Latest Developments (contd.,)
Retreat in Ireland
Audience with the Papal Nuncio
Special Anniversary
Sisters Alice and Karine, O.Ss.R., are in Ireland for a 2-week retreat, They will stay in the Monastery at Dublin from 29 April to 13 May 2025.
Special Anniversary
Audience with the Papal Nuncio
Special Anniversary
Today we celebrate 300 years since the Revelation of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer to Blessed Maria Celeste Crostarosa on 25 April 1725. It would be a few more years in 1731 before the Order is officially founded but today remains a special anniversary because of the Revelation.
Audience with the Papal Nuncio
Audience with the Papal Nuncio
Audience with the Papal Nuncio
The most exciting meeting was the unscheduled audience with the Papal Nucio. His Excellency Charles Brown accommodated us on the day we were returning to our respective monasteries. He even accpted my invitation to attend our next assembly and officiate the opening Eucharistic celebration. He also accepted to give us a talk on Contemplative Life.
CWCCP Audience with Cardinal
Audience with the Papal Nuncio
CWCCP (Conference of Women Contemplative Communities of the Philippines) had an audience with His Eminence Pablo Virgilio S. Cardinal David, D.D., President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, on 16 February 2025.
We informed him of our official existence being approved by the Dicastery of the Congregation of Consecrated and the Society of Apostolic Life.
Cardinal David was so gracious with us and asked us to pray for the Church and the needs of the whole world.
Chairperson delivering Welcome Address
Welcome Address by Chairperson Sr. Alice Agosto, O.Ss.R., at the Conference of Women Contemplative Communities of the Philippines (CWCCP). The week long seminar with the theme on SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTION OF MINORS AND VULNERABLE ADULTS was held from January 21 to 26, 2025 at the Casa di Misirecordia in Ligao, Albay and attended by 65 nuns from 11* different Contemplative Orders. Click here for FaceBook link to CWCCP.
* The Orders:
2. Carmelites
4. Benedictines
5. Dominicans
6. Daughters of Mary Consolatrix
8. Passionists
9. Augustinians
10. Poor Clares
Federation of OMPH of O.Ss.R.
The Federation of Our Mother of Perpetual Help of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer is comprised of the English-speaking Monasteries in “Cebu” Philippines, “Legaspi” Philippines, “Maitland” Australia, “St Thérèse” Canada and “Dublin” Ireland.
The Assembly of the Federation met in our Redemptoristine Monastery in Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand aka Korat.
Following are the members of the Council:
Sr Lucy Conway (3rd from Right), President
Sr Alice Marie Agosto (4th from Right), Councillor
Sr Mary Fides Borgonia (5th from Right), Councillor
Sr Chantal Lussier (1st from Right) was elected as the Federal Bursar
Sr Maura Walsh (6th from Right) is the Federal Secretary
Fr Piotr Chyla (2nd from Right) C.Ss.R Religious Assistant.
Entry of Gretchel and Henrika to Postulancy
Congratulations to Gretchel (Photo, left) and Henrika on their entry to Postulancy on the FeastDay of Blessed Gaspar Stanggasinger, C.Ss.R., on 26 September. We are so proud and happy for you both at our Cebu Redemptoristine community! Watch this video.
Mission to Singapore and Ipoh (Malaysia)
Sisters Karine and Alice, O.Ss.R., undertook their first mission to Singapore and Ipoh (Malaysia) on 3rd week of September (12-22 Sep) to promote Viva Memoria - the vocation of the Redemptoristine Sisters of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (O.Ss.R.) founded by Blessed Mother Maria Celeste Crostarosa. Several ladies, discerning their call by the Lord, expressed great interest in visiting the Cebu Monastery to get to know the Order. For more details on the Mission, please click here.
First Council Meeting
The First Council Meeting of the Conference of Women Contemplative Communities of the Philippines, from 2 - 4 July, was held at the Redemptorist Retreat House in Cebu.
New Elected Council
Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, 2024
The newly Elected Council of the Redemptoristine Order at Cebu, posing beside the statue of Blessed Mother Celeste, are: Prioress - Sr. Karine (leftmost), Subprioress - Sr. Alice (2nd from left), and Secretary - Sr. Lynette (rightmost).
Aspirant Charby to Postulancy
Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, 2024
Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, 2024
Aspirant Charby was ordained as Postulancy at the Monastery - the first stage of becoming a sister, and generally lasts 2 years. Congratulations!
Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, 2024
Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, 2024
Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, 2024
A total of 82 participants and 2 facilitators graced the Conference of Women Contemplative Communities in the Philippines, held in Maghaway, Talisay, Cebu, from 8 - 13 April 2024. The Conference gathered Nuns from all over the Philippines to share on the Synodality of Contemplative Nuns journeying together and participating in the mission of the Church through prayer and contemplation.
Click here for e-PDF for more details.
Developments in 2023
Sr. Joan Calver, O.Ss.R., celebrates 70th Anniversary
Sr. Joan Calver, O.Ss.R., one of the four valiant Redemptoristine Nuns who brought the Redemptoristine's Contemplative Presence to the Philippines, especially in Bicol region, celebrated her 70th Anniversary of Religious Profession on October 11, 2023, at Korat, Thailand. She turned 90 in March this year. Viva Memoria!
Message from Sr. Joan:
"Thank you for all your prayers and continuous support to the Redemptoristines, to the generosity of the Redemptorists, our families, friends and benefactors, to all Redemptoristine communities and associates, to Bishop Joseph Chusak and the Diocese of Korat, Through all the years, God has been so good to us."
Feast Day of Bl. Crostarosa celebration
A Mass was held on September 11 at our Redemptoristine Monastery Chapel, Cebu, to celebrate the Feast Day of our Foundress, Blessed Mother Celeste Crostarosa.
Fr. Pio, who delivered the homily, shared about Mother Celeste and the special gift God had given her. That at the early stages of her life, God was already communicating with her in a very intimate way. That the order she must found is based on living out of Christ's life (Viva memoria), and that the sisters in the order must live out in their lives the life of Jesus thus becoming his living memory.
At the conclusion of the Mass, a song called Viva Memoria, was sung for the first time.
Formandees Session
Welcome Aspirant Hendrikha
This week, September 5 to 9, we, the Formators at our Cebu monastery, are conducting a session for our Formandees on "Who Am I".
The Formandees attending comprise 4 junior sisters, 1 postulant, 2 aspirants and 1 applicant.
The goal of this session is to facilitate deeper discovery among our Formandees about themselves in their relationship with God, others and creation..
Welcome Aspirant Hendrikha
Welcome Aspirant Hendrikha
Welcome Aspirant Hendrikha
The Redemptoristines at Cebu Monastery welcomed Hendrikha Wilhelmina Balan as an Aspirant Redemptoristine Nun with her Initial Formation taken on 24 August 2023,
Solemn Profession
Welcome Aspirant Hendrikha
Solemn Profession
Sister Maria Irenea Bustilla of Jesus photographed with concelebrant, His Excellency Most Reverend Joel Z. Baylon, D.D., Bishop of Legazpi, after making her Solemn Profession of Religious Vows on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the Redemptoristine Monastery, Gogon, Legazpi City.
First Profession
Welcome Aspirant Hendrikha
Solemn Profession
Congratulations to Sr. Maria Selviana Ambu Kaka, Sr. Maria Nopliana Kodi Mete, and Sr. Kristina Celeste Ra Mete on their First Profession of Religious Vows at our Chapel in the Monastery on July 12, 2023. His Excellency, Bishop Manny Cabajar, C.Ss.R., D.D., presided and delivered the homily.