With the theme, “Compassion in Action: Living the Legacy”, St. Bridget College Batangas community celebrated the Feast Day of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, foundress of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, April 24, 2025.
The lay mission partners, along with the Religious of the Good Shepherd Sisters, gathered for a solemn Eucharistic Celebration at the St. Bridget College Chapel. Rev. Fr. Cyrus Gonzales, OSJ, delivered the homily, reflecting on the theme and emphasizing the principle of ‘agere sequitur esse’—action follows being. He encouraged attendees to embrace their mission as instruments of God’s grace, following the example set by St. Mary Euphrasia.
To rekindle the fire of their mission, the Bridgetines participated in triduum prayers from April 21-23, focusing on themes such as Compassion for the Least, Service to the Last, and Commitment to the Lost. These gatherings included a Prayer Service, where participants reflected on compassionate action and commitment to service.
Representatives of faculty, staff, and students also participated in the Earth Day Celebration through conducting guided mangrove tour, education session, and clean- up drive at Batangas City Mangrove Conservation Eco Park in Malitam, Batangas City. This initiative reinforced the college’s dedication to environmental stewardship.
Moreover, with the community’s commitment to the spirit of service, departments and offices engaged in acts of compassion through visitation to the sick and elderly members of the St. Bridget College family, including their loved ones, and former faculty or staff to offer prayers, presence, and care.
The event also featured food distribution initiative in which the institution prepared and distributed lugaw, a nourishing rice porridge, to street dwellers, drivers, and pedestrians.
Bridgetines wore specific colors to symbolize their reflections: blue for faith and trust, green for hope, yellow for light and guidance, and white on the feast day to signify unity and mission.
The celebration also became more meaningful as the community expressed gratitude for the grace of God in the blessing of the newly constructed and renovated spaces in the institution.
Sr. Ma. Añanita Borbon, RGS Ph, college president, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the lay mission partners, the Religious of the Good Shepherd, and the Center for Formation and Praxis Office which spearheaded the event, in bringing the community together for the meaningful celebration.
By: Dr. Imelda B. Vergara
Institutional Research, Planning and Publications Officer