Official SiteFoundress, Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Philippinesof Venerable Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes

CONFRATERNITY OF MOTHER FRANCISCA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO DE FUENTES (COMFES)

THE ORGANIZATION COMMITTED IN PROPAGATION OF DEVOTION TO VENERABLE MOTHER FRANCISCA

The members have genuine love and commitment to Jesus and His Church and desire to follow the example of Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes and to make her known.

THE CONFRATERNITY

I. RATIONALEMother Francisca, foundress of the Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Sena, now known as the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, was born in Manila in 1647. Widowed and childless after a brief marriage, she dedicated herself to the service of the young, the sick and

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Her pursuit of spiritual perfection through dedicated prayers and charitable works to the poor sick and the young, rippled through the heart and souls of other women in her time. Her life influenced theirs to make a difference in the society and people they live with.

Mother Francisca returned to her Creator with heroic resignation and humility on August 24, 1711, on the feast of St. Bartholomew, and was buried with all solemnity in the Church of San Juan de Letran. Her tomb was over the steps of the Main Altar, on the side of the Gospel.

Official SiteFoundress, Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Philippinesof Venerable Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes

CONFRATERNITY OF MOTHER FRANCISCA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO DE FUENTES (COMFES)

THE ORGANIZATION COMMITTED IN PROPAGATION OF DEVOTION TO VENERABLE MOTHER FRANCISCA

The members have genuine love and commitment to Jesus and His Church and desire to follow the example of Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes and to make her known.

THE CONFRATERNITY

I. RATIONALE

To make the spirit of Mother Francisca known and alive in the ~ contemporary time, the Confraternity of Mother Francisca del II Espiritu Santo (COMFES) is organized in every school/community of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena.

II. CONDIT10NS

1. Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo lived 300 years ago. Little has been done to make her life and works known to all.

2. Today there is emphasis put on women's issue: dignityof women, rights of women, equality, etc. Mother Francisca yesterday is the woman today, for she lived a life that was counter-culture of her time.

3. PCP II and PCM II underscore the empowerment of laity. Mother Francisca, the widow, the tertiary and the foundress of a Congregation for the Philippines is a model for the laity.

4. The Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Sena in Intramuros which she founded in the 17th century still exists today and is known as the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, a sign of her holiness of life.

5. Mother Francisca dedicated her life to the YOUTH, the SICK and the POOR. These people and conditions still exists in our time and in our country.

111. OBJECT1VES

1. To make Mother Francisca known to all peoples.

2. To encourage people to pray to Mother Francisca.

3. To show that Mother Francisca's life and examples are very relevant in our time.

4. To assist the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena in making Mother Francisca's spirit alive.

5. To undertake services intended specially for the YOUTH, the SICK and the POOR in our midst.

IV. LIFE OF THE COMFES ' MEMBERS

The members have genuine love and commitment to Jesus and His Church and desire to follow the example of MFES and to make her known.

A. PRAY

B. STUDY

C. WORK

1. Members are involved in some forms of works of mercy, in .particular, those which concern the poor, the sick and the youth. 2. Members make known the life of MFES and the cause of her beatification through sharing in parish activities, school forum, or simply sharing with friends, etc. ...

D. PLAY

D. PLAY 1. COMFES celebrate annually a one-month program to honor MFES on July 26-August 26.2. Members gather yearly on the regional level and once every 3 years on the national level.

V. INCORPORATION TO THE CONFRATERNITY

A. MEMBERSHIP

The Confraternity is open to all young people adults (OP Or non-OP schools/communities) in 3 levels:

• Primary Level --10-14 years old• Secondary Level --15-25 years old • Tertiary Level --26-above years old

Requisites for Admission:

1. A practicing catholic who desires to follow the example of MFES and to make her known. 2. A letter of intent to join COMFES.3. A letter of recommendation from the religion teacher/guidance counselor/parish priest/OP sister.

B. STAGES OF FORMATION

B. STAGES OF FORMATION

1. ASPIRANTS (Probationary Period (6 months) )

C. STRUCTURE AND GOVERNMENT:

C. STRUCTURE AND GOVERNMENT

1. Moderator

2. Chair • Leads the Confraternity.• Promotes unity and development of the Confraternity in close collaboration with the moderator.• Presents the agenda of the meetings and presides over it.

3. Vice-chair• Assists the Chair, substitutes for him/her in his/her absence, takes his/her place when the office is vacant until the new Chair is elected.

4. Secretary • Takes the minutes of all Confraternity meetings. • Responsible for all communications sent out and received in behalf of the Confraternity, especially meeting notices.

5. Treasurer• Responsible for keeping the funds with accurate records.• Gives regular reports at meetings of the accounts of the Confraternity.

VI .CONFRATERNITY SET-UP

COMFES falls under the umbrella program of the Mother Francisca Commission in the Congregational Level. However, since the Confraternity is school/community based, the highest authority is the Chair of the local Mother Francisca Commission.

VII. EVALUATION

VIII. GRACE:

May Mother Francisca pray for all of us that the work she has began may not be in vain.

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1. Members are involved in some forms of works of mercy, in .particular, those which concern the poor, the sick and the youth.
2. Members make known the life of MFES and the cause of her beatification through sharing in parish activities, school forum, or simply sharing with friends, etc. ...

D. PLAY
1. COMFES celebrate annually a one-month program to honor MFES on July 26-August 26.
2. Members gather yearly on the regional level and once every 3 years on the national level.

• Primary Level --10-14 years old
• Secondary Level --15-25 years old
• Tertiary Level --26-above years old

1. A practicing catholic who desires to follow the example of MFES and to make her known.
2. A letter of intent to join COMFES.
3. A letter of recommendation from the religion teacher/guidance counselor/parish priest/OP sister.

2. Chair
• Leads the Confraternity.
• Promotes unity and development of the Confraternity in close collaboration with the moderator.
• Presents the agenda of the meetings and presides over it.

3. Vice-chair
• Assists the Chair, substitutes for him/her in his/her absence, takes his/her place when the office is vacant until the new Chair is elected.

4. Secretary
• Takes the minutes of all Confraternity meetings.
• Responsible for all communications sent out and received in behalf of the Confraternity, especially meeting notices.

5. Treasurer
• Responsible for keeping the funds with accurate records.
• Gives regular reports at meetings of the accounts of the Confraternity.