Fma lifeline 2015 2016 april fmafil

EDITORIAL BOARDSr. Ann Lyn Rose D. Magno FMA

Editorial Board CoordinatorSr. Theda L. dela Rosa, FMA

Technical CoordinatorSr. Florita G. Dimayuga, FMA Sr. Nora U. Hernandez, FMASr. Ernielyn F. Deypalan, FMA

FMA Lifeline is the official news magazine of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. FMA stands for Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice, the official Italian name of the Congregation founded by St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello in 1872 in Mornese, Italy. Today, there are 12,773 FMAs in 94 countries who are dedicated in varied ministries for the youth.

__________________Daughters of Mary Help of Christians

Provincial House3500 V. Mapa Extension, Sta. Mesa 1016 Manila

Tel. No. 714-5937; Faxphone 716-5097

www.fmafil.org.ph

1 From the Provincial Superior2 Living in Christ According to the Form of the Gospel4 Meaningful and Solemn Re-bestowing of the FMA Constitutions6 Terza Et7 Life Stories: Sr. Violeta M. Tuason, FMA, Sr. Yolanda P. Bati, FMA,

Sr. Silvia B. Asico, FMA and Sr. Rufina M. Garcia, FMA

11 The David Among Us: Sr. Mabel R. Pilar, FMA12 Vocation Camp14 Transmission of the Acts of the General Chapter XXIII15 Sr. Runita Borja, FMA, General Councilor for Youth Ministry16 Our Mother is Home17 Grateful to God for the Gift of Sr. Mabel18 SYM Bosco Camp20 Campo Bosco Italy (SYM Experience, SYMply Blessed)22 Celebrating Don Bosco Nau Na Oltaim23 Remembering Our Roots, Embracing Our Spirituality, Reliving Don

Boscos Dream and Mission Today

24 An Unexpected Gift for the Bicentenary of Don Boscos Birth25 Past Pupils Activities26 FMA at 60 : Forever A Gift and A Grace32 FMA EC Families as Missionaries in Bringing the Gospel of Joy:

A New Hope to the World

34 Educating Today and Tomorrow, A Renewing Passion35 Journeying Towards Participation and Shared Responsibility in our

Mision

36 Responding to the Asean Integration and K-12 Challenge37 Hope for A Brighter Future38 Face to Face with the Don Bosco of Today40 The 51st International Eucharistic Congress42 SYM Summer Youth Festival 2016 : Youth Holiness Unleased44 Expressing the Salesian Charism the FMA Way46 FMA FIL : Rebuilding lives at the peripheries48 A Hope for their Dream (Update on the Yolanda Scholars in Cebu)49 Distribution of Crocs from ACTS Singapore50 LVF... 25 Years of Empowering Youth and Families52 VIDES Philippines goes to the peripheries of Cavite

53-56 Photo News Inside back cover: Thank You, Sr. Sarah

THE COVER:The FMA as joyful

prophets of the Good News of hope.

From left, back row: Sr. Analyn Guerrero,

Sr. Javy Romanos, Sr. Violeta Erasmo,

Sr. Theda dela Rosa, Sr. Ria Versario,

Sr. Marilyn Precilla and Sr. Janis Mia

Aguirre

11 January 2015 - April 2016 FMA Lifeline

The school year 2015-2016 was a year of celebrations ecclesial, Salesian, provincial: the bicentenary of Don Boscos birth, the Year of Consecrated Life, the Synod of Bishops on the family, the 60th year of FMA presence in the country, the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, and so many anniversaries of our schools and communities, in the wake of the 23rd General Chapter and at the beginning of this new phase of our journey as a province. The significance of each event was prepared for and deepened further by several other activities. Just skimming through the titles and photos of the articles in this special issue of Lifeline can give us an idea of how this last school year has been filled to the brim with life and meaning, and how Gods invitations ever the same and ever new are intertwined in the many experiences we have made through the year.

All this movement surely left us with little time to absorb all the grandeur, the beauty and the depth of these events. It is so easy to lose our souls in the frenetic pace with which we have lived the past months, so natural to remain untouched and unchanged by what we have seen, heard and lived, like the proverbial rolling stones that gather no moss. Again, this Lifeline issue, which encapsulates the vibrancy of an entire year in 60 pages, makes us aware of the relentless passage of time, the brevity

of our life and the intensity with which we can choose to live each moment, and the many opportunities to reflect the loving mercy of God through our lives.

I have a wish and a prayer for you who read this issue of Lifeline: that every page may serve not only to evoke beautiful and thrilling memories of the significant events that have taken place in 2015-2016, but also rekindle the desire and the resolve to live fruitfully as true missionaries of joy and hope in whatever state or condition of life we are in, to be evangelized and evangelizing educating communities deeply rooted and transformed into apostles after the heart of Christ the Good Shepherd.

Thank you to all of you in our educating communities and in the Salesain Family for the fruitful journey together!

Sr. Mabel R. Pilar, FMA

Editors Note: Sr. Mabel is the newly appointed Provincial Superior of FMA Philippines-PNG Province and was inaugurated into office on May 24, 2015.

2 FMA Lifeline January 2015 - April 2016

LIVING IN CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE FORM OF THE GOSPEL (Perfectae Caritatis 2) : FORMED TO CONSECRATED LIFE IN THE HEART OF THE CHURCH AND OF THE WORLD. This was the general theme of the International Congress for women and men formators of religious life which I had the privilege of attending.

From April 8 to 11, 2015 this first World Congress for Formators was celebrated as part of the program of activities of the Year of the Consecrated Life. It was the second of the three assemblies organized by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA). The first of these three assemblies was an ecumenical meeting among consecrated men and women belonging to different Christian churches, held from January 22-25, 2015. The third was meant for the young consecrated who were summoned to Rome for an international workshop that was held from September 16-18, 2015.

The congress attended by 1,300 formators was held at the convention center of the Ergife Hotel in Rome. The delegates were from 114 countries representing more than 500 charisms of the diverse forms of life of special consecration. The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians was granted 15 seats.

During the congress presided over by Cardinal Joo Braz de Aviz (Prefect of the CIVCSVA) and moderated by Archbishop Jos Rodrguez Carballo

(Secretary of the CIVCSVA), we were invited to reflect upon the existential issues of the consecrated life and its identity in the Church. The four-day encounter was spent deepening salient topics of formation and formation works. Every input was followed by moments of reflection and group sharing. Reactions and questions were entertained afterwards.

Some of the recurring themes in the Congress were:

- Continuous formation as the mother-idea of formation, born as a dynamism embracing the whole life becomes the premise of the whole initial formation.

Formation is the action of the Father who seeks to form in us the feelings and sensitivity of the Son. A formation that has this objective cannot but last a lifetime: thus the idea of continuing formation. The on-going formation, however, is not something that comes later, that is, after the so-called institutional or initial formation, as if the formation journey through life was something less real and effective. On the contrary, ongoing formation is what comes before, or is the premise and foundation of the entire formation process and project of each stage of initial formation. The purpose of the initial training therefore, is to form the willingness to let oneself be molded by life (docibilitas), that is, the willingness of learning

by Sr. Cynthia B. Calabig, FMA

3to learn, to let oneself be put in crisis by life itself, in all its seasons, as emphasized by Fr. Amedeo Cencini. It was later confirmed by Monsignor Carballo Helping to recognize and work on all those fears, stiffness, suspicions, resistances with which we usually defend ourselves from reality, from the others, so as not to see the reality itself as the mediation of the formative action of the Father.

- The educational relationship as a tool of formation, paying attention to form the heart and not just attitudes;

- The importance and the need for ongoing formation of Formators;

- The importance of human formation together with, the spiritual, theological and charismatic formation and paths of psycho-spiritual integration, starting with the initial stages;

- The delicateness and importance of the ministry of formation that requires a full- time commitment;

- The Education to a spirituality of communion to build solid foundations of the Church of tomorrow

Despite the great number of participants, a warm atmosphere of camaraderie and joy accompanied the congress. The sense of being Church was very palpable among the delegates who were divided into groups of 8-10 and mixed with different congregations. We were seated around tables which became venues for sharing and weaving of friendships.

The animating presence and participation of both the Cardinal Prefect of CIVCSVA, Joo Braz de Aviz and the Secretary, Monsignor Jos Rodrguez Carballo created a very affirmative atmosphere as they took time to listen and mingle with the participants during the day. Theirs was a presence that accompanied the participants during the entire congress.

The participation of our Institute in the congress was significant. Sr. Antonella Meneghetti, FMA who formed part of the Liturgical committee animated the morning and evening prayer throughout the congress together with the FMA students from Auxilium and the Novices from our two novitiates in Rome.

