As I celebrated my 66th birthday, I found myself pausing to look back—not only on the passing of another year, but on the many gifts, encounters, responsibilities, and blessings that have marked my journey.
Indeed, life itself is a precious gift.
At 66, my heart is filled with deep gratitude to God for the gift of life, the gift of vocation, and the gift of being loved and trusted. Looking back on the past months and, in many ways, on the years that have brought me to this moment, I can only say: Thanks be to God for His faithfulness and guidance.
The final year of my term began with a very significant event for our Province—the Council of the Institute. We were deeply honored to host this congregational gathering, bringing together the Superiors from different parts of the world. For almost a month, our Province became a place of encounter, prayer, reflection, and communion.
The preparation for this event was not simply a matter of physical arrangements. For an entire year, our Sisters and communities worked together with dedication, generosity, and a shared sense of responsibility. Beyond the logistics, I witnessed a beautiful spirit of unity and collaboration that strengthened us as a Province.
We remain grateful to the General Government for entrusting us with the opportunity to host such an important gathering. By God’s grace, the event was a success, and we experienced firsthand the richness and beauty of our Congregation’s international fraternity.
Following the Council of the Institute came another grace-filled moment: the Fraternal Visit of the Mother General and the General Councilor. For a month, they journeyed through our communities, encountering our Sisters and witnessing the realities, joys, hopes, and challenges of our Province. Their presence was truly a blessing, bringing encouragement, hope, and renewed commitment to our shared mission.
After their departure, I began my own visitation to the communities. For two months, I had the privilege of listening to our Sisters, sharing in their experiences, reflecting on our realities, and discerning together the journey of our Province.
These visits were more than an administrative responsibility. They were moments of encounter, dialogue, listening, and mutual growth. They allowed me to see more clearly the many ways God’s grace continues to work in our Sisters, in our communities, and in our Province.
Now, with my visitation completed, I can only say:
“Thanks be to God!”
“Great are You, O Lord, and worthy of praise.”
The journey has been enriching, humbling, and deeply inspiring.
As we continue moving forward, we also celebrated our First Provincial Assembly, which became even more meaningful as we marked the 70th year of the foundation of our Province here in the Philippines. This milestone invites us to remember our history with gratitude, to embrace the present with faith, and to look toward the future with hope.
And as I celebrated another year of life, I could not help but look even further back at my own journey.
Forty years in the convent.
Thirty-six years as a Pious Disciple.
Sixty-six years of a blessed life.
What a journey of grace!
Through the years, the Lord has given me the privilege of serving our Sisters, our Province, and our Congregation. I have tried to give my best, offering my time, strength, love, and life to the mission entrusted to me.
I have received so much more than I could ever give.
There have been joys and challenges, successes and moments of uncertainty, encounters that have inspired me, and experiences that have taught me to trust more deeply. I carry with me countless memories, lessons, friendships, struggles, and blessings.
But above all, I carry with me a grateful heart.
I am grateful for the people whom God has placed along my journey. I am grateful for the Sisters who have walked with me, for those who have trusted me, supported me, challenged me, and shared with me the joys and burdens of our vocation.
I am grateful, too, for the trust that has been given to me—trust that is itself a gift and a responsibility. To be entrusted with the care of others, with the service of the Province, and with the mission of our Congregation has been both humbling and deeply meaningful.
As I celebrate my 66th birthday, I realize more profoundly that every year is not simply another year added to life. It is another gift received, another chapter of grace, another invitation to love and to serve.
And so, today, my prayer is simple:
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of life.
Thank You for the gift of my PDDM-Pauline vocation.
Thank You for the gift of my natural and religious family.
Thank You for the gift of service.
Thank You for the gift of the Sisters and communities with whom I share this journey.
Thank You for the love, trust, and countless blessings You continue to pour into my life.
Whatever has been accomplished, whatever good has been done, whatever fruit has been borne—all is grace, and all belongs to You.
May the years ahead continue to be an offering of love and service. May I remain faithful to the vocation You have entrusted to me, generous in giving, humble in receiving, and ever grateful for the privilege of walking with my Sisters in faith, hope, and love.
At 66, I look back with gratitude, live the present with trust, and look toward the future with hope.
Indeed, life is a precious gift.
And I have been gifted with so much love, so much trust, and so much grace.
For everything, I can only say:
DEO GRATIAS!
Srmagspddm
