13/01/2026
𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢, 𝐎𝐒𝐁
God calls His servants not only to pray, but also to work, and sometimes to work so hard that even prayer feels like a rest.
For the Spanish Benedictine monks who arrived in the Philippines in 1895, worked as missionaries in Surigao, and later founded Colegio de San Beda in 1901, 1926 was a year of joy and gratitude, and probably of very tired but very happy monks.
Although the church was completed in December 1925, its formal dedication was set for January 13, 1926, just before the Feast of the Santo Niño de Praga. On that important day, Abbot Salinas himself led the rites. Relics of the martyrs St. Urban, Blessed Vicente Liem de la Paz, and Blessed Jose Kang were installed on the main altar, reminding everyone that this church was built not only of wood and cement, but also on the faith and sacrifice of those who came before us.
Today, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of that dedication, it is meaningful that we are gathered here in Alabang - even though we are far from the original abbey church in Mendiola. In a way, it feels like the church itself is gently reminding us that faith is not meant to stay inside beautiful walls. It is meant to be lived, shared and carried wherever we go.
For the past hundred years, the Abbey Church has been a place of both joyful celebration and quiet prayer. There, children were baptized and received their First Communion. There, young people were confirmed. There, couples were united in marriage. There, monks professed their vows and were ordained priests. There, abbots were blessed and Rector-Presidents were installed. And there, day after day, the Divine Office and the Holy Eucharist were faithfully celebrated.
The Abbey Church has also witnessed many other moments of life - graduations and anniversaries, as well as wakes and funerals, times of laughter and times of tears. It is even remembered that St. Maximilian Kolbe once celebrated Mass there, years before his martyrdom, quietly passing through history before history caught up with him.
Beyond personal milestones, the Abbey Church has also stood as a silent witness to the story of our nation. It has seen presidents come and go, revolutions rise and fall, and seasons of peace and struggle. It has endured floods, typhoons, and earthquakes – and even the very modern trials of traffic, noise, and pollution. Yes, even churches are not spared from rush hour. And yet, while people and events kept changing, the Abbey Church remained - standing firm, reminding us that while many things pass, faith endures.
And as we reflect on how the church has endured through so many changes, we are reminded of something important. Of course, the church is holy because it is blessed and dedicated to God. But because it is built by human hands, it also needs care, repair and restoration. And this brings us to the Gospel. When Jesus drives out the vendors from the temple, we see not anger for its own sake, but deep love and concern. He reminds us that even what is consecrated still needs cleansing and renewal. And the same is true for us.
We, too, are temples of the Holy Spirit. Yet sometimes our “temples” get messy. Dust settles in the form of bad habits. Cracks appear through selfishness. Leaks come from anger. And clutter builds up from worries and fears. So from time to time, the Lord needs to do a little spiritual housekeeping in our hearts - not because He is angry with us, but because He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
So as we celebrate the centennial of the Abbey Church, may we remember that we are called to carry the spirit of this sacred space beyond its walls - into our homes, our schools, our workplaces, and our communities.
May people meet Christ not only when they enter a church, but also when they meet us. And may the next hundred years be marked not only by strong buildings, but by stronger faith, deeper love, and kinder hearts.
Happy 100th anniversary to the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat - and to all of us who continue to be living stones of God’s Church.
‘That in all things God may be glorified.’
(Photo credits: Tuchi Imperial)
𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢, 𝐎𝐒𝐁
God calls His servants not only to pray, but also to work, and sometimes to work so hard that even prayer feels like a rest.
For the Spanish Benedictine monks who arrived in the Philippines in 1895, worked as missionaries in Surigao, and later founded Colegio de San Beda in 1901, 1926 was a year of joy and gratitude, and probably of very tired but very happy monks.
Although the church was completed in December 1925, its formal dedication was set for January 13, 1926, just before the Feast of the Santo Niño de Praga. On that important day, Abbot Salinas himself led the rites. Relics of the martyrs St. Urban, Blessed Vicente Liem de la Paz, and Blessed Jose Kang were installed on the main altar, reminding everyone that this church was built not only of wood and cement, but also on the faith and sacrifice of those who came before us.
Today, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of that dedication, it is meaningful that we are gathered here in Alabang - even though we are far from the original abbey church in Mendiola. In a way, it feels like the church itself is gently reminding us that faith is not meant to stay inside beautiful walls. It is meant to be lived, shared and carried wherever we go.
For the past hundred years, the Abbey Church has been a place of both joyful celebration and quiet prayer. There, children were baptized and received their First Communion. There, young people were confirmed. There, couples were united in marriage. There, monks professed their vows and were ordained priests. There, abbots were blessed and Rector-Presidents were installed. And there, day after day, the Divine Office and the Holy Eucharist were faithfully celebrated.
The Abbey Church has also witnessed many other moments of life - graduations and anniversaries, as well as wakes and funerals, times of laughter and times of tears. It is even remembered that St. Maximilian Kolbe once celebrated Mass there, years before his martyrdom, quietly passing through history before history caught up with him.
Beyond personal milestones, the Abbey Church has also stood as a silent witness to the story of our nation. It has seen presidents come and go, revolutions rise and fall, and seasons of peace and struggle. It has endured floods, typhoons, and earthquakes – and even the very modern trials of traffic, noise, and pollution. Yes, even churches are not spared from rush hour. And yet, while people and events kept changing, the Abbey Church remained - standing firm, reminding us that while many things pass, faith endures.
And as we reflect on how the church has endured through so many changes, we are reminded of something important. Of course, the church is holy because it is blessed and dedicated to God. But because it is built by human hands, it also needs care, repair and restoration. And this brings us to the Gospel. When Jesus drives out the vendors from the temple, we see not anger for its own sake, but deep love and concern. He reminds us that even what is consecrated still needs cleansing and renewal. And the same is true for us.
We, too, are temples of the Holy Spirit. Yet sometimes our “temples” get messy. Dust settles in the form of bad habits. Cracks appear through selfishness. Leaks come from anger. And clutter builds up from worries and fears. So from time to time, the Lord needs to do a little spiritual housekeeping in our hearts - not because He is angry with us, but because He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
So as we celebrate the centennial of the Abbey Church, may we remember that we are called to carry the spirit of this sacred space beyond its walls - into our homes, our schools, our workplaces, and our communities.
May people meet Christ not only when they enter a church, but also when they meet us. And may the next hundred years be marked not only by strong buildings, but by stronger faith, deeper love, and kinder hearts.
Happy 100th anniversary to the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat - and to all of us who continue to be living stones of God’s Church.
‘That in all things God may be glorified.’ 🙏☝️
(Photo credits: Tuchi Imperial)
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