Real Monasterio De Santa Clara De Manila | St. Claire Monastery

The Poor Clare Sisters arrived in the Philippines on July 24, 1621. After Initial attempts to disembark in the port of Cavite, the Poor Clares were diverted to the port of Bolinao, Pangasinan. This was a necessary change of itinerary because of the naval blockades from both the English and Dutch ships.

It was on August 5, 1621 that the sisters were welcomed in Intramuros. The life of the Poor Clares in Intramuros was not a bed of roses. Mo. Jeronima and the sisters have to contend with civil and ecclesiastical authorities who did not understand their vocational identity and option to start a monastery in the far east. Mo. Jeronima’s struggle with the authorities culminated in her desire to accept native candidates and do away with dowries, rentals, and pension from the Royal Treasury. Because of her zeal and vision, she was subsequently removed from the Office of Abbess and worst suffered excommunication. After her death and establishment of new foundations, she was accorded veneration of the people as a saint and her process of canonization was initiated and is waiting it’s full realization up until now.

During World War II in 1945, the Monastery in Intramuros was bombed and was razed to the ground by the American forces, leading to the demise of 7 Sisters and 3 male helpers. Initially, half of the community relocated to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary's convent in Sampaloc and the other half to Welfareville, Mandaluyong City. Later, they reunited and lived for five years in their ‘provisional monastery’ at the Colegio Franciscano de San Francisco in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City (presently the OFM Provincial House).

On February 20, 1950, the Poor Clares moved to their new monastery on Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City. Their stay in Aurora Blvd was cut short due to the C-5 Avenue Extension Project. The Poor Clares are living and praying peacefully in their present monastery which was inaugurated in October 1994