Region of St. John of the Cross - Provincial Retreat

On September 10 - 12, 2010, the TOC Province of St. John of the Cross held their retreat at Las Pinas City. The three communities of Pilar, Las Pinas; Bacoor, Cavite; and Sta. Cruz, Laguna attended the said activity. The retreat was given by Rev. Fr. Paul Medina, OCarm and the topic of the retreat was about the Old Testament Prophets and the Prophetic Role of the TOC.

Region of St. Joseph - Provincial Retreat

On September 17 - 19, the Lay Carmelite Province of St. Joseph conducted a retreat especially for the postulants preparing for their acceptance to the novitiate. Aspirants and postulants of the TOC communities of Guiguinto, Malolos, Alido, and Pampanga came to the Bukal ng Buhay Retreat House, Bo. Malamig, Bustos for this retreat. It was conducted by Rev. Fr. Rhen Caculitan, OCarm, National Vocation Director of the OCarm. The theme was the Rule of St. Albert and the Dark Night. The retreat started with a mass and talks were interpersed with silent prayer and in the evening a Holy Hour is being made. After the retreat the postulants of Pampanga were interviewed in preparation for the Novitiate rites that will be given on October 2.

Opening Mass



Holy Hour and Benediction

Benediction

Talk I

Bro. Arnold Alcala sharing during the plenary session

Day 2: Holy Hour

Sharing

Relic Veneration

Relic Veneration

Relic Veneration

Relic Veneration

Relics exposed for veneration: St. Camilla Battista Varano, St. Francis Caracciolo, St. Paula Montal Fornes, St. Peter Chanel, St. Teresa Margaret Redi, St. Teresa of Jesus, St. John of the Cross, St. Maria Goretti, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, St. Rita of Cascia, and St. Clare of Assisi

Lunch

Lunch

Reception to the Novitiate: Sts. Elijah and Elisha TOC Community

The members of the Lay Carmelite Community of Sts. Elijah and Elisha of the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Baliuag, Bulacan was officially accepted to the Order on September 4, 2010. A concelebrated mass was held at the parish at around 9:30 a.m. The Rite of Reception was given by the new spiritual director of the region, Rev. Fr. Adrian Layug, TOCarm. In his homily, Fr. Adrian stressed the commitment attached in being a member of the TOC and how it will help in their spiritual growth. After the mass, a sumptuous lunch was served at the parish hall. The reception rites was attended by the TOCs of Bulacan and Pampanga.

Rev. Fr. Barry reading the Gospel

Fr. Adrian Layug giving the Homily

Rite of Reception of the novices of Baliuag and Tondo

Blessing of the Scapulars

Imposition of the Habit

Rite of Reception

The new novices of the Order

The Rite of Hermitage for Sis. Pilar Castro, TOCarm

New aspirants

Fr. Adrian and Fr. Barry

TOCs of Bulacan and Pampanga

Relics exposed for veneration

Relic Veneration

Relic Veneration

Relics of St. Albert of Trapani, Bl. Alberto Marvelli, St. Paula Montal Fornes, St. Romuald, St. Teresa Margaret Redi, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Maria Goretti, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, and St. Rita of Cascia

TOCs of Baliuag and Tondo with the Regional Council and a sponsor

Lunch

TOC Sta. Maria

Lunch

Causa Nostrae Letitiae

Novitiate

• Ana Bernales (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Patricia Castro (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Eufemia Clemente (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Rosalina Concepcion (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Carolina Escarcha (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Amparo Fraser (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Erlinda Garcia (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Yolanda Hipolito (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Teodora Munsayac (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Sonia Ong (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Erlinda Viquiera (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• Magdalena Taruc (Baliuag) 09.04.2010
• John Patrick Valderama (Tondo) 09.04.2010

Priest: Islam May Fill Europe's Religious Vacuum

ROME, SEPT. 3, 2010 (Zenit.org).- On an official visit to Italy this week, the Libyan chief of state caused a few ripples by stating that Europe should convert to Islam. The general public was perhaps more shocked, however, by his request for a few billion dollars to stop African immigration.

However, a missionary priest did call for taking seriously Muammar al-Qadhafi's statements on religion, saying a European conversion to Islam just might happen if the continent continues denying its Christian roots.

Father Piero Gheddo of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions and founder of the missionary news agency AsiaNews, said that far from being "folklore," al-Qadhafi's summons could become a reality in a few decades.

"The fact is that, as a people, we are becoming ever more pagan and the religious vacuum is inevitably filled by other proposals and religious forces," the priest said.

He observed, "No newspaper -- except Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian Episcopal Conference -- has seriously taken into consideration how to respond to this challenge of Islam, which sooner or later will conquer the majority in Europe."

Archbishop Robert Sarah, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, classified the Libyan leader's call as a "provocation" and a lack of respect for Italy.

Identity crisis

Father Gheddo stated: "The challenge must be taken seriously.

"Certainly from a demographic point of view, as it is clear to everyone that Italians are decreasing by 120,000 or 130,000 persons a year because of abortion and broken families; while among the more than 200,000 legal immigrants a year in Italy, more than half are Muslims and Muslim families, which have a much higher level of growth."

"Newspapers and television programs never speak of this," he added. "However, an answer must be given above all in the religious and cultural fields and in the area of identity."

The priest lamented the "religious vacuum" in the region, observing that "religious practice diminishes in Christian Europe and indifference spreads; Christianity and the Church are attacked."

Father Gheddo asserted, "If we consider ourselves a Christian country, we should return to the practice of Christian life, which would also solve the problem of empty cradles."