THE BIRTH OF A DREAM

His Most Reverend Dennis Villarojo, D.D., bishop of the Archdiocese of Malolos, officiated the installation of the Blessed Sacrament and the blessing of the convent of Our Lady of Virtues Community, Pandi, Bulacan on June 13, 2023. It marked a milestone in the almost three years of the official existence of the Carmelite Missionaries in the relocation sites in Pandi. But the love story of this community began eight years ago, in 2015, during the feast of our Founder, Blessed Francisco Palau. At that time, the sisters reflected on the theme: “Now is the time to work and to sacrifice for the neighbor.” (L. 99.5)

During the reporting after the small group sharing, almost everyone shared about their visits to the relocation sites in Pandi, where the informal settlers from Quezon City, particularly those living near the convents, were relocated. When they were transferred, the neighbors requested the sisters to visit them, and they did. The experiences of their visit highlighted the challenge of the theme. During the recap, the facilitator posed a question: What more can the Carmelite Missionaries do to them? The reply was unanimous, “pitch our tent in their midst.”

That started the many ocular visits of the then Provincial Government. They connected with the parish priest, the mayor, the vice mayor of Pandi, the social worker in-charge of the local housing, and the National Housing Authority, who extended the necessary help to secure two units for the convent and the pastoral center of Our Lady of Virtues Community.

Now a small church is flourishing in the midst of the neighborhood. Communion is slowly felt in the lives of the children, the youth, and the parents, touched by the lowly presence of three CM Sisters.