PASAY CITY— The Daughters of St. Paul concluded its centenary celebration with a Thanksgiving Mass presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at the Queen of Apostles Sanctuary in Pasay City last June 25, 2016.
The closing of the FSP 100 years of foundation coincided with the celebration of the Golden and Silver Jubilee of Sisters Celine Lora, Evelyn Allena, and Adelina Cabaraban who marked their 50th year of Religious Profession, and Sisters Melba Grace Lobaton, Editha Ledda, Ma. Josefa San Luis, and Gemma Ria Lourdes dela Cruz who commemorated their 25th anniversary of profession.
A good number of priests from the Society of Saint Paul and friends of the Jubilarians concelebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which was attended by their family as well as relatives, close friends, members of the Pauline Family, and benefactors of the Congregation.
The Cardinal in his homily, hailed the Congregation’s presence in the Church, recalling his boyhood, how he was inspired by the missionary zeal of the Sisters. He noted how the centenary celebration signified a good harvest of vocations in the Church, saying that, “one of the fruits of those 100 years of evangelical life and presence are our Sisters marking their 50th and 25th year of their Religious Profession.”
Cardinal Tagle emphasized that one, one hundred, fifty, twenty years have one and only story, the conformity in Jesus. He also highlighted the testimony of Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians (2:20) with his own words: “Conformity to Christ is our testimony to the world of the love that we have received from Him.”
Sr. Celina Lora thanked the Cardinal and everyone who came for the celebration. The Golden and Silver Jubilarians expressed their life-long gratitude to God for the gift of their Pauline vocation with the rendition of the song, “Take My Life” accompanied by Mr. Alejandro Consolacion II, composer of the hymn and all the songs sung during the Holy Mass.
FSP Provincial Superior, Sr. Noemi Vinoya acknowledged God’s mercy in the life of the Congregation for the past 100 years. She asked from all the members of the Institute a deeper life of fidelity to God as she said: “May He be more deeply known and loved in our world today and may we continue to be consumed by a burning fire capable of warming the hearts of the people and of lighting other fires for God and for the people of our time.”
Following the Eucharistic Celebration, the Provincial Government, the Jubilarians and the whole Pasay Community shared with all the guests a banquet of joy, of life, and of fruitful vocation.
The Daughters of Saint Paul Choir launched the newly-released song album titled Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life – the whole set of songs the Choir jubilantly sung during the Mass.