Teresian Association (TA) in Davao celebrates the 100th Anniversary of its Pontifical Approval

What a joyous celebration of the momentous milestone, the 100th Anniversary of the Pontifical Approval of the Teresian Association, in a spirit of gratitude and communion. 11 priests from the Archdiocese of Davao and from religious communities concelebrated the Eucharistic Celebration on January 11, 2024 at 5:30pm at the San Pedro Poveda Parish Church, Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City with Msgr. Paul A. Cuison as the presider.

Msgr. Cuison happily accepted the request of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD who attended the funeral of Most Rev. Ronald I. Lunas, DD in Pagadian, to come to celebrate with us on his behalf. It was heartwarming to hear Msgr. Cuison in his homily that the occasion served as “an opportunity to renew the ties of friendship with the TA members” as he was once the parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish in Obrero where the social domicile of the TA was located.

Reechoing partly the late Pope John Paul II’s new millennium message, Msgr. Cuison said, “It is in the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving, that we are also challenged as an association to be grateful with the past, to be confident with the future and to live in the present not only with enthusiasm but also in fidelity.” He further said, “Looking back with gratitude today we remember with fondness and devotion the beloved Founder, St. Pedro Poveda.”

It was affirming to hear from his homily: “There is one thing I’m sure of, that he himself (St. Pedro Poveda) had experienced what the leper in the Gospel today had experienced – the powerful encounter of God’s love, and it is this that eventually transformed him into a loving person, being gifted by the Holy Spirit with a special love for the underprivileged. St. Pedro Poveda had established an association that promotes the values of education, as a means to a wholistic transformation of the human person. And through his life and example, he laid down a path which attracted thousands of souls to walk in holiness and to follow Jesus in radical discipleship.”

These words in reference to St. Pedro Poveda elated and emboldened us as we (10 PA and 11 ACIT members) listened with our 142 guests — our partners, cooperators, families, friends:

• our school (ITEC, Inc. (Saint Pedro Poveda College)) – the parent / guardian association representatives, the faculty and non-teaching and maintenance personnel,
• Josefa Segovia Foundation along with friends from the Indigenous People’s Apostolate, the
  Indigenous People’s communities and the youth,
• the former IT Youth members who are now professionals and living the Povedan ideals where they
  are – in government, judiciary, medicine, education,
• Barangay of Catalunan Pequeño headed by Barangay Captain Rodrigo A. Tangaro;
• San Pedro Poveda Parish Pastoral Council, personnel and youth headed by our Parish Priest, Fr. Elneri B. Meñez,
• colleagues from the universities and government offices where the members are working and who
  have joined us in social engagement, ministries in the Church, civil society, retirees’ association,
• our very own families with their unconditional love and all-out support,
• friends and colleagues from religious congregations and communities,
• staff of DXGN 89.9 -Spirit FM that made a special coverage of the Mass.

After the Mass, we led our guests to AlMaCen of Josefa Segovia Foundation where they could view the videos of “The Teresian Way” and “It all began in Covadonga” on loop, and a short program took place to welcome, acknowledge and thank our guests, a presentation of some facts about the TA and sharing to them the message from Lucia S. Subaldo, President of the Teresian Association in the Philippines. Finally, fellowship followed with lively conversations while having dinner.

The take home for us was likewise inspiring and challenging as we recalled some more insightful words of Msgr. Cuison:

“To this very day, I’m sure that the spirit of the beloved Founder has continued to guide the Association, inspiring every member, every Teresiana, wherever they may be and whatever they may do, not only to seek success of their endeavors and plan, but most importantly to seek holiness as the ultimate goal in life.”

“Living the present with enthusiasm – We thank the Lord for the gift of each other, for the gift of every member of the Association spread all over the world. (…) you compose the TA of today, and with your own unique character and ability you enrich the Church, the Body of Christ, with every spiritual blessing.”

“We pray for you in a very special way today not only for the gift of enthusiasm but more for the gift of fidelity. That your thought …, your feelings and sensibilities will be more of Jesus, that your life will be like that very life of Jesus. Ultimately, that you will become Christ himself, (…) to continue to struggle to become Jesus himself for others.”

“Looking forward to the future with confidence knowing that if God has preserved us for a hundred years, surely He will not fail to do the same for the next 100 years. However, (…) we cannot but ask, “Quo vadis, Teresiana? Where are you going? (…) The Gospel would only take us to one direction – servanthood.”

“Members of the TA, you must become servants of Jesus, doing what Jesus is doing, loving the unlovable, and touching the untouchable.”

“I also believe that this is what the world needs today, that acceptance and love that knows no boundaries and limitation. This is the kind of Church that Pope Francis would like us to become. This must also be the Association that we should aspire to follow.”

And quoting the late Abp. Fernando R. Capalla, “Nothing comes to maturity and perfection without the cross.”, Msgr. Cuison exhorted us, “Quo vadis, Teresiana? You will continue to share the missionary journey of the Church. In fact you already have reached 100 years doing missionary work, but (…) you will never come to maturity and perfection without the cross. Quo vadis, Teresiana?

Let your answer be –
a Yes to life,
a Yes to the mission,
ultimately, a Yes to the cross of Christ.”

(Gardenia Beramo)