12 ONDs celebrate jubilee

From left to right: Sr. Virginia Isabel Q. Tadeo, OND, Sr. Mary Jori A. Quintos, OND, Sr. Telma C. Argate, OND, Sr. Susana L. Reyes, OND, Sr. Rose Susan P. Montejo, OND, Sr. Lucy P. Jontongco OND, Sr. Merlinda B. Paderes, OND, Sr. Marie Jane O. Olegario, OND and Sr. Maria Teresa C. Diaz, OND.

Twelve Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) sisters jointly celebrated their jubilee on December 9, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with a Eucharistic celebration at Our Lady of Hope Chapel, OND Compound in Tamontaka.

The jubilarians included pioneering ONDs who celebrated their 60th year of vowed life –
Sr. Virginia Isabel Q. Tadeo, OND, Sr. Mary Jori A. Quintos, OND, Sr. Salvacion S. Pagsuguiron, OND, and Sr. Lily Gerard P. Oliver, OND. Four sisters also marked their 50 years of vowed life – Sr. Telma C. Argate, OND, Sr. Rose Susan P. Montejo, OND, Sr. Susana L. Reyes, OND, Sr. Lucy P. Jontongco OND; while Sr. Merlinda B. Paderes, OND, Sr. Marie Jane O. Olegario, OND, Sr. Maria Theresa N. Arzagon, OND (now in Texas, USA), Sr. Maria Teresa C. Diaz, OND celebrated 25 years as Oblates of Notre Dame.

Sr. Maria Teresa C. Diaz, OND, one of the jubilarians echoed 1 Thess 5:18 in her introduction saying “Everything is a gift! In everything give thanks.” That is our clarion proclamation as OND Jubilarians!

In all the years of consecrated life gifted to us Jubilarians, we have striven to proclaim Mary’s Fiat. Now, we return to God in humble jubilation, giving thanks, proclaiming God’s fidelity, everlasting love and compassion.

As a sign of solidarity with the Philippine Church as it proclaimed 2020 the Year of Ecumenism, Inter Religious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples the jubilarians invited the parents and children of the Notre Dame Learning Center, where the children’s first moment of dialogue is experienced to join them in the floral offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mariam to the Muslims. The OND was born in the heart of Muslim Mindanao and the jubilarians have been blessed to have participated in God’s mission in fostering Ecumenism and IRD.

The jubilarians renewed their vows of commitment before God and the community gathered as witnesses, with renewed fidelity to the OND Charism and Spirituality, and once again pronounced their vow of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

After the jubilarians’ Prayer of Commitment Sr. Erlinda C. Hisug, OND Superior General, emphasized in her message that their “silver-golden-diamond journey as consecrated women communicates to us a rich spirit-filled story of your encounters of the person of Jesus through people and events.”

Meanwhile, His Eminence Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, DD, main presider and homilist in the Eucharistic celebration, likened the Jubilarians to Mary: As Mary so also our twelve OND jubilee celebrants — they are missionary disciples, women-in-mission. Their over-arching mission is to announce the Good News of Jesus, Lord and Savior. Like Mary in her spiritual motherhood, through their active mission especially among the poor, through their teaching and guidance, through their mission collaboration and prayers, they help cause the birth of faith in new believers and disciples. And yes, they might even pass on to others, through word and life, the tiny whisper of the Holy Spirit that they heard a long time ago: “Go and be a Sister.”

Cardinal Quevedo also had the words of gratitude for the sisters: “For twenty-five, or fifty, or sixty years, you have demonstrated to us through your lives God’s ineffable love for us. You have shown us what it means to love God above all else as our One Unsurpassable Love and Treasure. You have illustrated to us through your own lives the meaning of perseverance, fidelity and love. For these and for many other blessings we have received through you, we say thank you.” (Sr. Maria Luz P. Fernandez, OND)