MATUTUM
CISTERCIAN MONASTERY OF OUR LADY OF MT. MATUTUM

Filippine - 1995

 We Cistercians are better known as Trappistines. We belong to the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.) which has its origin in 1098 at Cîteaux, France. The Order has now communities of monks and nuns spread all over the world. Our community in the Philippines began in 1995, and originated from our motherhouse in Italy: Our Lady of St. Joseph, in Vitorchiano, which was founded in 1875. Besides our community, our motherhouse has established 6 daughter houses in different parts of the world: in Guardistallo (Italy), Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Indonesia, and the Czech Republic.

 Our monastery is situated in the southernmost part of the island of Mindanao, in the vicinity of General Santos City. The property, approximately 35 hectares, is situated in Landan, Polomolok in the province of South Cotabato. We belong to the diocese of Marbel (or Koronadal City).

 We follow the Rule of St. Benedict in the spirit of our Holy Founders (Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen Harding). Our spirituality is particularly characterized by silence, solitude, continual prayer, and life in community.

 "Cistercian monks and nuns seek God and follow Christ under a Rule and an abbot/abbess in a stable community that is a school of mutual love." (Constitutions)

 Gathered by the call of God we constitute a monastic church where we follow a way of life, which is: monastic, contemplative and cenobitic (life in community). Each community of the Order and all the nuns are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Our community is called "Our Lady of Mt. Matutum" - taking its name from the nearby extinct volcano. Our monastic life is a life for God, totally dedicated to contemplation:
- a life of prayer (Divine Office and personal prayer)
- manual work and
- lectio divina (or spiritual reading).

Following the Benedictine tradition, offer hospitality through our guesthouse, which is open to those who seek a time of deeper prayer and an experience of God's presence in silence. Our guesthouse has a capacity of 40.

Our work, mainly manual work, constitutes our means of livelihood for the community. Income generating industries include the production and sale of religious cards, a cookie and bread industry and an atelier for religious articles (icons, rosaries, native cards). Our monastic products are sold at our gift shop located in the guesthouse while others are brought to the city or sold through mail orders.

The young Filipino women who have since joined our community come from different parts of the Philippines, mainly from Mindanao itself. The community has since increased and numbers 26. At the time of this writing there are 20 solemnly professed (including the 9 foundresses), 3 temporarily professed, 3 novices, and upcoming two postulants.

Inquiries may be addressed to:
Mother Giovanna Garbelli (Prioress)
Sr. Vera Maria Bruni (Vocational Directress)

Our Lady of Matutum
Landan - Polomolok 9504
South Cotabato
Philippines

Tel.:  [63] 83 225 66 00
Cell.: 09192173330
e-mail: matutumsisters@yahoo.com
matutumcards@gmail.com