“I bring to you the gratitude of the country and of the Philippine Church for your service to the Filipino people during these 75 years."
The year-long thanksgiving for the Diamond Jubilee of foundation of the Daughters of St. Paul in the Philippines was capped by a Eucharistic celebration on October 11, 2014 at the Queen of Apostles Sanctuary in Pasay. This was presided over by Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, DD, with Fr. Marvin Mejia, Fr. Jose Aripio and other members of the Society of St. Paul as concelebrants.
In his homily, Bishop Pabillo thanked the Daughters of St. Paul in behalf of the Church in the Philippines and the countless people whose lives were touched by the witness of life and mission of the Paulines.
He recalled, “My first exposure to Catholic literature was through the FSP sisters who visited St. Joseph School in Naga when I was in primary school. They brought small books and pamphlets for children which we thoroughly enjoyed.”
“You have made an impact with your many ministries, with your collaborators and benefactors whom you have touched with your spirituality.
He also encouraged the sisters to continue with faith because it is not just our desire to communicate God’s word. It is also the desire of God. He said: “It is the Holy Spirit who has guided the Church, who continues to guide us and to inspire us to carry out this work of God. And that is the source of our confidence – that we are doing the work of God.”
Conscious that this milestone would have been impossible without the help of the laity, the FSPs prepared a program to honor 75 of their most generous and faithful benefactors and supporters. Plaques of appreciation were handed to their collaborators and all the Sisters (from the oldest to the youngest) rendered a thanksgiving song – to God who has been faithful in manifold ways, and to each and every person who assisted them in the mission of proclaiming the Good News using the means of communication.
Here is the thanksgiving song with the lyrics written by Sr. Gloria Felix, fsp and music by :
Listen to our prayer of joy and thanksgiving
Listen to our song to our God most loving
Who made us from nothing
Made as agents for saving.
Here is our story that God wrote in glory
Hear how he guided us all our days.
He led us to fulfill our calling
To serve him with passion, love and prayer.
In this land of beauty devoted to Mary
Vocations abounded gifts of the almighty
He made sure our future secure
That our work for God would endure.
Glory be to the Father, to his Redeemer Son
To the Holy Spirit who binds us in one
To you our thanksgiving and praises
To you we pledge to serve and love.
By: Sr. Rose Agtarap, fsp
