ACI Congregation

🕊️ October 4, Feast of St. Francis and the last day of Creation Month
A detail we often forget:
Francis wrote his canticle toward the end of his life.
Sick. Almost blind. Exhausted.
And yet, what flows from him is praise—for the sun, the wind, fire, the earth, water, and even death!
He doesn’t say thank you because everything is going well. He says thank you because he knows how to look.
This hymn has endured for eight centuries.
So today, let’s pause for a minute.
Let’s lift our eyes. Let’s look around us. Let’s give thanks and let’s care for…
✨ What fresh look do you have on creation after this month?
What action will you take to care for our sister Creation?

The mission of one is the mission of all. This is one of the phrases in our constitutions.
These few “Ghibli-style” photos of the sisters around the world show the diversity of charisms and missions.
May the Lord grant us the grace to be united in Him, with hearts reconciled and made one, so that we may better serve Him and proclaim Him to all—from East to West, in all the diversity of who we are!

🌍 Month of Creation — Week 5
We thirst for water. Everyone knows that.

But there’s another kind of thirst, a more subtle one.
The thirst to be seen. To be heard. To be loved.

Giving someone a drink isn’t just about filling a glass.
It’s about welcoming. Comforting. Being there.

And caring for the earth
is the same act of love—just on a larger scale. 🌱

✨ This week, who—or what—will you give a drink to?
👇 Share your thoughts in the comments.

Even for just one of these children.
We often talk about migration in terms of numbers. We forget the faces, the realities.

But behind every number, there is someone.
People, children.
What if I went out to meet them, and truly took an interest in these people seeking refuge!

This is what the Pope reminds us of on this World Day of Migrants and Refugees: Even just one of these little ones matters.
When we talk about meeting the Father, we don’t really think about it. We often imagine that moment standing before God. He asks us: “What have you done with your gifts? What have you done for your brother? For this child?”
And what would we say? “But Abba… that wasn’t my child. I didn’t even know him.”?
So what are we going to do now?
Because even for just one child, God expects us to act. It’s not far away. It’s right next to us 🙏
Let’s take care of our brothers and sisters. Let’s take care of our children.

Today, our sisters in the Conosur Province are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the sisters’ arrival in Santiago, Chile. Let us join them in rejoicing over so many lives given and received!

🌍 Week 4 — Season of Creation
“I thirst.”
Jesus says it from the Cross.
Not to others.
To you. To me. To us. 💧
His thirst is for living water.
And we can quench it.
With our love.
Our attention.
The peace we bring to others.
So look at your heart this week.
Look at how you love.
✨ What will your gesture be?

Let us pray and help if we can.
This is the season of Creation and so many people are suffering among those in Somalia "Rainfall in 2026 has been significantly below average throughout the region, with many families moving their herds in search of water."

Pope Leo prays for end to humanitarian crisis in Somalia - Vatican News Pope Leo XIV prays for an end to violence in areas of Somalia and for assistance in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

So happy to see our school recognised! Well done 𝐒𝐭𝐚. 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭!

Size is never a measure of potential. We are thrilled to honor the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬, institutions that prove dedication, heart, and community are what truly shape the future.

A huge congratulations to this year’s awardees:

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐛, 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚, 𝐈𝐧𝐜., exemplifies resilience and faith-driven service in a remote mountain community. Located in upland Abra, about three hours from Bangued, the school serves as an indigenous peoples (IP) school, with most of its students belonging to three upland tribes.

𝐒𝐭𝐚. 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, demonstrates innovation in faith formation and inclusivity through its Eucharistic activities, charitable outreach, parents’ formation programs, environmental initiatives, and unique pledge-based contribution system.

From Abra to Naga City, these schools continue to overcome challenges, foster academic excellence, and guide their students toward bright futures. Thank you to the dedicated educators, resilient students, and supportive families who make these communities shine like stars!

Let us witness their conferment on Day 2 of the 2026 CEAP National Convention.

𝟳 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁! 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁!

Manta, 250 km west of Guayaquil. A 4-hour drive 🚐
Our sisters arrived here after the 2016 earthquake.
And in 2018, they settled in the Ceibo Renacer neighbourhood.
A neighbourhood designed and built for those who lost everything in the earthquake...
But also for families with children living with a disability.
From the very start, our priority has been to accompany all those in need, with special attention to women and people with disabilities 💛
And what does that look like today?
Catechism
Two after-school support groups — one in the morning, one in the afternoon.
A cafeteria.
A youth group.
A health team and a health point, where they provide simple, basic care: first aid and physical therapy.
And a strong bond with the local Church 🙏
It’s also the postulancy community!
Jenny and Marjorie are living their very first steps there.
Women welcomed.
People accompanied.
A simple presence... but a faithful one 🌱