Brief History of Monasterio de Tarlac
Brief History
By: Rev. Fr. Moses Angelo, SRC
Our humble beginning...
It is only when we realized that God's plan is the "only plan" after many plans been tried and yet failed thus all things are arranged according to His will and design. Rev. Fr. Ronald "Archie" Thomas A. Cortez of Bamban, Tarlac, a newly installed pastor in Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese Ramos, Tarlac, received the instruction by his ordinary bishop to have further studies in Rome. But days before his departure, a group of young men, sought his assistance and discernment in living a life of silence, prayer, contemplation and adoration following the spirituality of the Risen Christ. The Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community an apostolic-contemplative community of religious men who consecrated themselves to a life of prayer and work (Ora et Labora). The charism of the new congregation is to give hope to the hopeless; an Easter message of hope and joy. The New congregation officially received the diocesan blessing and approval from their bishop-protector, Most Reverend Florentino F. Cinense, bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac, on September 14, 1998, on the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Ramos town became the cradle of the SRC Community.
It is only when we realized that God's plan is the "only plan" after many plans been tried and yet failed thus all things are arranged according to His will and design. Rev. Fr. Ronald "Archie" Thomas A. Cortez of Bamban, Tarlac, a newly installed pastor in Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese Ramos, Tarlac, received the instruction by his ordinary bishop to have further studies in Rome. But days before his departure, a group of young men, sought his assistance and discernment in living a life of silence, prayer, contemplation and adoration following the spirituality of the Risen Christ. The Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community an apostolic-contemplative community of religious men who consecrated themselves to a life of prayer and work (Ora et Labora). The charism of the new congregation is to give hope to the hopeless; an Easter message of hope and joy. The New congregation officially received the diocesan blessing and approval from their bishop-protector, Most Reverend Florentino F. Cinense, bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac, on September 14, 1998, on the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Ramos town became the cradle of the SRC Community.
But the old cliché’s "many are called but few are chosen," of the first batch of more than half dozen only Frt. Thomas Mary Lawrence, SRC who is from Albay Bicol Province persevered until the present. From the community of religious men and women who have ardent desire for holiness followed the charism of the Prior-Founder and joined the family of Risen Christ Monastic Community, extending its members to the second order and third order: the Contemplatives Sisters, the Oblates Sisters, the Handmaids Sisters and the Tertiary - Lay and Clergy. Fr. Prior would always say: " it is not merely coincidence... it is the hands of God working in this Community."
Mt. Resurrection, San Jose Tarlac...Our new home...a journey into solitude with nature...
The necessity of a place where the new community can truly dedicate itself to a life of prayer and solitude was a dream of Father Archie, our Prior. Trusting in Divine Providence, one early morning of December 1999 in Tarlac, Governor Jose "Aping" Yap attended the Simbang Gabi at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Ramos, Tarlac. During the homily of Father Archie A. Cortez, shared with the faithful the life of his new community as an illustration of a life dedication patterned after the Gospel. This caught the attention of the governor of Tarlac. After the Mass, over a cup of coffee, a conversation between Governor Yap and Father Archie, Father Archie expressed the need of the community for a place where they can truly live as monks and subsequent offer of a piece of land by the Governor to the Servants of the Risen Christ was made.
The necessity of a place where the new community can truly dedicate itself to a life of prayer and solitude was a dream of Father Archie, our Prior. Trusting in Divine Providence, one early morning of December 1999 in Tarlac, Governor Jose "Aping" Yap attended the Simbang Gabi at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Ramos, Tarlac. During the homily of Father Archie A. Cortez, shared with the faithful the life of his new community as an illustration of a life dedication patterned after the Gospel. This caught the attention of the governor of Tarlac. After the Mass, over a cup of coffee, a conversation between Governor Yap and Father Archie, Father Archie expressed the need of the community for a place where they can truly live as monks and subsequent offer of a piece of land by the Governor to the Servants of the Risen Christ was made.
Believing in the vision and mission of the Congregation, Governor Yap shared and offered Father Archie his on-going project and invited him to build them a monastery at the Eco-Tourism Park in Brgy. Lubigan San Jose, Tarlac. After seeing the place, the Brothers saw that this was soon become the birth place of the Monasterio de Tarlac. Laying on the foundation of the Monasterio de Tarlac was in the end of 2000, where the firs Mass and the erection of the first cross was held. On March 07, 2001 was the blessing of the Prior's Hermitage took place, coinciding the birthday of the Prior. A year after, on December 2, 2002 was the blessing of the 30-foot high statue of the Risen Christ was blessed by His Excellency, Bishop Florentino F. Cinense, D.D and was attended by Governor Yap and other visitors. In 2003, was the completion of the hermitages for the monks. This was followed by the blessing of the chapel and the 12-room dormitory in 2004 which was attended by Mrs. Teresita Wilkerson, from Angeles City, a generous donor, together with the other guests. In confirmation of God's working in this humble congregation, on January 30, 2007, the relic of the True Cross of Jesus was enshrined in the chapel dedicated to it by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, His Excellency Fernando Filoni, D.D.
Information courtesy of http://monasterio-de-tarlac.weebly.com/
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