Every 27th April we celebrate the day of María Antonia Bandrés, (Antoñita). This Hija de Jesus, who died at the age of 21, is the patron saint of the Hijas de Jesus in initial formation. There are four formators participating in this GCXIX from the different parts of the world. They would like to convey their greetings and message of encouragement which certainly will be very valuable and will benefit us all.
Here are their messages:
Raquel Amigot, FI – Mistress of Juniors, Granada (Spain)
Our identity is a great challenge in the Juniorate and in the world we live in.
It is necessary It is necessary to be formed in the criteria and discernment of a changing and complex world… and for a Church that is participating in this situation.
A formation which helps them to have an open mind and an open heart to live with plurality and diversity in the mission….
“Do not be afraid to follow what Jesus places in your hearts to build the Kingdom of God, even if you encounter barriers, difficulties in the environment, in the Church and even in the Congregation itself…”
Be coherent, have courage…a courage that comes from living united to Jesus.”
Arisleida María Rincón, FI – Mistress of Novices (Dominican Republic)
On this day in which we remember Blessed María Antonia Bandrés, Patron Saint of those in formation, we contemplate with joy the journey of our young women in formation at the Provincial Mother Candida Novitiate in Licey Medio, Dominican Republic.
At the moment, we have two novices and one postulant. They remind us that the following of Jesus is still today a vibrant call which is capable of awakening the best of the human heart.
Each one lives animated by the deep desire to be configured to Christ from her concrete reality, integrating daily life with faith, making each gesture, each moment a firm step on the path of self-giving.
Seeing them grow, maturing in their vocation and strengthening their desire to follow Jesus fills me with hope. In them I see the future where God continues to weave in our Congregation. In this time of our General Congregation their presence is a luminous sign that the Spirit continues to blow strongly, renewing our hearts and encouraging us to trust once more in God’s fidelity.
Ma. Leoly M. Quitorio, FI – Formator in Marikina (Philippines)
Challenges in Formation
Formation is as always with much love, patience and care in accompanying young sisters in formation. Each formand is special and unique in her own way, taking into, consideration personal experiences, state of being and cultural background among others.
What is very important is their intimate relationship with God and the desire to follow Jesus in our Congregation as well as the capacity for human , spiritual and congregational formation. This entails openness , transparency and a level of readiness to go through the formation growth process through human maturation and integration process, intensification of their relationship and identification with Jesus, deepening of their knowledge, love and sense of belonging to the Hijas de Jesus Congregation and our mission.
Initial formation, especially in postulancy, would mean accompanying the formands in their search for meaning and purpose of life, in their discernment for God’s will and of empowering them to have the courage and commitment in their life option.
Magda Zhang, FI – Mistress of Novices (East Asia)
Today as we remember Antoñita’s day, I especially greet each one of our sisters in formation and I pray that we may learn, like her, to live in daily life the joy of following Jesus and the deepest trust in our Father.
The formation house in Manila belongs to the Province of East Asia and has a total of nine (9): 3 perpetually professed sisters, 1 Junior sister, 2 novices, 2 postulants and 1 aspirant.
In the formation process, it helps me to remember the words of St. Paul: ‘I planted, and Apollos watered, but it is God who makes it grow’ (1Cor. 3:6). I believe that a very important point is trust in God and in those being formed, trusting that God is at work in them and respecting the differences in each one’s process; and at the same time, encouraging and accompanying them to grow in a very deep relationship with God and to accept His guidance and pruning. Ultimately, it is God’s grace and the cooperation of each one that allows them to grow in this journey.
