WORKING ON A NEW PROGRAM FOR ONGOING FORMATION
On June 14–21, 2026, an international meeting of Sisters responsible for ongoing formation in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth took place on the Philippine island of Bohol. Representatives from all the provinces and regions, together with Sister Maria Fe Mata from the General Administration, worked on developing a unified formation program for the entire congregation. The visit to the Philippines also provided an opportunity to visit the provincial house in Manila, the postulants’ house in Cainta, and the novitiate in Antipolo, as well as the school in Tubigon, Bohol.
Intensive workshop sessions and a process of discernment were combined with building relationships between provinces and exchanging experiences. The Sisters sought solutions to best respond to contemporary challenges while listening to the voice of the Church and the needs of the world. In this process, they were supported by invited, experienced formators from the Marist Brothers Congregation—Brother Emili Turú and Brother John Peter. A formation day led by Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr., CMF, was also an important highlight of the program.
Alongside the intensive work on the program, the Sisters had the opportunity to learn about the local culture, traditions, and the Congregation’s mission in the Philippines. The time spent on Bohol was, above all, an experience of community for the participants, who, through listening to the Word of God and to one another, sought the best paths of formation for every Nazareth Sister.
Flickr album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCXntJ
