Updates

Mekong Fathers Formation Session 26 October 2026 | Cenacle Cebu Spirituality Center The Mekong Fathers from Inayawan are back to the Cenacle for a formation session on managing their finances. Daghang salamat Elizabeth Go, Ms Kathy ug Insular Life Insurance team! Thank you also to the benefactors of St. Thérèse Couderc Foundation (STCF) for subsidizing this event. Please support the Cenacle outreach spiritual ministries. Find out more: https://www.cenaclephilsing.org/support-our-mission/ #celebrategoodness, #advent, #adventwreath, #cenaclesisters, #enfantsdumekong, #inayawan, #giftedtogive

Bonté In Saint Thérèse’s to Mother de Larochenégly in 1866, she shared having a vision of goodness which was an intimate religious experience for her: “A few days ago, I saw something that consoled me very much. It was during my thanksgiving, when I was making a few reflections on the goodness of God — and how would it be possible not to think of this in such moments: of this infinite goodness, uncreated goodness, source of all goodness! And without which there would be no goodness, neither in people nor in other creatures.I was extremely touched by these reflections, when I saw written as in letters of gold this word Goodness, which I repeated for a long while with an indescribable sweetness. I saw it, I say, written on all creatures, animate and inanimate, rational or not — all bore this name of goodness. I saw it even on the chair which I was using for a kneeler. I understood then that all that these creatures have of good and all the services and help that we receive from each of them are a blessing that we owe to the goodness of our God, who has communicated to them something of his infinite goodness, so that we may meet it in everything and everywhere.” 𝙎𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙘, 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙨! We are grateful to Josh, a Gen Z artist and friend of the Cenacle, for sharing with us his beautiful illustration of Saint Thérèse Couderc. 💜

A reflection by Darlene Custodio TPRF & Graces (𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴)  One of the most significant moments for me at the retreat was when we were encouraged to step outside into nature and find something that catches our attention, as if God Himself was speaking to us through it. My planner-self was ready: I would hunt for a caterpillar because I was hoping to meditate on the cycle of growth and change. But I didn’t see any. In its place, I took photos of thorns, a bark and an insect with a name I had to google yet. Forgetting about the caterpillar, I joined Colyn by the pond as she snapped pictures of the fish. We lingered there for a while until we were able to reach the left side of the retreat house. There, a butterfly flew over me all of a sudden. I just stood still and waited to see where it would settle. When it finally settled on a leaf, Colyn urged me to take a picture of it and use the frame. I was hesitant at first. I had plenty of failed attempts in the past because butterflies never stayed long enough; they would quickly fly away before I could capture them. But this time was different. The butterfly remained steady even if I got closer. So I took my time gently taking photos of it.  Funny. I set out searching for a caterpillar, but God provided me with a butterfly instead. When I settled in the kubo and reflect about it, I learned two things: first, that God often surprises me with gifts I don’t expect but truly need. Truly, He knows me best; and second, that just as the butterfly stopped on the leaf, God was showing me that my pauses and rests also belong to His plan. In my schedule of meeting ‘life project’ deadlines, rest is a sacred space where grace works quietly.  Another significant part of my TPRF journey was carrying the physical discomfort of my allergies and being heavy with antihistamine. The drowsiness and difficulty in focusing made it hard to be fully present. Yet this, too, became a lesson: God embraces my whole person… including my struggles and limitations.  In the end, I realized that God was present both in the beauty of the butterfly and in the heaviness of my body. He meets me in my longing, my searching, and even in my discomfort. He reminds me that transformation takes many forms: sometimes it looks like movement and growth, but often it comes through the gift of simply pausing, resting, and allowing Him to be God. I carry with me a heart full of gratitude especially for the soft ways God spoke, for the community I shared this retreat with, and for the patient guidance of the Cenacle Sisters: Sr. Malen, Sr. Xiaowei, and Sr. Ria. Most of all, I am grateful for the grace to see my own limitations differently… not as failures, but as spaces where God’s love can dwell. Through His lens, I now see myself with more compassion and love. And, I also remember the line my former mentor told me: Who you are is as important as what you do.  Sister would often ask us during the last two days, “Andam na?” and my answer was always, “Dili pa.” Looking back now after the TPRF, I realize that readiness doesn’t mean being perfect or free from fear (or even free from kabuhi kay nakulbaan huhu). Readiness means being willing to show up as I am, trusting that God will do the rest. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 _____* Training Program for Retreat Facilitatorsheld on 11-17 August 2025

We had the joy of accompanying ten religious sisters for the Cenacle Residential Program. It’s a 10-month residential training program for religious sisters from Vietnam and Myanmar designed to equip them to be effective in retreat and spiritual direction in their respective missions. Our heartfelt gratitude to all our benefactors and funding agencies who have been supporting us to make this program possible.🙏🏼