Monday, February 22, 2010

Dear Regina Rosarii Family and Mission Partners,

A while ago, I received news that one of our big time donors at Regina Rica was promoted to a very high rank in their company. It happened within hours of gifting our Lady, with his time, talent and treasure. As I always say, we reap the harvest of what we give and a share, not next year, not in the next generation, but really, so soon. Now na! Whatever good we sow, we will reap with many more abundant blessings. Thank you for all the blessings you share for our Ministry and for helping us put up our Lady on top of the hill.

We joyfully inform you that to date, our Lady, Regina Rosarii has now her 20 foot baby Jesus in her arms; her giant rosary beads, and soon the chapel under her mantle. We are putting up right now, the gate and the concrete fence at the entrance. The asphalt overlay, which is also a gift from a big construction company, is on its finishing stage. They are also greatly blest. It is as though, after their decision to donate, the business deals and blessings just kept on flowing and pouring.

The blessing of our Lady’s statue will be on March 19, at 10:am. We invite you to come and witness the miracles of providence. Indeed, nothing happens by chance. Our good God, uses us, the simple, the in- significant, the small. Yes, for we are just a small and a newly founded congregation. Yet God wants to show his power in our littleness.

Our artist sculptor Jojo Barcena is likewise so blest. He is so inspired. Please come and witness also the blessing of St. Joseph at the rotunda. A 13 feet statue beautifully interpreted by Jojo, who like his namesake, San Jose, is a man of honor, harmony and happy disposition. A “macho” carpenter, spouse, father of his family, St. Joseph guards Mary and Joseph from a distance… with one foot on the ground and another foot ready to take off to work, to walk, to waste time for the ones he loves so much. St. Joseph was always ready to lead them even in the midst of difficulties. Such is likewise the life of Jose “Jojo” Barcena Jr., who is generously donating this rotunda ni San Jose as a sign of his gratitude for the many gifts given him.

Thank you for being part of the Regina Rosarii family. Thank you for visiting our site.
All roads will lead to Regina RICA this March 19, 2010. You are welcome.

 

Lovingly,

Sister Eppie and the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii

 

Our Lord, the Great Planner

I would like to share our story of how the Lord touched us in a most unexpected way.

One recent Saturday, I flew in to Manila from China to attend a wedding for my nephew.  My wife had flown in a week earlier from the U.S. and had brought with her a check to deposit in our parents’ foundation.  We were looking for a charity to give some money to during our brief stay in Manila.  Our daughter also flew in from Singapore the day before to be present at the wedding.

I was planning to go back to China on Monday for work but the airfares were ridiculously high so I decided to leave on Tuesday instead.

In the meantime, my mother asked me on Sunday night what I wanted to do on Monday while waiting for my flight to China. I told her that my daughter wanted to do some volunteer work for the victims of typhoon Ondoy and maybe donate some money for the cause.  My mom smiled because typhoon Ondoy had come and gone and people were almost back to normal so there were no more relief centers open for that type of work.

I then suggested maybe going to White Cross or to an orphanage or a home for the elderly run by Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity. 

 

My sister overheard our conversation and told us that her friend has been volunteering at a new convent in Quezon City and that the nuns seemed to be doing a lot of good work lately.  We thought it over and agreed to go there instead.

The next morning, my sister arranged with her friend to meet us at the motherhouse.  We were very impressed with Sr. Eppie and her prayerfulness.  As we sipped our special cold lemongrass drink, Sr. Eppie started talking about this land in Tanay and how she wanted to build a place of pilgrimage and contemplation there.  We became interested and asked if we could go visit the countryside.  

Two hours later after a very cramped ride, we arrived in Tanay and were taken aback with the breathtaking landscape.  We had some cool lemongrass drink again and Sr. Eppie explained to us the story of how she found this property and how much money she would need to realize this dream.  I kept adding in my head the amount of money she would need to make it all happen and it all seemed insurmountable.  I kept asking her where she planned to get all the money she would need for the motherhouse as well as for the land, the statue and all the buildings she was dreaming of.  Her simple answer was that she has faith and that Our Lady will provide…because she always has.  

