After visiting the sites associated with Mother Candida in Spain, the seven junior sisters in their final probation arrived in Rome on September 28 to continue their formation at the Curia House. On October 15, the monthly Spiritual Exercises will begin and will continue through November 15.
If you’d like to revisit the beginning of this journey, you can read the previous posts on the Mother Candida Trail (I), (II), and (III).
A Journey of Grace in Rome
The sisters arrived in Rome filled with great excitement and a desire to fully immerse themselves in the formation period they had so long awaited. After a few days of rest and adjusting to life at the Curia House, they participated in a workshop led by Sr. Iris Gonzales, focused on each sister’s culture, roots, and personal wounds, as preparation for their formation in the community of Final Probation.
This gathering offered the sisters the opportunity to get to know one another more deeply and to lay the groundwork for harmonious coexistence, open to intercultural exchange and the recognition of diversity. The experience helped them discover that, beyond their differences, it is possible to live together in sisterhood when each sister is open to learning about and understanding the others’ stories. Engaging with each sister’s story allows them to better understand her personality, her experiences, and the reality from which each sister lives and relates to others.
The Community Project for the Final Probation
In addition to their time together in Spain, the sisters also had the opportunity to develop their community project, which will serve as a guide for the community’s life in the coming months. With openness and trust, each sister shared her deepest hopes and expectations for the community they are gradually building together. The community project is not simply a document they must prepare, but a tool that helps them respond to the specific calls of this final probation period, fostering a more conscious and fraternal way of living together that remains faithful to the path of formation they are experiencing.
Explore Rome and pray the Angelus with the Pope
The sisters also had the opportunity to visit some of Rome’s most iconic sites—a new experience for most of them. They enjoyed the city’s beauty and rich history, discovering in this encounter with other cultures and realities an invitation to deepen their experience of universality and interculturality. Among the most meaningful moments was the visit to the Vatican, where they were able to participate in the Angelus prayer with the Pope. It was a particularly meaningful experience of ecclesial communion, which allowed them to feel part of the same Church, united in faith.
Preparation for the Spiritual Exercises with St. Ignatius of Loyola
In preparation for this month’s Spiritual Exercises, the sisters set aside time to study and delve deeper into the autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola, accompanied by their instructor, Sr. Magda Zhang. This exploration of St. Ignatius’s experience allowed them to reflect on their own stories and recognize how Jesus has been shaping them and continues to call them to live as his daughters, following in the saint’s footsteps.
As they reflect on the path that God has been writing in each of their hearts, the sisters are able to renew and embrace the gift of their vocation more deeply. The moments of sharing they had each afternoon offered them a special opportunity to listen to one another, welcome each other’s experiences, and discover how the story of St. Ignatius shed light on their own lives, especially in light of the realities they face today. Amid these days of preparation, they also joyfully celebrated the birthday of one of their own, Ann Nguyen. This celebration became a simple and heartfelt occasion to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood and continue to grow as a community.
Thanks to the generous hospitality of a Jesuit brother, Juan José Bernal, S.J., the sisters were able to visit some significant sites in Rome linked to the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This visit helped them deepen their understanding of his spiritual experience and to appreciate more fully the richness of Ignatian spirituality, which inspires and guides their journey of following Jesus as Daughters of Jesus.
Spiritual Exercises for the Month: October 15 through November 15
With their hearts open and renewed by these experiences, the sisters are now preparing to begin their monthly Spiritual Exercises, which will take place from October 15 to November 15 and will be led by Jesuit Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves. It will be a special time of deep encounter with the Lord, of inner listening and discernment, during which they will be able to open themselves more freely to the action of His grace.
Let us accompany them with our prayers, so that, open to God’s action, they may live this experience with faith, trust, and generosity. May the Lord continue to guide their steps, strengthen their vocation, and help them grow in love and self-giving, so that they may continue to respond joyfully to His call and to the mission of the Congregation.
