Oblates of Notre Dame elect new leadership

(L-R) Sr. Marilou, Sr. Bernadette, Cardinal Quevedo, Sr. Erlinda, Sr. Ma. Consuelo, Sr. Nida. Photo taken by Sr. Marietta Alo at the OLH Chapel in Tamontaka (Cotabato) after the Mass.

COTABATO CITY — Five new members of the General Administration Team of the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) were elected by the 25 delegates to the 12th OND General Chapter meeting at the Shalom Hall in Tamontaka, D.O.S., Maguindanao, on April 29 to May 8, 2017. At the 11:00 AM concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass on May 05, 2017, the Presider Most Rev. Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato, publicly presented the new leaders to the faithful gathered at the Our Lady of Hope Chapel in the OND Novitiate compound in Tamontaka, D.O.S, Maguindanao,

The five newly elected General Team leaders are: Sr. Erlinda C. Hisug — Superior General, Sr. Bernadette G. Baldemor — 1st Councilor & Assistant General, Sr. Ma. Consuelo C. Flauta – 2nd Councilor, Sr. Marilou D. Tolentino – 3rd Councilor, and Sr. Nida C. Macahilo – 4th Councilor.

Sr. Erlinda, the past Assistant General, is a professed OND for 34 years, and was the Junior Directress before her election to the previous position. Born in Pasay City then resident of Koronadal City, she had obtained a Psychology degree from FEU, Manila, and was member of the faculty of the Notre Dame of Marbel University before she joined the congregation. She had served in the media apostolate as research-consultant in Radio Veritas Asia & station manager of DXGD, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and also in the Family and Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Cotabato.

A Boholana from Taloto, Tagbilaran City and former 2nd Councilor of the previous General Team, Sr. Bernadette joined the OND 29 years ago after her graduation from Notre Dame University in Cotabato City. She handled the Formation, Health and Heritage programs of the congregation during the past four years, is currently tasked with the Society’s overall ministry program, and had served as Vocation Directress, and coordinator of the Retreat and Parish apostolates in the ecclesiastical districts of Cotabato and Basilan.

Societal Archivist Sr. Ma. Consuelo hails from Kiamba, Sarangani Province, the 9th of 12 children, and pronounced her first vows 50 years ago on May 11, 1967. This year she celebrates her golden jubilee together with eight other sisters on December 8, 2017. She has served in the parish and catechetical ministries in Negros Oriental and the Archdioceses of Cotabato and Davao, was part of the Miryam Core group and Directress of Novices/Pre-novices and Juniors in her earlier years, Vocation Directress and part of the General Team in 1993-97, and Superior of the OND Cotabato District for the last two years.

Sr. Marilou first saw the light in Iloilo City in 1954 before the family transferred to Pigcawayan, Cotabato. She made her first profession of vows on April 8, 1978. She is the new OND Schools Superintendent and has consistently been part of the school ministry under the OND/OMI and Marist supervision in Cebu, Manila, and North and South Cotabato, with a year’s parish ministry in Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace parish in Kidapawan. The Muslim academe had been her direct clientele at the Notre Dame of Dulawan where she served as directress/principal for the past 14 years up to the present.

Sr. Nida, the eldest of 7 children, is an Ilongga from New Iloilo, Tantangan, South Cotabato, who celebrated her silver jubilee of religious vows in 2014. After her first profession, she was assigned as campus ministry coordinator of ND Abuyog in Leyte where she later returned as its directress/principal, directress/principal of ND Edcor, faculty member of ND Marbel University, and parish sister of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Grace Park, Caloocan City before she was tasked with the treasurely stewardship of the society as General Treasurer for the last 8 years. She will handle the Health and Mission Sustainability area of responsibility of the congregation for the next 4 years.

In his homily, Cardinal Quevedo shared his own experience on leadership, saying that he as leader learned from the ground, from the people served, implying that the leader must listen to the people, or the sisters, in the case of the OND. It is “not so much doing as being—a role model of fidelity to the OND charism, of missionary commitment towards social transformation following Christ after the example of Mary.” If you walk among the flock you take the smell of the sheep, he said, quoting Pope Francis and encouraging the new leaders to inspire with the ‘joy of the gospel’.

The new Superior General (SG), Sr. Erlinda, on behalf of the General Chapter, thanked all for the positive support given and praying that “we can walk together as companions in this journey.” Meantime, the outgoing Superior General Sr. Carmelita Y. Olifernes, OND expressed words of welcome to the new SG and her Councilors. “Our prayers go with you that God who chose you sustain you with the grace you need.” The liturgy concluded with the prayer to the Holy Spirit for the Superior General and the Council, as those attending raised their right hands in blessing over the heads of the new team standing in front of the altar.