2011 - 2014 TOC National Council

During the 11th National Assembly of the Lay Carmelites of the Philippines held on April 27 - May 1, the following were elected to the TOC National Council:


National Coordinator: Rosalie Castro, TOC (Region of St. Elijah)
First Councilor: Ruel Santos, TOC (Region of St. Joseph)
Second Councilor: Luis Francisco Amado Barrientos, TOC (Region of St. John of the Cross)
Third Councilor: Milagros Exconde, TOC (Region of St. John of the Cross)
Fourth Councilor: Flor A' Jose, TOC (Region of St. Joseph)

The elected National Council together with the Provincial Delegate to the TOC, Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, O.Carm., will serve the TOC Philippines for the next triennium. Photos of the National Assembly can be accessed at the Facebook Page of the TOC Philippines .

National Congress of TOC Formators

In celebration of the Formation Year, 39 Formators from all over the Philippines met in Manila from Oct. 15 – 17 to discuss about formation and the need of transformation within the Order. Different topics were presented by the provincial delegate and the national formation team. These are: Conversion (presented by Louis Barrientos, TOCarm), Community Life (Ruel Santos, TOCarm), The Role of Formators and Care for Formators (Rev. Fr. Noel Rosas, OCarm), Interior Castle and Transformation (Bing Velarde, TOCarm), and the Carmelite Saints on Conversion (Rossana Garcia, TOCarm). It is being planned to have a regular national congress for formators to strengthen formators and prepare would be formators.

Opening Mass at the Novitiate Chapel of the Springs of Carmel (Oct. 15)

Fr. Noel presiding at the Opening Mass

Sis. Mila Exconde, TOC - First Reading

Veneration of the relics of St. Teresa of Avila

The partcipants of the Formator's Congress

Dinner after the Mass

Sis. Sally Castro giving the opening remarks and mentioning the donated lot fo the Tertiary House

Bro. Louis Barrientos giving the 1st Talk

Talk on Conversion

2nd day Holy Mass

Consecration of the Bread

Consecration of the Wine

Holy Communion

Reporting during the group discussion (Mindanao group)

Group Discussion Reporting (Bicol group)

3rd Talk: Care and Role of Formators by Fr. Noel 

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at the Chapel

Sis. Bing discussing The Interior Castle and Transformation

Sis. Rossana Garcia on "The Carmelite Saints and Conversion"

Closing of the Congress

The Participants

The Participants

Closing Mass celebrated by Fr. Noel Rosas and Fr. Anton Hoogland

Fr. Anton proclaiming the Gospel

Singing of the Flos Carmeli

The Delegates with Fr. Anton

The Delegates with Fr. Anton Hoogland

Launching of the TOC Year of Formation and Zarephath Fund

Last March 20, the TOCs from the different communities all over Luzon congregated at the General Commissariat House at #26 Acacia St. in Quezon City to celebrate the opening of the TOC Formation Year (March 19, 2010 - March 19, 2011) and to discuss the setting up of the National Fund called the "Zarephath Fund".

The opening mass was held at the conference room and was presided by Rev. Fr. Noel Rosas, OCarm (provincial delegate). The TOC Year of Formation was placed under the patronage of Saint Joseph, Protector of the Order of Carmel.

Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm., of the National Council, explained the purpose of the Year of Formation. This aims to:
1. help the communities in the area of formation by strengthening the formators;
2. prepare possible formators in the different communties;
3. train formators specifically in mission (i.e. in giving formation to newly established communities and in giving retreats and recollection); and
4. familiarize communities in the new modules of formation

The core values of this Year of Formation are encapsulated in the three letters: A-D-A which means A - aral (study); D - dasal (prayer); and A - asal (attitude). It is thus hoped that through study and prayer, there will be a change in attitude or conversion or transformation.

The theme of the TOC Year of Formation is "Carmel: A Journey to Conversion". It is also planned to have the 1st National Congress of Formators this coming August.


In the afternoon, Sis. Flor A' Jose (National Treasurer) discussed the financial status of the National Office and then a financial scheme called "Zarephath Fund" was explained. This scheme aims to stabilize the financial status of both the National Office and the local communties. After the presentation, an open forum was made if this is viable and later votation was made to approve this scheme. Majority of the attendees approved the scheme.

Sis. Sally Castro, TOC (National Coordinator) explaining the fund and the mechanics on how this will be used.

Sis. Mila Exconde, TOC (National Auditor) clarifying some questions

Provincial Delegate's time

Priors, Prioresses and Formation Directors of different communities from Luzon