IN CELEBRATION of Theology Month 2026 and in honor of the visit of the relic of St. Sharbel of Makhlouf, the tertiary schools of SBCA, together with the Family of Saint Sharbel - Philippines and devotees of the saint, gathered at the St. Benedict Chapel last Oct. 14 for a Votive Thanksgiving Mass, followed by the blessing with oil.

Presided by Fr. Hans Magdurulang, Chaplain of the Family of Saint Sharbel - Philippines and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Malate, Manila, along with Fr. Mario Botial and Fr. Ronel Antonio, the Mass was sponsored by the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education (SASE), headed by Dr. Rosario Mielmia Aquino, Dean of SASE. 

In the homily, Fr. Magdurulang emphasized the importance of prayer, silence, and humility in strengthening one’s relationship with God. Furthermore, he described St. Sharbel’s life of prayer and silence as an example for the faithful to follow, particularly in a world where people often prioritize their connections with others over meaningful relationships.

“Silence is the language of God,” he said, explaining how St. Sharbel chose a life devoted to prayer and God despite remaining away from public attention.

Fr. Magdurulang recounted St. Sharbel’s life as a monk, describing his years of prayer, silence, and sacrifice in the monastery before he lived as a hermit, dedicating himself entirely to God. He explained how, after the saint’s death, people from the village saw a mysterious light coming from his tomb for 45 days, prompting them to seek permission to open his grave.

St. Sharbel’s body was reportedly found incorrupt despite the cold conditions and dry soil, with a liquid resembling blood and oil continuing to emanate from it for decades. He further shared that these occurrences drew people from Lebanon and other countries, contributing to the spread of devotion to St. Sharbel and numerous reported miracles attributed to his intercession.

Fr. Magdurulang also accentuate that St. Sharbel’s life serves as a reminder for the faithful to make God their priority, particularly amid the distractions of the modern world, while also explaining that devotion to saints should lead people closer to God rather than replace their relationship with Him, citing the Blessed Virgin Mary’s example of directing the faithful toward Jesus Christ and His teachings. 

“And so Mary and the other saints, like St. Sharbel of Makhlouf. God gave them to us not to replace God in our life. Of course not, hindi pinapalitan ng mga santo ang Diyos sa buhay natin kaya nang narinig natin sa theology sasabihin, hindi natin di-no-diyos. Mary and the saints, they are God's graces to us to come back and to become closer only and always to God,” he said.

He encouraged the students, faculty, and devotees present to make God their priority, drawing from St. Sharbel’s example of complete dedication to his faith and vocation.

“You are in this world, but you are not for this world,” he said, reminding the faithful to remain grounded in their faith amid worldly concerns.

Through the life of St. Sharbel, Fr. Magdurulang called on the community to deepen its relationship with God through prayer and humility, putting faith into practice in their daily lives.

The Mass is followed by the blessing of the oil containing oil from the bones of St. Sharbel on the forehead and veneration of the bone relic of the saint.

SBCA was the second school visited during the relic’s journey in the Philippines, allowing the community to learn about St. Sharbel’s life and deepen its devotion to the saint.