Sr. Janet Wang's address
Dearest Sisters, Canossian Fathers, Lay Canossians, Volunteers and Friends,
has been a very
eventful year for the Singapore Province. As
we look back we have many reasons to be thankful to God for the countless ways
by which he has shown his love for us, even though his ways are often mysterious
and unexpected.
In our communities, we have journeyed together to discover in a deeper way our spirituality and identity as Canossian Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor. We have helped one another to become more aware of God’s presence in our personal lives by sharing the story of his great love for us. We have expressed our dreams and at the same time, taken a hard look at the realities of our life and mission in Singapore in this new millennium. The Provincial Chapter celebrated in August was a time of grace during which we saw the need to improve the quality of our presence to one another in community and to work towards being a more pastoral and formative presence in our ministries of charity.
Other highlights of the life of our Province this year include: the Official Opening of the Canossian Eduplex in March, the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Foundation of Canossa Convent and Canossaville Children’s Home in September, the Episcopal Ordination of our new Archbishop Nicholas Chia and the First Profession of our novice Christina Kho in October, the new thrust given to our mission in Myanmar and China and the project for the extension of St. Joseph’s Home which began in November.
At the Institute level, some of us have been enriched by formative encounters like the International Seminar on Personal Vocation in Rome, Charismatic Formation in Verona and in Taygaytay and the Asia Regional Formation of Lay Canossians in the Philippines. We rejoice at the
constitution of the new Delegation of Egypt-Sudan, and
admire the courage of our Sisters serving the people there as well as those
committed to the rebuilding of our missions in East Timor and the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
World events have challenged us to discover what God is telling us even through such catastrophes as the earthquakes in Gujarat-India, the war in the Middle East and the frightening terrorist attacks in the USA and the counter-terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. We have also been shaken by painful experiences like the life-threatening illnesses of Sisters and relatives and the loss of those who are dear to us.
In these circumstances, it really takes a superhuman faith to be able to see light in darkness and an extra dose of hope to persevere in the building of God’s reign of justice, love and peace in this conflictual world. But with God, nothing is impossible!
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This Christmas, we want to discover the presence of the Messiah, the God of Love, the Prince of Peace in the midst of our broken but still lovable world. We want to contribute towards his work of reconciliation and transformation, so that swords are beaten into ploughshares, bombs are changed into food for the starving, enemies become friends, war gives way to peace and oppression to freedom. |
This is our wish for you and for our brothers and sisters of all faiths, nationalities and cultures, throughout the world.
