“May they all be one, just as, Father, You are in me and I am in You”. (John 17: 21)

Our lives have a constant series of endings and beginnings. Some of these endings come suddenly or unexpectedly.  Others are planned and come more gradually. Some are happy.  Some are sad.  But each ending gives us an opportunity for a new beginning.  

First and foremost, I thank God for this wonderful opportunity to be the part of the big family of San Luis Beltran Province in Philippines. For this, I am grateful to my Sisters of St. Mary’s Province for allowing me to have this enriching experience in Asian continental novitiate. My gratefulness also goes to our Mother General, Sr. Raquel Gil and her Councilors for organizing this program of common novitiate of three provinces. I am also grateful for the presence of Sr. Pilar Marcelino and Sr. Virginia Roy staying one year in the community. My very special thanks goes to my two beloved companions Srs. Maria de Fatima Pui and Rosa Maria Angeles for their constant love and support throughout my stay in Philippines. I cannot forget all my novices from the year 2018 to 2024 for their very presence in my life.

As I look back to  the six years that have passed, I see that the kingdom of God lies beyond us.  God’s Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work but in that tiny fraction we, especially I have experienced constant guiding hand of God through my community and people in my mission. In Gospel of John 17: 21 Jesus says, “May they all be one, just as, Father, You are in me and I am in You”. This Gospel have proved true to me in my staying in Asian Continental Novitiate community, in a very special way our relationship among three of us Srs. Fatima, Rosa Maria and I.  We have worked with one mind and one heart. We collaborated and cooperated with each other because our focus was not on ourselves but on God’s mission. What I liked the most is there was no competition among us; we accepted each other as we are with all our strength and limitations.  That has brought good experience of peace, joy, trust and strong bonds of love in us and in very special manner a good example to our dear Novices. Today, we live in a world that is chaotic and competitive and it is very sad that this world  has partly entered our religious communities. But what has brought transformation in my perspectives is good leadership, good organization, planning and putting it into action.

 I also encountered different cultures – Filipino, Timorese, Myanmar, and Vietnam and  their way of living  has broadened my vision. I have experienced unity in diversity. I like the Filipino culture and people; they are very welcoming, loving and respectful.  I appreciate Timorese food noodles with papaya leaves and very very delicious soup of Vietnamese and Burmese. My heart is grateful for all these wonderful experiences in my life.

In these six years of my life’s journey, I have been enriched with the interactions all who have played an important role in my life. Some have brought learning lessons, some have been challenges, some strong bonds of love and trust. I am grateful to all.

My parting message to my two companions from the poem of St. Óscar Romero. “We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, Knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produced effects far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, A step along the way, An opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, But that is the difference between the Master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders, Ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future that is not our own.”

Thank you very much for everything. May God bless you and give you all the graces and wisdom that you need to continue this mission of guiding the young ones in their discernment process and preparing them in their commitment.

Parting message to all my Juniors and Novices whom I have come across in these six years.

“Put out into the deep.” Gospel of Luke 5:1 a command Jesus gives to his disciples; One morning, after Simon Peter, James, and John have “toiled all night” and caught nothing – no fish, only their own emptiness – Jesus comes to them and invites them to go out to the deeper waters, to “put out into the deep.” They do, and they catch so many fish, that their boat begins to sink.

I invite one of you to accept an invitation of Jesus to put into the deep in your chosen vocation and to follow Christ; deeper intimacy with Him, deeper understanding of oneself, deeper knowledge of community and at large of Congregation. Thank you very much and I pray that you remain faithful and persevere in this holy vocation.

At last, each of us is sent to the earth with different abilities and talents. With our unique talents and abilities, we can make a meaningful contribution to God’s mission on this planet. Our faithful service as a missionary is an acceptable offering to the Lord.

Thank you very much

Sr. Pushpa Mecwan OP