BALANGA CITY – Archbishop Socrates “Soc” Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan on Monday officiated the blessing of the first religious retreat center in Bataan etched in the hilly portion of Balanga overlooking the city and the sea.
“When you come to this place, do not only pray but bring love for in the sunset of our life. God will not ask us how much we prayed but how much we loved,” the former bishop of Balanga said in his homily.
He thanked Sister Sujita of India, superior of the Sisters of Notre Dame, for building the P50-million Stella Maris Retreat Center in Bataan. The archbishop gave the mother superior a small statue of St. Joseph which he said he is keeping in his bedroom.
“We still have no retreat center in Dagupan,” Villegas told Sister Sujita in jest. The Sisters of Notre Dame was founded in Germany in 1850.
Gov. Enrique Garcia promised to rehabilitate the dusty road leading to the two-hectare retreat center in Upper Tuyo, Balanga.
“Father Soc is interested in having projects either near the sea or the mountains,” the Bataan governor said
Sister Theresa Betz, Sisters of Notre Dame Stella Maris Retreat Center directress, said the construction of the center was made possible through donors from abroad. One of the biggest donors who came was American Dan Meanham who has an uncle who died in Bataan during World War II.
Betz said the center is open for people who want directed retreats, prayers, Scripture, and other liturgical and spiritual topics.
“We are not for rent but we charge certain fees to maintain the center,” the directress added.
She also said that the Stella Maris (star of the sea in Latin) Retreat Center is a place for prayer. It has 10 Hermitages with hot showers that can accommodate six persons. It also has a conference and dining hall for 120 people, chapels and Notre Dame Convent for reading.
It is surrounded by forest trees and bamboos where the chirping of the birds and cicadas can be heard.
“When you come to this place, do not only pray but bring love for in the sunset of our life. God will not ask us how much we prayed but how much we loved,” the former bishop of Balanga said in his homily.
He thanked Sister Sujita of India, superior of the Sisters of Notre Dame, for building the P50-million Stella Maris Retreat Center in Bataan. The archbishop gave the mother superior a small statue of St. Joseph which he said he is keeping in his bedroom.
“We still have no retreat center in Dagupan,” Villegas told Sister Sujita in jest. The Sisters of Notre Dame was founded in Germany in 1850.
Gov. Enrique Garcia promised to rehabilitate the dusty road leading to the two-hectare retreat center in Upper Tuyo, Balanga.
“Father Soc is interested in having projects either near the sea or the mountains,” the Bataan governor said
Sister Theresa Betz, Sisters of Notre Dame Stella Maris Retreat Center directress, said the construction of the center was made possible through donors from abroad. One of the biggest donors who came was American Dan Meanham who has an uncle who died in Bataan during World War II.
Betz said the center is open for people who want directed retreats, prayers, Scripture, and other liturgical and spiritual topics.
“We are not for rent but we charge certain fees to maintain the center,” the directress added.
She also said that the Stella Maris (star of the sea in Latin) Retreat Center is a place for prayer. It has 10 Hermitages with hot showers that can accommodate six persons. It also has a conference and dining hall for 120 people, chapels and Notre Dame Convent for reading.
It is surrounded by forest trees and bamboos where the chirping of the birds and cicadas can be heard.
