Elective Chapter of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Hagonoy

The Elective Chapter of the Lay Carmelite Community of St. Therese of the Child Jesus situated at the Parish of St. Helena, Sta. Elena, Hagonoy, Bulacan was held in the afternoon of March 27, 2010.

The following were elected:Prioress: Sis. Natalia Lopez, TOCarm.
1st Councilor/Director of Formation: Bro. Mervin Castro, TOCarm.
2nd Councilor/Secretary: Sis. Ofelia Magat, TOCarm.
3rd Councilor/Treasurer: Sis. Priscila Jose, TOCarm.

The election was supervised by Bro. Apolinario Gregorio, TOCarm (Regional Coordinator) and Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm (2nd Councilor, TOC National Council)

Sta. Elena Parish Church

Prayers during the rites of the elective chapter

First reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah read by Bro. Efren Lopez, TOC during the rites

Relic veneration after the elections

Relic veneration after the elections

The community of the TOC at the parish

The new set of local council of the St. Therese of the Child Jesus TOC Community (2010 - 2013)

Relics exposed during the elections and venerated after the chapter elections
St. Camilla Battista Varano (Poor Clares): from the bones, left reliquary
St. Therese of the Child Jesus (OCD): veil imbued with flesh, center reliquary
St. Clare of Assisi (foundress of Poor Clares): from the tunic, right reliquary
- reliquary frame -
St. Teresa Margaret Redi, Martyrs of Guadalajara, St. Raphael Kalinowski, Bl. Titus Brandsma, Bl. Frances d'Amboise, Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Bl. Maria Candida of the Eucharist, Bl. Mary of the Angels, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Bl. Mary of Jesus Crucified, Bl. Maria Crocifissa Curcio, St. Teresa de los Andes, St. George Preca, Bl. Maria Sagrario, St. John of the Cross,
Bl. Kuriakos Elias Chavara, St. Simon Stock, St. Henry de Osso y Cervello, St. Teresa of Jesus,
Bl. Maria Giuseppina of Jesus Crucified, Bl. Isidore Bakanja, St. Pedro Poveda, and Bl. Joanne of Toulose

Lenten Recollection: Pampanga District (St. Joseph's Province)

The Bl. Maria Sagrario of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Lay Carmelite Community of San Luis, Pampanga held their lenten recollection on March 27, 2010 focusing on the spirituality of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Rev. Fr. Emil Guiao from the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary of the Archdiocese of San Fernando facilitated the recollection. Fr. Emil discussed the life of St. Therese and the spirituality encapsulated in her autobiography "The Story of A Soul". He also stressed that it is a must read for all Carmelites.

The recollection ended with a Holy Mass.

Fr. Emil discussing the spirituality of St. Therese.

The TOC members of Pampanga district

First reading readed by Sis. Elvie Diaz (Prioress)

Responsorial psalm read by Bro. Terry Garcia (Formator)

Distribution of Holy Communion

Launching of the TOC Year of Formation and Zarephath Fund

Last March 20, the TOCs from the different communities all over Luzon congregated at the General Commissariat House at #26 Acacia St. in Quezon City to celebrate the opening of the TOC Formation Year (March 19, 2010 - March 19, 2011) and to discuss the setting up of the National Fund called the "Zarephath Fund".

The opening mass was held at the conference room and was presided by Rev. Fr. Noel Rosas, OCarm (provincial delegate). The TOC Year of Formation was placed under the patronage of Saint Joseph, Protector of the Order of Carmel.

Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm., of the National Council, explained the purpose of the Year of Formation. This aims to:
1. help the communities in the area of formation by strengthening the formators;
2. prepare possible formators in the different communties;
3. train formators specifically in mission (i.e. in giving formation to newly established communities and in giving retreats and recollection); and
4. familiarize communities in the new modules of formation

The core values of this Year of Formation are encapsulated in the three letters: A-D-A which means A - aral (study); D - dasal (prayer); and A - asal (attitude). It is thus hoped that through study and prayer, there will be a change in attitude or conversion or transformation.

The theme of the TOC Year of Formation is "Carmel: A Journey to Conversion". It is also planned to have the 1st National Congress of Formators this coming August.


In the afternoon, Sis. Flor A' Jose (National Treasurer) discussed the financial status of the National Office and then a financial scheme called "Zarephath Fund" was explained. This scheme aims to stabilize the financial status of both the National Office and the local communties. After the presentation, an open forum was made if this is viable and later votation was made to approve this scheme. Majority of the attendees approved the scheme.

Sis. Sally Castro, TOC (National Coordinator) explaining the fund and the mechanics on how this will be used.

Sis. Mila Exconde, TOC (National Auditor) clarifying some questions

Provincial Delegate's time

Priors, Prioresses and Formation Directors of different communities from Luzon

Reception and Profession Rites - ICS Seminarians

On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, March 19, twenty nine (29) seminarians of the Immaculate Conception Seminary were received and professed to the Order. The celebration was held during the community mass at the Monastery of the Holy Family, Guiguinto, Bulacan. The event was witnessed by the members of the Carmelite Family. The mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Ronnie Tuazon, TOCarm. and Rev. Fr. Joselin San Jose, TOCarm., both of whom are members of the Third Order and Fr. Joselin was once the prior of the seminary community.

