THE MASS OF THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF SIS. EMILIANA MATANGUIHAN, M.S. and SR. MA. PERLA P. PANTE, M.S.

The Parish of the Holy Child of Molino, Cavite

Due to hectic schedule and dedication to my apologetic apostolates it is only now that I have updated this blog. My apology to our faithful readers and diligent followers who visit this Blog daily.

The Parish Church is adorned as if in Wedding Banquet

Last May 30, 2009 two wonderful events was celebrated by the Somascan Sisters: The Silver Anniversary of Sis. Emmy Matanguihan, MS and the First Religious Profession of Sis. Maria Perla Pante, MS.

A Somascan Sister with the faithful who attended the double celebration

Celebration such as this is always a source of great joy for the Church. One is expressing gratitude to God for 25 years of indefatigable service done for God and the Church while the other is the offering of a young woman, giving her total self to Christ the Lord.

Jose Capsa of AITV5 preparing the cameras for the coverage

Sis. Emmy, MS is very dear to my heart because she lived and stayed in our place in Bulacan. In fact she taught as a teacher in the public school in our place where I graduated and my sisters were blessed to have her as one of their teachers. Then I saw her working with the young girls in Cavite, especially babies and now she is assigned in Sorsogon City where she is working hard in her old age. A true servant, a handmaiden of the Lord.

The Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a fitting witness of the event because Mary is the first consecrated human person to God. She is the best of the Virgins who offered themselves to God.

With Sis. Maria Perla, I was blessed to know her as a young novice - dedicated, hardworking, humble and always serene.

The Somascan Sisters radiating with joy in this great celebrations

MAY THE LORD BLESSED THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL SOULS AND GRANT THEM FIDELITY TO CHRIST UNTIL THE END.

The happiness of the Somascan Missionary Sisters is truly contagious

Even the girls under their care are radiating with beauty and joy that festive day

The Somascan Seminarians in Postulancy serving as Altar Servers. This is before the Mass

Fr. Romel Ermita, CRS The Silver Jubilarian, Sis. Emmy, with her still strong parents

Sis. Irene, the head of the Novices for the Somascan Sisters, talking with Fr. Boyet the formator of the Postulants for the Somascan Fathers. Sis. Angie Bigtas, M.S. the superior of Jardin de Maria, Sorsogon City with Fr. Frank Cabrera and Fr. Mike Escoto.

The Mother Delegate of the Somascan Missionary Sisters in the Philippines, Mother Vicky with Sis. Minerva and Fr. Matanguihan the brother of Sis. Emmy Matanguihan. What a blessing, one priest and one nun from the Matanguihan family. What a generosity from their parents.

An Angel carrying the basin of Holy Water

The image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Fr. Mike with one of the Choir Members

Sis. Emmy, M.S. [right] with Sis. Angelina Bigtas, M.S. her superior in Sorsogon Community

Me joining Sis. Angie and Sis. Emmy. We all came from the same place in Sapang Palay, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

The image of Blessed Pedro Calungsod with the picture of Sis. Emmy on the projector screen.

Our provinical superior, Fr. Gabriele Scotti, CRS [right] with Fr. Cesare de Santis, CRS and Fr. Richard Germanetto, CRS

Three of our Postulant Seminarians

Entrance Procession

The Somascan Novice, now Sis. Perla, who was to make her first religious profession that day. She was approaching the Altar as if in a wedding, accompanied by parents who were offering her to Christ as a chaste virgin

Sis. Emmy, MS with her parents approaching the Altar to reconsecrate herself in the occasion of the Silver Anniversary of her religious vows.

The Somascan Fathers during Entrance Procession

Fr. Matanguihan reading the Gospel

Sis. Emmy listening intently on the Gospel being read by her brother while sitting in a place of honor at the foot of the Altar

Msgr. Josefino Ramirez delivering his homily. The beloved Monsignor was sitting because he is now in old age and is sickly already. He is the most renown priest in the Archdiocese of Manila, second only to the Cardinal Archbishop. He served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese for many years.

Novice Maria Perla Pante answering the questions of the celebrant asking her for her willingness to offer herself to Christ in vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

Msgr. Ramirez interrogating Novice Maria Perla

Sis. Maria Perla after pronouncing her vows and received her veil as Somascan Sister

This picture should have been earlier. Sis. Perla receiving the Veil and putting it on through the help of her Novice Mistress Sis. Irene.

After having professesd her vows as a Somascan Religious Sis. Perla was given Sisterly embrace by all Somascan Sisters present as sign of her acceptance into the Somascan Family.

Sis. Maria Perla, now a living image of the Mary the Mother of Jesus - the best of the Consecrated Virgins

Sis. Maria Perla was invited to take the cup on the Altar as a manifestation of her mystical marriage to Christ. The virgin-bride of Christ drinking the same cup of sacrifice with her Lord and Husband.

Sis. Emmy also drinking the cup of her Lord and Husband

Sis. Perla delivering her Message of Gratitude

Sis. Emmy delivering her message of Gratitude

Group Picture - Souvenir shots after the Mass

Sis. Emmy and Sis. Perla joined by the Somascan Sisters present

These consecrated virgins are living manifestation of life in Heaven when people are no longer concerned about marriage and sex but of contemplating the face of God.

Sis. Perla with her family and relatives