Four of our Sisters: Sr. Milena Stevani, Sr. Marcella Farina, Sr. Anna Rita Cristaino and Sr. Julia Arciniegas collaborated in the presentation and coordination of some of the 17 workshops done in 34 smaller groups. We were made to reflect on diverse elements related to the formative tasks, some of which were: moving from vocational animation toward a vocational culture; the accompaniment and discernment in the initial stages; formation for affectivity following the sexual scandals; crisis in the life of the formators; the shared mission; dialogue with cultures and enculturation in formation; communication in the digital era; the role of the community/fraternity in formation; justice, peace and integrity of the environment in the formation process; and the challenge of evangelical counsels in modern anthropology.

This historical event in the Church was experienced as a good opportunity for the ongoing formation of the formators. It was indeed a fruitful encounter and an amiable exchange of thoughts and fellowship for all the delegates.

On the closing day, we celebrated the Eucharist in St. Peters Basilica, after which we were convened at the Paul VI hall for an audience with Pope Francis. The audience with the Pope was the highlight of the congress. It was an experience of profound joy and blessing for all of us.

I would like to quote from the speech of His Holiness. May his words become a source of encouragement for every formator and every religious involved in the formation ministry;The consecrated life is beautiful; it is one of the most precious treasures of the Church, rooted in the baptismal vocation. Therefore, it is a good thing to be formators, since it is a privilege to share in the work of the Father, which is to form the heart of the Son in the Spirit who calls. Sometimes you may feel that this service is a burden, as if carried away by something more important. However, this is a deception and a temptation. The mission is certainly important, but it is equally important to train for the mission, to form the passion for the evangelization and the passion to go anywhere, in any periphery; to announce to all the love of Jesus Christ, especially to those who are far away; to tell the young and the poor, and be evangelized by them. This requires a solid foundation, a Christian structure of personality that the family rarely can give in these our days. Moreover, that increases your responsibilities... know that if you sometimes feel that your work is not sufficiently appreciated, know that Jesus is following you with love and the whole Church is grateful to you!

The Congress was absolutely a significant experience that will support the consecrated men and women engaged in the ministry of formation to live the present with passion and to embrace the future with hope. (Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis to all consecrated people)

I came home from the congress inspired by the parting message given by the Prefect and Secretary of CIVCSVA:

Dear Formators, the Church loves you, appreciates you and prays for you. Without your service consecrated life could not exist, or would have an uncertain future. Without your patience and your discernment Gods people might see no more that path to light, that is able to shine in a passing world, a world transfigured by the Beatitudes.

Sr. Cynthia with Sr. Nieves Reboso, FMA, Councilor for Formation (right) and Sr. Maria Fisichella, FMA, collaborator for Formation (left) at St. Peters Square

January 2015 - April 2016 FMA Lifeline

4 FMA Lifeline January 2015 - April 2016

Reflections of Sr. Gloria Agagon, FMAIndeed, the Holy Spirit is truly inspiring and guiding our Institute towards sanctity. The initiative of our beloved La Madre, Mother Yvonne Reungoat, FMA is a concrete sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Her proposal for the whole Institute to celebrate August 5th this year, (the year for consecrated life and the bicentennial of the birth of Saint John Bosco) is very significant: renewing our religious profession together and the re-bestowing of our Constitutions in the presence of the educating community and of representatives of the Salesian family.

Mother Generals proposal of these two gestures have re-awakened in each one of us the desire to renew the joy of our Salesian vocation, to commit ourselves anew in joyful fidelity and gratitude, to be today Don Boscos living monuments of gratitude to Mary Help of Christians.

Thank you, dear Mother Yvonne, for having shared with us the Holy Spirits inspiration. Evviva Don Bosco e Madre Mazzarello!

Let us love the Constitutions as the pact of our covenant with God, sure guide to holiness and the plan of life that directs and sustains our will to fulfil our vocation (FMA Constitutions #173).

Reflections of Sr. Ernielyn Deypalan, FMAIn my 14 years of FMA religious life, I have always looked forward to the renewal of our vows yearly as a Junior Sister and finally when I made my Perpetual Profession. The monthly exercise of a happy death also enables me to joyfully repeat and proclaim the vows that I have committed myself to for life.

This years meaningful ritual of renewing our FMA vows with the presence of the educating community was indeed a special moment of personal and community renewal. It was a response to the invitation of La Madre for the whole Institute. The ceremony proved prophetic for all those who came to witness the moment!

It was heart-warming and inspiring to see representatives from all the sectors of our educating community, witness for the first time, the renewal of vows of the Sisters. The celebration of Institute Day was done annually but this time, they saw and heard the Sisters recite their vows and receive the FMA Constitutions from the hands of either the FMA community animator or Mother Provincial. In our case, since Mother Provincial, Sr. Mabel Pilar was present during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, she was the one who re-bestowed to us the Constitutions.

Because of this, that simple ceremony became a special moment. It became an encounter between the members of a family which gathers in faith and is bound by love. The encounter celebrated the FMAs gift-presence to the Church, to the society and to the educating community. As the animating nucleus of the Educating Community, it is because of the FMA that the parents and students come to choose this school over the many others that are more accessible and less demanding in discipline and academics. It is because of the FMAs guidance and friendship that teachers, staff and support personnel choose to stay on their jobs in this school inspite of many other more lucrative offers. They have told us so. They appreciate the formation they have received while journeying with us. They value the Salesian traditions and values we uphold for this generation and the next; for the young and the adults. And we are humbled by their gratitude and affirmation. We are also challenged to be more credible witnesses of Christ our Spouse in our daily activities, in our lifestyle and in our relationships. So many people rely on us to be the role models for the youth and adults who care for them; to point the way to Jesus and to be a relevant response to our societal issues today. So many souls count on us to teach them, enlighten them and accompany them on their journey especially in making life-choices. So many families look to us to form a community that nourish relationships and is capable of forgiveness, understanding and healing hurts.

As an FMA community, we prayed, Thank you for this gift, Lord. May we be faithful to our vocation and may we continue to be joyful bearers of the charism handed down to us by Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello.

Reflections of Sr. Leila Montero, FMAAs a Junior Sister, I truly felt that the re-bestowing of the FMA Constitutions in the presence of the members of the educating community was an expression of our great love for Don Bosco, as he himself told us: If you have loved me in the past, continue to love me with the exact observance of our Constitutions. (Spiritual Testament) It was indeed a moment of joy and witnessing to our young people. I also recalled the words of Mother Mazzarello to the first Sisters in Mornese: See, we have a treasure in this rule that Don Bosco has given us. Herein are indicated all the means to become saints, and, if we practice it well, we are sure to go to heaven. Now we have printed it, but what matters is that it is printed in our hearts; that we learn to know and understand it well, and above all, to love it and practice it! This is what is important. And we must try to do all that is possible to penetrate its spirit well (Maccono). Indeed, we have received a beautiful gift from Don Bosco. A gift wrapped not only with joy but with responsibility and duty to incarnate it in our life.

5Reflections of Sr. Shane Orpilla, FMAThe rebestowing of our Constitutions last August 5 was a time of solemn renewal of my commitment to authentically live our rule of life. As a young FMA it challenged me to be more docile in deepening and giving witness to a life lived for God just by living my life with consistency as a real daughter of our dear founders Mother Mazzarello and Don Bosco. It was a time of witnessing together as an FMA community to the educating community and the Salesian Family. When we were renewing our vows and receiving our Constitutions in front of them, they became our witnesses and so we are assured of their support and prayers for us.

Reflections of Sr. Linda A. Villanueva, FMAMy heart overflows with gratitude to God for the gift of the Institute as the instrument of Gods manifold love in my journey as an FMA. It re-enkindled my commitment to make of my life an act of love by making alive the spirit of Valdocco and Mornese in the community where I am and with the young entrusted to our care as we journey towards sanctity.O qual sorte siamo figlie di Don Bosco!

Reflections of Sr. Teresita Mislang, FMAReceiving again the FMA Constitutions renewed my ardent faith in Jesus. He had led me to embrace this covenant of love on thr day of my religious profession. Now with greater awareness, I bring the Constitutions home to my heart and to my life. It invites me to ponder daily on His Word and to partake of His Eucharist. No other precious gift do I desire! With Mary Most Holy, I journey with hope and joy to glorifying the Father and helping young people.

Reflections of Sr. Alicia S. Fulgencio, FMAFaithful to the directives of La Madre to celebrate the 143rd foundation of the Institute in a meaningful way, the FMA in Port Moresby received their FMA Constitutions anew within the Eucharistic celebration - as did the FMA the world over.August 5 is a very special day which called for this very special celebration. Fr. Peter Baquero, SDB, presider of the Holy Mass, encouraged the Sisters to be faithful to their vocation and to the Salesian charism and thanked them for the mission among the young especially those studying at Don Bosco Technological Institute.

The Holy Mass was followed by an agape with Fr. Peter and the boarders. The celebration culminated with a presentation from the boarders which they lovingly dedicated to the Sisters.Receiving the constitutions once more reminded me of my first yes that was meant forever. Wherever I am, whoever I am with and whatever I do, I am convinced of my identity: I am a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians; Don Boscos living monument of gratitude to Mary. I will remain as such; joyfully serving the Lord in, with and for the young till my last breath.

