A Spirit-Filled Lenten Recollection at Mater Ecclesiae Renewal Center: A Space of Mission and Grace, a Call to Put God in Always and in All Ways

THE Clinical Instructors of the College of Health Sciences of the Naga College Foundation, Inc. convened for a spiritually enriching recollection on April 12–13, 2025, at the Mater Ecclesiae Renewal Center in Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur. This gathering was not merely an academic respite but a profound spiritual encounter with God, situated meaningfully within the Lenten season of 2025, which Pope Francis proclaimed as part of the Jubilee of Hope—a call to rediscover God’s mercy and become agents of healing in a wounded world.

Lent is a sacred time of spiritual renewal, prayer, and recommitment to a Christ-centered life. This recollection offered a moment to pause and reflect on a vital truth often lost in the noise of modern life: the necessity of putting God in all things and in always. In a world where the Evil One works tirelessly to distract souls with the busyness of daily responsibilities, noise, and pressure, this retreat served as a clear reminder that our highest priority must be to center our lives on Christ. The Mater Ecclesiae Renewal Center, blessed under the visionary leadership of Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, stands as a sanctuary for deep spiritual nourishment. Integral to its founding mission are the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church (DM), established on October 11, 1966, by Most Rev. Teopisto V. Alberto of the Archdiocese of Caceres, with Mother Mary Therese Vicente as the first superior and formator. Rooted in a profound catechetical mission, the congregation continues to echo the universal call of the Church: to evangelize, to serve, and to accompany souls toward deeper communion with God.

During the recollection, the sisters exemplified selfless charity through their loving hospitality, offering not only nourishing meals but also spiritual guidance that reflected the Gifts of the Holy Spirit—particularly piety and counsel. Their warm presence provided a tangible encounter with Christ’s compassionate love, creating an atmosphere where grace could truly take root. The spiritual conferences were prayerfully facilitated by Rev. Fr. Fidel Mamerto Bagayaua, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Caceres, whose continuing pastoral zeal has become a guiding light for many. His talks, deeply reflective and theologically grounded, invited participants to rekindle their relationship with Christ and to walk in hope, especially in difficult and morally complex times. With profound pastoral wisdom, Fr. Fidel emphasized the importance of silence, prayer, and the interior life in combatting the distractions of modern existence. He reminded the retreatants that the path to holiness requires wisdom, understanding, and a conscious prioritization of God amid life’s competing demands. His sessions culminated in a powerful celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where participants were given the opportunity to receive healing through God’s mercy—an embodiment of the Gift of fear of the Lord, which leads us to awe and reverence before God’s boundless love.

On the second day, the recollection entered a more profound liturgical space with the celebration of the Eucharist for Palm Sunday, presided over by Rev. Fr. Christopher Bo. This sacred celebration began with a reenactment of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a moment of both praise and prophetic fulfillment. As palm branches were raised in worship, the retreatants were reminded that Christ does not only enter the city gates, He enters the hearts of those who welcome Him. Palm Sunday signals the start of Holy Week, the Church’s most solemn time, and it invites every believer to accompany Christ in His Passion, death, and resurrection. It is a call to embrace both suffering and joy, glory and sacrifice, and to receive the Gift of fortitude, which sustains us in times of trial.

The final sessions were led by Sr. Jessica Militar, whose talks inspired the participants to reflect deeply on the integration of faith and vocation. She emphasized the role of Catholic educators as moral leaders and intentional witnesses of Christ in a secular world. Her reflections challenged everyone to cultivate moral intelligence, to model Christian virtues, and to recognize their sacred influence on the lives of students and communities. Drawing from Scripture, Church teaching, and personal witness, Sr. Jessica highlighted that one cannot give what one does not possess. Hence, the urgent need for personal holiness, inner clarity, and intentional discipleship. These insights were anchored in the Gift of knowledge, enabling participants to view their mission with new clarity and purpose.

The recollection concluded with a renewed desire among participants to put God first in all things, to resist the pull of worldly distractions, and to intentionally live out their faith. The fruit of this retreat was not only interior peace but a strengthened resolve to walk in the spirit of the Jubilee of Hope, guided daily by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for this sacred time of recollection—for the silence, the grace of community, and the peace of Your presence. In Your mercy, teach us to seek You above all, to desire You as our greatest good, and to place You above all worldly distractions. Strengthen us to resist the false gods of wealth and success, and fix our eyes on heaven, where true joy is found. Fill us with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, that we may live in hope, love, and truth. Through Mary, Mother of the Church, keep us faithful as pilgrims of hope. AMEN.