Saturday in Manila

What I consider the “highlight” of the morning was a presentation on “The Role of Women in Faith Based Organizations in Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia Pacific.”  While women working within the Catholic church in the US think THEY have challenges, they pale when I hear what is happening in other parts of the world. That is one reason I was anxious to come to the Philippines and hear from our local sisters, as well as those in Africa and India.
 
This afternoon two women committed themselves to living a vowed life as Sisters for Christian Community. Most have spent several years “walking” with the SFCC community in their local area. Thanks to technology, some sisters have been mentored into the community via Skype! This is usually when the woman does not have SFCCs in her proximity. Just as this seed that was planted in the Philippines many years ago and now has over 35 sisters, a new seed was planted in India a few years ago (thanks to Skype) and we have the joy of seeing it bear fruit.

The attached picture is of Sr. Virgie, a native Filipino, who has family in Maryland and strong ties to the WEB region (Washington-Eastern Shore-Baltimore). Much of the credit for the growth of our community in this area belongs to her.