After the mass, a small breakfast was held at one of the rooms. The breakfast was prepared by the nuns and the seminarians.

The following made their temporary profession to the Order:

1. Sem. Carlo Mendoza, TOCarm
2. Sem. Jose Luis Perez, TOCarm
3. Sem. Marcelino Ocariza, TOCarm
4. Sem. Christopher Rivera, TOCarm
5. Sem. Patrick Gumasing, TOCarm
6. Sem. Mhel June Marco, TOCarm
7. Sem. Christian Santos, TOCarm
8. Sem. Howard John Tarrayo, TOCarm (Councilor)
9. Sem. Gian Dayao, TOCarm
10. Sem. Eric Badaguas, TOCarm
11. Sem. Waldie dela Cruz, TOCarm
12. Sem. Daniel Coronel, TOCarm
13. Sem. Simon Peter Ramos, TOCarm (Prior)
14. Sem. Francis Vigo, TOCarm

The following were accepted to the Novitiate:

1. Sem. Albert Absalon, TOCarm
2. Sem. Lawrence Balana, TOCarm
3. Sem. Louis Balana, TOCarm
4. Sem. Oliver Boton, TOCarm
5. Sem. Jorge de Guzman, TOCarm
6. Sem. Jan Kevin Mendoza, TOCarm
7. Sem. Raphael Merculio, TOCarm
8. Sem. Joseph Vincent Monta, TOCarm
9. Sem. Jomar Paolo Ortega, TOCarm
10. Sem. Darius Ponciano, TOCarm
11. Sem. Rupert Roxas, TOCarm
12. Sem. Alvin Evangelista, TOCarm
13. Sem. Bernardino Katipunan, TOCarm
14. Sem. Almar Roman, TOCarm
15. Sem. Marlon Tobias, TOCarm

Please pray for these seminarians that they may persevere in their vocation to the priesthood and to the Order.

The seminarians preparing for the Mass

During the Holy Mass

Second Reading

The seminarians to be received to the Novitiate

Rev. Fr. Joselin San Jose presiding the rites

The Novices

Clothing of the Habit for the novices

Sem. Simon being clothed with the scapular for the professed member

Givining of the lighted candles to the newly professed as sign of Christ, the Light of the world, and to be a light to other.

Communion

The TOC seminarians together with Fr. Ronnie, Fr. Joselin and Bro. Ruel (National Council)

The new novices

The newly professed members

Image of Our lady of Mt. Carmel at the Monastery chapel

A small breakfast after the Mass

Lenten Recollection - Bulacan District (St. Joseph's Province)

The Lay Carmelites of the Province of St. Joseph (Bulacan District) made their lenten recollection last March 6, 2010. This was held at the Parish of the Holy Spirit, Malolos Heights Subdivision, City of Malolos. This is also a discernment recollection for the TOC members who will be received and professed in the Order this coming May.

Rev. Fr. Vergs Ramos, parish priest (shown above), welcomed the TOCs and is very thankful that the recollection was held at the parish. TOCs from Guiguinto, Malolos, Alido, Hagonoy, Calumpit, Baliuag, and Sta. Maria attended the said gathering.

Rev. Fr. Ver Rhoniel Cristobal, TOCarm facilitated the recollection focusing on the topic of discernment. He shrared also his life experience on how he discerned on his calling to the monastic life particularly with the Trappist of Guimaras. He also discussed the three areas of discernment: "paniniwala" (faith), "pagtitiwala" (trust), and "pagtalima" (answering the call).

The recollection ended with the Holy Mass and aspirants to the Order from the Calumpit community were accepted. After the mass, veneration of the relics of the Carmelite saints was held. The relics were exposed the whole duration of the recollection.

Penitential Rite


Fr. Rhon discussing the topic at hand

Homily during the mass

Acceptance of the aspirants

Imposition of the Brown Scapular

Relic Veneration

Relics of the Carmelite Saints and Blesseds

Relic Veneration

Electoral Chapter of the Holy Family TOC Community, Guiguinto

The Elective Chapter of the Lay Carmelite Community of Holy Family situated at the Monastery of the Holy Family, Guiguinto, Bulacan was held in the afternoon of March 13, 2010.

The following were elected:Prioress: Sis. Laura Castro, TOCarm.
1st Councilor/Director of Formation: Sis. Elsa Manalili, TOCarm.
2nd Councilor/Secretary: Sis. Evangeline Alcaraz, TOCarm.
3rd Councilor/Treasurer: Sis. Ligaya Mendoza, TOCarm.

The election was supervised by Bro. Apolinario Gregorio, TOCarm (Regional Coordinator) and Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm (2nd Councilor, TOC National Council)

Carmelite Formation Center

At the grounds of the Formation Center

Praying the Litany of Carmelite Saints while the relics of the Carmelite saints are exposed

The new local council with the outgoing prioress