Filomena Legaspi and María Josefa Palmarés – In the community Tahanan Cándida María de Jesús – QUEZON CITY
Filomena Legaspi
Could you tell us what assessment you would make of these 50 years of your R.L.?
With great gratitude I celebrate my golden jubilee. This event is an act of praise and thanksgiving for all the good received that I have never deserved. My vocation as a Daughter of Jesus is all pure gift, pure grace of the merciful Heart of God the Father.
Would you single out any special experience?
The presence of Jesus, the Spirit and the consolation of having Mary throughout my personal journey – with the play of light and shadow, joy and grief, success and failure, and despite my fragility – has always been the source of fidelity, comfort and strength.
What would be your message to the younger sisters?
To our young sisters: Always have Jesus as the CENTER of your lives. Only He can give you the deep and true meaning of your existence. Live gratuity and simplicity; be always grateful. This way you can be faithful to your vocation and mission as Daughters of Jesus as Mother Candida would wish.
Ma. Josefa Palmares
Could you tell us what assessment you would make of these 50 years of your R.L.?
My religious life of 50 years as Daughter of Jesus signifies the free and unconditional love of the Lord for me.
Would you single out any special experience?
The road was hard many times; the obstacles insurmountable because I saw my weakness and misery more than the goodness and mercy of the Lord, more than his love and providence. Later, sickness led me to darkness and anguish; but God is always Father. He never left me alone in misery; He supported me with his palpable presence and embraced me in my fragility.
Now looking back, after a profound experience of personal conversion, I only have feelings of deep gratitude to the Congregation, to my community, to my family and loved ones, to all the people who have accompanied me along the way.
Thank you, Father. Once again I totally surrender to your desire. Make me, like M. Candida, a face of your Son Jesus to others.
What would be your message to the younger sisters?
To our young sisters: Be faithful to your life of prayer, to your personal relationship with God. It is the vital axis of our life as Daughters of Jesus.
Ma. Celia Gorriceta – In POTOTAN, ILOILO
Could you tell us what assessment you would make of these 50 years of your R.L.?
Following Jesus for many years has made me discover “the way of loving” proper to Him. It is beyond what words express. It is very personal and unique. His FAITHFULNESS and COMPASSION in moments of joy, difficulty or trial is overwhelming.
Would you single out any special experience?
While I had not deserved it, I had the privilege of belonging to the Constitutions Commission with Inés Laso as moderator, with Celia Amorós, Leila Gómez, Pilar Linde and myself as members. Surely, my poor Spanish was a burden to their patience. But I enjoyed their understanding and a lot of help. We had very good relationships in terms of work and, despite my limitations, I was happy and felt accepted. For me, it was an unforgettable experience of our charism of FRATERNITY.
What would be your message to the younger sisters?
My message to our young people: Be attentive to the WORD OF GOD and to the VOICE OF THE POOR, especially the least fortunate, the last and the lost. This attention to the poor means God’s predilection for them. It is fidelity to our charism synthesized in – “God is our beloved Father and we are brothers in Him” - FILIATION and FRATERNITY.
