After two years since the Covid-19 Pandemic started in the Philippines, the Young Religious of POLA (Province Our Lady of the Assumption) were able to gather on September 19 to 22, 2022 at the Carmelite Monastery and Reca’s Private Resort, Angeles City, Pampanga. The group of young religious is deeply grateful to Rev. Fr. Apolinario Ty, SSS for selflessly sharing time to accompany us by serving as the resource person and animator of this year’s Young Religious Annual Gathering. His accompaniment left us thrilled and inspired by the depth of his thought-sharing by animating us on to a fun-filled situational role playing of the typical encounters in living daily our religious vocation. In this manner, our attention is ushered to a deeper understanding that part of our calling is to dialogue with time and culture, and to always center it in Christ’s charity in the name of the Eucharist.

The theme of our gathering is drawn entirely from the inspiration of the universal Church’s direction towards Synodality. Along with that line: "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission" – it points us to recognize the greater challenge for young religious like us to learn and to master the ways of Christ who journeyed with us humbly and attentively listening to men of his time while revealing the greater meaning and purpose of knowing, loving and serving the Lord.

Annual gathering of SSS Young Religious had always been more than fun and recreation. Surely what is there for each is that sincere appreciation for the opportunity to spend time together, sharing and retelling same old stories yet turning more meaningful memories. We are too happy to meet and greet in person as well the kind benefactors and friends of the Carmelite Monastery who wholeheartedly supported us in our needs during this year’s Young Religious Gathering 2022.

Father Victor Clemence Posadas, sss