A Journey of Faith: 100 Years of Bringing the Gospel to the world

Sr. Shalimar Rubia and Sr. Lucia Kim, FSP General Councillors, 

cut the ribbon at the opening of the exhibit assisted by 

Sr. Noemi Vinoya and Fr. Alex Bautista.

DESPITE strong rains and howling winds, the launching of the Pauline exhibit titled “A Journey of Faith, 100 Years of bringing the Gospel to the world”, pushed through on August 21 as scheduled. Friends came, although not as many as we earlier expected because the bad weather indeed kept many indoors that day. But we were glad there were brave souls who defied nature and came to celebrate with us the launching of the exhibit that commemorates our 100 years as a congregation.  

Not even a very nasty weather can squash our joy and high spirits that day, made more so by the presence of our friends and some sisters from nearby Marikina and Lipa communities.

Fr. Alex Bautista delivered a beautiful and truly moving speech, which I am publishing in full below, explaining how the exhibit came about, and the process it took from the start until its completion.

Fr. Alex, by the way, is the Chairman of the Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in the Diocese of Tarlac. How we came to know him is another story that would have to be told another time. Suffice it to say that meeting him was really an act of providence that led to the putting up of this beautiful exhibit that tells about the Daughters of St. Paul’s “Journey of Faith” in their “100 years of bringing the Gospel to the world.”

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Fr. Alex Bautista

CURATOR'S NOTE

Rev. Fr. Alex Bautista

The story of a fruitful journey is always a delight to hear, and a joy to be shared and a wonderful experience to cherish. Today, the Daughters of St. Paul, who ventured on a journey 100 years ago has a story to tell us, sharing with us their jubilation, and their ever grateful heart to God for the specific mission entrusted to them, that is: to live and communicate Christ through social communications, as envisioned by their Founder, Blessed James Alberione.

As the exhibit shares with us how the Pauline apostolate has progressed through the years, always in union with the Church's efforts in the work of evangelization of “bringing people to God and God to people”; it is Christ's action in our modern world that we underline. It is Christ, who is passing by through our modern society who begins his gospel of love, and salvation through the media apostolate of the Daughters of St. Paul.

These women are always full of courage... for they walk by faith. Their “Journey of Faith,” of their 100 years of bringing the Gospel to the world is a story worth hearing/reading, and their joy in bringing the Gospel message is contagious and worthy of emulating. Their experience is worth reviewing through this exhibit interpretation.

Coming up with an exhibit is not as easy as it may seem. What is tedious and work extensive is compensated by the generous, creative and collective efforts of the community who has a story to tell. What we are inaugurating today is an effort which passed, beyond months of preparation. I am happy to share with you my journey with these sisters whom I begin to feel part of my family. I become in the process, co-curator of this exhibit for it is the community itself who worked doubly hard in its 0 preparation. My duty is reduced to give them tasks to accomplish and make them feel responsible in the authenticity of their story. And the sisters did exemplary well! Congratulations! 

We started with a seminar/workshop on what is an exhibit; of its pastoral dimension; on the importance of informing the audience of the story without overwhelming them; how to affect the visitors’ perception as they view the exhibit; and to make it as enjoyable as possible through interactive presentation. The result exceeded our expectations and we are all happy.       

As for its layout, the exhibit breathes like lungs in two parts. The left part is dedicated to understanding the emblem of the Pauline Family; the Eucharist which is the core of the spiritual life of the sisters, where a monstrance brought in from Italy in 1949 is displayed; and a section dedicated to Blessed James Alberione, founder of the Congregation follows. There is a relic display of the original pen used by Blessed James Alberione to write his meditations and letters to his sons and daughters. He who said “Let us make ourselves the pen and the tongue of God through Jesus Christ,” leaves his pen as a graphic reminder of this task. The writing desk with a facsimile of his writing was recreated.

You may want to rest and enjoy “printing” your messages in a corner before you begin the part that will tell you the history of the Congregation from its foundation to its expansion. The image of St. Paul  marks the beginning of the story of the Congregation. The panel has dividing line that shows the years in progress. The upper portion tells the visitors the humble beginnings of the Congregation and its development. Below is read in parallel some momentous and significant events in the world. Such exhibit interpretation presents the significance of the charism of the sisters that is relevant in this modern world. The first timeline ends with expansion of the Congregation worldwide – at the end is a booth where one can enjoy listening to a broadcast from an interactive radio program. 

The right wing of the exhibit boasts of the development of the Congregation in the PMPT Province: Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand. One can hear a broadcast from our local station manned by the sisters. 

A panel on the canticle of social communications follows; next is the panel dedicated to the Venerable “Thecla” Teresa Merlo. The image of our Lady “Queen of the Apostles” marks the beginning of the panel dedicated to the Philippine Foundation that brings the viewer to the era of global communication.  Again parallel to their story are stories relevant and significant in our times both in the local and international scenario. 

The end panel highlights the apostolate of the sisters “Biblia sa Bawat Pamilya,” your generous donation to support this noble apostolate is most welcome. The Bible, the Word of God is displayed, and the apostolic logo of the Congregation explained, the World with a “P” as Blessed Alberione envisioned it “the World is our Parish.”

As you view the exhibit it is our hope that the joy of the Daughters of St. Paul in this great jubilee of their foundation be felt by our audience and the zeal to spread the Good News of our Salvation be proclaimed in many and various ways. “We have to be all things to all men” as St. Paul would remind us. Let us take this challenge as the members of the Daughters of St. Paul did, because it is Christ himself who impels us to “Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold I am with you all days.” (Mt. 28:19, 20)