March 12, 2008


Dear  FRIENDS,

    Greetings of All-Good!

    This Letter comes your way as we, the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (ASOLC), celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of our Congregation on April 6, 2008, a Sunday.

    Historically, April 6, 1883 marked the arrival of the 1st  4 Spanish Beatas from the Beaterio de Mantelatas de San Agustin in Barcelona, Spain who responded to the call of the Spanish Augustinian Priests to take care of the orphans  whose parents died due to the cholera epidemic in Manila in 1882. Mother Rita Barceló, the elder sister of Mo. Consuelo, was among these 4 Beatas. Josefina Barceló (who later became Mother Consuelo) was still a Postulant. She joined two other Beatas and also arrived in Manila on October 6, 1883 to take care of the orphans.  The Filipino Sisters and the orphans together with Mo. Consuelo and Mo. Rita experienced the horrors of the 2 Wars – the Philippine Revolution of 1896 and the Spanish American War of 1898.  The Spanish Augustinian Friars were forced by these circumstances to send back Mo. Rita and Mo. Consuelo to Spain.  Mo. Consuelo, however, was destined to return to Manila in 1904.

    All these experiences served as the seed that germinated into our present-day Congregation of the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation.  This, too, was the soil where the 52 years of the 83 years’ life span of Mo. Consuelo Barceló was nurtured in the Philippines and hereon carved its destiny towards God’s Reign.  Mo. Consuelo served as Superior-General of the Congregation for 25 years from 1915 till her death on August 4, 1940. 

    Together with my Sisters, I am happy to invite you to join/be active in our MOVEMENT for the BEATIFICATION of MOTHER CONSUELO BARCELÓ and be numbered among the FRIENDS of MOTHER CONSUELO with whom we will celebrate the 125th Anniversary of our Foundation Day on April 6, 2008.

    The purposes of our MOVEMENT for the BEATIFICATION of MOTHER CONSUELO BARCELÓ and the reasons for the formation of FRIENDS of MOTHER CONSUELO are:

1.    To intensify the promotion of the VIRTUOUS LIFE of Mother Consuelo and her FAME OF SANCTITY in the Philippines and in foreign missions and thus promote a Model for Christians and for Religious today.
2.    To share resources, both Human and Material, in the preparation of various     formation–activities today and in the years to come.

    I hope you will accept this Invitation to be a part of the FRIENDS of MOTHER CONSUELO and be with us in our celebration on April 6, 2008 at La Consolacion College, Manila. The celebration of the Mass will start at 4:00 P.M.  Dinner follows.

    MAY WE REQUEST for your LOVE OFFERING on this occasion for the continuing promotion of the Cause for Mother Consuelo’s Beatification.

    The Lord who can never be outdone in generosity will reward you for us, your ASOLC.

       
Sincerely,


Sr. Ma. Luz  F.  Mijares, OSA
Superior General



MOVEMENT of the CAUSE for BEATIFICATION of
MOTHER CONSUELO BARCELÓ y PAGÉS, OSA
– FRIENDS of MOTHER CONSUELO –

INFORMATION SHEET

Complete Name: ____________________________Sex_____________
Name of Spouse: ______________________________
(if married)   
   
Nationality:___________________Birthdate:_____________Age:______
Name of School:_____________________________________
(if a Student)      Department: ___________________________
Home Address:_____________________________________________
Telephone No.:_______________________   Fax No.: _____________
Office Address:_____________________________________________
Telephone No.:_______________________   Fax No.: _____________
E-mail:___________________________

    I am happy to share about this MOVEMENT of the CAUSE for BEATIFICATION of MOTHER CONSUELO BARCELÓ y PAGÉS, OSA, to one or more who may be willing to become FRIENDS of MOTHER CONSUELO:

NAME                                                              Mailing Address
1.__________________________________________________________________       
2.__________________________________________________________________
3.__________________________________________________________________
4.__________________________________________________________________
5.__________________________________________________________________