WELLSPRINGS
ADORATION CONVENT OF DIVINE MERCY
HOLY SPIRIT DRIVE, BRGY. MAITIM II EAST 4120 TAGAYTAY CITY, PHILIPPINES |
A PUBLICATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ADORATION SISTERS (SSpSAP)
Newsletter: December 2021 - January2022
Newsletter: December 2021 - January2022
What Do We Celebrate?
Worth celebrating is our centennial presence in the Philippines. We look back in wonder and gratitude of memories worthy of celebration as Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration to stamp the present with a renewed dedication in his holy service as we recall our beginning.
Mother Ma. Michaele, cofoundress of St. Arnold Janssen, of the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, had at heart to found other adoration convents. But she hardly thought of the Philippines. In God’s providential way, an unexpected offer came from the Philippines which interested her.
The apostolic delegate in Manila expressed the desire of some bishops in the country to found an adoration convent and informed Fr. Bürschen, SVD, Director of the Steyl Missionary Priests and Sisters in the Philippines who in turn reported to Fr. Director auf der Heide in Steyl about this matter and the later lost no time to inform Mother Ma. Michaele.
The Church in the Philippines was endangered. Many souls have been lost. More prayer was needed for atonement before the Bl. Sacrament. Further, they hoped to promote devotion to the Most Bl. Sacrament and the reception of the sacraments by means of this foundation. Mother Ma. Michaele was seriously interested and considered it thoughtfully. A small convent of Adoration Sisters may be established that through prayer and sacrifice to help fortify and expand the Kingdom of God. At that time there were nine million Catholics in the Philippines. Further, through Perpetual Adoration, the Sisters pray for good priestly vocations especially needed in the country.
Mother Ma. Michaele, cofoundress of St. Arnold Janssen, of the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, had at heart to found other adoration convents. But she hardly thought of the Philippines. In God’s providential way, an unexpected offer came from the Philippines which interested her.
The apostolic delegate in Manila expressed the desire of some bishops in the country to found an adoration convent and informed Fr. Bürschen, SVD, Director of the Steyl Missionary Priests and Sisters in the Philippines who in turn reported to Fr. Director auf der Heide in Steyl about this matter and the later lost no time to inform Mother Ma. Michaele.
The Church in the Philippines was endangered. Many souls have been lost. More prayer was needed for atonement before the Bl. Sacrament. Further, they hoped to promote devotion to the Most Bl. Sacrament and the reception of the sacraments by means of this foundation. Mother Ma. Michaele was seriously interested and considered it thoughtfully. A small convent of Adoration Sisters may be established that through prayer and sacrifice to help fortify and expand the Kingdom of God. At that time there were nine million Catholics in the Philippines. Further, through Perpetual Adoration, the Sisters pray for good priestly vocations especially needed in the country.
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It was the Bishop of Lipa, Msgr. Alfredo Verzosa who made the foundation of our Adoration Convent in the Philippines possible. He truly believes and appreciates the importance of praising God unceasingly and of atonement and intercessory prayer for priests and the intentions of the Kingdom of God. Bp. Versoza prepared the house and built a small chapel for us in Lipa. It was named “Convento del Divino Amor” (Convent of Divine Love). There were ten pioneer Sisters who started in Lipa, Batangas on November 25, 1923 whom we honor and gratefully remember.
In no time, the chapel was frequented by people. All day long people come and go to worship the Savior. The wealthier men of the city keep an hour of adoration every month. Many people receive Communion. School children bring fresh flowers to adorn the altar at Mass. Priests and missionaries counted on the prayers and sacrifices of the Sisters.
Mother Ma. Michaele was very happy about this foundation. However, through the years the tropical climate took toll on the health of the Sisters. It was no longer possible to continue in Lipa. It necessitated and was prudently decided to close the convent in 1936. We opened in Baguio, first at Sto. Tomas and later transferred to Brent Road The years of presence in the Philippines brought more adoration convents, six in all: Convent of the Most Bl. Sacrament in Baguio, 1931, St. Joseph’s Adoration Convent in Manila, 1965, Adoration Convent of Divine Peace in Cebu, 1973, Holy Spirit Adoration Convent in Davao, 1983, Immaculata Adoration Convent in Aklan, 1986. And Adoration Convent of Divine Mercy in Tagaytay in 1990.
Our hearts swell in gratitude to God for our 100 years of presence in the Philippines! We celebrate God’s faithfulness and the blessings of his love showered on our contemplative life of perpetual adoration for his Kingdom and unceasingly praise him!
The celebration itself will be held in Lipa on November 25, 2023, with the present Bishop of Lipa, Bp. Garcera and with the Redemptorists who rebuilt the convent but kept its name, Divino Amor, at the request of the people and retained some parts of the Sisters’ convent. Members of the Arnoldus family will be present too, benefactors and friends. Our Mother General, Mother Ma. Magdalena and two councillors and our Philippine superiors will also grace the occasion.
