OAD Tabor Hill

Whether you’re from Cebu or visiting our province as a tourist, feel free to visit the OAD Tabor Hill. Among others, you’ll find the following:
* Reflectory and Stations of the Cross
* Holy Spirit Shrine
* Chapel of the Holy Relics
* St. Nicholas de Tolentino Memorial Garden
* The Holy Family Rosary Garden
* St. Rita de Cascia Shrine
* The Millennium Cross

If you found the gate with the statue of Our Lady of Consolation, you’re in the right place. Get in!

REFLECTORY

About fifty meters from the gate, you’ll find the Reflectory on the
right side with the image of Our Lady of Lourdes. If you’d like to do
the Station of the Cross, which the hill is famous for, you’ll start
here.

OAD GYM

The Order of the Discalced Augustinians or Ordo Augustiniensium Discalceatorum (OAD) is a missionary community following the footsteps of Saint Augustine.

Seminarians are called OAD Aspirants.

Behind the large sculptured letters is the OAD Gym. The gym is used for sports events (e.g. basketball, volleyball, etc.), Holy Mass during fiestas, and celebrations. The public can also rent the place for private parties and events.

HOLY SPIRIT SHRINE

You’ll start the Station of the Cross from the Reflectory to this shrine up until the top of the hill where the Cenacle is.

Wonderful Landscapes

The place is serene and has a beautiful landscape. You’ll find it relaxing to sit in one of these benches and look at the blue sky and clouds on the horizon.

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY RELICS

Formerly the OAD Formation Center and Retreat House, the expansion of Chapel of the Holy Relics will continue. Sometime in 2016, it will look exactly like the church that you can see on the tarpaulin banner on the right side leading to the entrance. The chapel is a repositorium of the holy remains of Saints and Blessed.

You can even sponsor a saint or blessed for Php 3,500 to cover the cost of the cross carrying the relic itself. As a patron, you will be invited to a Holy Mass on the feast day of the saint or blessed person you’re sponsoring. The missionary community will also pray for you.

ST. NICHOLAS DE TOLENTINO MEMORIAL GARDEN

This is an assuarium and columbarium or a place with assuarium vaults and niches for funeral urns to be stored, including those of OAD priests and religious lay persons.

THE HOLY FAMILY ROSARY GARDEN

Across the chapel is the Rosary Garden. It is a perfect place to pray the Rosary.

Each shell represents a mystery. Contemplate and pray a mystery for each then move to the next until you’ve completed the Holy Rosary.

This is one of my favorite area. It is quiet here and you have a good view from the hill. There are lots of colorful flowers, too.

From here, you can look down and watch the players on the Soccer Field below.

TABOR HILL

Across the Chapel of the Holy Relics, you’ll find the St. Nicholas de Tolentino Memorial Garden on the left about twenty meters away and The Holy Family Rosary Garden another twenty meters on the right.

After that, you can go up and visit the St. Rita de Cascia Shrine on top of Tabor Hill.

You can take the concrete stair at the center or go left or right to enter the shrine from either side or go straight to the back with a wide greenery space. Scroll down and find photos of the way going up from the left side, the right side, and what you’ll find at the back.

Either way, it will be worth each step and refreshing to your soul.

ST. RITA DE CASCIA SHRINE

Take the stairs at the center and find this shrine on top.

Road On the Left

If you take the road on the left, the photo on the left below shows what you’ll find as you go up. The building on the right is the shrine itself. There is a small canteen or store on the left side but not shown in this photo.

If you look beyond the walls on the left, you will see other hills from afar and that will give you an excellent view in the late afternoon.

Shown on the right photo is what seemingly endless stairs going down. You’d wonder where you’ll end up down below or if you can still make it back on top.

Whether you’re after the physical or spiritual exercise or both, the stairs can do wonders if you dare take the challenge.

Road On the Right

If you take the road on the right, the photo on the right below shows a steep road going up. I have taken the photo at almost six o’clock and it was getting dark but it should be well lit during the day.

MILLENNIUM CROSS

If you’ve been to Talamban, you probably have already seen the Millennium Cross from afar and perhaps wondered at times where that may be.

It’s the cross on top of St. Rita de Cascia Shrine on Tabor Hill.

You’ll find the Saint Monica Institute of Religious Studies as well as the Cenacle at the back of the shrine.

Other than that, below is the view that you’ll find at the back of the shrine. It’s a nice place to bring your kids to, even spend time alone when you need to, or bring your friends and play around.