Silent Retreat: Four Degrees of Prayer

The TOC communities in Baliuag,  Hagonoy and Sta. Maria in Bulacan went to the "Flos Carmeli" House of Prayer for their Annual Silent Retreat. This is in preparation for their Temporary Profession scheduled on September 15 and September 29. The theme of the retreat delves on the "Four Degrees of Prayer" as discussed by St. Teresa of Avila on her Autobiography.

The facilitator of the retreat were Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm. and Sis. Rossana Garcia, TOCarm. who both belong to the National Formation Team. The retreat started at 4 pm of August 31 and ended 12 nn of September 2. The retreatants also celebrated the feast of St. Teresa Margaret Redi whose relic was exposed throughout the retreat period. The retreatants were enlightened on the ins and outs of prayer as presented in the writings of "La Madre". On September 2, the retreatants also made a dawn procession of the Way of the Cross.

Sis. Rossana discussing the Third Degree of Prayer

The retreatants during the opening Mass

Fr. Paul Inez, SBD who presides during the Mass during the Retreat and administers the Sacrament of Confession

The new Altar of the Oratory of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Early Dawn Way of the Cross

Early Dawn Way of the Cross

The retreatants with Fr. Paul

The retreatants outside the Flos Carmeli House of Prayer

Silent Retreat: Seasons of the Heart

On Aug. 17, the postulants and novices of the Third Order communities of San Luis, Pampanga; Project 6, Quezon City; Sta. Cruz, Laguna; and Baliuag, Bulacan undergo their annual retreat at the "Flos Carmeli" House of Prayer in Laguna. This is in preparation for their reception and profession to the Order. The retreat theme is based on "Seasons of the Heart". This was facilitated by the National Formation Team led by Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm. and Bro. Luis Barrientos, TOCarm. The Sacraments were administered by Rev. Paul Inez, SDB of the Tabor Retreat Center.

Bro. Luis facilitates one session of the retreat

Retreatants listening in one of the session

Blessing of the Holy Oil of Bl. Maria Sagrario

The retreatants

During the Sacrament of Confession

Profession Rites and Formators Meeting: St. Albert of Trapani Province

On June 9, 2012 the Province of St. Albert of Trapani composing of the TOC communities of Escalante, Dumaguete, Sibulan, and Dipolog held their rites at the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of Maravillas and St. Joseph. Candidates for the novitiate, temporary profession and final profession were accepted at the 9:00 am Holy Mass at the Monastery chapel.

A small lunch was served at the Bl. Frances d' Amboise Hall. After the lunch, the National Council conducted the canonical visitation with reports coming from the different community. The next day, June 10 and until June 11, the members of the National Formation team held a formators training. The training centered on the Liturgy of the Hours and Community Life. A lively discussion ensued during the training. They were enlightened on the importance of praying the Liturgy of the Hours and that age is not a hindrance in learning to pray the Office. Various questions on community life and fraternal correction surfaced during the round table discussion on Community Living.

After the training, a regional coordinator was elected and Sis. Jacka of the St. Catherine of Alexandria TOC Community (Dumaguete) was chosen as the new Regional Coordinator for the province replacing Sis. Linda of Our Lady of Mount Carmel TOC Community (Escalante). Overall meeting is cordial, informal, and lively. They expect to have another training next year to support the growing interest in the TOC.

Pictures can be found at the Facebook Page of the Third Order.

Formators' Meeting: 2nd Batch

The 2nd batch of training of Formators was held on April 20 -21 at the 'Flos Carmeli' House of Prayer, Bucal, Calamba, Laguna. It was attended mostly from the NCR communities namely: Cubao, Sta. Ana, Tondo, Makati, Las Pinas, Project 6, Project 7, Kamias and Sta. Cruz.

Topics covered were the same one given to the 1st batch except the Spirituality of Leadership which was discussed by Fr. Noel Rosas, OCarm. After the meeting, formators were enlightened especially about community life where most of the discussion dwelt. Questions on interpersonal relationship within the community were answered on the light of the teachings of the Church and the Scriptures.

Canonical Foundation: Mater Carmeli TOC Community

Te Deum Laudamus!

It is with great joy that the Mater Carmeli TOC Community celebrated their canonical foundation on March 17, 2012 together with the TOC National Council and the community of the Carmelite Nuns at Mater Carmeli Monastery. After 6 years of perseverance, the community was canonically recognized by Rome.

The Rite of Canonical Foundation was celebrated by Fr. Noel Rosas, OCarm., Provincial Delegate of the Order. After the celebration of the Holy Mass, a sumptuous lunch was served. The day was also capped by a recollection about leadership to the members of the community.

