An hour away from Manila is a sprawling haven of the Society of Jesus where they welcome and form future shapers of society: the Sacred Heart Novitiate and Retreat House in Novaliches.
It draws its name from the Jesuit devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was first initiated by St. Claude de La Colombière SJ in the 1600s. He was assigned to a small community in Paray-le-Monial where there was also a convent of cloistered Visitation sisters, one of whom was Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun and mystic who promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Colombière became the confessor of the convent and Sr. Margaret’s spiritual director.
She opened her soul to him and told him of the supernatural events taking place in her life and he had the insight to recognize this prayer as a real gift from God and a true revelation. In June 1675 the Lord made an explicit request regarding the devotion to his Sacred Heart, asking St. Margaret Mary to establish as a special feast the Friday following the octave of Corpus Christi and to tell Colombière to do all he could to spread this devotion. When Colombière left Paray-le-Monial and was assigned to be the preacher to the Duchess of York in London—although England was officially non-Catholic—he continued to preach the message of Christ’s love for humankind, symbolized by his Sacred Heart. The sermons resonated with the duchess, who years later became the first royal personage to petition Pope Innocent XII to establish a solemn feast in honor of the Sacred Heart.
The novitiate was established in 1932 as the training ground for future Jesuit priests. Today it continues to welcome novices under the guidance of Fr. Lester Maramara as well as civilians or lay persons who would like to go on retreat.
I found myself here not because I was going on retreat but because for the longest time I had been wanting to visit Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, who is buried here—and I finally made my way! (Father Bernas was our dean and professor in Constitutional Law at the Ateneo Law School. Those who were his students call ourselves ‘Bernas babies’.) It’s a gorgeous drive as you enter the grounds, teeming with acacia, mahogany and rubber trees. And the path to the burial grounds is so serene, it really feels like you are visiting a community of saints!
The serene path leading to the cemetery where Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ, and many more who loved and served the Lord are buried.
And what a community! As someone who loves to sing his songs, I immediately noticed that near Father Bernas is Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ, the great liturgical composer who gave us such songs as “Papuri sa Diyos, Pananagutan,” “Sa Piging ng Panginoon,” “Hesus Na Aking Kapatid” (with lyrics by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle), and many, many more.
But aside from all these souls who helped us and continue to help us receive the bread of life, another surprise I loved at this place is the actual bread from their kitchen!
Those on retreat have the pleasure of enjoying the baking of chefs Jonathan Flores and Jesson Perol who make really good focaccia, banana walnut bread and empanadas! The serenity of the place must help them focus as the texture of the bread is really good! The good news is you can also order these and just have them picked up, as they did during the pandemic. Their red velvet cupcakes are delicious, too!
Chef Jonathan Flores and Jesson Perol of the Sacred Heart Novitiate and Retreat House create bread with amazing grace.
According to executive director Liesl Lim, the retreat house has 104 rooms and several chapels. Some schools send their students here for retreats but you can also go with friends and family—or even alone. You can walk around the grounds and find your inner peace. You can also take pictures with the sheep that they allow to graze on their gardens!
We must thank the Jesuits for offering us this space to find our inner peace amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To be reminded to chill, listen and pray. To fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit—and delicious bread!—and emerge rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world, for the greater glory of God!
Sacred Heart Novitiate and Retreat House. Km 23 Quirino Highway, Barangay Pasong Putik, Lagro, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact 0917-868 8187. INQ