GRATEFULLY, JOYFULLY
The Superior General, Antonia Munuera, has appointed Sister Carmen Villalon as the new Superior of the Delegation of Asia. Throughout the day the sisters of the Delegation have been sending messages of congratulations and encouragement to Sister Carmen wishing that the Lord will strengthen her with his Spirit to undertake this new service. In the words of Sister Clara Shin, former Superior of the Delegation, we can summarize the feelings of the sisters of the Delegation of Asia welcoming with joy the new appointment: "Today I remember especially the -Fiat- of the Virgin Mary thinking that also your -yes- will come after many prayers and reflection and a deep availability. God calls you to realize His will, so we all together share with you this joy". The sisters did not forget to send messages of thanks to Sister Clara Shin for all the enthusiasm with which she has served the Delegation during the past six years. For her dedication and closeness to the sisters. In the messages they all expressed their gratitude and their wish that the Lord will continue to bless her and accompany her in her new assignment, whatever it may be. With the two sisters we feel gratitude and joy. The Delegation is also grateful for the generous service of Sister Pilar Garcia, former Provincial Superior of the Province of Europe and shares the joy of the other Provinces and Vice Province for the new sisters appointed to this service. May the Lord bless and comfort them all.

GRATEFUL FOR OUR VOCATION
Yesterday, World Day of consecrated life, we lived a full and blessed day. The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines invited us to a solemn online Eucharist celebration, presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines in the framework of thanksgiving for the 500 years of presence of faith in the country. At 11 am our Community gather in the Chapel of the Novitiate to have the Initiation to religious life of 2 postulants from Myanmar: Josephine and Francisca. What a joy to share together the beauty of our vocation and to experience the gratefulness for these new shoots in the Tree of Consolation!! Again, the Association of Major Religious Superiors summons us in the afternoon from 3-5pm to a webinar where the Master of the Order of Preachers, Rev. Fr. Gerard P. Timoner III, O.P., shared his reflections in a conference entitled “Quo Vadis: Lights, Shadows, and New Frontiers for Consecrated Men and Women” followed by the sharing of impressions and reactions in 4 members of different forms of Consecrated life. The words of our Mother Foundress remind us the gratefulness for the gift of consecrated life “If we knew the great benefit of having been called by the Lord…we would be very grateful”

BRINGING HAPPINESS AND CONSOLATION TO THE CHILDREN
Our community has shared Christmas gifts with 70 children below 10 years old which live near our community in Yangon. On Dec 26, 2020, preparation day, we arranged the materials (toys, clothes, shoes, color pencils and crayons) that we received from benefactors and some snacks prepared by the members of our community.  We arranged all things and put in the bags for 70 children. After this, we gathered together all the sisters of the community to discuss about “what message we want to give to our neighbors”. Even they are not catholic we wanted to share the message of Christmas with them by giving some messages with decoration in front of our community: entering our house they could read the words of PEACE, LOVE, HOPE, JOY and CONSOLATION announcing that “OUR SAVIOR WAS BORN, ALLELUIA.” On Dec 27, 2020, 10:00 am in the morning, celebration day, more than 70 children arrived already to our community with one of their family members wearing the proper mask as it is necessary in this time of pandemic. Before we started the activities, we greeted them and asked them to keep the social distance. At first, we explained why we were giving the presents for the children, so that they can understand that was sharing the happiness of Christmas. Then, junior sisters, postulant and aspirants danced and performed Christmas songs. Two women who live near our community helped us when we distributed the gifts. We finished all our activities at 10:30 am and we gave snacks to some children who were not in the list. We give thanks to God for this simple activity with children seeing their smiling faces not only children but also their family members especially their mothers. We thank to all our benefactors who shared their stuffs for the poor and we keep them in our prayer always. We feel that we are only mediator for sharing between those who have more and those who needs. Joyfully we made this activity carefully in this difficult time of pandemic. We wish for this year 2021, we will able to do more activities to bring happiness and consolation for the children of our environment. Community of Yangon

BRINGING A SPARKLE OF LIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS CARDS
As we are nearly approaching to Christmas, we would like to send Christmas cards to our neighbors both those who live near us and far from us with a joyful greeting message. So, as a community, we gather together postulant, aspirants and sisters and prepared 130 Christmas cards in a fraternal atmosphere wanting to live the culture of care. We would like that through these Christmas cards the consolation of God reaches every home giving them courage and hope, especially to those who are in the Quarantine Center, those who are sick under medical treatment, those who are far from their families and are living alone, those who are homeless and lacking of the most basic necessities struggling in this time of pandemic. Even though we cannot meet each other personally, we want to send Consolation and our constant prayers through these Christmas cards.   This year we could not go out personally to share the Christmas cards so we collaborated with the Yangon City Clause team making Christmas cards. The Yangon City Clause is a group that shares Christmas gifts and makes surprise to the people, regardless of race or ethnicity. We would like this small gesture become a sparkle of light in the darkness that our societies are facing nowadays. With Christmas card we send this greeting message to our brothers and sisters…. From the moment you wake up in the morning, you will be able to face the joy of Christmas and peace with all your close brothers and sisters, and friends. Let's make our best every day and look forward to a brighter New Year together. May you have a healthy and happy life. May you be healthy and prosperous. May you be safe from all danger.   We also would like to greet with this message to all members of the Congregation. Merry Christmas Yangon Community.

PASS TO THE NOVITIATE IN MANILA
“May I be found; may I know and experience Jesus Christ” After doing the Spiritual Exercises as preparation for a new step in the formation, the postulant Thi has made the pass to the novitiate last 11th December. In the day we commemorate the canonization of Saint Maria Rosa Molas our community added to the day the gift of her pass to the novitiate. It was a touch of joy in this time of Advent Season, reminded all of us the desire of saint Maria Rosa Molas of giving all herself to the Lord when she got the habit, and the path of her life as a master of the civilization of love. Postulant Thi, now a fresh novice, that day share her desire of searching for the Lord and longing to be found by him. We congratulate with her for all the way the Lord is doing in her life and wish her testimony attracts more young girls to follow Jesus closer as instruments of mercy and consolation.  

DEVELOPING THE ETHICS OF CARE
The Philippines, which is still reeling from the last typhoon Goni (Rolly in the Philippines), has been hit by yet another one Vamco (Ulysses in the Philippines). The houses experienced flooding due to the swelling of rivers. The situation is even worse in many places, especially those that were hit by Rolly just one week before. The intense rain and strong winds were frightening enough but what brought about great destruction was the flooding caused by the swelling of the river whose source is the Sierra Madre mountains now punctured by so many quarries. While quarrying is important, it is also a major natural resource extractive sector that causes significant environmental problems. There have been floods before, but it never got to this level. Now the people are focused on cleaning their houses and what’s left of their belongings. Their clothes would take 2-3 times washing before the smell and stain of mud can be removed. Rebuilding destroyed houses is a much bigger task and would take years probably. And a lot of help. The cry of the poor and the cry of our Common Home are deeply intertwined. With the desire of living and developing the ethics of care our community reached to the cries of wounded, broken humanity ... the cries of the earth with the small gesture, made with great love, of buying, packing and distributing bags of groceries and toiletries in Rizal province. Thanks to the help of our sisters who financially supports us in this initiative we have bring the Consolation of God to 50 families. Community of Quezon City