From the Philippines…

The Canadian poet Anne Carson once said: “The only rule of travel is: Don’t come back the way you left, come back different“. Every journey, every experience, if you live it intensely and from the heart, changes us and helps us to appreciate the richness of other places and cultures. Perhaps this is what will happen to Cathy and me after this trip.

On 10 July, with our visa in hand, suitcases packed, farewell to the sisters and a little nervous… because of the unknown, we started our journey from Rome to the Philippines. A smooth journey in which everything fell into place perfectly.

We arrived in the Philippines on the 11th of July, at Ninoy Aquino international airport, our sisters Anas, Vicky and Rita were waiting for us. We were not only greeted by the warmth of the weather, but also by fraternal warmth. Two feelings: Uncertainty for stepping on an unknown land and joy for knowing that the sisters were waiting for us. First hugs and, with a little English on our side and a little Spanish on theirs, we managed to understand each other. At night the city of Manila was vibrant, and after a long journey we arrived home, Antonia Paris Novitiate. All the sisters were already resting, so it was not until the next day that we met them and were able to greet them. It is a large community made up of professed sisters, juniors and novices (Filipinas, Indonesians, Vietnamese, and Sri Lankans), a great cultural richness.

The first day was a day of adaptation, rest, change of timetables, meals, getting to know the spaces of the house. On Saturday, we had the opportunity to get to know part of the mission that our sisters carry out. We visited the community of Forestry with Lency, Florensia and the novice Huong. We shared the Word of God and prayed the rosary in the house of a family. We were also able to experience some of the reality in which the people live.

The following day, Sunday, we participated together with some sisters of the community in the Eucharist of the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which was celebrating its patronal feast. This was presided over by the Bishop of the diocese of Cubao, Monsignor Ontionco, a dynamic, expressive and joyful man, who helped us to live the celebration intensely, even without understanding anything. We had the opportunity to greet some religious of the area.

And we started our first English lesson with our sister Lency.

On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and within the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Claretian Missionaries, all the sisters participated in the Eucharist of Perpetual Profession and renewal of vows of a group of young Claretians.  Afterwards we shared the feast with a meal and performances of all the groups that form the parish and members of the Claretian Family. It was a very well planned celebration and a fraternal atmosphere.

In these few days we have experienced the feeling of family and the richness of another culture.                                                                                                                               Beatriz Mª Pereiro Acevedo