Ferddie's Blue Jeans: Immaculata Retreat House

“…let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone

and you can rest a while.”

Mark 6:31 TEV

Everybody needs some time off.

Time to rest. Time to reflect. Precious time to renew one’s relationship with his loved ones…most especially with God.

I can’t remember how I first knew about the Immaculata Retreat House. It was in late 2005 when my former CFC chapter organized a Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER) 1 at the Immaculata where the unit I shepherd served as the service team. After my ocular inspection of the place, I endorsed it for the MER, believing this venue well suited our activity requirements.

The cross of Christ is the first image you will see as you approach the Immaculata

A few weeks ago, I returned back to a newly refurbished Immaculata Retreat House as retreat master to a new MER 1 my CFC chapter had organized and opened to our cluster. Like the one in 2005, this pastoral activity was a huge success. Thanks to God’s providence, the selfless efforts of his servants and the venue he led us to utilize for this retreat.

The retreat house is run by Conventual Franciscans whose roots can be traced all the way back to the 13^th century during the time of St. Francis of Assisi. There are actually three orders of Friars that make up the First Order of Franciscans, all of which live by St. Francis’ so-called Rule of 1223. The Conventual Franciscan Friars who wore gray colored habits were those early friars who cared for people in large urban areas and lived in houses called ‘convents’. On the other hand, the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) popularly known as the “Brown Franciscans” also date back to the time of St. Francis. Officially though, they received their name from Pope Leo XIII only in 1897, the year he merged many smaller branches of the Order into one. The third branch, the Capuchin Friars (who also wore brown habits) was the result of 16^th century reforms of the then existing branches.

There were several Franciscan Conventual missionaries who set foot in our country during its rich history preparing the ground for their order’s missionary work of evangelization. They include Blessed Odorico from Friuli, Italy, Venerable Giambattista Lucarelli of Pesaro, Italy and St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, a Polish Friar and Martyr in the concentration camp of Auschwitz during the Second World War.

But it was only in 1979 that the first group of missionary friars of the Casa Mariana in Frigento, a community belonging to the Province of Naples arrived to establish a Mission here in the Philippines.

1982 saw the birth of their first formation house in the country. Under the guidance and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the house was dedicated to her and named the Immaculata Formation House located in Greenfields I Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Outside the main conference hall

Concurrent with its development into an Apostolate and Retreat House in 1994, additional structures were constructed to meet the growing needs of the apostolate leading to the establishment of four entities in the premises: the Immaculata friary (1994), the St. Anthony Clinic-Mission (1994), the Immaculata Retreat House (1994), St. Maximilian M. Kolbe Parish Church (2000).

Generally used for retreats and recollections, Immaculata also offers venues for symposiums, conferences, training seminars or even reception for weddings and baptisms.

With advance notification, the retreat house could provide one’s group with a recollection facilitator if needed. Also, there are resident priests available for the Sacraments, spiritual direction and counseling.

Physical amenities include single bedrooms with their own comfort room, single, double and dormitory rooms with common CR, plus 3 air-conditioned rooms. There is a renovated chapel and 2 very functional conference halls that could accommodate around 70 to 100 participants. The refectory/dining hall is easily accessible and there are kiosks available on the grounds for group sharing.

Sumptuous food for the body

Sisters Mariel and Marjorie Crisostomo form part of Immaculata’s efficient and friendly staff

The renovated chapel lost its carpeting but some of the old ottomans are still around

Madonna and child welcome you at the lobby

Today marks the birthday of Mama Mary! It is in her honor that I compose this blog post about a retreat house Conventual Franciscans named after her immaculate conception of our Lord and Savior.

"Give praise to Him because He is good; exalt Him by your deeds; for this reason He has sent you into the whole world: that you may bear witness to His voice in word and deed and bring everyone to know that there is no one who is all-powerful except Him."

St. Francis of Assisi