Sto. Niño Calls Bedans to Childlike Faith, Hope, and Malasakit
The San Beda College Alabang community came together in joyful thanksgiving for the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño, the culminating highlight of the three-day Pista ng Sto. Niño 2026. The Holy Mass was presided over by Rt. Rev. Ignasi M. Fosas, OSB, Abbot-President of the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, with Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat in Manila and Fr. Gerard Ma. De Villa, OSB, as concelebrants. Students, alumni, administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and members of the Benedictine community gathered in a vibrant expression of Filipino faith, culture, and Bedan spirituality.
In his homily, Fr. Gerard reflected on the enduring devotion of Filipinos to the Sto. Niño—a faith that has sustained families and communities through life’s many storms. He shared how this devotion is deeply woven into the Filipino experience, evident in communal prayers, joyful processions, and spirited cultural expressions. For Bedans, he noted, the Sto. Niño reflects the Filipino heart: resilient in hardship, joyful in hope, and rooted in relationships marked by bayanihan and trust in a God who journeys with His people.
Fr. Gerard emphasized that the Sto. Niño continues to be a source of light amid darkness, breaking through poverty, conflict, and sorrow. The Child Jesus, he said, invites communities to healing, justice, and unity—calling everyone to live as one family guided by faith and love. This enduring presence of the Sto. Niño reminds believers that hope is not abstract, but lived and shared in concrete acts of compassion and solidarity.
He also underscored God’s abiding grace, reminding the community that each person is chosen and blessed, called to live with purpose, holiness, and hope. With hearts open to wisdom, Fr. Gerard encouraged Bedans to recognize the many ways God continues to pour strength and blessings into their lives—an invitation that resonates deeply with the Filipino spirit of generosity and shared joy.
Highlighting the mission of Catholic education at San Beda College Alabang, Fr. Gerard spoke of the harmony between faith and learning. Academic formation, he said, finds its fullest meaning when illuminated by Gospel values, forming students not only for excellence in their fields but also for lives of compassion, justice, and respect for others as kapwa.
At the heart of the homily was a call to embrace childlike humility. True greatness, Fr. Gerard reminded the community, is found in simplicity, trust, and openness—qualities embodied by the Sto. Niño. To welcome the child is to welcome Christ Himself, a challenge that calls for a faith expressed not in status or power, but in love and service.
As the celebration concluded, Fr. Gerard urged the Bedan community to carry the light of the Sto. Niño beyond the festivities—into daily encounters, acts of service, and quiet moments of witness. Grounded in humility, hope, and malasakit, Bedans are called to become bearers of God’s presence in a world longing for healing and peace.
May the Sto. Niño continue to bless the Bedan community, drawing all into His light, love, and abiding embrace.