Reflections of Sr. Princess Mae Ortiz (novice)The August 5, 2015 event was for us a unique and wonderful experience of belonging to the Institute. It was a day of remembering, of celebration, of gratitude, that inspired and moved us to a deeper commitment to our journey of formation.The wonder and uniqueness of the experience sprung from the activity celebrated with the whole educating community of Mary Help of Christians College. All were present from the youngest to the eldest members. There were joyful music and dance from the Eucharistic Celebration to the program prepared by the teachers and the students. It was amazing how the students were able to creatively present the history of the Institute and how it grew and bore fruit in the Philippine soil.It has also been an invitation for us to look back at the past and remember the humble beginnings of our Institute and marvel at how the Lord worked in the lives of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. As we recounted this historical event, we cannot but be filled with gratitude to the Lord for the gift of the Institute to the Church and to the young. It was a day of celebration for the fidelity of God expressed through the self-giving of our Sisters. Their floral offering during the Mass was heart-warming because it reminded us of their self-offering to God with and through the help of our Blessed Mother. As we assisted our Sisters, we too, felt like we are also offering ourselves to God. The Sisters renewal of profession made us admire them for choosing to commit themselves to continue the mission entrusted to Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello with their fruitful and creative fidelity. As we witnessed the Sisters receive the Constitutions once again, we were reminded of Gods love by means of giving us a Rule of life through which we are assured of our way to holiness. We saw and felt from the smiles of our Sisters, the joy in their hearts in their renewed commitment to their covenant of love with God. For us Novices, we were once more invited to be faithful in our daily efforts of studying and assimilating the Constitutions so that we may begin to live it even before we profess. The entire experience had drawn from us the disposition of being grateful that we are called to belong to a vast family - Don Boscos sign of gratitude to Our Lady. We had come to a greater awareness of the joy of belonging to the Institute and found in our hearts the renewed commitment to take each day of our formative journey seriously, in preparation for the noble mission that was handed on to us by our founders. That by our cooperation towards our formation, we may be authentic FMA in the future, continuing and living out the mission, the life and the spirit of Mornese. May we too, be signs and expressions of Gods love who continuously and constantly bless the Institute.


6The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of

Christians, from 15,000 FMA more than a decade ago, to just

about 12,000 at present, has faced and continues to face the reality of

aging with a positive outlook and with concrete formative systematic

accompaniment of the FMA.

Aging is a new and unprecedented experience for the Institute; it is the first

time in fact in 2008, that the FMA General Chapter XXIII discussed the topic lengthily,

dealt with this reality and provided space for sharing experiences and best practices. Faced with the challenge of aging that affects not only the life of the Institute (people, structures, methods of carrying out our mission), but also characterizes the social context of which we are part, we have questioned ourselves about how to handle this situation with a Gospel heart and how to live this situation, at every age with ever new enthusiasm, with the passion of da mihi animas and the trust handed on to us in the words I entrust them to you. (Fully Alive for all our Years in a Community for All Ages, Rome 2010, #5)

Our charism, being the gift of the Holy Spirit, is not conditioned by age. It needs all the gifts of every color and shade. The fruitfulness of Da mihi animas is not related to physical energy, but is proportionate to the energy of love. The words of Don Bosco you will add the colors allows us to conclude that at any age we can contribute to the sketch drawn by the Founder. (Fully Alive for All our Years in a Community for All Ages, Rome 2010 topic 17)

The challenge of ageing is linked to other important aspects of life which require attention in the Institute: formation, vocation pastoral and evangelization of youth. It is not easy to face the reality of ageing and other aspects linked to it, but our congregation is bold enough to accept and face them so that the joyful and creative self-giving of every FMA at any age may be fruitful.

There is no need to fear growing old. As St. John the XXIII said, When the body gets worn out, the soul gets in shape. St. John Paul II affirmed, Elderly people help us to see human affairs with greater wisdom, because lifes vicissitudes have brought them knowledge and maturity. They are the guardians of our collective memory, and thus the privileged interpreters of that body of ideals and common values which support and guide life in society. Pope Francis also challenges us, Let us give this wisdom to young people. Like good wine, it becomes better with age. Let us give to young people the wisdom of life. (March 13, 2013, audience with the College of Cardinals)

Our Institute through the Formation team, has provided various seminars on the Third Age in the different continents. In our province, ongoing formation encounters of all the Sisters were done systematically and divided into four stages: Early Adulthood (30-45 years old), Middle Adulthood (46-65 years old), Later Adulthood (66 years old and above) and period of initial formation (Aspirantate, Postulancy and Novitiate). Reflections, formation sessions, encounters, sharings by stage and mixed stages were done to better understand our realities and to enable intergenerational accompaniment.

We are grateful for the ongoing formation provided to us by our Institute and our Province. We pray that the Grow old graciously adage may not simply remain as such but may truly be reflected in our lives. Surely, when an FMA grows old graciously, vocations will flourish Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarellos work for the young will continue till the next generation and beyond.

Inspite the alarming decline in number, we are confident of our Institutes bright and fruitful future, for we are all in good hands in Gods hands. Borrowing the words of St. Augustine we pray, Father, we entrust the past to your mercy, the present to your love and the future to your providence. Amen.

by Sr. Ann Lyn Rose D. Magno, FMA

FMA Lifeline January 2015 - April 2016


Her RootsHer papa of the Cinco-Tuason clan, was the eldest son of a former governor of Catbalogan, Samar , whose lineage are said to be the founding fathers of the towns in Catbalogan. Her mama was the daughter of a renowned judge of the prominent Munoz clan of Calbayog, Samar.

Sr. Violeta Tuason is the sixth of the nine children, six boys and two girls. Her father, a very enterprising and entrepreneurial manager of the abaca and mining businesses of the very rich and influential Elizaldes of the early 1900s, had always provided them everything and had given them a very comfortable life. She grew up meeting the children of highly regarded businessmen, both foreign and local. Thus, she became fluent in speaking English at an early age because her playmates were mostly Americans. At home they were encouraged to speak Waray but English became her primary language.

A Life of Comfort, Struggles and ExodusShe literally did not experience hardships in life until the outbreak of the second World War in 1941. Inconveniences and fear pushed the family to leave for Manila to secure the safety of the eldest child who was then studying at St. Scholasticas Academy. They reached Manila after fifteen days on the sea as their boat had to hide to evade bombings and other threats. They found her sister safe with their relatives. They rented out a relatives house in Sta. Mesa, Manila and from then on did not go back anymore to Samar.

Life After the WarShe was educated in the school of the German Benedictine Sisters in her earlier years and later in the school of the Dominicans at Colegio de Jesus Maria. Since she loved to teach, she gave tutorials while finishing her studies. At one time, she had German, American and Spaniard tutees. Her being very fluent in English and Spanish made her a sought-after tutor of children coming from affluent families (She always got 99% grade for Spanish). She would always take time to teach catechesis to young people in their parish in San Juan.

She was a teacher at Istituto de Mujeres, St. Johns in San Juan and Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong. Here she one of the pioneer teachers. In Don Bosco, she learned the value of going to Mass everyday. Little did she know, God was preparing her for an unexpected challenge.

A Wake Up InvitationShe and her co-teachers loved the educational system of Don Bosco and even joked the Salesian priests that if there were Don Bosco Sisters, they would definitely become join them. It was only then that Fr. Pierangelo Quaranta introduced them to the Salesian Sisters. One time, after the Saturday morning meeting in Don Bosco, instead of going to the movies, she and some of her colleagues went to Holy Trinity Academy in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila and there they met Mother Erminia Borzini, FMA, one of the first FMA missionaries to the Philippines. Each one was given a moment for a personal talk with Mother Erminia but among the group, she was the one whom Mother Erminia talked to the longest. The kind sister invited her to frequently come over every Saturday for a hands-on experience of the Sisters apostolate. A fan of the movies, her Saturday movie house attendance was almost perfect until she came to frequent the convent of the FMA in Balic-Balic.

Irrevocable DecisionExperiencing the apostolate of the Sisters, she realized, God wants me to do something that I will be better off rather than staying at home doing nothing. She had always dreamt of becoming a missionary to Africa. She shared to her mother her desire of entering the convent. Although saddened, the mother could not help but consult her father who was totally devastated and furiously angry. He could not imagine his daughter working for nothing and regarded it as a crazy idea. You dont need to work. You have everything here. You are well provided with more than what you need. She was not used to work, and did not even wash a handkerchief. Her father would discourage her and tell her, You dont know how to work: to wash clothes, to wash dishes, to scrub the floor, etc. Her answer to all these was, I will learn.

Life as an FMAInspite of resistance from her father, she entered the convent. After religious profession in 1964 she served several communities as teacher, assistant of the students and boarders and principal. Her formula for her self formation and educative intervention among the young and the lay mission partners was: Discipline + Attentive listening = knowledge. Without

discipline, we cannot acquire knowledge. She has lived a life of discipline, generosity and creative and joyful self-giving.

