Newsletter 1 /2020 RNDM Sisters Preparation for Perpetual Vows 15th SESSION BALAY EUPHRASIE DAVAO, PHILIPPINES One Body, One Mission! More than ever, the cry resounds in RNDM hearts across the congregation Dear Sisters, Friends and Benefactors, Loving greetings from Balay Euphraise 2020 online program. The world is facing unprecedented situations due to COVID-19. We thank God giving us for this opportunity to participate in the preparation for perpetual vows.This is the very first newsletter of our online program. We are a group of nine, Bahuncy Saioo INE, Matta Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan VNM and Maria Ngo Thi Thom VNM in Davao, Ritha Marak INC, Lydia Waruguru Mugo KEN, Margaret Aye Aye Maw MYN in ANZ, Maria Bui Thi Kim Hong VNM in Ireland, Maria Nguyen Huyen Linh VNM and Maria Martin Tran My Hang VNM in Perth, AUS. Usually, Temporary professed sisters go to Davao, Philippines for the preparation for perpetual vows. However, this year, we explored a new way of learning according to the signs of the times. We are doing our different sessions through Zoom Meeting. We would like to express our simple thanks to the Congregational Leadership Team for initiating the online program for the participants. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Balay Euphrasie Team. They did a wonderful job for us. In addition, we would like to say our heartfelt thanks to our Province Leaders, Mentors, and Resource Persons, and also all our Sisters across the Congregation. We really appreciate your support throughout this journey. Throughout this month, we have learned five different topics. After the opening ceremony, we had a meaningful three days retreat with the CLT. We had a sharing of our sacred stories to getting know each other more deeply, as we journey together as RNDMs. We had Cosmology and Ecology with Veronica Dunne of Canada, liturgy and RNDM Spirituality with Srs. Rose Mary Harbinson of the United Kingdom and Ireland Province and Elaine Villanueva (Weeyaa) from the Philippines. We had a great time enjoying the gift of one another. We also celebrated Balay Euphrasie Feast through online Liturgy and sharing our thoughts with each other and Loan made a beautiful video on Balay Euphrasie and Online TP Program- 2020. Ritha,Thom and Margaret A GREAT BEGINNING “We are no longer in control. People talk about the “new normal” but we are not sure what it is or what it’s going to be like. All we know is that we will not be the same and our lifestyles had to change. We have to listen more attentively to the whispering of grace in Earth and its people.” (Josephine Kane, Opening Speech) For the first time in the RNDMs’ history, we were not able to gather in physically, we could merely see and pray together. It was a wonderful prayer because it went so well with good guidance and communication, and with the presence of sisters from four continents, I could sense our oneness and connectedness in our Congregation. The Opening Ceremony was a great starting point for each participant and Davao Formation Team. We would like to express our gratitude to all the sisters across the world. We have experienced a truly blessed time when you accompanied us in the virtual gathering of RNDMs around the world. In particular, the greeting and encouragement from Jo and the leaders in New Zealand, Myanmar, Australia, Ireland, Vietnam, India Central and Kenya inspired and strengthened us for the unique and challenging journey ahead. We believe that God will be with each one personally during the coming three months. Huyen Linh Every opportunity that comes our way is something of a reminder that life is a journey. Each journey is meant to be lived with much love, joy and confidence. We are really very lucky to have our Congregation Leader: Josephine Kane and her all the Counselors: Margaret Maung, Lissy Sebastian, Lucy Wambui and Joicy Madassery. They guided us during the three days of our retreat to be on a journey which will lead us to the day of our Perpetual Profession ceremony and missioning. These three days are an invitation to take time, to reflect and be still. It is a time to be grateful to God for what I am and have as a person. We began this journey with a desire to become more aware of myself, a longing to have a deeper relationship with God and through it to understand others better. These three days of retreat are also like an opening of a door, within me, to be grateful, open and to allow God to reveal something through the beautiful creation that surrounds me. Also, to be alert, in allowing others, to reveal something of God to me. The journey also invited us to look at our hearts and see how it has been developing into a disciple's heart, ready to respond to God’s call. They were quite challenging moments of 'developing a disciple’s heart'. This makes us ponder more intently on what a disciple's heart looks like? What is so special about it? Have I ever brought my disciple's heart into my mission and life? Today, as we listen to these questions in the silence, there is a call, an invitation to deepen my journey and to cherish this unique privilege that God offers us - to participate in the Divine Missions. There is an invitation for a deeper searching for God and trust in God's words: " For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" ( Jr 29:11). To know each day that we will never be able to thank God sufficiently for the great grace that He has granted us in calling us to have a share His Divine Missions. Lord we are grateful because this is a longing only YOU can fill.... Amen! We are very grateful to you dear Sisters Josephine, Margaret, Lissy, Lucy and Joicy for leading us into the atmosphere of God’s presence during these days of retreat. We thank you for being with us on this journey of knowing God, self and others. May God bless you, strengthen and guide you each day. We are grateful!!!!! Bahuncy Saioo BE ONLINE COMMUNITY I'm Maria Martin Tran My Hang. I was born on December 21, 1987 in Dong Nai, Southeast, and Vietnam. Thanks to God I was born and raised in a Catholic family and environment. I am the second daughter in a family of four children. When I was child my grandmother took me to church every day, and it was from there that my dream of consecrating myself to God was enkindled and grew over the years. At university, I chose to live in the RNDM hostel, where I lived and shared my life and faith with other Catholic students .I think that was the way God led me to Our Lady of the Missions, where the spirit, energy and love transcended all the boundaries and gave me the strength to decide to follow Jesus in this Congregation. I am optimistic, sociable, extroverted and observant. I am good at picking up body language which helps me to understand the needs of others. After graduating from university, in 2010, I entered the convent and made first Vows in 2014. After two years studying theology, I was involved in the boarding students, as well as visiting and accompanying ethnic groups and catechists. Through these experiences, I have learned to be simple, believe in God's mercy, be generous and open to accept others as they are. In 2019 I learned English and shared international community with sisters in Perth, Australia. The love and support of the sisters there made me feel "we are one, we are love". My name is Maria Nguyen Huyen Linh. I am from Vietnam. I grew up in Ho Chi Minh City which is located in the South East of Vietnam. I am the fourth child in a family of seven children. I got to know the RNDMs by chance through my father when I was 17. After visiting the Aspirant Community, I was impressed by their lifestyle and decided that I would come and live with them after finishing my studies. I joined the Aspirancy in 2009 after graduating from college. I am grateful to the formators for helping me to open my heart and mind, to practice humility and to, discover and reinforce my abilities. Through the love and support of my RNDM family, I have grown and am deepening my relationships with God and others and I understand myself more. I feel assured that this is my life. The only thing needed is a heart willing to change and receive God’s grace. I put my hands in God’s hand and he will lead my way. I find it works well. I made my first Profession on 6th August 2014. Then I spent two years studying theology. In the following years, I was sent to Long Dien community to be the community bursar and boarding house bursar for poor ethnic teenagers. I was grateful for that special period, which helped me to experience more, the challenges and joys of a missionary. In 2019, I had a great time studying English and sharing community life with our sisters in Perth, Australia. It was a memorable period in my life. As one of the participants preparing for our Perpetual Vows, from the bottom of my heart, I am thankful to God and all our sisters for giving me this golden opportunity to take part in this special online course.