Malinao is blessed with verdant hills known as Fatima Hills, home of the Monastery of Our Lady
of Fatima and the Congregation of the Penitent Sisters. The Monastry, now becoming to be an
important
religious institution in Aklan was founded in
1951 by then Bro. Francisco Tolentino of Banga, Aklan, popularly called the "Hermano" when he was
then starting
his avowed life of a hermit. This year (2003), the Congregation is launching a year-long birth
centennial
celebration of the Hermano.
Fatima Hills is located about 12 kms from the Poblacion in the barangay of Rosario. The slopes of a thickly forested cluster of hills donated by David Inventado ranges from 45 to 70 degrees filled with tall trees and oranmental plants, wild animals and reptiles. Medicinal plants are in abundance. The cold breeze fills the air of this peaceful, clean and green community, a perfect place to live in solitude, prayer, penance and meditation.
Some significant features of the hills the Penitent Sisters call home are the Monastery of Our Lady of Fatima, the Station of the Cross, the vegetable, ornamental and herbal gardens, Hagakhak Stream, the Cave, and the clean and green terrain.
 The monastery began as a small chapel in the early fifties. The chapel was first shared by two assocations, the Knights of the Cross and the Hijas de Fatima. The lot where the chapel is located is a seven-hectare area. Improvements were made and the chapel was converted to a monastery for the newly formed Congregation of the Penitent Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima. The chapel is perfect for meditation. The atmosphere is solemn and tranquil. At present, the altar is painted in blue and white with reclining stone for a background which is in fact a part of a hill.
Overlooking the monastery, the entrance is a perfect place to catch the morning sun. This is also where early birds can hear the day's latest hymn and prayers of the Penitent Sisters.
| |||||||||||||