Community life, the sacraments and the young especially the poor had given her so much joy for the past years. For her, the beauty and joy of Salesian consecrated life is being able to do everything for Jesus inspite difficulties and challenges.

Her dream to go to the missions in Africa was not realized but she intensely lived the missionary ardor wherever she worked. In whatever task she was assigned to, she always revealed herself as an educator. Though still wanting to give herself actively, some sickness have prevented her from doing so. Not being able to do the usual things she used to do when she was younger, her daily prayers, acts of generosity in the community and prophetic witnessing to aging graciously are her new contributions to the life of the Province. Although she describes herself as a poor gift to Jesus, she has not regretted any single day of her life in the convent. She has indeed learned to live a life of joyful sacrifice and self giving.

In 2014 she celebrated her 50th year of profession. She never stopped learning from the time she entered the convent and believes that she still has many things to learn particularly in creatively giving herself in joyful service to Jesus at her advanced age.

She has left her life of comfort but is immensely grateful to the Lord for giving her the joy to live a life of service.


8Forever Young for the Young

She just turned 80 last December 21, 2015 but advanced age could not catch up with Sr. Yolanda Bati, FMA (Sr. Yoly as we fondly call her), who until now is an epitome of a joyful, gentle, creative and kindred FMA spirit. She is a chemist and a teacher by profession when she entered the FMA convent in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila in 1960.

Still beautifully glowing, she had her 50th anniversary of religious profession last 2014. She has always remained forever young for the young.

A normal and happy childhoodHer childhood is one filled with happy memories. Even the war was not able to dampen her free spirit. She had never seen any violence during the war as her parents made sure that their children were spared from its horrors. She grew up happy, carefree and normal. With a mischievous yet loving and protective elder brother like Kuya Ogie (who died in 1997), she almost always got into trouble with him. In exchange for five centavos, her Kuya Ogie would ask her to challenge boys to a fistfight which she would always gladly oblige. Fortunately and proudly, she would always win. Had her mother not received complaints from parents who would present to her their crying sons, she would have developed her boxing talent and would have earned much from the bribes of Kuya Ogie. Whenever she and her brother promised not to do a particular mischief, they would honor their word but immediately after, they would think up a new one. They would sneak in at movie houses, clinging on the back pockets of adults and pretending they were family. Their frequent free movie escapades were put to a stop when the guards recognized their faces and realized that none of those adults were their relatives. They used to call her one of the boys as she gamely joined the boys games. They loved to crawl on sand, roll over grasses and climb trees play-acting like super heroes. She fondly recalled the shared scolding she and her brother would always receive

particularly from their mother. One day she decided to play a girls game and delicately carried her baby brother Imo (Fr. Remo Bati, SDB) imagining he was her doll. She confidently carried her brother down the stairs. One step was all she could do and suddenly, she tripped off and lost grip of her brother who came tumbling down the stairs. She got the biggest scolding and spanking from her mother who panicked at the sight of her baby falling down the stairs. She was so afraid and sincerely sorry for what she did and promised her mother to be extra careful and protective of her brother, who miraculously, survived the tragedy unscathed. On hindsight, with a witty grin she said, It must be the reason why Fr. Remo is so intelligent. I must have awakened his brain cells when I accidentally dropped him at the stairs.

The Radical ChoiceShe grew up to be a fine young lady: reserved, well-mannered and with finesse without a trace of her mischievous past. She was a stunner with an exquisite beauty and superior intelligence. One can pass her for a beauty queen. She took up chemical engineering at Mapa Institute of Technology. She developed a very good friendship with her classmate Concepcion Ayuyao from Leyte, who, aside from being an excellent student, is the schools cover girl and who, later on, also became an FMA. After graduation, she took up the licensure exams for Chemical Engineers and while waiting for the results, took up Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She is a licensed chemical engineer and teacher. Her brother, Fr. Remo was then a seminarian in Don Bosco Canlubang, Laguna. While she, Kuya Ogie and her parents visited him often, she had the chance of encountering the Salesian Sisters and her desire for religious life was roused.

The Educator-InspirerSr. Yoly is a teacher totally dedicated to the educational mission. The young people from Samoa, Hongkong, Mary Help of Christians College - Canlubang, Don Bosco School Manila and Mary Help of Christians School - Pampanga consider themselves honored and privileged to be her students. Whilst a good number of young people have a

natural dislike for Chemistry because it is obviously a difficult subject, her students look forward to their chemistry class because Sr. Yoly makes her chemistry classes very interesting to the point of inspiring many of them to take up Chemical Engineering or Bachelor of Science major in Chemistry. She had a way of making the young people appreciate and love God in Science and Chemistry. She instilled great discipline among the young and encouraged them at all times to do their best.

The FMA ChemistShe was a chemist before she became an FMA but for Sr. Yoly I am an FMA who happens to be a chemist. Her FMA religious identity has set her paths straight. She is always in awe and wonder at molecules and could make very deep reflections on water and its chemical components. In all these 51 years of her religious life, she had been deeply in love with the God who makes all science possible.

A Sister Among Her SistersShe always bring a note of joy to the community. There is no dull moment with her as she can talk about anything under the sun. She is non-threatening, unassuming, always cordial, prudent, kind, creative, generous, transparent, simple and child-like.

The New FrontierDifficulty in catching up with the voluminous documentary requirements of teaching, she has found new ways of giving herself creatively to the mission. She has gone to the different school communities to check and help improve the chemistry and physics laboratories. She makes virgin coconut oil for physical healing and formulates handwashing and dishwashing liquids, hand soap, fabric conditioners, shampoo, perfume, deodorants, healing balms and more.

There are many creative ways of loving God and her new frontier is her expression of this love. Everyday she is excited to wake up and meet God in her new mission, her new sanctification. She has indeed never waned in her love for God. Forever, for always, she will remain in love.



9Altar of OfferingConfined to bed due to multiple strokes and

is unable to move most parts of her body, Sr. Silvia Asico, FMA keeps a joyful disposition and a kindred spirit. Far from her mobile and agile self, her unwanted but accepted situation is her altar of offering. She may have lost her mobility but not her FMA identity. She is fully aware that she is called to live her consecration in creative fidelity. She does not waste her time wallowing up in self pity. Instead, she keeps herself abreast with La Madres circulars, the Popes encyclicals, news and concerns of our Province and our Institute and local, national and international news that need intense prayers and sacrifices. I have lots of moments to pray. I am an FMA prayer warrior and I live my remaining days as such, begging the Lord for many intentions and thanking Him for many answered prayers.

Her RootsBorn from hardworking, industrious, business-

minded and landed parents from Jaro, Iloilo, she lived a good life far from discomforts. She is the eldest of five children who are all girls. While her other siblings took up medical courses, she took up a course in music at the Sta. Isabel College in Manila. She wanted to take up nursing because of her desire to help other people and she liked to wear the nursing cap, but her parents discouraged her from taking the course. They could not imagine her at the beck and call of other people while at home she lived like a princess. Her parents prevailed over her but her decision to serve others had never waned.

From Musician to being a SalesianGifted with an exceptional musical talent, she

taught music at Sagrado Corazon, saving up for her eventual entrance to the convent. She continued to hone her skills and rendered her service of playing the piano during masses at the Immaculate Conception church in La Paz, Iloilo. With the help of a Redemptorist priest, Fr. Korr, she was secretly brought to Victorias, Negros Occidental to meet the Salesian Sisters. She had been to different congregations for search-in but her encounter with the Salesian Sisters especially Sr. Giuseppina Gallo, FMA one of the first FMA missionaries to the Philippines and the Superior of St. Mary Mazzarello School, Victorias, left an ineffaceable mark in her heart, thus, made her decide to be an FMA. Sr. Giuseppinas kindness, amiability, gentleness and joyful disposition had won her.

The Defiant Opposition

As expected, her parents did not grant her permission to enter the convent since, as the eldest, they were expecting her to run their businesses and look after their properties. They bribed her with many perks, offers and work but to work in Gods vineyard is far more enticing. Inspite of defiant opposition, she entered the convent. During her years of formation, she was given cold shoulders by her parents, but eventually, seeing her happy and contented, they supported her.

Creativity for the YoungLife in the convent was not

easy for her. What can one expect from somebody who grew up with a silver spoon? Yet, everyday, she learned to offer the menial jobs from scrubbing the floor to washing clothes as her expressions of love for God. When one loves, nothing is difficult. There is no clear-cut method of loving God. It is lived and renewed day by day. After making her profession in Hongkong, she was sent back to the Philippines and was assigned in Tondo. I was begging the Lord not to assign me in Tondo, Manila because I had a sensitive smell. I did not like foul smelling places but at that time, God purified my motivations and showed me what real service really was. She had the best time of her life in Tondo. She guided the first communicants, taught catechism and music lessons, handled the rondalla group of the parish and immersed herself amidst the young. She learned how to cook and from then on, used her creative energies to cook various meals for the children and young people. The fruits of her work in Tondo include among others, Sr. Runita Borja, FMA, who is now the FMA General Councilor for Youth


Ministry, who was once a member of her rondalla group and Fr. Ramon Borja, SDB (brother of Sr. Runita) who is now a Provincial Councilor of the SDB FIN Province and the Rector of Don Bosco Academy, Pampanga whom she had painstakingly followed up, seeing his potential.

