Make It Davao: Carmelite Monastery in Mati, Davao Oriental

Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus Monastery in Mati

This is the Carmelite Monastery in Sitio Tuatua, Barangay Matiao, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. Also called Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus Monastery, it was founded in November 21, 1987. The monastery has a total land area of 16 hectares and features a Prayer Garden where life-sized statues of the Virgin Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and tableau depicting the different mysteries of the Rosary, from the birth of Jesus Christ to His resurrection. It is about 100 meters away from the church and can be reached by crossing a hanging bridge thereat. The statues and tableau were sculpted by Bicolano sculptor José Barcena.

Hanging Bridge to the Prayer Garden

The Monastery is a popular destination during Holy Week. People go there to hear Holy Mass, to pray, meditate, and offer petitions, or simply have quality bonding moments with families, friends or colleagues. It is also a favorite playground for kids.

The Altar

How to get to Mati City

Mati can be reached by taking any of the daily scheduled airline flights from Manila to Davao City, or via a regularly scheduled inter-island vessels that ply the Manila-Davao City routes. From Davao City, the easiest way to get to Mati is through the Madaum diversion road which is shorter than the Davao-Tagum highway via private transportation or overland bus ride bound for the City of Mati - approximately 165 kilometers, or about 4 hours drive from the Davao Ecoland Bus Transport Terminal in Davao City.