In a serene and fraternal atmosphere, without ostentation or protocol, the Prior General, Friar Miguel Hernandez Hernandez, presided over the blessing and inauguration of the new stained glass windows of the Green Heart Hermitage. Bernard Amparado, the Prior Provincial, Friar Bernard Amparado, the Prior of the Cavite community, Friar Dexter Palagtiosa, other members of the community and friends.
The stained glass windows, the fruit of the inspiration and talent of General Councilor Fr. Jaazeal Jakosalem (Tagoy), are much more than a decorative work: they constitute a true visual catechesis, a silent prayer and an offering of light commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno.
The images represented – Our Lady of Consolation, St. Joseph, St. Augustine, St. Nicholas of Tolentine and St. Ezekiel Moreno – weave a spiritual narrative linked to the identity and mission of the Recollects. For the Caviteños, the ensemble has an even more endearing value: it includes the beloved image of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga next to the kneeling martyr Saint Sebastian, as well as the historic church of Santa Monica, of which only its bell tower survives after the battle of Manila Bay.
During the ceremony, the Prior General recalled with emotion the roots of the Recollects in Cavite since 1616, and emphasized that the beauty of sacred art, like the light that passes through these stained glass windows, “invites us to contemplation, evokes the mystery and leads us to God”. In his message, he echoed the words of Pope Leo XIV:
“How much we need to recover the sense of the mystery that envelops the whole human person and sings the beauty of salvation.”
The work, located in the Green Heart Hermitage, becomes a spiritual beacon and a symbol of the Recollect mission in this land. As Fr. Miguel Hernandez said:
“Though small, we can reflect God’s light in our daily lives, in our words, attitudes and gestures.”
This blessing not only marked a significant date in the history of the Province, but also left a luminous mark of communion, gratitude and hope for the entire Recollect family and for the people of Cavite.