The Beauty and Joy of Salesian Consecrated Life

She takes pride in her batchmate, the current Mother General Yvonne Reungoat, FMA. In 2015, she celebrated her 50th year as a religious and thanked God for letting her and her batchmates remain faithful to Him amidst countless difficulties.

For her, the beauty and joy of the Salesian life springs from faith. Without faith ones self-giving is empty, meaningless and fruitless. She has high hopes that the FMA and the future FMA will continue to joyfully transmit Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarellos legacy of youthful holiness.

An Ode of Joy The way she lived her Salesian

consecrated life is far from perfect. She likened herself to a musical piece. Sometimes she was sharp, flat, syncopated, out of rhythm and even out of tune. Yet she has tried to create harmony in her community and among the young. She asks pardon for her misgivings and her moments of being unloving and uncaring.

She wanted to spend the remaining days of her life creating a beautiful and melodious musical masterpiece an ode of joy to the Lord.


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Her Early Life

The second of three siblings, Sr. Rufina M. Garcia, FMA was lavished by her parents with affection, care and attention. Her elder brother died a week after he was born due to sickness. Thus, she grew up with her youngest brother. At the age of six years old, her mother died after a lingering illness, leaving the father distressed. A year after, her father who was then 45 years old, re-married and had six children with his new wife.

She was blessed to have a good stepmother, however, from second year high school to the time she entered the convent (44 days short of her 21st birthday) she stayed with her grandmother and her aunt who formed her to values and refinement.

Originally from Taal, Batangas, the family moved to Dipolog, Zamboanga where her

father opened a business. From Grade 2 to Grade 6 she was enrolled at the St. Marys Academy under the Religious of the Virgin Mary. After four years in Dipolog, the family moved back to Taal, Batangas where she continued her studies at Our Lady of Caysasay Academy, this time, under the Benedictine Sisters.

The Response to Gods Call

She felt the call to become a religious when she was in second year high school. Sr. Clarita, a German Benedictine, her piano teacher, was the first to know of her desire and accompanied her in her search for Gods will.

After highschool, she took up a two-year teaching course and after being qualified, the Benedictine Sisters took her as a grade school teacher. Her co-teacher, an alumnus of the Benedictine Sisters and who previously taught at the Holy Trinity Academy in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc had been instrumental in her encounter with the Salesian Sisters. The moment she met the Sisters especially Sr. Erminia Borzini, one of the first FMA missionaries to the Philippines, she immediately felt a very strong call to become a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians.

She entered the convent on October 2, 1960 and professed on August 5, 1965. Three days after her entrance, her father came all the way from Dipolog to Canlubang, Laguna with the intention of bringing her home, by force if necessary. The Superior welcomed her father with an amiable smile and kissed his hand as a gesture of respect and humility. That gesture had won his father who consented to her decision.

An Educator at Heart

After her profession in Hongkong, she was sent back to the Philippines and was assigned in the numerous houses in the Province as teacher and as principal. She was also sent to Macau for four years, Korea for one year and Timor for six months to teach English to our Sisters, formands and students. In any task assigned to her, she gave her best because she was convinced that that was her way of showing her loving fidelity to Jesus.

A Turning Point

In 1996, she was given the permission by the FMA ProvincIn 1996, she was given the permission by the FMA Provincial to try the contemplative life at Carmel of St. Joseph in Lucena City. She was a Carmelite novice for almost 3 months. She felt the call to live a more austere ascetic life but through her Superiors in Carmel, she was made to realize that it was not Gods will for her. Her experience strengthened her love for her Salesian vocation. It was a turning point in her spiritual journey and reaffirmed Gods choice of her to be forever an FMA.

A Time for Slowing Down

Diabetes and multiple operations slowed her down but did not stop her from giving herself in service to the Lord. As long as health and strength permits, she will continue to teach in whatever school or ambient she is assigned to. It seems that age has not taken a toll on her. She is an educator at heart, and though the challenge of the digital age has delayed her once efficient work, nothing has stopped her from teaching.

A Yes Forever

In 2015 she celebrated her 50th year of profession. She prayed, Lord, all these years You have been my loving companion, supporting and encouraging me all along the way. Your fidelity has never wavered. You have always loved me all the time in my moments of fervor as well as in times of uncertainties, discouragements and infidelities. You keep on sustaining my desire to always be with you. Yes, Lord, I want to be faithful to You till You call me finally to Yourself. With my lamp burning, I am waiting.



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One of you is David! These were the words of Sr. Kathleen Taylor, FMA, former visiting councilor to the FMA Philippines-PNG Province (alluding to the young shepherd boy anointed by God to lead His people) during the discernment process before the consultation for the new Provincial.

Sr. Mabel Rosales Pilar, FMA is the third of the five children of Urbano and Evelyn Pilar. Both parents hail from Marinduque. All the children except one, studied at the Holy Trinity Academy (then administered by the Salesian Sisters) in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila.

After high school she entered the convent and professed on May 24, 1990. Her sister Melanie followed in her footsteps and at present is the animator of Casa Immacolata Aspirantate in Canlubang, Laguna.

Sr. Mabel was assigned in the numerous houses of the Province as teacher, assistant of the aspirants, postulants and novices, community councilor, vicar, animator, provincial councilor and provincial vicar from 2009-2015.

Just as David was chosen by God not for his own pleasure, but because He had a great plan for his life, so is Sr. Mabel chosen for the ministry of animation and service in the FMA Philippines-PNG Province. We are very confident that God will work wonders through her. We pray that like David, every day she may grow to be a person after Gods own heart. She may be young, but God saw her heart wise enough to lead and set an example of total fidelity to Gods will.

We will support our David all the way, that Gods marvelous designs for every member of the Provincial Educating Community may be realized.


Sr. Mabel with her family

Sr. Sarah B. Garcia, FMA, outgoing Provincial Superior prays over her successor, Sr. Mabel R. Pilar, FMA


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Twenty-three courageous young ladies who are in discernment participated in the Vocation Camp held last March 20 23, 2016 at the Mother Morano community, Parang, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro with the theme: For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

- Jeremiah 29:11

The said camp was prepared by the Vocation Ministry Team headed by Sr. Florita Dimayuga. The Sisters, notwithstanding the busy schedule during the year, managed to prepare the activities well and designed the whole experience to be suited to the participants to make it more meaningful and fruitful.

The first day of the camp led the participants to enter into a moment of silence in order to help them come home into their inner selves. They also deepened the various experiences of Gods call as experienced by selected personages from the Old and New Testament. Participants shared how they were deeply touched to see the beauty as well as the mystery of such an experience. This was followed by a challenging and moving encounter with Mother Provincial, Sr. Mabel Pilar. Her personal vocation story inspired the participants to make themselves open to the experience of their own calling. Towards the evening there was a simple yet joyful atmosphere for the festival night. It was like a family celebration where everybody enjoyed the presence of each one.

On the second day of the camp the participants got up early for a special prayer experience by the sea. The beautiful and shimmering sunrise added to the solemnity of the prayer experience of the participants who deepened the call of the first four disciples using the Ignatian method of contemplation. It was a moving experience for all as each one personally relived the first experience of her own call. The group then gathered for the solemn Eucharistic celebration by Fr. Edwin Semilla, a diocesan priest from Mindoro, who challenged them to respond to Gods call by accepting the Giver of the gifts each one has received.

The seashore experience was followed by a missionary-immersion activity with one of the indigenous tribes of Mindoro called the Mangyan whom the FMA are also serving. Because they live in the mountains, they do not receive good education and social services from the government. It was an eye-opener for the participants, who expressed that they were all the more inspired to be missionaries like the FMA, to bring Jesus to people who are at the margins of society. The day ended with ample moments for group prayer and personal reflection under the moonlight and the stars, and with the fresh countryside air. The highlight of the night was a candle-light banquet, wherein each vocation prospect was called by name as she entered the hall.

The last day of the camp started with a shared morning prayer. Mixed sentiments of joy and wonder, fear and courage filled the place. As each one spoke, one could not but give utmost reverence as they shared about Gods life-changing invitation for them. This last day helped the participants discern and make their commitment. They were challenged and assured that when they commit their life to God, the joy of belonging to Him will change their life entirely. As the camp concluded with a Holy Mass, each participant was given a rosary-bracelet souvenir and was assured that their intentions will always be remembered by the Sisters. They were also reminded to take on the Blessed Virgin Mary as their guide and model in following Christ.

