CELEBRATING THE 150^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST MARY EUPHRASIA’S PASSING:

 Our Mission is Alive Today!

By Sr Salomi Cruz

For one year, from 24 April 2018 till 24 April 2019, we commemorate and celebrate the 150^th death anniversary of St. Mary Euphrasia (SME).  We are invited by our Congregational Spirituality Center Team to meditate on “Our Mission is Alive Today”

St. Mary Euphrasia continues to inspire mission partners (sisters and lay partners) to go beyond boundaries to be the compassionate presence of Jesus the Good Shepherd by empowering lives, restoring rights and upholding dignity of persons.

On 03 June 2018, Volcano de Fuego in Guatemala erupted, unleashing a deadly flow of toxic hot gas and volcanic rocks. Reports of high numbers of dead, injured, displaced and missing people in the surrounding villages moved our Sisters in Guatemala to respond quickly.

An urgent appeal was made from our congregational website for help to fund the relief and recovery efforts of our sisters in Guatemala, estimated to cost USD27,700 in the next six months.

Our reflection on St. Mary Euphrasia’s call to go beyond boundaries urged us to respond to the appeal for financial help. The mission partners of Madonna Heights decided to have a fundraising project among our close circle of mission partners during the month of July and culminating with a Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration on the 28 July to mark the 150^th Death Anniversary of SME.

We sold home cooked ikan bilis sambal which were quickly snapped up by those who were familiar with the taste and quality. Many others simply contributed cash.

On Saturday, 28 July 2018, about 100 mission partners gathered at Madonna Heights for the celebration of the Eucharist to commemorate the gift and life of our foundress, a visionary, audacious and zealous woman.  At this celebration, we expressed our gratitude to mission partners for their efforts to raise funds and prayed for those affected by the volcanic eruption in Guatemala.

Fr. Simon Lau, a newly ordained priest celebrated the Eucharist. Fr. Lau’s homily touched the hearts of many. He asked “who we are”: the lost sheep, 99 sheep or the Shepherd.  At different times in our lives, we experience being at one of the three places. He asked what is lost within us that we need to look for.  In his conclusion, he reminded us that we are all called to be disciples of Jesus.

The Eucharistic celebration concluded with a short video clip on the volcano eruption in Guatemala and a slide presentation on the fund raising efforts. This was followed by lunch fellowship.

During the lunch fellowship, these were some remarks that we noted:-

• “The word ‘compassion’ seems to speak to me so much.” – Jackie Yip
• “It was such a joyful and meaningful event. Well organized. Everyone contributed to the occasion to touch the lives of those suffering” – Jacintha Cruz
• “The celebration was like a family gathering, a time to connect and bond’ – Andrew Han
• “Thank you so much for inviting us for this occasion. The Eucharistic Celebration was meaningful. I will remember the homily which spoke to me so much and touched my heart.” John Chin

We are grateful for the hard work by the mission partners who made the ikan bilis sambal, and all our benefactors for their support and cash contributions.  The total amount raised from the sales and donations received is about RM28,000. This fundraising project is now closed.

Though it rained heavily just before the celebration, it did not dampen the spirit of the celebration. Many saw the rain as a sign of abundant blessings, such as God provided a ‘natural air conditioning’ which cooled the atmosphere for the occasion.

St. Mary Euphrasia continues to challenge us to be authentic witnesses of the Good Shepherd.

Our unity and inter-connectedness is the driving force to keep our mission alive!