61 Years of Bringing Us Closer to Christ

(Excerpt from the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, during the 61st Memorial of St. Benedict last July 11, 2026 at St. Benedict Priory, Ulas, Davao City.)

The monastery here in Davao or in Digos the priory always my brothers and sisters is the cave. Mao nay nature nila, ayaw kaayo ninyo samoka sila, ang mga Benedictine di kaayo ni pareha sa PM, lahi ni, dili pareha sa TDM, madre gihapon sila pero in nature taga langub ni sila mao na murag naa silay balik-balik diri, mupondo sila cave, necessary sa ilang pagka-Benedictine Monastery, mga mongha, ang cave, kay kung di sila mobalik ana maong lahi gyud ni sila’g schedule, manguli gyud ni sila, unya naay mga istrikto gamay, sirad-an ang gate kay cave ni. Kay atong gub-on na kita ra bay moguba ngano man ning madreha ni na lahi mani gamay, mawala, their basic lifestyle maguba. So we would like to in this fiesta, respect that kay mao man na ang ika-offer sa kalibutan, their monastic life.

If you can imagine a place like there is God, the Triune God, imagine the Father is there, the Holy Spirit is there unya in order to connect with us, the Son and especially the special act of the Son to connect with us to save us, ang Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Imagine that God the Father is present, Jesus is present and the Holy Spirit is present and at the side Benedict. Picture na ninyo? Unya si Father, Son, Spirit and Benedict nagtan-aw sa Ulas, nagtan-aw nato karon, mo smile ba kaha siya sa mga sisters ug natong tanan? But I would not, I think he would. That’s why we say a thanksgiving Mass. Why would Benedict smile with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit because this whole reason of the existence of the monastery, and mga PM, TDM, mga OP, mga pari, only one reason, like us, to bring us closer to God.

Since 1965, here in Ulas, here in Davao, 61 years na, ang ilang aura, ang ilang dating, has been with the style of St. Benedict, has always been the same, to draw people to Christ. Naay na-drawn to Christ, naging madre, nagpari Benedictine unya many years naay doctor na suki napud diri, naay mga minyo diri mga oblates na sa ilang pagkamama, papa imbued with Christ’s Spirit.

In the Archdiocese, I represent that for better or for worse, motapad ko kang Benedict, picture moana ko. 61 years that we’re being encouraged to come closer to Jesus and not only that like Benedict, and like Christ to forego many things.