Carmelite Lecture Series: Mater Carmeli TOC Community

Last May 22, the TOC community in Tarlac conducted a lecture series in preparation for their final profession. The topic discussed is about the spirituality of the Prophet Elijah. The speaker of the lecture series was Bro. Arnold Alcala, one of the attendees of the Carmelite Spirituality Course counducted last April by the Institute of Spirituality in Asia. The two-fold lecture series focuses on the Prophets Elijah and Elisha and its relationship to Carmelite spirituality. A short film about the prophet Elijah was shown to illustrate his spirituality. It focused from his confrontation with King Ahab, his journey to Cherith, the widow of Zarephath, and the battle at Mount Carmel. The final session is scheduled on July 17 and to be given by Bro. Arnold Alcala, TOC and Bro. Pol Gregorio, TOC.

Bro. Arnold introducing the topic and explaining the difference between a spiritual and a religious person

The members of the Mater Carmeli TOC Community

Bro. Arnold introducing the topic

Rites of Reception and Profession - Province of St. Joseph

The Lay Carmelite Province of Saint Joseph conducted the rites of Reception, Temporary Profession, and Final Profession for the members of the different communities in Bulacan. The event was held on May 08, memorial of Blessed Aloysius Rabata, at the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family in Guiguinto. The Liturgy was officiated by the regional spiritual director, Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga. Six were received in the novitiate, six were accepted in the temporary profession, and eight members gave their final promise to the Order. The Carmelite nuns participated in the event by being the choir of the mass and in leading the TOCs in singing the Litany of the Saints. After the liturgy, a small lunch was held at the Carmelite Formation Center.

Sis. Rose Perol reading the 1st Reading

Fr. Domingo Salonga giving the homily which focused on St. Therese. He made a follow up on the retreat about the "Act of Oblation to Merciful Love" made by St. Therese.

Rite of Reception

Rite of Temporary Profession

Rite of Final Profession

Acceptance of Aspirants

A small lunch after the Liturgy at the Formation Center

Canonical Visit to Province of St. Simon Stock (Mindanao)

The National Council of the Lay Carmelites of the Philippines made their way to Mindanao on May 14 - 16 to visit the local communities of the TOC in Agusan del Sur. Sis. Sally Castro, TOC (National Coordinator) and Bro. Ruel Santos, TOC (2nd Councilor) visited the TOCs of Rosario, San Francisco, and Prosperidad. They stayed at the Carmelite friary in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur through the kindness of Fr. Estong Malandac, OCarm. The two met the communities on May 15 at the GKK Hall of the Sacred Heart Parish which is supervised by the Carmelite friars. The status of each communities was discussed and then a re-echoing of the Zarephath Fund (where the communities were amenable to the scheme) and on the Formation Training Seminar that was given to the Luzon communities. The manner of praying the Liturgy of the Hours was also presented to the body. The meeting ended around 5 pm and the National Council representatives made their flight back to Manila the next day.

Sacred Heart Parish, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur

Fog in the morning

Sis. Sally opening the regional meeting

Bro. Pete asking clarification

One of the councilors of the Rosario community making a short community report

Bro. Freswindo Moreno, TOC (prior) making the report for the San Francisco community

Sis. Nenita Palanog, TOC (formator) of the Prosperidad community during the echo training seminar

Relic of St. Maria Maravillas of Jesus

Canonical Visit to St. Raphael TOC Community (Tondo)

On May 9, the National Council composed of Sis. Sally Castro, TOC and Ruel Santos, TOC visited the St. Raphael TOC Community of Tondo, Manila. The visit started at around 2 pm by praying the Prayers During the Monthly Meeting. The prior, Bro. Celing Paduata, TOC, gave a report about the status of the community while Sis. Libay Mejia, TOC, formation director, gave her report on the status of formation. After the visit, the National Formation Team will return on July to give an on-going formation based on the Carmelite Spirituality Course given by ISA last April 2010.

