Sentidokomon

By Maria Nieves

The Sisters of the St. Joseph of the Apparition Convent was very glad to see again their former student by the person of Sr. Esperanza Magsino, the first Filipina nun of the SJA Convent who was trained by Sr.Antonia, now a Delegation Head Bursar base in Paco, Manila, Phils. She arrived last Feb. 24^{th from Rome where she attended the Provencal and Bursar session of the congregation on The Formation on the Religious Life from Feb.10-24, 2010 as the Delegate Superior of the SJA Philippines. During her stay in the convent, she managed to see her fellow Legionaries and friend in other religious groups. Sr. Espie, together with her sister, were the founder of the Legion of Mary Nicosia- Cyprus with the guidance from Sr. Antonia. She was also invited in the church to speak about herself after the Sunday mass then later joined the SJSC- Filipino group in their Sunday lunch. According to Sr. Espie, she had 3 purposes of her stop over here in Cyprus. First, to see again the family of her former employer when she was still working as a housemaid before she became a nun. Second, to be with the Sisters of SJA where she started her vocation especially with her former mentor Sr. Antonia even for a few days only. Last but not least and the most important purpose is to ask some help in the form of financial donation for their on- going out-reach program project in Valencia, Bohol, Philippines. The project is called “St. Emilie Play-Learn nursery classes”, a charitable foundation, which will benefit the poor children in Valencia. The school will hold morning and afternoon classes to at least 20 children per session for 2 hours a day. Hired lay professional teacher will be in-charge of the nursery under the assistance and management of the two sisters from Manila. A native of Batangas and is now a golden girl at 50, Sr. Espie used to be a domestic helper in Singapore for 5 years, in Hong Kong for a year and 3 years here in Cyprus. She has deeper understanding of being a servant. She said, “hindi puwedeng lagi na lang akong katulong, I want to be a servant of the Lord”, she stressed. “I talked with the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition and was amazed and inspired by the beauty of their simplicity. Their simple life pushed me to talk with them more often. I believe that God will continue to bless them.” She added, “I started as a catechist of Sr. Antonia and attended French class during my day-off to prepare myself as an aspiring postulant. During this time, I was able to go to Israel. My employer, Mr. and Mrs. Solos Kassinis supported my air ticket to travel, they told me to pray for them to have a baby girl, since they’ve already have a son whom I took good care of. Soon after that, God blessed them with a beautiful daughter,” Sr. Espie’s litany. After 3 year’s contract, the Congregation sent her to the provincial superior in Greece for 2 months. Later to the superior general for another 2 months in France. And then to Rome for an intensive formation for 2 years as a Novitiate. This time she was sent to England for a couple of months to join the community. In her second year, she was sent to Malta. She went through a lot of experiences, trials and sufferings, “but thanks God I passed through it,” Sr. Espie continued. “I was ambitious enough to go around and to travel. Finally from Rome I went back to the Philippines. At that time the congregation was newly opened in the country. With 15 years in my professional vows, I have traveled in 15 countries in the world and attended 4 international meetings as the Delegate Head from the Philippines. At present, the congregation of the SJA Philippines had 4 communities located at Paco Manila where they have the Catholic school for 8 years, in Amparo Village Novaliches, Quezon City where they have the formation and training school, in Moonwalk Las Piñas which is set like a church, and in Bani, Pangasinan. This year, SJA Philippines started another outreach program in Valencia, Bohol to establish the St. Emelie Play-Learn Nursery Classes foundation school. ” I would like to appeal for your assistance and generosity to dream with us and believe for the importance of the formation and education of the Filipino children,” she pleaded.}