embody fraternity through human dignity, social equality, and care for creation. She also emphasized that filiation and fraternity are both divine gifts and human responsibilities that call for solidarity, outreach, and social apostolate—transformative actions that respond to real-world issues with compassion and justice.

Citing the Church’s exhortation Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), she highlighted love for the poor and faith expressed through service. She also shared the F.I. Congregation’s six priorities for the next six years: moving from vulnerability to strength, weaving networks of care, bringing hope to the peripheries, transforming through apostolic presence, awakening to vocation, and nurturing the dream of the Charismatic Family—inviting the educative communities to discern and embody these priorities.

Before closing, she reminded everyone that prayer lies at the heart of filiation—an intimate encounter with the Lord that brings light amid distractions and weariness. Through prayer, she said, one cultivates a filial spirit marked by gratitude, humility, and hope.

The session concluded with a heartfelt message of appreciation and blessing from Sr. Patricia Anna T. Aragon, F.I., Representative of the Apostolic Works of CIC and SJCHS, accompanied by a token presentation from St. Joseph School, Guimaras, and a group photo session. Anchored in Romans 8:12-17, the gathering left participants inspired to live as true children and stewards of God, deepening the grace of filiation and fraternity in their daily lives.

By Clarisa Zorca

SOME IMAGES OF THE EVENT...