The camp has ended, but for the participants, the journey of a deeper relationship with Christ is just beginning. To Mary, the Mother of Vocations, we entrust their journey. May they truly discover the beauty of a life totally given to God.

by Sr. Eustacia A. Mendoza, FMA


13 FMA Lifeline

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The Acts of the General Chapter XXIII was passionately transmitted to the

FMA Philippines-PNG Province by Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA (FMA Philippines- PNG Provincial Superior) and Sr. Florita Dimayuga, FMA (FMA Philippines- PNG Delegate).

They explained the meaning of the theme Broaden Your Vision! With Young People Missionaries of Hope and of Joy, as our commitment to give our lives and our educating communities, wide horizons, cultivating a more passionate living of the da mihi animas cetera tolle.

Like the young, we too have tried to open our eyes and our hearts to hope, allowing ourselves to be transformed by our encounter with Jesus and reviving the joy of proclaiming the Gospel with the young. They are protagonists with us in the Church as missionaries going forth who challenge us to pastoral conversion.

A Church that makes its missionary commitment a concrete reason for its loyalty to Christ is the great horizon in which to broaden our vision in order to give our lives as consecrated educators the dynamism of depth and radicality that make us prophetic today.


The role of local communities was emphasized saying that the Chapter will bear fruit in the measure in which it is lived in the local communities where the charism develops, enters into history and changes life and everyday actions.

Mother General Yvonne Reungoat invites Provincial and local communities to accept the Chapter deliberations, and with new wisdom and creativity, commit themselves to building, together with the young, houses that evangelize, create Gospel spaces, where Jesus is at the center, where the Word and the Bread transform life and nourish the commitment to go out to the human outskirts, especially the educational margins.

She assures that the life of the FMA will have an impact on others and be vocationally fruitful on the condition that

we widen the gaze of our heart to perceive the deep need for God that arises from the young whom we encounter every day on our journey and we know how to be available to find evangelical responses together.

Finally, Mother General exhorts us to take Mary home with renewed filial affection, allowing ourselves to be guided by her maternal presence, always quick to find paths to communion, to joy, and to hope, like those who are little and who are poor.


July 4, 2015 - Day of Spirituality for FMA north cluster held at Don Bosco School, Manila


The FMA General Council (based in Rome, Italy) - (from left) Sr. Sylvia Boullosa, Sr. Chantal Mukase Ruzagiriza, Sr. Phyllis Neves, Sr. Maria Helena Moreira, Sr. Marija Pee, Sr. Vilma Tallone, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Sr Maria Nieves Reboso Padrn, Sr. Paola Battagliola, Sr. Piera Cavagli, Sr. Runita Borja, Sr. Maria Luisa Miranda, Sr. Lucy Rose Ozhukayil, Sr. Maria Assunta Inoue Sumiko and Sr. Alaide Deretti

She is the first Filipina FMA in the General Council appointed by Mother General Yvonne

Reungoat last February 2015 as the new General Councilor for Youth Ministry. She has been the Salesian Youth Movement coordinator of the FMA Philippines-PNG Province for several years before she left for Italy in the year 2000. She was sent to Casa Generalizia in Rome to assist the then FMA General Councilor for Youth Ministry, Sr. Maria Carmen Canales, FMA, who served two six-year terms.

In her short visit to the Province, she gave the FMA Philippines-PNG a glimpse of the Institutes six-year program. It was an opportune moment for her to meet the Sisters, who gathered together on May 14, 2015 at the Mornese Center of Spirituality, Pansol, Calamba, Laguna during the thanksgiving celebration in honor of Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA for her service of animation in the Province as Provincial Superior from 2010-2015.

Sr. Runita was also able to meet the Provincial Youth Ministry Team to present the six-year Youth Ministry program of the Institute.

We pray that our humble, unassuming, committed, dedicated, and kind-hearted Sr. Runita will continue to work with passion and zeal in the responsibility given to her for the good of the Institute and the many young people entrusted to her care. May Our Blessed Lady, the Help of Christians keep her always firmly committed to Her Son, Jesus, that through her service of animation as General Councilor for Youth Ministry, many young women in all the FMA presences around the world will be inspired to give their lives in total commitment as Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Sr. Runita with some Sisters after her presentation of the Institutes six-year program

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Enthronement of Mary Help of Christians at the Manila CathedralBy Sr. Ann Lyn Rose D. Magno, FMA

When the statue of Mary Help of Christians arrived mid morning at the Manila Cathedral after a motorcade from the Mary Help of Christians Shrine in Paranaque on February 20, 2016, church bells rang and the Salesian Family gave an enthusiastic and nostalgic welcome to our Mother.

Fr. Remo Bati, SDB, rector of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians shared a historical narrative regarding the celebration and here is an excerpt of his narration:

Pope Pius XI appointed Bishop Willam Piani, SDB as Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines on Feb. 17, 1922 and remained in office until 1948. According to Bishop Louis Morrow, SDB, (Bishop Pianis secretary,) Bishop Piani established the Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) in many parishes. Thus, many parishes took Mary Help of Christians as their secondary patroness. Bishop Piani, in coordination with the Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Michael O Doherty (1916-1949) enthroned a statue of Mary Help of Christians (MHC) for veneration at the Manila Cathedral. The first chapel facing its main altar was dedicated and named after Her. In 1942, due to the Japanese occupation, the statue of MHC in Manila Cathedral was brought for safety to Our Lady of Loreto Church, Sampaloc Manila. Later on, when the Parish Church of MHC in Better Living, Paranaque was proclaimed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) as a National Shrine on Aug. 24, 1985, the said statue from Sampaloc was solemnly transferred to Her new Shrine in Better Living in 1994. The side chapel dedicated to Mary Help of Christians missed her presence for the past 73 years. It is for this reason, in view of the Bicentenary of the Liturgical Feast of Mary Help of Christians (1815 -2015 ) that we have requested the Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence, Cardinal Tagle, together with the Rector of the Cathedral, Fr. Reginald Malicdem, the permission to enthrone Mary Help of Christians once again in the chapel dedicated to Her for almost a century already.

The 9:00 am Holy Mass which preceded the enthronement, was presided by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, DD and concelebrated by Fr. Reginald Malicdem and our Salesian priests headed by Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB Provincial Superior of the Salesians in the FIN Province.

Cardinal Tagle thanked the wide and dynamic Salesian family for this homecoming, and encouraged everyone to continue spreading the devotion to Mary Help of Christians.

After the post communion prayer, Fr. Paul thanked Bishop Tagle and Fr. Malicdem for their kind gesture of allowing Our Blessed Mother to come home to Manila Cathedral. Afterwhich, Fr. Bati honored two Don Bosco alumni who made the event possible: Mr. Nolan Angeles (Don Bosco Technical College Mandaluyong) for his effort to help in spreading the devotion to

Mary Help of Christians and for discovering and suggesting to the SDB that our Blessed Mother be enthroned at her chapel at the Manila cathedral and Mr. Tom Joven (Don Bosco Academy Pampanga) for carving the statue of Mary Help of Christians.

After the mass, as the assembly sang O Help of Christians, the statue was solemnly brought in procession to the side chapel dedicated to Her. During the enthronement, Cardinal Tagle led the prayer to Mary Help of Christians composed by St. John Bosco himself.

Members of the Salesian Family were very kind enough to give us, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, some beautiful moments with our mother as we sang before her, O Qual Sorte gratefully, proudly and reverently proclaiming How fortunate we are to be Daughters of Mary Help of Christians!

FMA Lifeline January 2015 - April 2016 The Sisters inside the side chapel of the Manila Cathedral where the statue of Mary Help of Christians was re-enthroned last February 20, 2016.


After the euphoric, historic and meaningful enthronement of Mary Help of Christians at the Manila Cathedral last February 20, 2016, the FMA Philippines-PNG Provincial Educating Community proceeded to the Fr. Blanco Garden at the San Agustin Church for catered lunch.

The Provincial Educating Community Core Group (PECCG) headed by Dra. Nerissa Angeles together with Sr. Maria Josefina Carrasco, Sr. Teresita Padron, Sr. Ailyn Cayanan and Sr. Eustacia Mendoza organized the event. The original plan was supposed to be a pilgrimage of all the educating communities to the Holy Doors of Mercy in designated churches in Manila, as a way of thanking the Lord for the gift of Sr. Mabel and the educating communities. However, it was very opportune that the Salesian family was invited for the enthronement of Mary Help of Christians at the Manila Cathedral. Thus, the three-in-one affair for the day: enthronement of Mary Help of Christians, pilgrimage to the Holy Door at the Manila Cathedral and Gratitude Day for Sr. Mabel.

