At our General Chapter in 2013 we were encouraged to “strengthen the relationships between provinces on the same continent.” (Acts of the Chapter 2013) So, we – sisters of 45-50 years of religious profession – in the Asian provinces of Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand took the initiative and met in Port Dickson, Malaysia from the 14th to the 20th January 2015.
It was a blessed week for all. The first two days were spent in a review of our lives and deep sharing across the different cultures. The next two days we went to Melaka to visit our IJ School and the historic sights dating back to St Francis Xavier. Melaka was his first port of call in 1545, en route for Japan.
After two days of deepening our IJ spirituality together, the last day was one of integration, thanksgiving and celebrating the four Golden Jubilarians – Elsie Lim (Singapore), Seiko Koga (Japan), Marie Paule Liew (Malaysia) and Gerard Haripong (Thailand).
And then it was time to say Sayonara while rejoicing for such an enriching week together.
A wonderful group photo: Row 1: Gertrude Tan (M), Celina Wong (M), Teresa Lee (S), Joan Tay (S); Row 2: Antonia Manikam (M), Elizabeth Teoh (M), Marie Agnes Pereira (M), Kikuko Sugita (J), Elsie Lim (S); Row 3: Maria Lau (CT), Atsuko Sayama (J), Seiko Koga (J), Theresa Vareevong (T), Masako Fukahori (J), Marie Paule Liew (M); Row 4: Agnes Lee (S), Ikuko Tanimoto (J), Lucy Teseira (M), Lily Bong (M), Bernie Ng (M), Yasuko Matsumura (J), Gerard Haripong (T), Grace Chia (My), Cecilia Sinbad (M). (Key: CT: Central Team; J: Japan; M: Malaysia; My: Myanmar; S: Singapore; T: Thailand)