On the first Sunday of this month, August 6, our General, Sister Graciela together with her counselor, Sr. Teresa arrived in El Salvador accompanied by our Provincial, Sister Lynn. Our place is the first leg of their 3-part visit. It was a day filled with joy as the community welcomed them at Misamis Oriental. On our way to El Salvador – we immediately saw the big ocean covered by the bright sun and the mountains as well, as if together with the sisters, creation embraced and rejoiced with their arrival.

In the afternoon, the Individual conferences commenced and we ended the day with the Eucharistic Celebration.

On August 7, right after breakfast, Sisters Graciela and Tere with some sisters went to the Divine Mercy shrine and entered the church, the adoration chapel, and went up to the huge statue of the Divine Mercy. It was an experience of grace, awe, and gratitude. From the shrine, off they went to Purok 2 and 4. The encounter with the people in this place made everyone very grateful and happy. It was a time of deep sharing of the lives of the women who without any hesitation expressed to the sisters how the Congregation impacted their lives. With their tears they explained to the visitors – these are ‘tears of suffering’, and tears of .joy

The Individual Conferences continued in the afternoon and before 5 PM they left for the airport as they fly to Cebu.

The brief but meaningful visit of our sisters increased our sense of belonging as well as greater hope for our mission here.  Renewed zeal filled our hearts as we collaborate with our Lord in his work of salvation in this holy place.

Blessed be God who loves us dearly!

See photos of Mother General and Sr. Teresa Pinto...

With the Sisters in El Salvador Residence with Sr. Gette, the Local Superior

At the Divine Mercy Shrine

Fronting the Residence

Encounter with the people from Purok

Graciela plays with a little girl...