I still remember vividly the day my youngest sister Yvonne D. Romualdez (HS'86) shared with me the beautiful stories she heard about the Community of Lay Assumption (CLAY). Her news touched me deeply. I wanted so much to be a part of it. Attending to family business consumed my being back then, full time, day to day. But God must have seen the yearning in my heart. A year later he started to move my world around. One morning my husband Benny surprised me. "Honey I think its time for us to move to 55 Ponce Street." I was ecstatic because this house, a most significant gift from God, is walking distance to Assumption San Lorenzo. After a renovation period we moved in 2011, just in time for me to attend a CLAY orientation given by Chinit Rufino. Listening to Chinit moved me to tears. I felt through Chinit's generous sharing the love of God. Her joy radiated through the entire St. Augustine room captivating my spirit. Hectic as my life at work was, I was able to attend the talks, which I looked forward to each time. I enjoyed the gentle company of CLAY members, our CLAY prayer circles were magical! From Patricia Herras and Vicky Pajarillaga I learned the power of perseverance. From Janice Cadlum (God rest her kind soul) I learned to consecrate my loved ones to God. From Sister Annunciata I gained a wealth of encouragement. Our CLAY batch 7 grew in faith and prayer as we laughed at Carmen Prieto's Godly adventures, listened to inspiring talks given by Teacher Cory Villafania on joyful detachment and Teacher Marilen Reambillo on humility among many others. AIIthe while, lnez Polotan, our lovable CLAY head, guided us in selfless ways. Every other Thursday we reflected on the teachings of St. Marie Eugenie that I fell so in love with. As a result of pursuing my Assumption spirituality through CLAY, I had much to impart to HS '79 batch mates. (We call ourselves the Divine Tarts, a monthly prayer group.) Jesus became more alive in my everyday life. I was so filled with his grace that my breast 3b cancer journey, which began in January 2or2, became the most joyful, and I should say the most fruitful, adventure of my life! Since God allowed me in previous years to actively develop my exterior life, this time my illness allowed me to work on my interior life. Through successive treatments of chemotherapy, mastectomy, radiation, Herceptin infusions and necessary operations, I enjoyed what Sister IsabelVillacarlos calls a "honeymoon with the Lord." The blessing of living near Assumption allowed me to complete the CLAY required talks, attend prayer circles and retreats, go to daily Mass with the sisters and receive Holy Communion. The graces I received were unwavering faith that I would be well along with great joy and a positive attitude. God sent me little miracles each day that led to my spiritual and physical healing. Through this awesome encounter God made me experience firsthand His very great Iove. In joyful detachment, I have emerged a humble servant feeling so loved by her Master, ready to serve Him for the rest of her life.

Assumpta Mag Oct 2013 Page 42

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seen the yearning in my heart. A year later he started tomove my world around.

One morning my husband Benny surprised me. "Honey I

think its time for us to move to 55 Ponce Street." I wasecstatic because this house, a most significant gift fromGod, is walking distance to Assumption San Lorenzo. Aftera renovation period we moved in 2011, just in time for meto attend a CLAY orientation given by Chinit Rufino.

Listening to Chinit moved me to tears. I felt throughChinit's generous sharing the love of God. Her joy radiatedthrough the entire St. Augustine room captivating myspirit. Hectic as my life at work was, I was able to attendthe talks, which I looked forward to each time. I enjoyedthe gentle company of CLAY members, our CLAY prayercircles were magical! From Patricia Herras and VickyPajarillaga I learned the power of perseverance. FromJanice Cadlum (God rest her kind soul) I learned toconsecrate my loved ones to God. From Sister AnnunciataI gained a wealth of encouragement. Our CLAY batch 7grew in faith and prayer as we laughed at Carmen Prieto'sGodly adventures, listened to inspiring talks given byTeacher Cory Villafania on joyful detachment and TeacherMarilen Reambillo on humility among many others. AIIthewhile, lnez Polotan, our lovable CLAY head, guided us in

selfless ways. Every other Thursday we reflected on theteachings of St. Marie Eugenie that I fell so in love with.

As a result of pursuing my Assumption spiritualitythrough CLAY, I had much to impart to HS '79 batchmates. (We call ourselves the Divine Tarts, a monthlyprayer group.) Jesus became more alive in myeveryday life. I was so filled with his grace that mybreast 3b cancer journey, which began in January2or2, became the most joyful, and I should say themost fruitful, adventure of my life! Since God

allowed me in previous years to actively develop myexterior life, this time my illness allowed me to workon my interior life. Through successive treatments ofchemotherapy, mastectomy, radiation, Herceptininfusions and necessary operations, I enjoyed whatSister IsabelVillacarlos calls a "honeymoon with theLord."

The blessing of living near Assumption allowed me tocomplete the CLAY required talks, attend prayercircles and retreats, go to daily Mass with the sisters

and receive Holy Communion. The graces I receivedwere unwavering faith that I would be well alongwith great joy and a positive attitude. God sent me

little miracles each day that led to my spiritual andphysical healing. Through this awesome encounterGod made me experience firsthand His very greatIove. In joyful detachment, I have emerged a humbleservant feeling so loved by her Master, ready toserve Him for the rest of her life.