One Love, One Heart, One Vision

- Walking Together Into The Heart

Day 4

Morning Prayer

Today our morning prayer was prepared for us by our Indonesian participants. We were grateful for their creativity.

Input Session and Pilgrimage

Following input from Liz Taylor on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, we went to OLSH Church, Randwick, to take part in the Novena and Mass. We were welcomed to the Parish and introduced to the congregation by Peter Hearn MSC.

Sr Mary Ruth had arranged for us to have lunch in Ventnor following Mass and we were joined by Peter Hearn, Sr Theresa Coleman, Heather Hardy and Sr Mary Ruth.

Centenery Book Launch

We were pleased to join in the great festivity of the College Centenary Book Launch : the College on the Hill, written by Melinda Militech and Sally Spurr. There were about 200 people in attendance in the Convent Dining Room for the formal launch of the book by Dr Dan White, Executive Director of CEO Sydney. A response was given by Sr Pauline Compton, prior to a word from each of the authors, Sally Spurr & Melinda Militech.

Sally & Melinda	Libby Denny, Sally, Melinda & Robyn Rodwell

Cultural Presentation: Pilgrimage

Meet Sr Emma Villanueva  Directress of SACS,  Mrs Elvina Ponce & Mrs Rosalina Babatig – Principals.

Elvina, Rosalina, Emma & following their dance presentation with Sr Liz

The Evening Began with the very stirring Philippines National Anthem This was followed by a slide and explanation of the flag of the Philippines.                                                           

We then heard a song sung by a local Filipino who described all the areas of the Philippines in an amusing way and to a catchy tune. And there were also photos of the provinces included.

Finally there was a DVD called 'It's more fun in Cebu'.

Then came a Slide show on St Alphonsus School which began in 1916, founded by the Redemptorists. The Benedictine sisters took over in 1921. In 1929 the MSC took over the parish, the sisters stayed on in the school. In 2016 the school will celebrate its centenary and we also hope by then to have kinder through to year 12. In 2010 the Benedictines turned over the school to the Daughters of OLSH.

There is a typical Secondary School.  The day begins with prayer and a flag raising ceremony along with the pledge.

The Grade school presented a video of their activities, including community involvement, a trip to the fire station, a resort, first communion, boy scouts, girl scouts, a maths trip to the supermarket, teachers retreat, monthly celebrations for teachers birthdays including a prayer service.

The school enrolment is 2700 and ranges from primary (Grade School )to secondary (High School) levels. We saw the school building plan for the next five years and admired the vision for the future educational needs of the students.

In Question Time we learned:

• SACS stands for St Alphonsus Catholic School.
• SACS is the largest school in Lapu Lapu City It is the oldest school in Cebu and it is an Accredited School There are few students who drop out of school. There is always a follow up of students as soon as a student is absent for three days.
• The parents realise that the school is a school of fine education and many parents are alumni. The school is accredited and continually upgrades the education which is given.
• The guidance coordinators visit the primary schools to promote the school.
• The school is currently full with a waiting list for admission. Not all who want to come can be accommodated.
• The class size is 50 to 55 pupils.
• The school has currently accepted 425 students for Grade 7, in 8 classes.
• Students are encouraged to attend to the needs of society, especially the cry of the poor and the challenges of mother earth.