Rites of Profession and Acceptance to the Novitiate

The rites of solemn profession and the novitiate rites were performed last August 21 at the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Las Pinas City. The concelebrated mass was led by Fr. Gilbert Billena, O. Carm. The event was attended by members of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Makati) and Our Lady of the Pillar (Pilar) communities.

Sis Leila de Dios-Cruz took her final profession, while Sis Rhea Medina was admitted to the novitiate.

The procession begins.

Sis Leila de Dios-Cruz (Pilar)

Sis Rhea Medina (Makati) kneels before Fr. Gilbert

Sacred Heart of Jesus TOC Community (Makati)

Our Lady of the Pillar TOC Community (Las Pinas)

Family members of Sis Leila

Sis Rhea, flanked by her guest, Fr. Val and Fr. Gilbert

"The geographic Mount Carmel that we take our Carmelite name from is a mountain range along the Mediterranean in Israel. It is a green oasis surrounded by desert; hence, its name “Carmel,” which means “the Garden of God” in Hebrew. The metaphorical Carmel is a way of life, our disposition as we make our spiritual path up Mount Carmel". - St. John of the Cross

TOC Communities Celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (PART II)

Photographs of communities who celebrated the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel last July 16:

Confraternity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Pasig)

At the Shrine of St. Therese (Pasay City)

Our Lady of the Abandoned Community (Sta. Ana, Manila)

We thank the communities who shared with us pictures of their celebration. May our Good Lord and Blessed Mother bless us all!

TOC Communities Celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Members of the Third Order of Carmelites and the Carmelite Confraternities all over the country celebrated the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in their own little way last July 16. Here is a look at some of the communities:

Flos Carmeli Community (Bacoor)

Imposition of the Brown Scapular to the parishioners after the mass.

Another imposition was held at the Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Queensrow.

Stella Maria Chapter of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Batanes)

St. John the Baptist Community (Malolos, Bulacan)

St. Magdalen de Pazzi Community (Malolos, Bulacan)

Confraternity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Malolos, Bulacan)

St. Catherine of Alexandria Community (Dumaguete)

Our Lady of the Pillar Community (Las Pinas)

St. Teresa Margaret Redi Community (Makati)

Mater Divinae Gratiae Community (San Marcelino, Manila)

At St. Vincent de Paul Parish in San Marcelino, Manila

Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel (Tondo, Manila)

Top left: evening procession after the mass; Top center: members and family with Rev. Fr. Jorge Peligro, OAR;
Bottom left: members beside the statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; Bottom center: members with Fr. Jorge

Mater Decor Carmeli Community (Pasig)

Imposition of the Brown Scapular to parishioners of the Holy Family Parish.

Mater Carmeli and St. Angelus of Sicily Communities (Tarlac)

Members of the Mater Carmeli and St. Angelus of Sicily Communities with Bishop Enrique Macaraeg and Fr. Charles Corpuz of Tarlac

We thank the communities who shared their photographs with us. May Our Good Lord and Our  Blessed Mother bless us all!

New Canonical Foundation - Blessed Maria Sagrario of St. Aloysious Gonzaga TOC Community

CAUSA NOSTRAE LAETITIAE

The whole TOC community rejoices in the canonical erection of the Blessed Maria Sagrario of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Third Order of Carmelites Community at the Parish Church of San Luis Gonzaga, in San Luis, Pampanga last July 20. Formal rite was officiated by Fr. Gilbert Billena, OCarm.

The ceremony begins....

Fr. Gilbert performing the rite.

Carmelite members enjoy snacks after the rites.

We thank Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother in granting us grace for the establishment of the new community.

"Carmel is the mountain of flowers, and with full hands the children of Carmel have strewn these flowers over the earth." - Bl. Titus Brandsma