Women religious of Davao take break from their apostolate, join Lenten recollection

The religious women in the Archdiocese took a break from their respective apostolates and joined a whole day recollection recently.

The Association of Consecrated Women in the Archdiocese of Davao (ACWAD) have organized a whole day recollection at the Marie Rivier Retreat House in Catalunan Grande, Davao City and was participated in by 125 sisters coming from 21 congregations serving the Archdiocese of Davao.

Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, Provincial Superior of the Dominican Fathers is the recollection master and presider during the mass and whole day recollection last February 21.

Fr. Timoner delivered his input about the Year of Mercy and Year of Consecrated Life wherein he emphasized the vow of poverty of the religious women.

In his homily, Fr. Timoner emphasized about the transfiguration of Christ saying to be transfigured is to change what they truly are inside.

“As religious we will have a glimpse of what we will become. So in times of trials, we know that God will remember us,” he said.

He said that there will always be a story on how God manifested His glory, on how He gave hope to them amidst life’s difficulties.

“It’s a challenge for us not only to see God and what we truly are but to see our sisters who they truly are. God is also with them,” Fr. Timoner said on the meaning of transfiguration.

He added that the Eucharist is a moment of transfiguration saying, “We see what Jesus truly is. Eucharist is where Jesus truly is.”

“This is a moment of rest for us religious sisters. We have been spending our time and energy in our respective apostolates and now we are here to look back and see how we are doing our work for the good of the Church,” said Sr. Ma. Marissa Arado, from the Teresian Daughters of Mary who participated in the recollection.

ACWAD is regularly meeting as a group for updating and other concerns of the religious women in the Archdiocese of Davao. They will have their next meeting this May.