As every April 27, we celebrate the day of María Antonia Bandrés, (Antoñita). This Daughter of Jesus, who died at only 21 years of age and with a reputation for holiness, is the patroness of the Daughters of Jesus who are in initial formation. Four of her formators from different parts of the world are participating in this GCXIX. They wanted to give them a message of congratulations and encouragement that surely is very valuable to them and helps us all.
These are their messages:
Raquel Amigot, FI – Maestras de Junioras, Granada (Spain)
A great challenge in the Juniorate, and in the world we live in, is identity.
It is necessary to form in criteria and discernment for a world that is changing, complex… and for a Church that participates in this situation.
A formation that helps them to have an open mind and heart to live with plurality and diversity from the mission.
“Do not be afraid to follow what Jesus puts 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, the courage and the 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, Patroness of those in formation, we contemplate with joy the journey of our young women in formation at the Mother Candida Provincial Novitiate in Licey al Medio, Dominican Republic.
At this moment, we have two novices and a postulant. They remind us that the following of Jesus continues to be a living call today, capable of awakening the best of the human heart.
Each one, from her concrete reality, lives animated by the deep desire to be configured to Christ, 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 that 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 again in God’s fidelity.
Ma. Leoly M. Quitorio, FI – Trainer in Marikina (Philippines)
Training Challenges
Formation is, as always, with much love, patience and care in the accompaniment of the young sisters in formation. Each formandi is special and unique. Personal experiences, way of being and cultural background, among other aspects, must be taken into account.
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 implies openness, transparency and a level of readiness to live the process of formative growth through a process of human maturation and integration, intensification of her relationship with Jesus and identification with Him; and deepening her knowledge, love and sense of belonging to the Daughters of Jesus Congregation and our mission.
Initial formation, especially in the postulancy, means accompanying those in formation in their search for meaning and purpose in life, in their discernment of God’s will and enabling them to have the courage and commitment to make a life choice.
Magda Zhang, FI – Mistress of Novices (East Asia)
Today we remember Antoñita’s day, I especially congratulate 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) members: 3 perpetually professed sisters, 1 juniora, 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). (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 the process of each one; 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 on this path.
