Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Regional Retreat: Province of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Bicol)

The Lay Carmelite Province of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Bicol) held their annual retreat from August 27, 2010 (Feast of St. Monica) to August 29, 2010 (Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist). The retreat theme was "Seasons of the Heart" and was facilitated by Bro. Ruel Santos, TOC. The retreat was held at St. Gregory the Great Minor Seminary, Tabaco City, Albay. On August 27, Sis. Sonia Rosario, TOC and Sis. Anida Bilono, TOC fetched Bro. Ruel Santos at the Legazpi airport. Before going to the retreat venue, they made a side trip to the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Malilipot, Albay.

The retreat started on the afternoon of August 27 and was participated in by the communities of Guinobatan and Malilipot. The retreatants joined the seminary community on the celebration of the Holy Mass and on the end of the retreat, the profession and reception rites for the Malilipot community was held at the seminary chapel. The closing Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando, parish priest of  Malilipot, together with Rev. Fr. Salvador Nicolas Bilono III, seminary rector. After the retreat and the rites, a sumptuous lunch was served.

St. Gregory the Great Minor Seminary, Panal, Tabaco City, Albay
The Majestic Mayon Volcano as seen at the seminary
Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Malilipot, Albay
Retreat Session
The facilitator
Seminary Community Mass
Relic Veneration by the seminary students


 Preparation for the Night Vigil
Night Vigil with the Saints
Way of the Cross
Closing Mass
TOCs of Guinobatan
Profession Rites
The members of Malilipot community together with Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando
The TOC retreatants together with Sr. Marian from the Sisters of the Prophet Elijah and Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando
Lunch after the end of the retreat and the profession rites
Relics Exposed for Veneration:
1st Row: Bl. Michaela Hordashevska, St. Joseph of Cupertino, Bl. Catherine of St. Augustine, St. Dominic Savio, St. Hannibal Marie di Francia
2nd Row: Bl. Baptist of Mantua, Bl. Joan of Toulouse
3rd Row: Bl. Arcangela Girlani, Bl. Aloysius Rabata
4th Row: Bl. Mary of the Assumption, Bl. Maria Crocifissa Curcio, St. Maravillas of Jesus, Bl. Angelo Paoli, Bl. Anne Marie Javouhey
5th Row: St. Lawrence of Brindisi, St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrow, Bl. Amigonian Martyrs, St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen 

Causa Nostrae Letitiae

Novitiate
  • Iluminada Benavente (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Remelita Binalla (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Edna Bellen (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Guillerma Buising (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Rosalina Corralde (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
Temporary Profession
  • Veronica Borbor (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
Final Profession
  • Nida Bilono (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Eden Boneo (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Leticia Biso (Malilipot) 08.29.2010
  • Sonia Rosario (Malilipot) 08.29.2010

Monday, August 23, 2010

Mater Carmeli TOC Retreat - Seasons of the Heart

On August 21 - 22, the TOC Community situated at Mater Carmeli Monastery, Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac held their retreat at the monastery grounds having the theme "Seasons of the Heart". The retreat was facilitated by Bro. Ruel Santos, TOC. The retreat started by  joining the community Mass held at the monastery chapel. In the evening of Aug.21, a small celebration was held because it was the birthday of the prior of the community, Bro. Benjie Syguan, TOC. The nuns joined at the evening celebration where a delicious dinner was served. The retreat ended in the afternoon of the next day where the retreatants were refreshed on their vocation to Carmel and hopefully looks forward in their final profession.

Retreat Session
Evening Prayer together with the nuns
Evening Prayer together with the nuns
A birthday celebration
Celebration of Night Prayer and Office of the Readings with various relics of saints and beati exposed
Celebration of Night Prayer and Office of the Readings
Early Dawn Way of the Cross
Holy Mass (Aug. 22)
Relic Veneration
St. Rita of Cascia, St. Clare of Assisi, and Bl. Anna Maria Taigi
The members of the Mater Carmeli TOC Community

Saturday, August 21, 2010

TOC Foundation in Cagayan Valley

A Third Order of Carmel Community was recently organized in the Holy Cross Parish of Ballesteros, Cagayan. Upon the inspiration of Msgr. Rogelio Cortez, the parish priest. It was initiated by Sis Ester C. Pascua, TOC, of the Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy, Sikatuna Village, Q.C.

The postulants during the Imposition of theBrown Scapular on July 16, 2010, together with
Msgr. Cortez and Sis Ester C. Pascua, TOC.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Elective Chapter of the TOC Community of the Immaculate Conception Seminary

The Elective Chapter of the Third Order Carmelite Community of the Immaculate Conception Seminary situated at Tabe II, Guiguinto, Bulacan was held in the evening of July 18, 2010.