I thought Sr. Eppie was unrealistic but I let her be.  Sr. Eppie continued her stories and mentioned that she just got a call from the artist that morning and that she would need a million pesos today for the face of Mother Mary's statue. My eyes met my mother’s as Sr. Eppie was talking because in fact, my mother had set aside that exact amount to give to a charity that day. It was just unbelievable!  How could Sr. Eppie have known?  Nevertheless, we kept quiet about it.  We then walked up the hill to the site of the statue and were very impressed.  As it turned out, we happened to be the last group to see the beautiful face of Mother Mary before it was moved up to its permanent place on the statue more than 50 feet above ground.

When we came down from the hill, we knew exactly where the money was going to go.  We could not wait to get back to the convent to present Sr. Eppie with the donation.

I have read so many books about how our Lady and our Lord Jesus have put together people at the right time and at the right place for His glory...but never in a million years would I have dreamt about being a part of it myself.  What a special grace we have been given even though we are so unworthy of it.

The situation was not planned, the timing was seemingly random, the characters were just ordinary people and the amount...my goodness...it was the exact amount on the exact date that Sr. Eppie needed it! How could that be?

Our Lord is truly a great planner. He certainly makes all things happen, even those that seemed almost impossible to show us how He is always in charge even though we try very hard to take it away from Him sometimes.

How could we not believe and have faith?

 

Datu in this weeks Kuwentong Buhay (Life Stories).. ... Father Patrick Peyton Family Rosary Crusade Manila Philippines television program Virgin Mary ...

November 17, 2009

Dear Sisters, members of SLL, ROCA, ROSA, Club 513, ATM, family and friends,

It’s been quite a while since I wrote you. Many things have happened in between. I thank you all for your contemplative response to the power of the NOW! The wrath of typhoon Ondoy came and you readily gave your all… your time, your talents, your things, your treasures. Thank you for your donations and most of all for the time you spared packing and distributing the goods to our brothers and sisters in Tanay, Frisco, Quezon City and Marikina Areas.

We ended our distribution with the Program BLEST. The victims who lost family in the flood (more than 150 perished in Tanay alone) gathered at Villa Lorenza in Pilillia. Yes, they are truly blest. Each one received a T-Shirt with a logo that says, Bagyo Living Empowered Survivor of Tanay. They had mass on that day- the 40th day after the storm. We gave them a sit down lunch. No longer must they bear the long queue under the heat of the sun. We sang songs with them and they re-lived the memory of September 26 together with their facilitators. It ended with a healing prayer and a promise to move on so that their loved ones will be at peace.

The next task is to help in the rehabilitation process. We have given seminars on natural farming and fishery to our Katutubo staff and some typhoon victims. We hope to give them ways how “to fish” this time. Bamboo craft seminar is next in line. We have also approved and helped those who have given business proposals that are workable. We have distributed seeds for planting and will distribute piglets for fattening this December. After we have helped them, we will now focus on fixing our destroyed dike, fence and bridge at the Regina RICA.

Exciting things are happening at Regina RICA. This week, the 5 foot face of our Lady will be hoisted on the 53 foot structure on top of the hill. Our artist sculptor, Jojo Barcena is full of life and inspiration. Our Lady will soon be waiting “on top of the hill” as our Regina Hymn begins. Please be part of this wonderful legacy… our “5 storey” Lady, the Queen of the Rosary, Regina Rosarii will tower above the hills and invite people to find hope, healing, harmony and health at her feet. She spreads her mantle to protect us.
Happy 12th Anniversary to ROCA. May God bless you all. One with you in the eternal NOW,

I am,
Yours in Jesus and Mary,
Sister Eppie

 

July 28, 2009

RICA is a land of mystic magic music!!!

Evening time at RICA is full of mystic magic music. What with the sound of crickets, birds, frogs amidst gentle winds and glowing fireflies. Watching the dancing glow of the fireflies gives one a feeling of awe at so much beauty. It is said, that if the land has fireflies and butterflies, it is clean and full of vibrant energy.

