Lipa: 'pink sisters' celebrate first century of mission in the Philippines
Archbishop Msgr. Gilbert Garcera presided over the solemn mass, along with other bishops and priests. Hundreds of the faithful were present to pay tribute to the work of the women religious. In his homily, the prelate emphasized their contribution through "prayer, adoration and sanctification."
Manila (AsiaNews) - A centenary missionary presence, celebrated with a solemn Eucharistic function that involved the community over the weekend. The Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP), a congregation of contemplatives, celebrated 100 years in the Philippines with a mass on November 25 at the chapel of Divine Love in Lipa, Batangas province, in the Calabarzon region (in Luzon).
The nuns are also known as nuns of the Adoration of the Holy Spirit or "pink nuns". Monsignor Gilbert Garcera, archbishop of Lipa, presided over the Eucharistic function which was attended by hundreds of faithful, several bishops and concelebrating priests. In the homily the prelate wanted to thank the nuns for having prayed a lot - and worked - at the service of the Church in this century of mission.
“Your participation in the mission of Christ through prayer, adoration and sanctification is worthy of praise” underlined Mgr. Garcera.
On November 25, 1923, the "pink nuns" began their missionary activity in Lipa, Batangas, giving life to a story that continues today a century later. Meanwhile, the congregation founded other convents in various cities in the Philippines including Baguio (1931), Manila (1965), Cebu (1973), Davao (1983), Aklan (1986) and Tagaytay (1990).
In addition to the Philippines, nuns are also present in two other Asian countries: India and Indonesia. Their mission is not limited to the Asian continent, because there are also consolidated realities in Africa, North America, Europe and Latin America.
In 1875, Saint Arnold Janssen, a German priest, founded three religious congregations, including the Society of the Divine Word, the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, and the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration.
He was canonized by Saint John Paul II on 5 October 2003 together with the missionary Ujöp Freinademetz, among the first to join the new verbita order, and the missionary and bishop Daniele Comboni.
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07/02/2019 17:28
