On June 29, 2024, Feast of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul, the three novices of the East Asia Province: Teresa Tian Chunjie, Mary Wang Pengzhe and Emerenciana Damur (Anjie) made their first vows at the Manresa Retreat House Chapel, Manila. Four priests concelebrated and many religious from different congregations attended the Eucharist. The Daughters of Jesus of the Indian-Pacific Province did not fail to give us their support and presence. Some relatives, benefactors, acquaintances and lay people also came.
The new juniors share their gratitude to the Lord and to everyone.
“Lord, I am a living sacrifice, I no longer belong to myself.” This phrase has always accompanied me in the preparation before making the vows, and it also constantly reminds me: everything I have belongs to Him and will be used by Him.
As I make the vows, I feel gratitude, joy and deep trust in my heart. I thank God for calling me and for loving me generously. I deeply feel that this call is a free grace and a gift. I also thank the sisters of the community for their hard work and all the preparations. I thank my family for their silent support.
I am joyful because I no longer count on myself, but on my total trust in Him, which makes me happier and freer on this path. I place myself completely in His hands, I let Him guide me, let Him continue to mold me, to follow in His footsteps and move towards the mission with Him.
In everything, love and serve.
Teresa Tian Chunjie
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit and to bear fruit that will last; so whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you” (Jn. 15:16).
Before the Body and Blood of Christ I made the vows of love, but Jesus took the initiative in everything: He called me first, He loved me first, He accepted me and forgave me unconditionally. As experienced in the Spiritual Exercises: it is not what I have done or what I have that He loves me, but that I am loved by Him, and through my first vows, I respond to His love of following Him with my limitations and weaknesses, my longings and gratitude.
During the whole process of preparation for this ceremony of first vows, I experienced more truly this love from the sisters who accompanied me and from the sisters of the community . Their activity, joy, dedication and willingness made me feel blessed and deeply grateful to them. Since my parents were here, I couldn’t help much, but the sisters generously did everything. If God often invites us to seek and find him, then the community in which I live should be the first thing in which one can find God.
To make the first vows is an end and at the same time a beginning, to place oneself openly, courageously and confidently in God’s hands and to cooperate with grace to live, to serve and to love.
Mary Wang Pengzhe
In this day’s Eucharist, I want to share different feelings: gratitude, happiness, joy and relief . The reason for these feelings is because I realize that my life and my vocation are gifts from Him, and my life is blessed and loved by Him, supported by Him. The vocation is no longer mine, it is His free gift.
Their calling and mission cannot be separated. Being here today is His call, a free response to Him. Just as Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick and raise the dead… cast out demons; you gave them freely” This phrase is full of dreams and pushes me to share his love. “Our vocation is…to live everywhere in the world, serving God and helping souls…in both Christian and non-Christian spheres (CFI 189)”
There will be difficulties in different cultures, but today I feel enriched and appreciate it more, especially for the Chinese culture. Having lived with the sisters for more than six years, I can experience how they serve as light of the world and salt of the earth for the Chinese Church . I am proud of our presence there.
When I was doing my profession, I trust the Father more. At the same time, I have a deeper awareness of my own limitations. As Mother Foundress said: You alone can do nothing, but with God you can do everything. I also realized that His presence with me is concrete, through the family, priests, benefactors and sisters who accompany me in the Congregation.
The Provincial’s words today gave me great encouragement. No matter what difficulties and challenges there are, don’t be afraid and keep going! Also learn to ask for help and be humble.
Emerenciana Damur (Anjie)
