Regional Retreat: Province of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Bicol)

The Lay Carmelite Province of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Bicol) held their annual retreat from August 27, 2010 (Feast of St. Monica) to August 29, 2010 (Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist). The retreat theme was "Seasons of the Heart" and was facilitated by Bro. Ruel Santos, TOC. The retreat was held at St. Gregory the Great Minor Seminary, Tabaco City, Albay. On August 27, Sis. Sonia Rosario, TOC and Sis. Anida Bilono, TOC fetched Bro. Ruel Santos at the Legazpi airport. Before going to the retreat venue, they made a side trip to the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Malilipot, Albay.

The retreat started on the afternoon of August 27 and was participated in by the communities of Guinobatan and Malilipot. The retreatants joined the seminary community on the celebration of the Holy Mass and on the end of the retreat, the profession and reception rites for the Malilipot community was held at the seminary chapel. The closing Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando, parish priest of  Malilipot, together with Rev. Fr. Salvador Nicolas Bilono III, seminary rector. After the retreat and the rites, a sumptuous lunch was served.

St. Gregory the Great Minor Seminary, Panal, Tabaco City, Albay

The Majestic Mayon Volcano as seen at the seminary

Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Malilipot, Albay

Retreat Session

The facilitator

Seminary Community Mass

Relic Veneration by the seminary students

 Preparation for the Night Vigil

Night Vigil with the Saints

Way of the Cross

Closing Mass

TOCs of Guinobatan

Profession Rites

The members of Malilipot community together with Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando

The TOC retreatants together with Sr. Marian from the Sisters of the Prophet Elijah and Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando

Lunch after the end of the retreat and the profession rites

Relics Exposed for Veneration:
1st Row: Bl. Michaela Hordashevska, St. Joseph of Cupertino, Bl. Catherine of St. Augustine, St. Dominic Savio, St. Hannibal Marie di Francia
2nd Row: Bl. Baptist of Mantua, Bl. Joan of Toulouse
3rd Row: Bl. Arcangela Girlani, Bl. Aloysius Rabata
4th Row: Bl. Mary of the Assumption, Bl. Maria Crocifissa Curcio, St. Maravillas of Jesus, Bl. Angelo Paoli, Bl. Anne Marie Javouhey
5th Row: St. Lawrence of Brindisi, St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrow, Bl. Amigonian Martyrs, St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen 

Rites of Reception and Profession - Our Lady of the Assumption TOC Community (Guinobatan)

The Guinobatan community (Our Lady of the Assumption TOC Community) held its reception and profession rites on April 10 at 7:00 a.m. The con-celebrated mass was presided by Rev. Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, OCarm (Main Celebrant and Homilist) and Rev. Fr. Rolando Panesa (Parish Priest and Local Spiritual Assistant).

Two candidates were received in the novitiate, two made their temporary profession and three members made their final profession to the Order. The relics of St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Clare of Assisi were exposed during the celebrations and after which veneration followed.

A sumptuous lunch was prepared and afterwards a small tour was made around the place by visiting the Poor Clares Monastery and the Carmelite Nuns of the Holy Trinity Monastery where an oratory in honor of the Divine Mercy is being erected.

Relics of St. Therese and St. Clare

Entrance procession

Start of Holy Mass

Rev. Fr. Rolando T. Panesa reading the gospel

Rite of Reception to the Novitiate

Rite of Final Profession

Rite of Temporary Profession

The TOCs of Guinobatan, Albay with the National Council

The Guinobatan TOC together with the relics of St. Therese and St. Clare after the veneration

Relic Veneration

Sis. Bernardita Kaw, TOC (left) and her sister