The following were elected (2010 - 2013):

Prior: Sem. Christopher Rivera, TOCarm
Senior Novice Master: Sem. Howard John Tarrayo, TOCarm
Junior Novice MAster: Sem. Jonathan Paul Ventura, TOCarm

Councilors:
1st: Sem. Lesther Mangaliman, TOCarm
2nd: Sem. John Patrick Toledo, TOCarm
3rd: Sem. Raphael De Homor, TOCarm

Treasurer: Sem. Waldie Dela Cruz, TOCarm
Secretary: Sem. Nino Jomel De Leon. TOCarm

The election was supervised by Rev. Fr. Joselin San Jose, TOCarm.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Feast Day of St. Clare and St. Philomena

A Blessed Feastday of St. Clare to the Franciscan Family and a blessed feastday to the Shrine of St. Philomena at the Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Masambong, Quezon City.


 
 St. Clare, pray for us!

St. Philomena, pray for us!


Friday, August 06, 2010

Aug. 07: Feast of St. Albert of Trapani and Blessing of Water


St. Albert was born at Mount Trapani, in Sicily. His father was of the illustrious family of Abbatibus and was possessed of an immense fortune; his mother, Jeanne de Palizze, was also of the nobility. They had no children, and in their distress vowed to consecrate to Our Lady the child God might give them. Little Albert, the fruit of the promise, was the delight of all for knowledge and virtue far beyond his years. When little more than a child, he received the habit in the Carmelite Monastery near his home, and at his profession all the nobility of the country were present. His life was an extraordinary mingling of prayer, penance, charity to his neighbor, and zeal for souls, to which God added visions and miracles. The Infant Jesus used to appear to him and rest in his arms. He lived to a great age, and in his later years retired into a desert to give himself wholly to prayer. The hour of his death was revealed to him, and many marvels announced its advent, August 7, 1306. At his funeral two Angels appeared to all present and intoned the Mass Os justi of Confessors, instead of the Requiem about to be celebrated. The clergy put on white vestments, as if for a Saint, and all considered that Albert was Canonized from Heaven. At the petition of Blessed John Soreth, his cultus was confirmed by Calixtus III, in 1453.

The use of water, blessed with a relic of the Saint, for the cure of the sick, and particularly for cases of fever, is well established in the Order of the Carmelites: and is justified by countless miracles, which have continued without interruption to the present day. This custom is of heavenly origin. St. Albert, being attacked with a grave illness, had recourse to the Blessed Virgin, who deigned to appear to him, holding a crystal cup, filled with water, which she offered him to drink. The Saint implored her to bless this water, and upon tasting it he was immediately cured.

Inflamed with charity for his neighbor, he besought the Most Holy Virgin to attach a healing power to all water which he would bless in her name and in that of her Divine Son. His prayer was granted; he used this power during life, and has continued to exercise it since his death, with marvellous efficacy, by means of his holy relics, as has been proved by innumerable persons who have taken this water with faith and confidence, while invoking his intercession.


BLESSING OF WATER IN HONOR OF ST. ALBERT, CONFESSOR

The priest is vested in surplice and stole, or at least in a
stole. Assisted by a server who carries a lighted candle, he goes
to the place where the relics of St. Albert are reserved and
reverently exposes them. The water to be blessed is at hand in a
fitting vessel.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Blessed be the name of the Lord.
All: Both now and forevermore.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, health and strength of all the faithful, who
once completely cured the mother-in-law of your apostle, Peter,
of her high fever; be pleased to bless + and to hallow + this
creature, water. By the prayers of Blessed Albert, your
confessor, whom you called to forsake the world and to enter the
Order of your Mother, the Virgin Mary, and by the humble use of
this water, may all who suffer from fever be delivered from every
infirmity of body and soul, and so deserve to be restored
unharmed to your Church, where they will always offer their
prayers of gratitude. We ask this of you who live and reign
forever and ever.

All: Amen.

Then he reverently takes the relics and immerses them in the
water tracing with them the sign of the cross, and saying:

By the merits of St. Albert, bless, + O Lord, this creature,
water, as you once consecrated the waters of the Jordan through
contact with your sacred body. And grant that all who taste of it
may regain health in body and soul; you who live and reign
forever and ever.

All: Amen.

Antiphon: O Blessed Albert, model of purity, chastity,
continency; intercede with the Mother of mercy that she may keep
us from evildoing in this vale of tears, and help us to attain
everlasting rest after we have laid aside this mortal body.

P: Pray for us, O Blessed Albert.
All: That we may be worthy of Christ's promise.

Let us pray. Almighty and merciful God, grant, we beg you, that
by the prayers of Blessed Albert, your confessor, all the
faithful who reverently drink of this water may regain health in
body and soul, and so persevere in your holy service; through
Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Sources: “Carmel, Its History, Spirit, and Saints” (NEW YORK: P.J. KENNEDY & SONS, 1927); Philip T. Weller, “The Roman Ritual, Volume II” (MILWAUKEE: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1964).

Sunday, August 01, 2010