Benedictines Celebrate Patron Saint’s Feast Day

Benedictines all over the world celebrated the feast day of St. Benedict, their Patron Saint last July 11.

The Sisters in Ulas, Davao City started a nine-day Novena to St. Benedict after their 6 AM Holy Mass last July 2. On the feast day itself a Holy Mass was held at 6 AM with Fr. Max Campo, DCD. Interactions with the Oblates of St. Benedict (3rd order), who are either single or married and open to men and women followed thereafter. At 5 PM, there was an Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a Solemn Vespers at 6:30 PM and dinner.

Many religious communities are called such because they follow the “Rule of St. Benedict” and the Benedictine Tradition. Among them is the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of the Eucharistic King of the Philippines, founded by Mo. Edeltraud Danner, OSB in Baguio in 1931. To date, they have 4 Priories all over the country in Davao, Mindoro, Damortis in La Union and Vigan City with the Generalate in Cubao, Quezon City.

“Monastic apostolic,” is the OSB sisters’ lifestyle according to Sr. Mary Philip, OSB, the Prioress of the St. Benedict Priory in Ulas, Davao City. It is a lifestyle that combines contemplative and missionary life. They are guided by their motto, “Ora et Labora” – pray and work. The Benedictines here in the city of Davao are engaged in pastoral immersion, catechetical, liturgical while in Ipil, Zamboanga City and Surigao City the sisters also engaged in biblical ministries.

Here in the Ulas Priory, there are 38 professed sisters, 4 junior sisters, and 6 novices, and 1 postulant. Some of the professed sisters are assigned outside Davao City such as in Ipil, Zamboanga, Surigao and Digos. The Ulas Priory also serves as the Formation House of the entire OSB in the Philippines where all novices and postulants undergo their formation. They also have a Retreat House that is open to retreats and recollections.

For young women out there who are trying to discern God’s call in their life, there is an overnight Search-In Sessions every third Saturday of the month that starts at 5PM of Saturday and ends on Sunday after lunch. They accept applicants to the religious life who are 19-35 years old and at least 2nd year college.

The Sisters started a nine-day Novena to St. Benedict after their 6 AM Holy Mass last July 2. On the feast day itself a Holy Mass was held at 6 AM with Fr. Max Campo, DCD. Interactions with the Oblates of St. Benedict (3rd order), who are either single or married and open to men and women followed thereafter. At 5 PM, there was an Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a Solemn Vespers at 6:30 PM and dinner.

On this joyful occasion, Sr. Mary Philip says, “We rejoiced with all the Benedictines all over the world today as we celebrated the Feast of St. Benedict. Ut in Om Omnibus Glorificetur Deus” (That in all things God may be glorified!)