Pilgrimage to the Trappist Monastery in Guimaras

After visiting the communities under the Province of St. Albert of Trapani, the National Officers made their way to Guimaras Island to visit the Trappist Monastery of Our Lady of the Philippines. They arrived at the evening at the island and stayed in an inn near the monastery. The next day, they attended the 6 A.M. mass at the abbey church of the Trappist. After the mass, they were able to talk with Rev. Fr. Bruno (Ernesto) Mendoza, OCSO, who is a former member of the Carmelite Third Order.

After the meetings, the group returned to Iloilo and visit the Jaro Cathedral and later proceeded to visit the OCD monastery of Bacolod before going to Bacolod-Silay Airport to take the plane going to Manila. The group arrive at Manila at around 8 PM

Twilight at Guimaras Island

Communion at the Abbey Church 

Altar of the Abbey Church

Abbey Church of Our Lady of the Philippines

At the monastery grounds

The National Secretariat together with Fr. Bruno (L) and Jaro Cathedral (R)

Sis. Sally and Sis. Rosmel at the Jaro Cathedral (L) and the Old Jaro Bellfry (R)

Bacolod Carmel (OCD)

Inside the chapel of the monastery

OCD Bacolod

Canonical Visit to Province of St. Albert of Trapani (New Escalante City)

After visiting the communities in Dumaguete and Sibulan, the National officers made the afternoon trip to visit the Escalante community which is also under the Province of St. Albert of Trapani. They arrived late evening in Escalante City and made their way to home of Sis. Adelinda Tancinco.

The next day, June 27, the visit to the Escalante TOC community was held at the Mount Carmel Monastery grounds. The prioress, Sis. Adelinda V. Tancinco, made the following report.

TOC Significant Activities from 2008 to 2010:

• 
  
  20 active members are final professed
• 
  
  3 novices
• 
  
  2 postulants
• 
  
  1 aspirant

26 - TOC members

Regular meetings were being conducted twice a month. They have advent and Lenten reflection and recollection facilitated by their Spiritual Assistant and other Friars.

During the meetings, they get input by Fr. Paul Medina pertaining to the Gospel of the day and some were taken from the manuals. Some topics they have taken are:

1. Restoring the network of Human Relation

2. Rebuilding the community of the Image of God.

3. Religious Carmelite Spirituality.

4. Follow the footsteps of Christ.

Some of this were given by their parish priest, Fr. Jerry Sabado.

They have vespers every Thursday at 6 p.m. together with the Friars and Associates. They are sponsoring mass every first Thursday of the month. Every 3rd Thursday of the month, they have fellowship dinner at the TOC Center together with the Friars and the whole community and members.

Apostolic Work:

1. Visiting prisoners and celebrating mass with them in jail together with the priest.

2. Visiting sick persons and offering prayers for them.

3. Giving pre-Jordan seminar.

4. Some TOC are teaching religion in Public Schools.

5. Participating Parochial Activities and other activities which involves in the Parish.

6. Caring of Liturgical materials and fixing the altar headed by their Prioress, Sis. Linda Tancinco.

7. Pledges of YCPF-member of JPIC-PCPR

8. Some TOC are members of the Lectors Commentators Ministry.

Report of Sis. Regina L. Juvahib, Secretary of TOC Escalante

- 21 active members all Solemn Professed

- We had our election of officers last Nov. 30, 2007 after our Advent Recollection headed by our Spiritual Assistant Rev. Fr. Cerenio “Toto” Jaranilla, O.Carm.

The newly elected officers are:

Prioress: Sis. Adelinda V. Tancinco

Formation Directress: Emerenciana R. Llavore

Secretary: Regina L. Juvahib

Treasurer: Gilda Pintolo

Councilors: Febe C. Tan and Manuela C. Linogon

- Regular Meetings were being conducted twice a month, 2nd Sunday, Business meeting and 3rd Sunday, Formation.

- TOC Escalante usually had the Advent and Lenten Recollection facilitated by our Spiritual Assistant and some other Priests in the Parish. There were lots of inputs given to us by Fr. Toto Jaranilla and the Carmelite Friars.

These are some of the inputs given:

- Carmelite Rule chapter 1 to 20

- What is a Carmelite

- Bible History

- Mystical open space of Carmel

- Carmelite way of Life

- Contemplative Brotherhood and Sisterhood Living in the midst of the People.

- Renewal of our commitment last November 30, 2007

- Study the R.D.S. Modules

They were able to build a TOC Spirituality Center inside the compound of Mount Carmel Parish.

Mount Carmel Monastery in Escalante City

The National Council together with the local officers of the Escalante TOC community

Opening Remarks during the visit

The Escalante community together with the National Officers

Fr. Jerry Sabado, OCarm blessing the lunch prepared by the TOCs

Canonical Visit to the Province of St. Albert of Trapani (Dumaguete and Sibulan)

On June 26, 2010, representatives from the National Council visited the communities of Dumaguete and Sibulan. The canonical visit was held at the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of Maravillas and St. Joseph in Sibulan, Dumaguete. Sis. Nani Culi made the report for the Dumaguete community, for and in behalf of their prioress who is absent, Sis Carmen Maturan. According to her, their formation materials are still the old one given by Sis. Nimfa. They still practice once a year retreat and recollection. Their second Sunday is a whole day affair when they have business and formation meeting. They just celebrated their Golden Jubilee last December 2009. They have feeding program and they visit the sick both in the hospital and in the house.

Sis. Gloria Jumawan, formation director reported that out of 54 members, only one half of them are attending the formation. Only few are using the Liturgy of the Hours, majority are still using Little Office.

Sis. Aster Ablir of the Sibulan community reported that they had held their election last March 14, 2010 with the following officers.

Prioress: Sis. Asteria Ablir

Formation Director: Sis. Consolacion Dagoy

Secretary: Sis. Suzette Carballo

Treasurer: Sis. Lucy Conejos

Councillors: Sis. Felisa Duran, Sis. Joy Mira, and Sis. Lorna Polinar

According to Sis. Aster, their activities are joined with the Dumaguete City community.

The National Council officers together with the Sibulan local officers

The Sibulan Community with the National Council

The National Council with the Dumaguete local officers

The Dumaguete community with the National Council

Lunch at the monastery

Dumaguete Carmel

The garden at the entrance of the monastery

During the open forum

At the Dumaguete Cathedral

Night at the Rizal Boulevard (L) and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at the Chapel (R)

Our Lady of Maravillas at the chapel (L) and at the choir of the nuns as the chapel (R)

Dumaguet Cathedral (L) and Altar of the Cathedral (R)

Together with the nuns and the newly elected prioress of Dumaguete Carmel