Thursday, January 18, 2007

The Heritage of Elijah: The Silent Retreat of the TOC Region of Saint Joseph

What a better way to start the year is to have a vacation with the Lord. Thus, the TOC Region of St. Joseph (Bulacan) coordinated a silent retreat with the theme: "The Heritage of Elijah: Introduction to Carmelite Spirituality" from January 12 to January 14, 2007.



A snapshot from Notre Dame de Vie

The retreat venue was held at the former mother house of the secular institute "Notre Dame de Vie" in Asia which was founded by Fr. Marie Eugene of the Child Jesus, OCD. The retreat house is surrounded by a large woodland and conducive for a closed silent retreat.

One pathway going to the wooded area

The retreat was attended by TOCs from Pulong Buhangin (Bulacan), Guiguinto (Bulacan), Malolos (Bulacan), Calumpit (Bulacan), Project 4 (Quezon City), Pilar Village (Las Pinas), and Five Wounds (Las Pinas). Fr. Cocoy Sabanal, OCarm was the retreat master.


Fr. Cocoy giving a short intro at the first day

The retreat was started with a Holy Mass and the "Grand Silence" was observe after the Compline of January 12 and ended at the closing Mass of January 14. Exposition and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament was observed and on the early morning of January 14, the retreatants made a Way of the Cross within the vicinity of the retreat house. At the last conference on January 14, the retreatants made some presentation based on drawing, song or play about their reflections they have made as the retreat progressed.


TOCs Making Presentation



Bro. Boy during one of the discussions



TOCs of Pulong Buhangin

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