Sr. Mabel on her part, was very much grateful to God for this day and assured the educating communities that Our Lady is indeed with us and has clearly expressed Her care and tenderness. She reminded us of Don Boscos words, Our Blessed Mother is the real superior of our houses. She entrusted our journey of faith to Our Lady believing that She will continue to lead us to experience Gods infinite love that saves. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, she asked us to open our hearts to personal conversion and spiritual renewal - to ask for forgiveness and to be merciful to others as the Father has been merciful to us. She challenged us to become missionaries of mercy and compassion by concretely and visibly making gestures of kindness, forgiveness and reconciliation with one another and with the marginalized those who have not known mercy. She asked every community to pray one Hail Mary for her everyday, that like Mary she may be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The celebration was simple but meaningful. There were no customary grand performances from the educating communities except from Mary Help of Christians School, Pampanga and Don Bosco School, Manila. Without the colorful costumes, grand presentations, and other frills and thrills, still, our hearts overflowed with immense gratitude to God for the gift of Mary Help of Christians, for the gift of mercy and for the gift of Sr. Mabel to our FMA Philippines-PNG Province.


Members of the educating community at the Porta Sancta of the Manila Cathedral

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As a way of preparing for the grand celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of St. John Bosco, young people from different FMA ambients actively participated at the Bosco Camp organized by the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) held at the Mary Help of Christians College (MHCC)-Salesian Sisters Inc. in Canlubang, Laguna last April 10-12, 2015.

The camp aimed (1) to launch the outbreak of Salesian holiness by a renewed encounter with St. John Bosco and Jesus and Mary, his faithful guides in the journey to holiness, (2) to simulate distinct experiences of Don Bosco in Becchi, Chieri, Turin and Valdocco through an in-depth processing on the Word and the teachings of the Church in order to recommit themselves to assiduously seek and follow Gods loving plan for them and (3) to bring back the Word to the world through a daily commitment of living Jesus and Mary with joy.

All Bosco Camp participants arrived last April 9, 2015. They had the welcome program and opening ritual at the MHCC gymnasium where the participants had some prayerful moments of journeying with Don Bosco, celebrating his bicentenary. Sr. Sarah Garcia (FMA Provincial Superior) was also present to give her inspirational message.

Day 1 April 10: Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo Laguna, presided at the Opening Eucharistic Celebration. It was followed by a talk of Fr. Eligio Cruz (Former SDB Provincial Superior-FIN) on Don Boscos family experience ( joys, pains and struggles). He also integrated some key points from the Synod on Family. After the break, they had a workshop. Then, they were given the joy to visit two oratory centers in Laguna i.e. Casile and Guinting where they had an encounter with oratorian families. They shared lunch and had a sharing on the Word of God, a simple immersion experience, living with families who are on the periphery of the society . Upon their return to their respective campsites, they had processing, sharing and structured community experience. They concluded the day with a bonding after supper.

by Sr. Asela B. Chavez, FMA


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Day 2:

The day started with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Ronnie Urbano, SDB from SYM-SDB FIN. After the Holy Mass, male participants had their Chieri experience with Fr. Favie Faldas, SDB (Rector of Don Bosco College Canlubang, Laguna) and youth facilitators from Sycamore (SYM FIN). On the other hand, the female participants were facilitated by the FMA Salesianity Team: Sr. Rachel Flor, FMA; Sr. Melanie Pilar, FMA; Sr. Christine Maguyon, FMA and Sr. Phebe Lacse, FMA. They had an input and sharing on Discernment/Vocation, different states of life, studies as well as preparation for priesthood and religious life. After lunch, all participants had a short walk going to the gymnasium of Ceris subdivision where they had their Valdocco experience of the festive oratory (i.e. varied games, interesting activities, magic tricks and the like.) Different personages from the Oratory of Don Bosco were also present to mingle with the youth participants. The participants had a meaningful encounter with them.

It was followed by a Turin experience. Sr. Asela Chavez (SYM Marian animator/ADMA FMA Delegate) gave an input regarding the significance of Turin in the life of Don Bosco. The Marian dimension of Salesian Youth Spirituality was deepened in this segment. The campers prayed the rosary while reflecting on the life of Don Bosco vis a vis with their lives during the procession. The day concluded with a barrio fiesta and festival night which delighted everyone. It was truly an experience of Salesian joy!

Day 3: After taking their breakfast, the campers had an Individual Prayer Experience per campsite followed by a Heart-to-heart talk with Youth Protagonists of holiness. The ChrisTV was facilitated by SYM SDB. They also had a workshop on Holiness Outbreak (personal and local community). The day concluded with the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Favie Faldas, SDB. Everybody went home with joy in their hearts as well as the desire to be holy like Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello and all our youthful Salesian Saints.


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SYM DON BOSCO B ICEN T ENARY P I LGR IMAGE Exper i enceReflections from the SYM Don Bosco in Turin, Italy, on the bicentenary of Don Boscos birthby Mrs. Crisanta Dizon Parent Volunteer Catechist MHCS, Pampanga

I was privileged to join a pilgrimage last August 6-20, 2015 with Sr. Eustacia Mendoza and Sr. Ernielyn Deypalan and three past pupils. I felt so blessed and extremely excited for I have not experienced one like this during my younger days. It was not easy though to be away from my comfort zone and family. The long walks were tedious but the fruitful encounters, lessons learned and friendship gained from the pilgrims were the reward. The opportunity to visit the places where Mother Mazzarello and Don Bosco spent years with the young brought me to the time of these saints whose life I used to read only in books and other reading materials. The experience in Turin transmitted wonderful messages to me not only as a pilgrim but as a catechist to young public school pupils.

We first visited the native places of St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello in Mornese. From Mornese, we proceeded to Turin to join the more than 5,000 youth coming from 53 countries to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of St. John Bosco. I experienced the loving embrace of St. John Bosco through his 10th successor, Rector Major Don Miguel Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB and of St. Mary Domenica M a z z a r e l l o through Mother General Yvonne Reungoat, FMA.

In Turin, we converged every morning at Parco Ruffini, a sports palace, for our reflection and

Holy Mass. I enjoyed the singing, sharing and dancing. On the third night of the encounter, there was also a musical play portraying the life of Don Bosco. The theme of our celebration was the message from the strenna of the Rector Major, Like Don Bosco, with the young and for the young. The contents were organized around the three key words and six inspirational ideas: Like Don Bosco (disciples and witness), With the Young (partner and educator), For the Young (vocation and mission).

This historic encounter made me realize that the presence among young people is one of the signs of our identity. It is our responsibility to help them discover the presence of God in their daily activities. We listen to them and it is our task to teach them the love of God and try our very best to make them understand positively the situation that each one lives. To be a witness is to live the life of Jesus for it is through our example that the young will learn lifes values. It is the love of the Lord that will see us through the commitment of wanting to imitate and be like Don Bosco. We are educators among the young and as such, we accompany them along the path of life. We need to practice the art of listening which is more than simply hearing. Motivated by holiness, we are called to care for daily life through our concrete loyalty to the engagements of studying, working, praying and weaving

relationships of trust, kindness and pleasantness. We need to protect the young from the worldly enemies that

may destroy them. It is our mission to spread the Gospel to people we meet and be involved

in evangelization. May the Lord find us ready and willing to be pilgrims of

faith wherever we are.

Miguel Ramirez, Therese Lafayette Magtibay, Crisanta Dizon, Sr. Ernielyn Deypalan, Sr. Eustacia Mendoza, Stephanie Viola in front of Mary Help of Christians Basilica FMA Lifeline January 2015 - April 2016

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SYMply Blessed!Reflections from the SYM Don Bosco in Turin, Italy, on the bicentenary of Don Boscos birthby Miguel Ramirez Past Pupil - Don Bosco School

I spent a total of 16 days to visit one of my dream destinations: Italy! 5,000 young people (all members of the Salesian Youth Movement) from 53 countries went there to celebrate the 200th birthday of the Father of Youth, St. John Bosco with the theme: Like Don Bosco, With the Young, For the Young!. The experience was so overwhelming. The new friends, the grand churches, the songs, the dances, the culture, are just a few of the things I will remember forever.

To mark these memories in cyberstone, I would like to share with you my five takeaways hoping that these lessons will touch your heart as it has touched mine.

1. AdaptWe had to adjust to so many things in Italy. First was the dry, scorching summer, with the sunset at 9:00 p.m. (Imagine feeling the Philippines 1:00p.m. heat until six in the evening!). Second were the round sockets for the electrical plugs. Third, was that we did not have WiFi for the first 12 days. It was all shocking for us, but we had to adjust. Later on, we noticed the cool breeze amidst the sunburn. We also realized that despite the lack of plug adaptors, we did not have the need to recharge our gadgets because we did not need to be online. Hey, I realized that the sooner we adapt to life, the better our chances of happiness are!

2. Desire GodLittle by little, I got to know one of our Salesian saints, St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, who with Don Bosco, co-founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco). She had the habit of peering through their attic window [every evening] because from there, she could see the cross on the dome of their parish church. Since the church is a two-hour walk from her residence, she would instead gaze on the cross many times a day and offer prayers as if she was kneeling in front of the tabernacle. She desired God despite the distance, despite the discomfort.

