The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Manila Priory have set up their School of the Lord’s Service south of Metro Manila, in Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines.  Currently composed of 1 senior novice, 2 canonical novices, and 1 postulant, the formandees are being guided by the Formation House Community of 6 Perpetually Professed Sisters. The formation process has been a blend of classroom instruction, apostolate exposure, regular individual counselling and spiritual direction sessions, and participation in the community’s Liturgy of the Hours as part of the daily horarium.  In imbibing the Benedictine way of life of prayer and work, an area in the convent is also assigned to each formandee as part of her daily routine. 

As a monastic community, the daily horarium starts with praying Lauds, followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  Each Sister then proceeds to her daily tasks which may include apostolate/outreach work, before coming together again as a community at Midday Prayer.  In-house classes on Liturgy, Church History, the Congregation’s Constitutions, learning the Rule of St. Benedict, among others, are usually done in the afternoon, before daily adoration and Lectio Divina.  These are being complemented with online Wisdom connections’ T4 classes. The community then prays Vespers together, spends some time in recreation, and ends the day with praying Compline. 

True to the Congregation’s missionary character, the formandees’ current apostolate exposure, aside from the annual community immersion, Advent and Lenten outreach, has now included a regular encounter with the neighboring community residents.  Dubbed Tiangge (“market”) ni Maria (“of Mary”), similar to a mom-and-pop store, this small fruits and vegetables “market” has been the channel by which the formandees learn the value of service and stewardship.  The formandees with baskets of affordable farm-fresh products open the “market” on Tuesdays at 8: 30 in the morning by the entrance of the Formation House, servicing the residents of the poor, the rich and working class alike.  With the Tiangge, the community is concretizing Benedictine hospitality by creating a welcoming space that fosters conversations and connections.  It also brings people from different social and religious backgrounds together.  It is an alternative to the dole-out system to the poor, promoting dignity and self-sufficiency.  It is where commerce meets compassion.  Proceeds are being used to hold the Kid’s Summer Camp of the Children of Mary, participated by the sons and daughters of the poor residents in the area. 

While formation is a life-long process, the formandees in their initial formation get a foretaste of the monastic and missionary life within and beyond the convent walls.

Fr Yesudasu Gorre is a Parish Priest at St John's Orphanage in Borrempalem, India. AIM-USA has worked with him to support his efforts in the community.

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I am happy to give you the details of my work and my mission. Borrampalem is 28 years mission parish in the diocese of Eluru.  It is a rural parish far away from diocesan headquarters and at the end of West Godavari district. People are very poor materially and financially but rich in faith.

This village was left behind and uncared for pastorally and sacramentally for the past few years. It is very clear when I look at the situation of present Catholics whose faith is at risk due to false preaching and heresies. Still, people are gathering to discuss and to pray over these situations, a sign of stability in their faith.
 
To build faith within the community, I organize pastoral programs to enrich faith.
 
Objectives
 

1. Create an atmosphere of God’s presence always amidst them

2. Teach the rich meaning of Catholicism

3. Enable individuals to be a living witness to the Body of Christ

4. Bring back the lost sheep

5. Generate a sense of community

6. Make individuals charismatic Christians in the modern world

7. Show the path that leads them to the Way, the Truth and the Life

8. Build confidence to feel the presence of Christ

9.  Educate regarding the real presence of Christ in Eucharist, the values of Catholicism, and holy mass

10.  Prepare people to receive all the sacraments

11.  Lead a life of grace through sacraments and sacramentals.

12.  Develop strength in the faith and teaching of catholic church

Children's Camps

Children lead very busy lives with their studies daily. Every morning at 8 A.M., they go to school and return twelve hours later. They have no time to learn about the Bible or catechism of Catholic Church. Some are studying in hostels and boarding homes due to a lack of educational facilities at their proper villages. They return home for holiday according to semester.

I take the opportunity that holidays provide to conduct three-day children's camps twice in a year. My goal is to teach the catechism of the Catholic Church, the holy mass prayers, the values of life, etc. During this time, I prepare children for first communion and confirmation and arrange time for them to make confessions.

All these activities are more fruitful in the lives of children. To encourage them every year to participate the camp, I provide items such as gifts, Bibles, notebooks, and school uniforms.

Gatherings for Families

Family is the first school where children are taught first catechism, Catholic faith, and Christian values. I observe many families with internal conflict, and young men and women enter marriage with a lack of understanding to the commitment they have made.

Twice a year, I organize gatherings for families with classes on faith and navigating married life. I screen documentaries to inspire them and conduct games to build unity and understanding.

 
Distributing Holy Bibles and Mokshadwarams (Liturgical Prayers and Songs)

People in my region are very poor. They depend on their daily wages for their livelihood and cannot buy religious texts.

Ashir Bhavan Priory is located in Bhopal, India.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our congregation sisters are out surveying the local containment areas, to identify COVID patients.

We have distributed and continue to distribute provisions such as masks, gloves and hand wash to the poor and the needy.

All our communities and our NGO [Perana Service Society] also participate in this venture.

Photos show how the monastery has adapted its practices during COVID-19.

Please keep the Priory in your prayers and we assure you of our prayerful support.

Benedictine Sisters of St. Lioba, Ashir Bhavan Priory, Bhopal, India.

Click here to see how the monastery has adapted its practice during COVID-19.