In no time, the chapel was frequented by people. All day long people come and go to worship the Savior. The wealthier men of the city keep an hour of adoration every month. Many people receive Communion. School children bring fresh flowers to adorn the altar at Mass. Priests and missionaries counted on the prayers and sacrifices of the Sisters.
Mother Ma. Michaele was very happy about this foundation. However, through the years the tropical climate took toll on the health of the Sisters. It was no longer possible to continue in Lipa. It necessitated and was prudently decided to close the convent in 1936. We opened in Baguio, first at Sto. Tomas and later transferred to Brent Road The years of presence in the Philippines brought more adoration convents, six in all: Convent of the Most Bl. Sacrament in Baguio, 1931, St. Joseph’s Adoration Convent in Manila, 1965, Adoration Convent of Divine Peace in Cebu, 1973, Holy Spirit Adoration Convent in Davao, 1983, Immaculata Adoration Convent in Aklan, 1986. And Adoration Convent of Divine Mercy in Tagaytay in 1990.
Our hearts swell in gratitude to God for our 100 years of presence in the Philippines! We celebrate God’s faithfulness and the blessings of his love showered on our contemplative life of perpetual adoration for his Kingdom and unceasingly praise him!
The celebration itself will be held in Lipa on November 25, 2023, with the present Bishop of Lipa, Bp. Garcera and with the Redemptorists who rebuilt the convent but kept its name, Divino Amor, at the request of the people and retained some parts of the Sisters’ convent. Members of the Arnoldus family will be present too, benefactors and friends. Our Mother General, Mother Ma. Magdalena and two councillors and our Philippine superiors will also grace the occasion.
How Important is the contemplative life?
(Vultrum Dei Quaerere, Pope Francis)
The contemplative life is a witness to the ultimate goal of man to see the face of God. “Contemplative life is a specific form of prophetic sign in the world today. Signpost pointing to a journey and quest.”
Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Summa Contemplatrix, the contemplative is a person centered in God and to the contemplative, God is the Unum Necessarium as St. Teresa of Avila attest,
“The world and the Church need you to be beacons of light for the journey of the men and women of our time. This should be your prophetic witness. You have chosen not to flee the
world out of fear, as some might think, but to remain in the world, while not being of the world.
Although you live apart from the world, through the signs of your belonging to Christ, you tirelessly intercede for mankind, presenting to the Lord its fears and hopes, its joys and sufferings.” (Our enclosed life with our grilles are our signs of withdrawal from the world for an intense life of prayer and intercession, of union with the Lord and in him with all mankind.)
“The world needs you every bit as much as a sailor on the high seas needs a beacon to guide him to a safe haven. Be beacons to those near to you and, above all, to those far away. Be torches to guide men and women along their journey through the dark night of time. Be sentinels of the morning, heralding the dawn. By your transfigured life and with simple words pondered in silence, show us the Lord who alone brings us fulfillment and bestows life in abundance.
Contemplative Life, a priceless and indispensable gift which the Holy Spirit continues to raise up in the Church. Through this life of contemplation, you are the voice of the Church as she ceaselessly praises, thanks, implores and intercedes for all mankind. Through your prayer, you are co-workers of God, helping the fallen members of his glorious body to rise again.
How much has the apostolate been enriched by the prayers and sacrifices radiating from monasteries! And how great is the joy and prophecy proclaimed to the world by the silence of the cloister!
Dear contemplative sisters, without you what would the Church be like, or those living on the fringes of humanity and ministering in the outposts of evangelization? The Church greatly esteems you life of complete self-giving. The Church counts on your prayers and on your self-sacrifice to bring today’s men and women to the good news of the Gospel The Church needs you! The world needs you!”
Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Summa Contemplatrix, the contemplative is a person centered in God and to the contemplative, God is the Unum Necessarium as St. Teresa of Avila attest,
“The world and the Church need you to be beacons of light for the journey of the men and women of our time. This should be your prophetic witness. You have chosen not to flee the
world out of fear, as some might think, but to remain in the world, while not being of the world.
Although you live apart from the world, through the signs of your belonging to Christ, you tirelessly intercede for mankind, presenting to the Lord its fears and hopes, its joys and sufferings.” (Our enclosed life with our grilles are our signs of withdrawal from the world for an intense life of prayer and intercession, of union with the Lord and in him with all mankind.)
“The world needs you every bit as much as a sailor on the high seas needs a beacon to guide him to a safe haven. Be beacons to those near to you and, above all, to those far away. Be torches to guide men and women along their journey through the dark night of time. Be sentinels of the morning, heralding the dawn. By your transfigured life and with simple words pondered in silence, show us the Lord who alone brings us fulfillment and bestows life in abundance.
