“EVERYTHING IS GRACE”: MARIA INEZ VISITS THE COMMUNITY OF PANAY-GUIMARAS
The morning of March 2 was filled with anticipation for the FIs gathered outside the Iloilo International airport awaiting the arrival of Mother General Maria Inez Furtado and General Consultor Jocelyn Salomo. What an exciting encounter full of filial joy!
In the morning of March 5, we had the communitarian gathering with Mother General. After the brief song-prayer of Espiritu Santo Creador”, Mother General started the session by making the Sisters formulate questions about “ANYTHING” that they may want to ask. And so “the ball began to roll”…
In the aftermath of the talk of Mother General, the Sisters strongly felt the echoes of the following words of wisdom from her:
Our life as consecrated persons is NOT TO ACHIEVE, BUT TO WALK ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.
Things can change; we may attain what we plan, we may make mistakes, but we continue journeying wherever the Spirit leads us, ACCORDING TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PERSONS, PLACES AND TIMES…
LIFE is a process, and our way of proceeding is also a life IN DISCERNMENT. We have forgotten the
FAITH that makes us see the work of God in the world… to EVANGELIZE is not to change the world but to change MY WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD from the perspective of my faith…
The AMPLIFIED COMMUNITY is not a new structure; IT IS A DIFFERENT MODE OF LIVING RELIGIOUS LIFE. The demand of living in an amplified community is maturity, because the Congregation does not depend on the government but on each of us. Living in an amplified community is for mature persons…
There were many nuggets of wisdom that the Sisters received from Mother General’s talk, which left them animated and full of hope. The exchange of the experience of this encounter continued during mealtime and even afterwards, when ALL the sisters went with Mother General and Sr. Joy to Damires Hills in Janiuay (a 45-minute drive from the city) to enjoy a restful time among the wonders of Mother Nature. As John the Evangelist says, the Lord has been good to us, bestowing “grace upon grace”. ¡Muchísimas gracias, María Inés y Joy!
(gathered from the experiences of the FI sisters, March 5, 2017).
By Sr. Georgita Hormillosa, F.I.