The Solemn Blessing of the Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel at the University of Makati last March 1, 2022, was indeed a great blessing to the academic community on the occasion of their 50th Founding Anniversary. His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, D.D., Archbishop of Manila, led the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Rev. Fr. Santiago E. Casing, SMM, University Chaplain, and some of the clergies from the Archdiocese of Manila and the Society of Montfort Missionaries (SMM).
This historic event was also attended by the City Mayor of Makati, Hon. Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay who happened to be the Chairman of the Board of Regents of said university, together with her husband Congressman Luis N. Campos of the Second District of Makati City and other officials of the university.
There were about 100 individuals composed of employees, faculty members, alumni, retirees, benefactors and donors who attended the solemn rites. Due to the limited capacity of the chapel and in observance of the minimum health protocols, the students were encouraged to participate in this occasion via FB Live Stream.
Cardinal Advincula during his homily emphasized that the newly renovated chapel of UMak is a testament of the dynamic presence and loving movement of the spirit of God amid and beyond of the past 50 years of UMak. He even underscored in vernacular that, “ang layunin ng pag-aaral, pagtuturo at pagtatrabaho ninyo dito sa University of Makati ay huwag sanang mauwi lang sa pag-angat ng pansarili ninyong kita o kalagayan. Sa halip, maging daan at kasangkapan nawa kayo ng katotohanan at paglilingkod sa kapwa.”
In the middle of his homily, he cited the importance of having a chapel in the university to be a sanctuary of honesty before God who offers liberating truth. He also encouraged everyone to come to the chapel when being pressured to lie or deceive or when the truth is hard to see because it is in this chapel that the faithful can be totally honest before God to listen to His guidance and experience His care. The Archbishop of Manila concluded his homily that Jesus in the Gospel is also telling the people to aim high which means higher than personal ambition, higher than selfish interest and yet higher than earthly existence. He exclaimed to aim high – aim as high as heaven and hope in the promises of God.
Prior to the rites of the final blessing, the stone marker was unveiled by Mayor Abby Binay and Congressman Luis Campos to remember this significant event. This celebration also marked the beginning of the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle as decreed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM).
May the Our Lady of Seat of Wisdom intercedes our prayers to Jesus! (Nino E. Faustino/ Director, Center for Community Development in Nation Building, University of Makati | Photo by JP Gonzalo)