Contemplative Life, a priceless and indispensable gift which the Holy Spirit continues to raise up in the Church. Through this life of contemplation, you are the voice of the Church as she ceaselessly praises, thanks, implores and intercedes for all mankind. Through your prayer, you are co-workers of God, helping the fallen members of his glorious body to rise again.
How much has the apostolate been enriched by the prayers and sacrifices radiating from monasteries! And how great is the joy and prophecy proclaimed to the world by the silence of the cloister!
Dear contemplative sisters, without you what would the Church be like, or those living on the fringes of humanity and ministering in the outposts of evangelization? The Church greatly esteems you life of complete self-giving. The Church counts on your prayers and on your self-sacrifice to bring today’s men and women to the good news of the Gospel The Church needs you! The world needs you!”
Centenary of the Pink Sisters
“The Pink Sisters remind us of depth and presence, of prayer and intercession and that special love that is at the heart of God’s own life. The Sisters give us an image of the face of God turned towards us. They mirror to us the constancy and compassion of the Divine Love. In the lives of the Sisters, we catch a glimpse of divine goodness: a life for others, pressed down and overflowing, patient, gentle and unassuming. Such is the God we know through the Sisters. They have chosen an enclosed life to ‘disappear from the world as an object of interest in order to be everywhere in it by hiddenness and compassion.’” Surely, the centenary of the Pink Sisters is something worth celebrating. – cf Fr. Frank Gerry, SVD
We thank and praise God as we honor the past and the witness of the Sisters. Let us celebrate! The Sisters live and move on unto the eternal adoration of God in heaven with all the angels and saints, men and women, of all times.
We thank and praise God as we honor the past and the witness of the Sisters. Let us celebrate! The Sisters live and move on unto the eternal adoration of God in heaven with all the angels and saints, men and women, of all times.
ADORER’S LEAGUE
The above picture is the group of the new Adorers’ League organized by Ms. Glady Ramos wearing the centennial shirts giveaway. Most of them are between 30 – 50 years old and above. A few are senior citizens and the youngest is an 11 years old boy. It is non-exclusive. Everyone is invited to be a member, men and women, and even non-members to join in their activities. Through the internet they are recruiting members and getting in touch with others, reaching out to bring Jesusto many people and people to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
We invite our faithful and long time members of our Adorers’ League to renew their membership, bond and unite with the newly organized Adorers’ League.
We invited Fr. Sam Agcaracar, SVD, Rectror of the DWST to give the first recollection day of the Adorers’ League at the SSpS convent hall of the Mission Service Center, close to our convent. Theywere all so happy and grateful for it. They felt very much blessed. Although one of them only had two hours of sleep the day before, she said, “Hindi ako inantok, Fr. Sam’s conferences were inspiring and entertaining.” They also enjoyed the bonding and sharing and the prepared snacks that followed the celebration of the Mass preceded by the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. More activities will be planned in the course of time. May Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament be honored, praised and adored!
We invite our faithful and long time members of our Adorers’ League to renew their membership, bond and unite with the newly organized Adorers’ League.
We invited Fr. Sam Agcaracar, SVD, Rectror of the DWST to give the first recollection day of the Adorers’ League at the SSpS convent hall of the Mission Service Center, close to our convent. Theywere all so happy and grateful for it. They felt very much blessed. Although one of them only had two hours of sleep the day before, she said, “Hindi ako inantok, Fr. Sam’s conferences were inspiring and entertaining.” They also enjoyed the bonding and sharing and the prepared snacks that followed the celebration of the Mass preceded by the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. More activities will be planned in the course of time. May Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament be honored, praised and adored!
Blessings of the Rosary
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1. Sinners are forgiven.
2. Souls that thirst are refreshed. 3. Those who are fettered have their bonds broken. 4. Those who weep find happiness. 5. Those who are tempted find peace. 6. Those poor find help. 7. Religious are reformed. 8. Those who are arrogant are instructed. 9. The living learn to overcome pride. 10. The Holy Souls in Purgatory have their pains eased by suffrages |
October is the month of the Most Holy Rosary. Daily after Vespers on weekdays and after Terce on Sundays, we pray the Rosary in common before the Blessed Sacrament, for the urgent intentions of the Church and our world, foremost, for peace. We would gladly include your prayer intentions which we invite you to send us.
You may also send us the names of your beloved deceased, whom we will especially remember in our daily Masses, perpetual adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, prayers and sacrifices during the whole month of November, the month devoted to pray
You may also send us the names of your beloved deceased, whom we will especially remember in our daily Masses, perpetual adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, prayers and sacrifices during the whole month of November, the month devoted to pray
