FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION: A NARRATIVE REPORT

(The Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus and the Minor Basilica of Saint
Michael the Archangel Museum Tour)

Culture and arts in the Philippines for a hundred years ago defines how Filipinos gave
importance and appreciation to it. The works of art have been developed and accumulated
from the beginning of the civilization up to the present time. One example of the preserved
culture and arts can be seen in the Museums of the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the
Infant Jesus and in the Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Tayabas City, Quezon
Province. A question of how do the trustees and the docents preserve the antique icons, how
was it before and how does culture and arts influences the people up until now is what I am
going to discussed in this report and when it is started.
The first stop of our Museum tour is
at the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of
the Infant Jesus also known as MCST
Compound in Tayabas City. It was founded
by the Servant of God, Alfredo Maria Obviar,
the first resident Bishop of the Diocese of
Lucena on August 12, 1958 at San Narciso,
Quezon and was transferred in Tayabas on
January 1959 where it could be accessible to
the priests, parents and candidates. The
simple and prophetic priest, who later
becomes the first Bishop of the Diocese, saw
the need for catechists to teach young
Christian doctrines in schools within his
diocese, mostly in public. He soon
encountered problems of tepidity and
tenacity that arose among those who
volunteered to help him in the work of
evangelization. Many left the ministry for
various reasons such as marriage, further studies and better paying jobs among others.
The institute’s seal defines: The Light; as the ever burning love of St. Therese. It
symbolizes her ardent purifying love earned through sacrifices sustained and kept alive by her
little doings. Through that ever caring love, she was able to reach everybody through her
prayerful and mortified ways. This is the love that inspires the MCST. The Staff; defines the care
that the Founder, Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar has invested in founding the Congregation. The
Coconut; symbolizes the multi-dynamic fruit that gives itself up to everything that may serve
man. The MCST Congregation envisions that pathway to the Lord in serving and loving all men
to the fullness of her riches endowed by the Lord. The Bible; symbolizes as the source of the
Way, the Truth and the Life- through and by which Jesus identified himself in preaching and
revealing Himself to the people. The Lily and the Carmel Cross; Symbolizes the devotions of the
MCST Congregation. Ad Evangelizandum; a motto evangelizing its own very community, the
MCST Congregation envisions to be discerning, prating witnessing and evangelizing community
as the Greatest Founder commissioned it through his Church.

As the institute grows in number, it also expands its mission. As of March 2007, it has
280 sisters with 52 mission houses throughout the different parishes and archdioceses in the
Philippines and abroad.
The Founder, Venerable Alfredo Maria
Obviar was born on August 29, 1889 in Mataas na
Lupa, Batangas City and the only son of Telesforo
Obviar and Florentina Catalina Aranda, the same
day that Bishop Obviar received his Holy Baptism at
San Sebastian Cathedral. Her mother died on
January 20, 1890 and his father was when he was
twelve years. He was given care by his mother’s
sister and brother named Marta and Margarito
that serves as his parents for his entire life. Bishop
Obviar studied at the Kolehiyo-Seminaryo ng San
Francisco Javier and soon gets his Bachelor’s
Degree at the Ateneo de Manila on 1914. He
pursues his studies at University of Sto. Tomas as a
medicine student but did not get the chance to
finish it because of its difficulty. After a year, he
returned to Manila to continue his vocation to be
as Servant of God at Seminaryo Sentral ng Santo
Tomas. He was ordained on March 15, 1919 by Bishop Alfredo Verzosa in San Sebastian
Cathedral in Lipa, Batangas and was assigned at Malvar, Batangas.
September 1950, he was appointed as the First Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese
and was designated also as the first Bishop of Lucena. Venerable Alfredo Maria Obviar was also
the Founder of Mount Carmel Diocesan General Hospital.

On the same hospital he built, he died at the age of 89 on October 1, 1978. His tomb
was placed at the MCST compound and soon transferred inside the newly built chapel inside
the compound. All of his things were preserved inside a museum and exclusive only for the
eyes, including his books, chair, priesthood things and the photos of him that were taken many
years ago. They provide proper ventilation on the museum so that the preserved things will
maintain its beauty.
 Inside the MCST Chapel where the tomb of Bishop Obviar was located, there were
collections of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus that was donated by a generous person, not
mentioning its name.

Different prayer books of Saint Therese, rosaries, images and medallions were enclosed
inside a glass cabinet so that the collection will keep its natural resemblance.

