SCG General Council Visits the

SCG General Council Visits the Aspirantate On February 3, 2020, Sr. Ignatia Kim, Sr. M. Letizia Ono, Sr. Maria Sueyoshi and Sr. Maria Tsujihara, members of the General council of the Suore della Carita’ di Gesu’ (Caritas Sisters of Jesus) visited the FMA Aspirantate community accompanied by Sr. Sophia Oshita, Superior of the Caritas-Don Bosco School in Sta. Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Together with the Superior General, Sr. Teresia Furuki, SCG, they came to the Philippines for the 25th foundation anniversary of the aforementioned school.

The Suore della Carita Di Gesu (SCG) or Caritas Sisters of Jesus is a religious congregation of pontifical right founded by Salesian Italian priests, Fr. Antonio Cavoli, SDB and co-founder, Venerable Vincent Cimatti, SDB, on August 15, 1937 in Miyazaki, Japan. Its name “Caritas” originates from the founders’ love and concern for the poor and abandoned people which has won the hearts of many non-Catholics. The Sisters are currently present in 15 countries with around 1,000 Sisters of different nationalities. They form part of the big Salesian Family.

Significantly, the Japanese pioneer missionaries of the Caritas Sisters in the Philippines stayed in the FMA communities of Don Bosco School Sta. Mesa and the Novitiate in 1992 while still learning the English language and establishing their missionary work. The General Councilors purposely visited the composition of formators’ team, subjects offered to the formands, Aspirantate house in order “to see and learn” daily schedule and activities, use of social media, communication from the FMA how we operate and manage our with families, finances etc. Grateful for the enriching experience, the intercultural/international formation houses. They Caritas Sisters rendered the community an enchanting Latin Marian were warmly welcomed by Sr. Melanie Pilar and song. They were also brought to the Novitiate house though the the community. The Aspirants and Postulants community was out for the relief operation in Batangas. entertained them with songs and a Thai dance that spelt hospitality. The simple family atmosphere Delighted and enlightened, the SCG General Councilors expressed facilitated a candid dialogue with spontaneous their desire to return to Canlubang in July 2020 for another dialogue Q & A session between the General Council, with the FMA formators and formands. They plan to bring around 30 the FMA formators and formands. The SCG Sisters who will participate in their upcoming seminar on formation expressed great interest in asking basic questions to be held at Mary Help of Christians Center of Spirituality in Batulao, on matters concerning the study of the English Batangas, Philippines. language on the part of foreign candidates, dealing with adjustment and culture shock, the By Sr. Melanie Pilar, FMA

Our dear Sr. Gloria V. Vicencio, FMA, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2019 at the age of 98. Her 61 years of religious life were lived after the example of Christ, the Good Shepherd who loves his sheep. She was buried at Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque on December 17.