San Rafael Parish Church, Balut, Tondo, Manila

The TOC members of the community

The Tertiaries listening to the report given by Bro. Celing Paduata

The Carmelite Tertiaries together with the representatives of the National Council

Elective Chapter of the Immaculate Conception TOC Community

The Elective Chapter of the Lay Carmelite Community of the Immaculate Conception situated at the Cathedral-Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Cubao, Quezon City was held in the morning of May 02, 2010.

The following were elected:
Prioress: Sis. Elvira Sagat, TOCarm.
1st Councilor: Bro. Rodolfo Ilo, TOCarm.
2nd Councilor: Sis. Visitacion Sta. Maria, TOCarm.
Secretary: Sis. Cristina Guillerme, TOCarm.
Treasurer: Bro. Jerome Figueroa, TOCarm.
Director of Formation: Sis. Fredeswinda Poblacion, TOCarm.

The election was supervised by Sis. Sally Castro, TOCarm (National Coordinator) and Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm (2nd Councilor, TOC National Council)

Vote counting

Sis. Sally tallying the votes in front of the community

Retreat: Province of St. Joseph

On April 28 - 30, the five of the eight communities of the Province of St. Joseph congregated at the Notre Dame de Vie Retreat House in Novaliches for the provincial retreat. The retreat master was Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga, spiritual director of the province. The theme of the retreat was centered on the "Act of Oblation to the Merciful Love" made by St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The retreat started with a Holy Mass and later in the evening, a film showing of the movie "Therese" was presented to the retreatants. Fr. Memeng discussed the spiritual childhood and how this prayer composed by St. Therese is the central theme of the teaching of the saint on spiritual childhood.

Fr. Memeng explaining the teaching encapsulated in the "Act of Oblation to Merciful Love"

Silent prayer at the chapel

Joyful song in the afternoon to remove the drowsiness

Relics exposed during the retreat

St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Sperandia, St. Louie Marie Grignon de Montfort, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Bl. Marie Therese of Jesus (Alix Le Clerc), and Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerick

Silent prayer and relic veneration

Holy Mass (2nd day)

Compline and Night Vigil with the Saints

Night Vigil

Way of the Cross (3rd day)

Way of the Cross

Closing Mass and blessing of retreatants

Spirituality and the Works of Carmelite Saints

As an academic and research institute, ISA offered a course on Carmelite Spirituality focusing on the works of several Carmelite saints from April 19 - 24 at the Titus Brandsma Center in Quezon City. The course was spread for 6 days with the following topic and speaker:

1. Elijah and Mount Carmel - Fr. Marlon Lacal, O.Carm., Ph.D.
2. Edith Stein and the Science of the Cross - Bro. Sheldon Tabile, O.Carm., Ph.D. cand.
3. Titus Brandsma and the Beauty of Carmel - Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm., Ph.D., S.Th.D. and Marissa Alcantara, Ph.D. cand.
4. John of the Cross and Spiritual Canticle - Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD, M.A.
5. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Story of a Soul - Bro. Froilan Torres, OCDS, M.A.
6. Teresa of Avila and the Way of Perfection - Dr. Victoria Parco, ndv, Ph.D.

The spirituality course was attended by Lay Carmelites who will form part of the National Formation Team and will give these to the local communities. The following delegates were sponsored by the TOC National Council and the TOC Province of St. Joseph:

1. Rossana Garcia, TOCarm (Tanay/sponsored by National)
2. Louie Barrientos, TOCarm (Bacoor/sponsored by National)
3. Pol Gregorio, TOCarm (Alido/sponsored by Province of St. Joseph)
4. Rose Perol, TOCarm (Sta. Maria/sponsored by Province of St. Joseph)
5. Arnold Alcala (Alido/sponsored by Province of St. Joseph)
6. Dory Munsayac (Baliuag/sponsored by Province of St. Joseph)

5th day: Bro. Froilan explaining Therese and the "Story of A Soul"

5th day session

Open forum

Open Forum

Fr. Rico Ponce giving a token of appreciation to Bro. Froilan Torres