Benilde Antipolo- Office for Lasallian Ministry

Every 29th of October, we celebrate the Anniversary of the Canonization of our Patron Saint Benilde Romançon. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI on 29 October 1967, becoming the first Brother of the Institute to be canonized after Saint John Baptist de La Salle.
In celebration of the Benilde Mission Week, October 23-29, the Office for Lasallian Ministry invites the community to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in honor of our Patron, Saint Benilde Romançon on October 23, 2023, Monday at 9:00 AM at the Chapel of Saint La Salle, 3rd Floor.

April 7 is the Feast of St. John Baptist de La Salle. Every year, we commemorate this date because it is the anniversary of St John Baptist de La Salle's death. However, this year, there is something different - something special - about this day.

In 1719, the year that our Founder passed away, April 7 was Good Friday. This year, April 7 once again falls on Good Friday. This has not happened since 1950, and it will not happen again until 2034.

If there is anyone who would feel only gratitude that his feast day is overshadowed by the remembrance of the death of Jesus, it would be St. La Salle. After all, it was he who wisely wrote: “It is certain that if we are united with him through likeness to his death, we will also be united with him through likeness to his resurrection, and if we die to sin with Jesus Christ, we will also live with him.”

We usually celebrate Founder's Day closer to more joyful occasions such as May 15, the anniversary of St. La Salle being declared 'patron of the educators of young people', but it is more than fitting to spare a thought and prayer for him today.

As we commemorate the death of Jesus in anticipation of his rising to new life, let us also celebrate the 17th century Frenchman who devoted his life to worship, education, and a steadfast adherence to the path that God laid out before him.

Our beloved Founder lived to the age of 68, a remarkable feat in a time when life expectancy for men was only 25 years. Though his health was never the most robust, he lived a longer lifespan than his mentor, Nicolas Roland, who died at 35, and both of his parents. His active lifestyle no doubt played a role in his longevity, for the man spent forty years travelling all over France largely by foot, helping Brothers and teachers to form and organise schools. In doing so, his capabilities and efforts shaped the lives of countless young people.

Even in the face of adversity, St. La Salle remained kind, patient, and determined. Though church authorities opposed his efforts on occasion, he was not swayed. Two or three days before his death, our Founder was told by Canon Blain that a large storm was brewing against him - yet St. La Salle still remained serene. He received the final anointing on Holy Thursday, blessed the Brothers for the last time, and died at around the fourth hour of the following morning.

His final words, translated as "I adore all the ways God has acted in my life," are a testament to his unwavering faith and his deep sense of gratitude.

As we reflect on John Baptist's life and legacy, may we continue to be guided by his example as we work to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve. Let us remember his commitment to education and community, and strive to embody his values of compassion, service, and humility.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts, forever.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Season in our Liturgical year. It is a day of universal fast and abstinence in the Catholic Church and in other Christian Churches.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) would always remind us of God's contant call for renewal in our Chrisitan life by self-control (fasting and abstinence), generosity and charity(almsgiving) and prayer.

To celebrate such sacramental grace of the Lenten Season, the Office for Lasallian Ministry would like to invite everyone to attend and hear the Holy Mass with the imposition of ashes on your forehead on February 22, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at our Saint La Salle Chapel. This is not a required activity for both students and associates in consideration of the scheduled mid-term examination.

The Holy Mass and the imposition of holy ashes will be administered by Rev. Fr. Eldrick Peṅa II, a Lasallian and Prefect of Discipline of the Saint John Paul II Minor Seminary, Diocese of Antipolo.

Let us always remind ourselves and our students of the meaning and significance of this occasion in order to achieve a full, conscious, and intelligent participation during the celebration.

Advent Quotes - Saturday in the First Week of Advent

Advent Quotes - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Advent Quotes - Friday in the Second Week of Advent

From the Homily of Pope Paul VI on the Occasion of the Canonization of Saint Benilde Romançon

Brothers and sisters, who now regard Brother Benilde as an outstanding figure, you do so because you know that during his earthly life he was imbued with humility, silence, simplicity undervalued by the society in which he found himself. You ask yourselves, as we do, what were the qualities that gave value to this hidden existence. The reply comes easily and immediately: his holiness in the form of a life led in total reference to God.

It was this form of life, totally turned towards God, totally involved in his response to his vocation, totally absorbed in prayer and in the observance of the actions proper to a religious, totally imbued with transmitting the great truths of religion to the innocent minds of young pupils, totally pervaded with a simple and spontaneous conversation with God, with Christ present in the Eucharist, with Mary and Joseph and all the saints. Was this not the life characteristic of our new saint, our Benilde? The testimony is often repeated: He prayed all the time, the rosary beads never left his hand, and he was called ‘the man with the rosary. But his holiness had other aspects to it. It was, we can say, an art of living, a wonderful balance of two operational principles, one the interior will and the other the external Rule. They transformed a humble existence into a moral phenomenon of human beauty.