Saturday, November 19, 2011

Profession Rites: Province of St. Joseph

On Nov. 5 and 19, Rites of Final Profession, Temporary Profession, Novitiate, and Acceptance of Aspirants were celebrated by the communities of the Lay Carmelite Province of St. Joseph. On Nov. 9, the feast of Bl. Frances d'Amboise, ten (10) lay carmelites made their final profession at the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria. The rites were administered by Rev. Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, OCarm (Provincial Delegate) together with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Elmer Ignacio.

On Nov. 19, feast of St. Joseph Kalinowski, Rev. Fr. Adrian Layug, TOCarm. administered the rites at the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family for TOC members who are due for temporary profession and novitiateship. Aspirants were also accepted.

Pictures of the event can be found at this site and this.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Dipolog City Mission

After a year of planning and communicating with the Cofradia in Dipolog, the visit of the representatives of the National Council pushed through. Sis. Sally Castro, Bro. Ruel Santos, and Sis. Menchie Martinez went to Dipolog on Nov. 12 on board Cebu Pacific. At the airport, the representatives were met by the Cofradia members (Bro. Benijie, Sis. Sal, Sis. Ivy and others) bearing the banner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A warm welcome with flowers greeted the National Council. After a hearty lunch, the National Council was toured around the area of Dipolog and Dapitan. The Rizal Shrine was visited and the parish church of Dapitan wherein there is also an existing Cofradia.

On Nov. 13, after the holy mass, consultation between the Cofradia and the TOC National was done to find out the possibility of establishing a community there. The Cofradia members were enthusiastic about it and solidly said that they want a TOC community established there. With this development, the National Council decided to create the TOC community there and assigned Sis. Menchie Martinez, TOCarm., priores of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi TOCC in Alido, to oversee the formation of the new community. The community in Dipolog is to be known as St. Teresa of Jesus TOC Community.

The Cofradia del Nuestra Senora del Carmen is one of the oldest church organization in Dipolog alongside with the Apostleship of Prayer. It has been in existence before World War II in the area. Pictures of the event can be seen at the Facebook Album - Dipolog - of the TOC Philippines.