The whole MCST Compound is well cleaned and maintained by the Nuns and
missionaries where you can feel serenity and tranquillity. The location of it simply signifies the
calmness of the nature where you can see peace and freedom from disturbance. The love of
the missionaries for God and also for Bishop Obviar can be easily seen because of what they are
doing that is coming from their heart and not from what they hear. It is not the first time that I
went to the place, but the spiritual presence of that sacred place every time I go there is not
changing.
From the concept of Venerable Alfredo Maria Obviar to teach Catechism, he did not lose
hope to continue and pursue his mission to create an Institution where Catechism has been
shared and taught not just in the Province of Quezon but also along the Philippines.
 MISSIONARY CATECHISTS OF ST. THERESE OF THE INFANT JESUS COMPOUND

JARDIN D’ AMOUR
MONUMENT OF BISHOP ALFREDO MARIA OBVIAR

Chapel’s view from the Bridge going to BAMO’s Museum

MCST Library
Venerable Alfredo Maria Obviar’s Prayer Booklet MCST MOTHERHOUSE

Wall Sculpture inside the compound

Previous Tomb of Venerable Alfredo Maria Obviar

The Chapel’s Altar

 The second and last spot of our Museum day tour was at the Basilica Minor of St.
Michael the Archangel, Tayabas City which is the largest church in Quezon Province that is built
in a shape of a key and has the longest aisle in the Philippines. The Church was established in
1578 by Franciscan priests and was a camarin
type church built using bamboos. It was rebuilt
in 1600 using bricks because of the growing
number of Catholics in Tayabas. The church
was later destroyed by the 1743 earthquake
but the walls were still left standing and was
rebuilt again and expanded. The highlight of
our tour in this church is the Lenten Exhibit
and the Museo Diocesano De Lucena
(Diocesan Museum of Lucena)

In 2000, the church underwent a major renovation and restoration for the 6 th time
where the altar was moved from the northern apse to the crossing of the apse below the dome.
The pulpit and the basilica’s monastery were also
restored. Tayabas Basilica is considered to be one of
the most beautiful churches in the Philippines
We are not able to enter inside because of
the wedding ceremony so we already enter the
exhibit on the side of the church. The entire exhibit
was surrounded by different saints that are included
in the parade during Good Friday. The saints are
given take care of what they call camarero (A Family)
who is in-charge of maintaining its resemblance.
Most of the statues were made of fiber glass and
wood which is a durable material. During the tour,
the museum docent gave us some facts about what they are doing for the whole year and for
what kind of museum they have to prepare for depending on the celebration.

There are almost 30 Saints in the exhibit where you can see the different images of
Mary and Christ. The Black Nazarene, which is a dark-skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ, if I am not
mistaken, it measures for about 10 to 15 feet. It is the largest statue in the exhibit and the main
attraction in it. We are given permission to
took photos inside of it and have it
documented.
 On the other side of the church, the Diocesan Museum of Lucena is located. The
preserved artefacts of the whole diocese where placed inside the museum and was given care
by the trustees. You can see equipment and other antique Saint Statues that was ancient but
well maintained. We are not given the chance to
take photos for it to preserve its natural beauty.
The care takers are very particular when it comes
to the museum. We are only given the chance to
take photos on the first part of the museum
which is connected to their Lenten Exhibit. Most
of the tools that was used during the old times
was mostly made of silver and I am amazed that
some of them is about 200 years and above.

Personal belongings of Bishop

Alfredo Maria Obviar are also available in
the museum including his chair that he used
in the basilica. The chair is open for
everyone and sits in it while praying and
asking for guidance. Seeing the antique icons will give you chills knowing that it is made a long
time ago. The museum docent gives particular ideas about everything inside the museum and
gives us enough knowledge. The icons form the past were given reputation until now and it
serves a well-kept knowledge to everyone mostly to those who lived in Tayabas City. We may
not know the different legends among the church but the spirit and presence of the church can
be seen until now.
The concept of the Tayabasin on how they will manage to do a museum and exhibit
creates a beautiful attraction to their city and by giving care to the relics, tools, and icons.
Culture and arts from the past did not change thus it was given importance and was given
progress.
 MINOR BASILICA OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

RISEN CHRIST

Minor Basilica’s Front

Mahal na Birhen ng Dolorosa

FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION:
A NARRATIVE REPORT

Ma. Bernadeth S. Bonecile

Unit Earner