Hagonoy, Bulacan
The St. Therese of the Child Jesus TOC Community of Hagonoy celebrated their first founding anniversary on March 17, 2007. The occasion was graced by members of the Calumpit community – St. John the Baptist, the mother community, and the Regional Council of the Region of Saint Joseph. One of the activities of the celebration was the imposition of the Brown Scapular to selected parishioners of Sta. Elena Parish. They were imposed after the Regional Council gave a short talk about the Brown Scapular. Also, Sis. Gerarda del Rosario was imposed with small brown scapular and was accepted as an aspirant of the community. Sis. Virginia Atienza who was battling with a brain tumor causing her left eye to bulge out was given the Rite of Final Profession. She has undergone several surgery for the removal of the tumor but it keep on returning. She was scheduled for brain surgery the week after. The rites were officiated by Rev. Fr. Edmar Estrella, parish priest and spiritual assistant of the community.
L-R: Fe Mesina (prioress of Calumpit), Virginia Atienza, Gerarda del Rosario, and Priscilla Jose (prioress of Hagonoy)
The TOC communities of Calumpit and Hagonoy with Fr. Emai
Parishioners imposed with the brown scapulars
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur
On February 3, 2007 during the 6 am Mass, twelve temporary professed TOCs of San Francisco Community, Agusan del Sur had their final profession. The ceremonial rite was officiated by Rev. Fr. Artemio Jusayan, OCarm, Prior Provincial, and assisted by Rev. Fr. Alaindelon Balasabas, OCarm at the Sacred Heart Church, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. We were lucky to have no less than our prior provincial to officiate the ceremony. Rev. Fr. Alaindelon Balasabas painstakingly guided us through the flow of the ceremony the night before.
Also present was our Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Eddie Albiño, OCarm and the Carmel Youth who assisted during the ceremony. After the profession rites, the whole District composed of members coming from Rosario and Prosperidad gathered at the GKK Hall for the fraternal breakfast.
Albay
TOCs of Guinobatan and Malilipot, Albay had their recollection and profession rites last February 24, 2007 at the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Guinobatan.
Rev. Fr. Pete Manilag, Jr., OCarm, Provincial Delegate, gave the recollection and celebrated the Liturgy. Fr. Pete dwelt on the paschal mystery and the Carmelite way of life. Sis. Cynthia M. Peñalosa, TOCarm. of the National Office shared her reflection on the resurrection.
Highlighting the affair was the celebration of the Liturgy and rites during which Sis. Sonia O. Gallarte, TOCarm had her final profession.
Thereafter, the entire group led by Sis. Teresita M. Naag, TOCarm., formation director, visited Sis. Amparo C. Palacio, TOCarm., prioress, who was stricken with cancer. Last leg of the itinerary took them to once lush and prosperous village of Maipon in Guinobatan which bore the brunt of typhoon Reming’s fury last November.
Tarlac
Mater Carmeli Community had temporary profession of its nine (9) novices held on December 09, 2006. The profession was presided by the Provincial Delegate, Rev. Fr. Pete Manilag, Jr., OCarm. The regional formator from Cabanatuan, Sis. Lulu Aquino, TOCarm, witnessed the event.
South Metro
December 8, 2006 was a big red-letter day for the TOC South Metro Communities composed of Our Lady of the Pillar of Las Piñas City, Our Lady of Peace and GOOd Voyage of Bacoor, Cavite, and Immaculate Conception of Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
On this great feast day of the Immaculate Conception, the above mentioned communities held joint reception and profession rites as well as their annual recollection. The affair was held at the Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar at Pilar Village, Las Piñas City. Rev. Fr. Pete Manilag, Jr., OCarm., Provincial Delegate, gave the recollection and celebrated the Liturgy and rites, while the OCarm student friars served as choir and assisted at Mass.
The day started with the annual recollection at the Formation Center of the parish. This was followed by a simple and delicious lunch. As an aside, it may be mentioned here that a notable gesture of the TOCs of South Metro was their donation for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Reming, giving away their cash for the cause in lieu of their traditional exchange gifts. The donation was remitted to Caritas Manila for the typhoon victims.
The celebration of the Liturgy and the rites started at 2:00 p.m. Received into the novitiate was Luis Francisco Amado R. Barrientos of Bacoor. Five members had their temporary profession: Juanita G. Lopez (Bacoor), Denia T. Valente (Bacoor), Paz S. Vergara (Bacoor), Glenora T. Alcantara (Pilar) and Cynthia M. Peñalosa (Pilar). Bienvenida Cento (Pilar) and Teresita Malanum (Pilar) had their final profession while the hermitage rite was adminstered to Rosario S. Abarro (Pilar). Ivy T. Morales, a postulant of the Pilar community, was not able to make it at the reception. However, she was received as a novice last January 2007 at the Holy Mass and rites celebrated during the thematic retreat at Notre Dame de Vie Institute Retreat House at Novaliches.
After the ceremony, snacks were served at the formation center. With the OCarm brothers singing with harmonious and heartwarming melodies, the affair was ended. What a wonderful conclusion to a great and blessed day!
