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True  Love  Conquers All
By: Sr. Ma. Violeta of Jesus Crucified Banawa, O.Carm.

                              Somewhere down the road,
                         Our roads are gonna cross again,
                             It doesn’t really matter where
                           But somewhere down the road
               I know that heart of yours will come to see
                                  That you belong with me

                                               Letting go
                              Is just another way to say
                                  I’ll always love you so
              We have the right love at the wrong time
                         Maybe we’ve only just begun,
                          Maybe the best is yet to come.

           This is an excerpt from the song “Somewhere Down the Road” which Fr. Aris Escobal, O.Carm, sang so beautifully as part of my Simple Profession celebration.

           As I listened intently, I thought I would remember another name.  But no! The song brought me to my past, as an active sister.

Our Stories:

Sr. Lorelei Marie Libo-on, O.Carm.

Sr. Marilyn Facinabao, 
O.Carm.

Sr. Ma. Concepcion Festin, O.Carm.

Sr. Ma. Violeta Banawa, O.Carm.

            It was like two lovers who have the right love and that love was embedded in the very core of their being.

                                                                                                                        We have the right love
                                                                                                                              At the wrong time

          I had this love for Jesus since my elementary days and it was nurtured through the years.   I thought loving him was enough but situation, circumstances proved me wrong.

          Loving is not only a matter of feelings; it entails preparedness, dedication, sacrifices, responsibilities and commitment which I was lacking then.

           As the song goes on, there is a part that said letting go is just another way to say I’ll always love you so.  The letting go was the crucial moment of my journey.  What would I do then? But Jesus was a true lover.  He let go to allow me to grow as a person and secretly, supported and guided me that, every step I had taken had led towards the fulfillment and reality of our love.  He also inspired people to help me to go on with the journey.

                                                                                                              But somewhere down the road
                                                                                                 I know that heart of yours will come to see
                                                                                                                    That you belong with me

Last February 5 on the day of my Simple Profession these lines came true!   I committed my life to Jesus through the living out of the three evangelical counsels.

            The chapter of loosing, searching and finding has ended now.  Another chapter of my life begins…where my love will be tested by fire to become pure as He is pure.  Now I have the confidence to go on… I will never forget the lessons of the past.

            And for the people who have played a big role in my journey: my Family, the Pastorelle Sisters, Father Aris, my Formator and my Community - THANK YOU VERY MUCH