Challenging Beginnings: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow in Manila
As a prelude to the establishment of an international community in Manila, the MSC Sisters General Administration visited the Philippines and found Manila offered good opportunities for studies and religious renewal courses, as well as a place for mission to the poor. The project started in earnest on September 15, 1993, when Sr. Klara Sietmann, MSC asked Sr. Mary Drum, MSC, a member of the PNG Province at that time, if she would be willing to begin an international community in Manila. From that time on there was a flurry of communication and dialogue between the General Administration and Sr. Mary. Later they had numerous communications with the MSC Fathers and Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM Sisters), FDNSC and others to help bring this dream to reality. On January 25, 1994, Sr Klara informed the congregation in general of the intention to establish an international community in Manila for studies and later mission.
Amazingly by April 30, 1994, Sr. Mary arrived in Manila to begin this new project. Within a month and with the help of the RVM Sisters and MSC Fathers, Sr. Mary found the house on Faustino St., Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City. In addition to preparing and furnishing the house, Sr. Mary had to deal with immigration, legal, financial, and other matters. Truly when God has plans, things happen.
In the meantime, on the other side of the world, the Generalate were discerning and selecting sisters to be part of this new community. Sr. Mary, who oversaw the establishment of the community, had deferred her scholarship for her Anthropology Doctorate research. In July, Sr. Rosaria Jung, MSC from Korea arrived to learn English in preparation for her mission appointment to Namibia, but this appointment was changed to mission work in the Philippines. Then in September Sr. Susanna Endjala, MSC from Namibia arrived in Manila to study nursing.
By September, almost a year later, the three sisters were living together in Manila. The challenges came fast, from language, be it English in community or Tagalog the local language, to the weather, pollution, even everyday activities such as going to the market or finding your way around on public transport, were always a reminder that MSC Sisters are foreigners. Even community prayer time was a challenge, as the only song they all knew was Ave Admirable: “So without faith, flexibility, courage, joy, effort, and a non-judgmental attitude, living in an international community can be very fragile overwhelming and hard.”
Efforts to share, be creative and celebrate are essential for mission work to succeed. For their first Christmas, the sisters had no Christmas tree, so one sister went out and cut some branches of a local tree and decorated it. In the evening, with joy and laughter, they stood around singing special versions of Christmas songs. One sister provided the words, another tried to sing, while the third tried to play the old, out of tune piano without any notes. Each sister brought something that made that time memorable. It was a special memory, a treasure of that first Christmas where they let go of the imperfections and their expectations and allowed the joy of the gift of each sister to be shared.
That was then, and now every time a new sister comes to the Manila community, our community begins anew, facing similar challenges and joys as we try to live in an international community in a foreign land, determined to bring the Heart of Jesus wherever we are.
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
How would you describe the greatest strengths and greatest challenges from the pioneer MSC Sisters that existed in their communities?