Desire is something beautiful, I learned. Desire is not for things we need but for things that are pleasing and attractive. For example, we do not desire air or water. We desire ice cream and the newest gadgets. Knowing these, it is nice to ask ourselves, Do we desire God or do we just call on Him because we need Him? My prayer is that, God be the center of our desire, not in a utilitarian way, but simply because He is the most beautiful, the most awesome, the most wonderful of all. 3. 5,000 people, one cheerIt was overwhelming seeing youth from 53 countries all shouting Viva Don Bosco! It was like I was thrown in a sea of strangers, where everywhere I turned, I saw part of a bigger family. My default questions were: What is your name? Where are you from? How are you connected to Don Bosco? Each time, the answers would accompany a great big smile and an occasional selfie. Here, I proved that it is possible for people to get together regardless of race: Koreans and Japanese, Britons and Americans, Brazilians and Argentinians, Spanish and Filipinos. I believe it is possible for our country to be one family too!

4. Catholic is universalI was teary eyed when the congregation sang Cristo Re (Christ the King) during holy communion in one of the masses. Even if it was sung in Italian, I felt the whole universe singing and praising God. It was hair-raising! I turned to the people around me who were talking to Jesus whom they just received. I suddenly felt a rush of hope, half envious that youth from different nations pray more piously than our own Filipino youngsters. On the days following that, we had masses in different languages, we prayed in our own tongues, we responded in many ways, but there was one message: Our Lord is Lord of all!

5. Filipino equals happiness Out of nowhere, a group from Argentina came up to us and asked, Is it true that Filipino youth are the happiest in the world? Apparently, one of them read a worldwide survey saying that Filipinos are the happiest young people. They told us that they went around trying to talk to those from other countries and we stood out being the most approachable and cheerful of all. I thanked them and told them that, yes, Filipinos are very sunny inspite the many calamities and problems in our country. Now, I am even more proud to say I am a Filipino. So smile, Pilipinas.

The delegates with Mother General Yvonne Reungoat, FMASr. Eustacia Mendoza

and Sr. Ernielyn Deypalanwith the Rector Major,

Fr. ngel Fernndez Artime, SDB

Miguel Ramirez, proudly waving the Philippine flag at Colle Don Bosco


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The bicentenary of Don Boscos birth was celebrated in Don Bosco Technological Institute in Boroko, Papua New Guinea in a very Salesian, youthful and Melanesian way. At the start of the school year 2015, this week-long celebration was prepared for spiritually through daily prayer intentions. As a momentous event of renewal and celebration, the academic and co-curricular activities were all adjusted to cater to this historic occasion.

The celebration kicked off with the well-participated Educating Community Family Day. The week was creatively filled with various activities: talent night, quiz bee, mini-cultural day, sports fest, and the weekend youth camp which complimented the Valdocco experience of the dawn rosary and oratory day with the kids and youth from the various Oratory Centers. The most applauded moment was the Don Bosco Musicale: Man with a Dream. It challenged everyone in the Salesian family how to make Don Boscos dream alive in the generations of young people in Papua New Guinea.

by Sr. Pamela Vecina, FMA

The week was culminated with a Salesian Family Bicentenary Eucharistic celebration which was held at the Caritas gym with about 2,500 youth and members of the Salesian Family from Port Moresby and Araimiri. Afterwhich, a city-wide Don Bosco motorcade organized by the alumni grandiosely ended the bicentenary celebrations.

After two centuries, the family spirit of our dear father and founder is still very much alive and has expanded its horizons. With the beautiful experience of the celebration in Papua New Guinea, Don Boscos spirit will live on two centuries more and beyond.


I think that holding the 5th World Electoral Assembly of the Past Pupils of the FMA for the first time ever in Mornese, and capping it with the participation of the delegates in the celebration of the bicentenary of Don Boscos birth at Colle Don Bosco were more than any past pupil or FMA delegate could wish for.

The Assembly was held from August 11 to 17, 2015 on the theme Witnesses of Joy in the Peripheries of the World. The salone of the retreat house at the Mazzarelli was filled to bursting by about 240 past pupils and FMA delegates of 63 Federations from 35 countries.

Right from the first encounter with past pupils at the Central Train Station in Rome, I felt that the Assembly was an opportunity I shouldnt miss to know the Association more, to go deeper into its heart, to feel the pulse of our past pupils from all over the world, to confirm the spirit and the spirituality that bind them and us FMA as mission partners today. In fact, our past pupils are our extensions in society, reaching where we cannot, bringing the spirit and charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello in their own circles

of influence.

The theme brings out the identity and mission of the past pupils of the FMA today. In order to bear witness to the real joy, past pupils have to be firmly anchored on Gospel and Salesian spirituality, to dig deep roots in the heart. These values they have received in the Salesian house are what define them as past pupils, as the Rector Major emphasized in the Mass he celebrated for the group at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians on August 12. These convictions they bear in their heart constitute the force that impels them to immerse their hands in the world, to contribute actively and conscientiously in building a better world for all. Pope Francis exhortations and example, along with the guidelines of the 23rd General chapter, direct our gaze and steps towards the existential peripheries, which, we might be surprised to discover, may be found in our own homes, schools, and communities.

by Sr. Rachel Melissa R. Flor, FMA

The main work of the Assembly, besides the election of the new set of World Confederation officers for 2015-2021, included the approval of the draft of the new Statutes, and the formulation of the final proposals that would guide the Association in the next year. The past pupils of the Assembly threw heart and soul into the work, attentively drinking in the wisdom shared by Mother General, Mother Yvonne Reungoat and Sr. Maria Luisa Miranda, Councilor for the Salesian Family. While freely voicing out concerns, doubts, even dissent on some issues, it was to Mother Yvonne that everyone turned for enlightenment. It was serious involvement in everything, which they had learned in the Salesian setting where they came from. I had the chance to talk with some of the past pupil representatives, and our conversations were mostly on our experiences in our own unions and federations.

The liturgy of each day was creatively animated by the various federations grouped by continent. It was with reverence and wonder that the participants beheld our sacred places in Mornese and Valdocco. During some free moments in Mornese when I was able to visit the room where Mother Mazzarello was born, or her room in the Collegio, there was always someone in prayerful silence seated there.

Yet it was not all work for us. The tour around Mornese on the first day (we were housed at the Mazzarelli), the trip to Valdocco on the second, our participation in the celebration of the bicentenary of Don Boscos birth at Colle Don Bosco on Aug. 16 gave a festive ring to it all. Some evenings were for recreation, and one particular evening was regaled by the reenactment by the townsfolk of Mornese, headed by the mayor (a past pupil himself and a Pestarino!), of Don Boscos first visit to Mornese in 1864.

Remembering these experiences leads to embracing the commitment of the present, and to reliving the dream for our past pupils today with a more intense inner fire. I came back from this unexpected trip laden with gifts, and with two strong sentiments: gratitude for all the gifts God has enclosed in this package, and a stronger determination to serve the Association and our past pupils in the best way I am able. The gifts continue coming, so the gratitude and self-giving ought to keep flowing, too.

The new set of World Confederation Councilors

Group photo in front of Don Boscos house in Becchi


May 24, 2015 - The Philippine Federation of Past Pupils turns-over the proceeds of the N.O.T.A Bene concerts intended for the Home for the Elderly FMA to Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA and Sr. Mabel Pilar, FMA

The Past Pupils Federation organized the N.O.T.A. Bene (Nuns of the Above) - a series of benefit concerts for the Bahay na Pangarap (Dream Home) for the elderly Salesian Sisters held at Don Bosco School Manila (February 7, 2015), Mary Help of Christians College - Canlubang (March 7, 2015) and Mary Help of Christians School - Pampanga (March 21, 2015)

October 25, 2015 - Tree Planting at Malabanban, San Pablo

November 30, 2014- Medical Mission at Bayanijuan, Calauan, Laguna

December 27, 2015 - Past Pupils Homecoming at Mary Help of Christians School (Agri-Tech Center), Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

December 27, 2015 - Past Pupils Homecoming at Mary Our Help Technical Institute for Women (Cebu)

December 30, 2015 - Past Pupils Homecoming at St. Mary Mazzarello School, Victorias, Negros Occidental

March 20, 2016 - Lenten Recollection at the Walkway, The Fort, Taguig City

December 26-28, 2015 - Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Sr. Sherlin Orpilla, FMA at the Past Pupils Homecoming and Recollection at Mary Help of Christians School, Palawan

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FMA Philippines has come a long way since its foundation on December 8, 1955. From three (3) courageous and zealous missionaries to 189 Filipina FMA (living and deceased) not only in the Philippines but spread around the world as missionaries, Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarellos legacy continues to flourish.

For the past three years, Mother Provincial, Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA and her Council had prepared for the 60th Anniversary celebrations and came up with initiatives for the wholistic growth of our educating communities.

Documents

Fma lifeline 2015 2016 april fmafil