The Augustinian Sisters Servants of Jesus and Mary in the Philippines are very much grateful to God for giving them SR. CARMEN, a servant leader who for fifteen years have given her life in the service of the Church and in the Community here in the Philippines as a local Superior, formator, Executive Director and Delegate Superior. She is popularly called as SR. CARMEN by the Filipino sisters, MAMA CARMEN by the kids and CARMEN by some of her friends; and now being the newly elected Mo. Provincial of the Maltese Province in our congregation, she will be called "MO. CARMEN".
For fifteen years of being with us in the Philippines, Sr. Carmen has been an example of being a true servant, a mother, a teacher, a sister and a friend who inspired people of different facets of life-young and adult alike. Her welcoming attitude and spirit of friendliness have crossed the barriers of cultural differences and educational backgrounds. Her leadership role enables us to maintain and preserve our unity and love in the community where we live by heart the words of our Mo. Foundress in her last testament: "I leave you charity. This house has prospered through charity. If charity disappears, this house will disappear too".
Sr. Carmen was the one who helped us in the initiation of building up the retreat house (Mo. Teresa Spinelli House of Prayer, the orphanage (Mo. Teresa Spinelli's Treasures), the Novitiate House, the reconstruction of the Aspirancy house in Laguna and the re-opening of the convent in Iloilo. These were just few of her accomplishments while staying here in the Philippines not mentioning her other works of charity.
Now that she's elected as our new Mo. Provincial, I personally dedicate this page to her as a sign of gratitude for all the sacrifices and services she made; and to give honor, glory and praise to God for giving us an epitome of a true religious sister, who once upon a time touched my heart with so much love and respect. Sad to say, she will soon be leaving us to assume her new responsibility as a Mother Provincial hoping that she can carry it out with love, dedication and vigor for which we strongly believe she will.
Though it's hard to let Sr. Carmen go, we realize she does not only belong to us but to everybody in the Province. We will always be there to support her with all our prayers. To you my dear Reverend Mo. Carmen, I wish you all the best for yourself and for the Maltese Province. Your Reverence marked my life with honor and prestige. I thank you for everything that you have shared, for showing me the goodness and beauty of God, the importance of service and self-giving, for allowing me to grow and letting me know the primacy of loving my own vocation; for not blaming me if I committed mistakes but instead giving me chances to rise up again; for accepting me as I Am; for being there when I needed help; for giving me the best of everything; and most importantly for your trust and faith in me. I would like you to know that the child within me have appreciated so much your goodness; and that the God in me finds the God in you. I beg your pardon for everything that offends your goodness and forgive me sister for all my shortcomings as I do yours. I will surely miss your presence here with us in the community. The sisters, the kids, the helpers and all your friends will be missing you too.
Therefore, I would like to end this article by quoting the song " I thank my God each time I think of you and when I pray for you, I pray with joy." God loves you and so do I.
