The Rector’s Perspective
The Benedictines in the Philippines have been around since 1895, sailing from Spain to take over the Jesuit missions in Surigao. Upon their arrival in Manila on September 12th, church bells tolled to signal the arrival of what would be the last major religious order sent by the Spanish Crown to bring God’s Word and administer the Church’s Sacraments to the people. From Manila, the monks sailed further to Mindanao to receive from the Jesuits the parishes they were to turn over to the monks. The Philippines had already seen the spiritual works of the religious orders that preceded the Benedictines prosper so well, and so the work of the monks would prove to be more agreeable to their contemplative nature. However, within three years of the monks’ arrival, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States. A gradual withdrawal from the Surigao missions ensued, with the last Benedictines in Mindanao leaving by around 1914.
Instead of sailing back to Spain, the Spanish Benedictines established themselves as a monastic community in Manila where they opened El Colegio de San Beda in 1901 to counter the rise of Protestant education introduced by the American government.
“Benedictine monasteries have always been schools- schools of the Lord’s service.”
Throughout its history, Benedictine monasteries have largely been known to be schools—schools of the Lord’s service. Hence, it is not a far-fetched idea for the Manila monks to have opened a school. Sometimes, I wonder how we, as the present generation of Benedictines from Spain, would have fared had our forebears continued the parish missions in Surigao. My imagination leads me to think that we would still open schools within the parish, just like many religious orders that started the administration of parishes when diocesan clergy were scarce or even non-existent in those days. We owe a lot to the religious clergy, including Bishops, who firmly established the Catholic Educational School Systems in the country.
But not all things have run smoothly. While it is true that there have been dark moments in the Church’s history, with allegations of misconduct by Catholic teachers—including the clergy and religious—as well as concerns about misteaching Catholic doctrine, we still trust in God’s providential justice to keep the Church’s educational institutions true to its solemn mandate. I believe, there is a great need now, more than ever, to reflect on how far we have gone as a Church in implementing Catholic education. It would be amiss not to see that, along the way, something had gone wrong. Many Catholic leaders have failed us miserably in their service to the Church and society.
Now, more than ever, the Church must examine how we live out Catholic education.
While many think that Catholic education is the sole responsibility of the schools, it should be noted that, in fact, the first school we bring our child up in is the family. The Catholic family, with its values rooted in the Gospel and the sacred traditions of the Church, is the first school where the foundations of character are built. In this day and age, many Catholic families struggle to keep the faith alive, owing to the wily influence of worldly values that have diminished the God-centered life of the family. When we no longer feel the need for an all encompassing moral order, established on God’s Word in Jesus Christ, and the authority of the Church Christ willed to be His definitive presence to teach and sanctify His people, then unless the schools extend its reach to the families, encouraging them to continue what their children are taught in the schools, we can only look forward to a bleak future.
“Your child’s second home for a brighter future”
Not too long ago, I coined the catchphrase “Your child’s second home for a brighter future” in the schools I have had the privilege to lead. The intent is clear: to make our parents know that to them belongs the first and irreplaceable home of their children. Should they make the wise decision to send their children to a Catholic school, then they can be assured that they will get the Catholic education and formation their children deserve. But if the discipline and character formation their child receives finds a disconnect with their home life, then the partnership between home and school will be a troublesome one. It is paramount for all Catholic families to be formed in the Catholic faith and values, and Catholic schools would be their best allies.
For over 1500 years, Benedictines have formed families through prayer, work, and peace.
As Benedictines, who have worked with families in the education and formation of their children for over 1500 years throughout history, we can only be grateful for the privilege to be at the service of the Catholic family. In San Beda College Alabang, as I am sure in many Catholic schools as well, the Benedictine educational tradition of ensuring the welfare of the family is deeply ensconced. The Parent-Teacher Councils are a living testimony of ensuring each family is cared for and served according to the principles of the Catholic Church: to educate with competence and compassion and so bring about a generation of men and women imbued with the values prayer, work, and peace—to achieve its highest goal, to be formed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB
Rector
