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News from our newer members in the Philippines.
Our retreat we had on the first week of May was a big
help to the community to understand and accept each ones uniqueness and
individuality and to be able to live with differences. We had our retreat at
"Bulong ng Simoy" meaning the "Gentle Breeze". It was a conducive venue for
retreat and relaxation. We did Enneagram and Anapanasati which is a Buddhist
inspired way of meditation. We also did some YOGA exercises which really helped
as preparation for the meditation and body relaxation. PIAR
Sr Leah writes
Hello everyone, this is Leah. I want to share my news with all of you. I finished my English class last week and it went well. I have improved my English vocabulary and I feel more confident to speak English now, no matter if I am right or wrong. The important thing is I'm trying to speak. My only request is if I am wrong just tell me, so that next time I will know. Many people say "mistakes makes perfect"..
This month of June I will join the Sojourn Program. It's an intercongregational program. For new members of both men and women religious congregations. It's a holistic series of courses like Looking at Religious Motivation; Theater Arts; Human Development; Community Building; Basic Liturgy; Care for the Earth; Philippine-Church History; Basic Faith Notion; Prayer; and Scriptures etc. It will start on June 15 up to September 22 and start again in January to February. LEAH.
Sr Elizabeth writes
ECOLOGICAL PROGRAM OF KUMARE . . . MOVING
FORWARD!!! The ecological program of Kumare is moving forward. After six months
of full implementation, all KUMARE centers in Real and Infanta have already
been given a seminar on Solid Waste Management and 3 of these centers have
already built their Material Recovery Facility (MRF). A Material Recovery
Facility is an ecological center with an eco-shed and an eco-garden. The
eco-shed serves as a stock room for the non-biodegradable wastes and a
recycling area. In the eco-garden, the biodegradable wastes are composted and
used as fertilizers for the plants. The program has also begun in April its Monthly Clean and Green Project. Each center has to have a monthly activity like tree planting, highway, coastal or river clean-up. The development of organic farms is also part of the program. Three pilot centers will start working on their trial farms this June.
The Kabataang Kaibigan ng Kalikasan (Young Friends of Nature) which is the youth organization that is conceived by the ecology program of Kumare is also blossoming. The first KKK Ecology Youth Camp has just been held on April 20-22 in Barangay Kiloloron. Thirty seven young people participated in the camp. After the Opening Ceremonies in the morning of the 20th, the participants were told "The New Creation Story". After which, they were given an input on Solid Waste Management which included Recycling. Then, they were divided into four groups with the four elements of creation as their names - Apoy (Fire), Hangin (Air), Tubig (Water) and Lupa (Earth). Each group had to undergo four workshops - Creation Mandala Making, Recycling, Card Making and Creative Dance (dance of the elements of creation). The workshops started in the afternoon of the 20th until the morning of the 22nd. The groups therefore went from one workshop station to another. In between the workshops, the young people also had time to work in their ecology garden and to do tree planting and highway and coastal clean-up in the barangay. The Closing Ceremonies in the afternoon of the 22nd was also the Earth Day Celebration. The workshop outputs of the campers were exhibited and presented. Gifts were given to the groups with the most creative dance, best mandala and best recycled materials. Twelve of the participants with the most beautiful cards also received gifts. All participants were also given certificates of participation. The staff members of KUMARE, the Sisters of Sion and the proud parents of the participants were present in the celebration. We ended the camp and the celebration of Earth Day with an Earth-Walk. Everybody walked around the barangay in silence carrying a coconut shell with a candle inside it. The Walk ended in the river where the candles were floated. This ritual is the groups' prayer for the healing of the wounds of Mother Earth.
With Ate Emma's (Emma Ayapana - the ecology officer of KUMARE) deep commitment to the program, together with all the staff of KUMARE, a bright future truly awaits the children and grandchildren of the next generation!!!
E l i z a b e t h