First Catholic retreat center opens in Bataan, Philippines
On January 18, 2010 the Sisters of Notre Dame welcomed many guests to celebrate the dedication of the new Stella Maris (Mary, Star of the Sea) Retreat Center, the first Catholic retreat center in Bataan, Philippines. Located about three hours from Manila, Stella Maris Retreat Center is on a hill overlooking Manila Bay and provides an excellent environment for silence and prayer.
In 2007 Bishop Socrates Villegas, invited the Sisters of Notre Dame to establish the first Catholic retreat house in the Diocese of Balanga, since the demand is great both for young people and for many other groups. For this purpose, he offered two hectares of land. This offer was a wonderful expression of God’s provident care. For some time the sisters had been searching for a suitable place for an international novitiate in the Philippines to respond to the formation needs of the interested young women from their newer Asian missions. The bishop welcomed the idea of building a novitiate and a convent for our sisters on the donated land along with the retreat house.
Two sisters are currently on the retreat center team. Two additional sisters direct the women in initial formation. We rejoice with our sisters in Bataan and wish them many blessings as they prepare future Sisters of Notre Dame from our newest mission lands and lead many people, especially the youth of the diocese, to a deeper living of their Christian faith.
Find out more about the SND mission in the Philippines.
