Why Are These Nuns Building a New Church in Malaybalay? 🏛️ | Mater Ecclesiae Monastery Tour

It's the following day. In this first video, I decide to visit the nearby Monastery Mater Ecclesiae in Malaybalay. I start walking towards the place from Panika Tea & Souvenir Shop, heading down the road until I reach the gates. I step inside. There's a wonderful church here – still a work in progress. The place feels peaceful… but also strangely quiet. Maybe the nuns are resting. I walk around and reach an inner area where there's a sort of house. Perhaps that's where they stay. But there's nobody anywhere to be seen. I don't want to disturb anyone, so I just look at the church from the outside, take in the quiet, and head out. About Monastery Mater Ecclesiae & The New Sanctuary You're right – it's much more than just a renovation. The Benedictine Nuns at Mater Ecclesiae are currently in the middle of a major project to build a new, larger sanctuary specifically for their community and the growing number of retreatants. While their current chapel is quite small and tucked away, this new construction is a major milestone for the monastery. 1. The Design: "Modern Monastic" The new church is designed to stay true to the Benedictine value of "Noble Simplicity." · Aesthetic: More spacious but still minimalist, likely using the signature white masonry and dark wood that characterizes the existing monastery. · Orientation: Built to maximize the view of the Bukidnon mountain ranges, designed so that natural light and the "cool breeze" of San Jose act as part of the architecture itself. 2. Why the New Build? The project isn't just for show – it's born out of practical and spiritual necessity: · The "Cloister" Separation: The nuns are strictly cloistered. The new church layout is designed to allow the public to attend Mass and pray in one section while maintaining the "Enclosure" for the sisters in another – which was difficult in their much smaller current chapel. · Increased Retreatants: Since the pandemic, there has been a surge in people heading to Bukidnon for "silent retreats." The new structure is meant to accommodate larger groups without disrupting the quiet life of the nuns. 3. Connection to the Landscape A major part of this ongoing construction is the foundation work and soil protection. Since the site is on a hill, you'll see extensive "riprapping" (stone wall reinforcement) to ensure the new, heavier stone and concrete sanctuary remains stable during Bukidnon's heavy rainy seasons. Pro-Tip for Viewers: If you visit, the best shots of the construction are usually from the higher elevation points near the monks' abbey looking across the valley. However, be mindful that the nuns' area is traditionally more private – even with construction workers around, they still try to maintain a "zone of silence." 📺 WATCH THE FULL SERIES: Bukidnon Diaries https://tinyurl.com/BukidnonDiaries ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Following day, heading out 0:30 – Walking from Panika Tea Shop 1:30 – Reaching the monastery gates 2:30 – Entering the grounds 3:30 – The new sanctuary under construction 5:00 – Why they're building a bigger church 6:00 – The cloister separation explained 7:00 – Increased retreatants since pandemic 8:00 – Foundation work & soil protection 9:00 – No nuns in sight – maybe resting 10:00 – Exiting the monastery 📱 CONNECT WITH ME: · Instagram:   / greatancheta   · Facebook:   / greatancheta   · Twitter:   / greatancheta   💬 ABOUT THIS CHANNEL: Hey, I'm Great from Manila! Join me as I turn everyday life into an adventure. From hidden food spots and mall discoveries to unexpected cat encounters and local travels, my vlogs are like hanging out with a friend who's always finding something new. Subscribe and let's explore the ordinary—and extraordinary—together! 💬 LET'S CONNECT IN THE COMMENTS! Would you go on a silent retreat at a monastery? A. Yes – sounds peaceful B. No – I'd go crazy with silence C. Maybe – depends on how long Let me know in comments! Don't forget to LIKE 👍 and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more content! Subscribe to Planet Great: http://bit.ly/2TpgzsE #MaterEcclesiae #Malaybalay #BukidnonMonastery [Facebook Post] I walked to Monastery Mater Ecclesiae in Malaybalay this morning. 🏛️ The nuns are building a new sanctuary – bigger, more modern, designed with "Noble Simplicity" in mind. Why? Because since the pandemic, more people have been coming for silent retreats. The construction was impressive – you can see the stone wall reinforcement for the rainy season. The nuns themselves? Nowhere to be seen. Maybe resting. Full video link in comments. [Instagram Post] A new sanctuary rising in Malaybalay 🏛️ Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. Built for silence, retreat, and prayer. Full video in my bio.