SUNDAY this week, my daughter and I visited the Poor Clare Monastery at Purok Malinawon, Barangay Magsaysay in Polomolok, South Cotabato to visit my friend, Sister Mary Celine Mirasol, OSC. It’s a quaint, peaceful, quiet, and comforting place.
Sister Mary Angelica Hepe, OSC also met with us, and we had a wonderful afternoon of conversations, stories, ending with prayer. Of course, the ubiquitous photo sessions could not be far behind.
Having known that the monastery accommodates self-retreat, I decided by Monday morning that I will do the same this week. I was advised to bring a companion, so I won’t feel lonely by nighttime since my quarters are separate from the nuns. However, since my decision was made on the dot, I wasn’t able to tag anyone along.
The first night was simply fine. I didn’t feel alone. I felt calmly in the right place. And much better, I was able to do something positive for a family member. It felt good.
Being in Polomolok, South Cotabato, I felt the cool dawn breeze that I had to get up and close the windows, haha! Talk about difference in temperatures, huh!
The following day, I started interviewing Sister Celine so I could write this story. See how productive my retreat is!
According to Sister Celine, “There are twenty-eight Poor Clare Monasteries all over the Philippines; twenty-four are canonically erected. All these twenty-four monasteries are autonomous from each other.” They do not have a mother house however, the oldest monastery is the Monasterio De Santa Clara located in Katipunan, Quezon City.
In Polomolok, there are eight-perpetually professed sisters. I met all of them on Wednesday morning. Oh, how marvelous it was to meet all of them in one setting. It was a privilege indeed! I felt peace and joy! Best of all, they knew my story, so they didn’t need to be told. They promised to pray for me.
There was banter, conversation, and requests for prayers including for my sister Charmaine who just lost her husband. It was genuinely good for the heart.
But who are the Poor Clares? The Poor Clare Sisters are contemplative – they are devoted to prayer and contemplation. “Dialogue with God continues right through the daily life of Poor Clares – in suffering, in their relationship with the world, among others, although they are separated and withdrawn from the world.”
“The Poor Clares’ lives reach out to encompass the length and breadth, the height, and depth of the world. The world of the Poor Clares is not a small world but the entire world seen from its heart and source.”
Moving forward, the Poor Clare Community in Polomolok is a foundation of the Basilan Community. Founded on Oct. 26, 1997, four pioneering sisters started the foundation in Polomolok.
According to Sister Rachel Almario, OSC, “By November 7, 1997, two sisters from Basilan arrived in Polomolok to join the foundation.”
Sadly, on May 9, 1998, Mother Clare Litigio, OSC, passed away. Mother Clare founded the community in Polomolok.
On Oct. 18, 1998, one more sister volunteered, and nearly a year after, on May 5, 1999, the foundation received its letter of approval.
June 23, 1999 was a joyous and momentous day, the foundation laid the cornerstone of the 1.3-hectare property they have acquired through donation, followed immediately by construction that began on June 28, 1999. By Aug. 11, 2001, the blessing of the monastery was officiated by Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, DD.
On Nov. 1, 2002, two sisters volunteered to complete the required number for canonical erection. Then, on January 21, 2003, the Canonical Erection was approved by Rome, Italy.
“The community depends solely on Divine Providence for daily sustenance,” says Sister Celine.
Significantly, the Poor Clares are the powerhouse of prayer for the diocese.
Their chapel offers Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at 5 p.m. while the rest of the week at 6:30 a.m.
For those who are interested to join the Community, please send a text message, or call 0932 901 1464 or visit the Poor Clare Monastery in Purok Malinawon, Barangay Magsaysay, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
