FIRST RELIGIOUS PROFESSION

May 23, 2013

INTRODUCTION:

“My presence will go with you.” This is an assurance from a faithful and loving God who has called us by name
and has loved us. Certain that God is the only goal of every vocation and an ever faithful companion, Sr. Pearl
moves on to start treading the path God has prepared for her. It is by God’s grace that she freely and sincerely
gives herself to the Lord by assuming the commitments proper to the vocation of a Daughter of Mary Help of
Christians.

Today, as we witness the profession of vows of our sister, let us accompany her in thanking the Lord for His
goodness and pray that as she seek to follow Him in the paths of life, she may live the fullness of joy in the
faithful living of the religious life.
 FIRST RELIGIOUS PROFESSION
May 23, 2013

Prayer of the faithful

Priest: God has called each one of us His Beloved. He is with us and He invites us to walk on the paths of life so
as to experience the fullness of joy. Filled with confidence and gratitude for the outpouring of His
total, unconditional and infinite love, we pray:
LORD, LEAD US TO LIFE.
1. For the Church in its pilgrimage of faith: that guided by the Holy Spirit and enriched by
the witness of the lives of its members, it may always be a sign of the new Jerusalem. Let
us pray.

2. For our Holy Father Pope Francis, and all the ministers of the Gospel: that sustained by the strength
of the Holy Spirit, they may courageously proclaim and defend the primacy and dignity of human
beings, made in the image of God. Let us pray.

3. For Mother General - Yvonne Reungoat, and our Provincial Superior – Sr. Sarah Garcia, that they may
safeguard the educative charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello with wisdom and audacity and
may they foster its incarnation in the here and now of our different cultures. Let us pray.

4. For all formators and educators especially Sr. Cynthia Calabig, that led by the Spirit they may constantly
adhere to the teachings and example of the Good Shepherd in leading and forming the young to the
fullness of life. Let us pray.

5. For all the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians called to love and witness to Christ, may they be the
living image of our Heavenly Mother who was the first and faithful disciple of her Son. Let us pray.

6. For Sr. Pearl who freely commits herself to follow Christ and is sustained by His faithful love: that she
may continually strive to tread the path He prepared for her, bringing to birth the new life of the
Beatitudes. Let us pray.

7. For the Salesian family: that through the collaborative effort of its members, they may continue to
enrich the mission entrusted to them by St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello as they work with zeal
and dedication for the young especially the poor and needy youth. Let us pray.

8. For the parents, relatives and benefactors of our newly-professed Sister: may they find in God the
source of true peace and joy for their generous offering at the service of His Kingdom. Let us pray.

9. For all young people especially our formands: that guided by the Spirit they may listen attentively and
respond generously to God’s call. Let us pray.

Priest: God our Father, you manifest the greatness of your love by calling us to yourself. Accept our humble
petitions and pour out on us Your Spirit that we may bear witness with joy to your life-giving Word, this
we ask through Christ our Lord.
 THANKSGIVING PRAYER

I praise and thank You today, faithful God because in your goodness and in the greatness of Your love, You have
accompanied me towards path of life.

I praise and bless You for the motherly love and guiding presence of our Blessed Mother, who throughout my
life’s journey has led me closer to You and in whose school I was formed.

Through these years, I am grateful to You for the gift of my family whose love, care, support and trust has
strengthen me and has made me capable to love and be loved.

I give You thanks for all the Sisters who have accompanied and formed me in discovering and discerning your
loving plan for me:
- To Sr. Alice and to you, Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA who in faith, accepted me to the Institute and guided me during
my formative years

- To my dear Animators from the Aspirantate until Novitiate: Sr. Evelyn Lacsa, FMA and Sr. Jessica Salvaña,
FMA: Thank you for your patient guidance, attentive listening and loving accompaniment that led me closer to
the realization of my Salesian calling

-to Sr. Cynthia Calabig,: Thank you for the wise guidance, for the reverence and accompanying love you gave to
my person and for helping me go deeper within myself so as to live with greater authenticity and joy.

- to my assistants: Sr. Rachel, Sr. Carmela, Sr. Ludette and Sr. Lyn: I really appreciate your patience, sisterly
concern, and loves, thus making me realize the importance of living life well

- to the communities with whom I lived during my formation years, for each and every sister who particularly
followed me up with their prayers, their example and their sisterly presence.

-to the communities in Pampanga esp. to the Mary Help of Christians Community where I had my one month
apostolic experience: I thank you for the warm welcome, the sisterly togetherness and the witnessing of life
especially the zeal and the love with which you are giving to your community and to the missions.

Thank you Lord for my companions in the past, Aspirants, Postulants and Novices: esp. to the Sr. Eugene, Sr.
Christina, and Sr. Sarin: I am sincerely grateful to you for being a part of my journey, for sharing life with me,
for your sisterly support and prayers and for the experiences that strengthened our relationships.

I also appreciate Lord the presence of Your priests, especially to Rev. Fr. Eli Cruz, SDB and ____ who
concelebrated, who generously and zealously gave their service to assist me in my spiritual and Sacramental
needs.

Finally, I sincerely thank You Lord for the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the
Philippine Province, for all the sisters who became my educators, for my friends and benefactors, for all those
who take part in this celebration of Your faithful love. Thank you Lord because by their mere presence, I am
able to discover the path you prepared for me.
With all these blessings Lord, I am filled with joy and hope that like them, I too, may become a sign Your very
own accompanying love to whoever I will encounter along the path. Amen.