Mornings at RICA is so refreshing, you can feel it the slanting ray of the morning sun. When the rays of the sun touch your face, all the weariness of the day before, just fade into thin air.
Looking at RICA now, gives one an idea of what mystical experience people will arrive at in years of come. The magic of RICA, makes one vibrate with music within. It is the music of peace, or joy, of life and of new beginning.

Welcome to RICA. We are here for you… at RICA you will tread on Sacred Ground.
Please join us as we prepare for Kasaganaan advocacy of fighting climate change. Please be part of the Kasaganaan concert and be with us as we honor our Lady on her birthday. See you at Crossroads 77 on September 8, at 7:00 pm.
We daily pray for you and ask our Lady, Regina Rosarii to carry you tenderly in her arms. For you, in the eternal now, I am,

Lovingly yours,

Sister Eppie

May 26, 2009

Dear friends and mission partners

I am writing with tears in my eyes. Tears of awe and amazement at all the kindness and goodness of people I am meeting here in Surigao. I am in a quaint little town now, that is full of promise. They do not talk here by the hundreds, ... how much does a truckload cost?,,, Php 100,000.00 or Php 210,000. They do not talk by the kilos, but by tons!!! And yet these people I meet here are so simple, so humble, so joyful!!!

Thanks be to God for people like the Nazarenos of Surigao. They brought me yesterday to their island!!! A great island that looks like a "wall paper". Now, I can proudly say, I have circled an island. As I was drinking the whole experience, and feeling the soft air on my face, I can't help but shed a few gentle tears. They were tears of thanksgiving for beauty, for simplicity, for sincerity.

In Surigao, I led the people in a big party with the prayer for healing and shared about contemplative prayer. Imagine a party with an opening prayer and a final prayer of healing. Yes, we are so precious. We are so  beautiful, We are so blest to have people who cares. The backdrop tarp during the birthday party that I attended in Surigao City, has the picture of our Lady Regina Rosarii. The Chinese daughters of the celebrant who invited me to their mother's party got me to Surigao, in a nice hotel to be the surprise for their mother. Ngaling the celebrant turns 60. She had stage 4 cancer. She visited our Lady Regina Rosarii and since then has never failed to pray the prayer of healing everyday. Her room has the picture of our Lady. I cannot understand, why I have to go the Surigao. I gave up a talk, a blessing of our 10 units bahay Kubo in Tanay and several other engagement. Only to realize our Lady Regina Rosarii is sending me to the 60th birthday party of her daughter Ngaling... to confirm her healing. When I entered the hall, she stared in disbelief. I was carrying a bouquet of flowers for her. She slowly came to my greeting and loving arms. I felt the touch of the Blessed Mother, giving Ngaling a long and loving embrace. We were all crying. Even the waiters were crying.

Learn to listen to what God wants of us... God will make a way... all will be well. I am on my way back to Manila. I will always have this place, Surigao and this quant little paradise Hinatuan, in my heart.

 

April 6, 2009

Dear Regina family and to all our web readers,

        I am writing to you at Regina RICA. It is early dawn. I hear the sounds of crickets, the gentle tinkle of the chime bells and the croaking of frogs. This place has become for us a great symbol of God's constant care. A place of hope, healing, harmony and hospitality. RICA invites us to care for the earth and God's creation. We have done that. And I pray in time you too can come to pause... see the beauty of the earth in the growing seeds; watch the 31 little ducklings swimming, touch the trees and feel their strength; smell the fresh morning air and see the dewdrops. Only a contemplative life can value this beauty and simplicity. Life is not all crisis, chaos and cross. During this Holy Week, each and every contemplative must see the value of pain. Allow suffering to teach us lessons in life. Look at Jesus on the cross. In death there is life. In the ugly wounds there is salvation. The grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to bear much fruit. At Regina RICA this death and dying is so clearly seen. The harvest will come in time. Watch and wait.


Lovingly,



Sister Eppie


PS. Thank you for celebrating life with me. I enjoyed all your surprises, presents and presence during my birthday.