Last May 26-27, 2005, some forty-six (46) faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences and Commerce went to an overnight retreat at
St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality, Tagaytay City.  With Sr. Nerissa ‘Bubbles’ Bandojo of the Cenacle Sisters as facilitator, the faculty took time to nourish themselves spiritually before facing a task-filled academic year of preparations for the launching of SSC’s centennial celebration as well as the planning for the coming PAASCU accreditation of the College unit next school year. 

Sr. Bubbles prepared a short but pithy theme for the faculty centering on wishes, dreams, hopes and desires.  Through individual reflection and small group sharing, the faculty experienced a taste of a journey toward the self to identify what lies at one’s heart’s desire.  Some important life lessons gathered were finding God at the center of one’s being, deepening one’s relationship with God as the core of faith and desiring requires discernment for God’s will in one’s life.  The facilitator gave the faculty a visual treat for the exercise on the Sacrament of Waiting by having them watch the movie, “The Terminal”.  The movie inspired and accompanied the participants to a deeper journey to the world of the inner self.   

The retreat culminated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Fr. Jun Tacaysan, MSP as celebrant.  The participants went back to SSC with hopes that what ever glimpses of God-within and God-among-us experienced by the faculty during the retreat do not get lost in the din of Manila but will continue to strengthen the core of their beings as teachers and partners of St. Scholastica’s College in its continued commitment of promoting excellence as its Benedictine service to the community. n