Mo. Teresa, prioress of the monastery, singing the responsorial psalm

Fr. Noel incensing the altar

The nuns as choir during the Holy Mass

Reading of the Canonical Letters

Members of the National Council

Giving of the Certificate

Blessing of the Banner of the Community

Canonical Visit from the Representatives of the Carmelite Curia

On February 25, delegates from the Carmelite Curia headed by Fr. Albertus Herwanta, OCarm (General Councilor for Asia, Australia, and Oceania) with Fr. Desire Alimange, OCarm. (General Councilor for Africa and Evangelization) visited the Lay Carmelites in Manila. The venue of the visitation was held at Titus Brandsma Center. Before the meeting began, a Holy Mass was held and presided by Fr. Albertus. Communities present came from Sta. Ana, Cubao, Tondo, Makati, Project 6, Project 7, Project 4, Kamias, and as far as Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Sis. Sally Castro, TOCarm presented the status of the TOC in the Philippines and the two projects being done namely the Domus Carmelitana and the Flos Carmeli House of Prayer. Bro. Ruel Santos, TOCarm presented the status of formation and the different activities regarding formation. During the presentation, it was stated that the complete formation program for the TOC Philippines will be released by 2013.

The host of the program was Bro. Arnold Alcala, TOCarm who came all the way from Bicol. After the conference, the National Council together with Fr. Albertus, Fr. Desire, and Fr. Toots Buenafe, OCarm (Commissary General) have a hearty lunch at Kopi Tiam near Santolan.

Admission of New Aspirants to the Order

The Flower of Carmel is indeed growing. Two communities made the rite of admission for aspirants to the Third Order. The Blessed Maria Sagrario of St. Aloysius Gonzaga TOCC held their rites on February 12 at the Parish of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, San Luis, Pampanga while the Our Lady of the Pillar TOCC held theirs on February 25 at the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Pilar Village, Las Pinas City.

Bl. Maria Sagrario TOCC Rites:

Imposition of the Brown Scapular

Interrogation of the Presider

Image of Our Lady and Bl. Maria Sagrario

Fr. Fernando David giving inputs to the newly received aspirants

Our Lady of the Pillar Rites:

The community with their new aspirants and the parish priest

Formators Regional Training - 1st Batch

The first batch of the Formators Regional Training was well attended by the formators from the different TOC communities of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, and some parts of Metro Manila. This was done from January 21 - 23, 2012 at the newly opened Flos Carmeli House of Prayer at Bucal, Calamba, Laguna. Twelve participants attended the said meeting.

The meeting revolved on how to use the Liturgy of the Hours given by Bro. Ruel Santos, TOC; two topics on community life given by Bro. Luis Barrientos, TOC and Sis. Rossana Garcia, TOC; and a topic about the Promises and Vows made by persons who are members of public association of the faithful and societies of apostolic life given by Bro. Ruel Santos, TOC. During the said meeting, the new formation program "Return to the Sources" was launched to be taken up by Novices and Professed members of the Order. The formation program was based on "Climbing the Mountain" of the British TOCs.

The 2nd Batch of the Formators Regional Trainig is slated on April 20 - 22, 2012.

Sis. Rossana discussing about community life

Bro. Luis presenting the ways on how to make community

Bro. Ruel discussing about promises and the vows in regards to the Lay Carmelites

Discussion

Lunch break

Relic cards and prayer cards

Anticipated Mass on Jan. 21

Relic of St. Bonifacia Rodriguez together with some relic cards and prayer cards

Profession Rites: Province of St. Joseph

On Nov. 5 and 19, Rites of Final Profession, Temporary Profession, Novitiate, and Acceptance of Aspirants were celebrated by the communities of the Lay Carmelite Province of St. Joseph. On Nov. 9, the feast of Bl. Frances d'Amboise, ten (10) lay carmelites made their final profession at the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria. The rites were administered by Rev. Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, OCarm (Provincial Delegate) together with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Elmer Ignacio.

On Nov. 19, feast of St. Joseph Kalinowski, Rev. Fr. Adrian Layug, TOCarm. administered the rites at the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family for TOC members who are due for temporary profession and novitiateship. Aspirants were also accepted.

Pictures of the event can be found at this site and this.

Dipolog City Mission

After a year of planning and communicating with the Cofradia in Dipolog, the visit of the representatives of the National Council pushed through. Sis. Sally Castro, Bro. Ruel Santos, and Sis. Menchie Martinez went to Dipolog on Nov. 12 on board Cebu Pacific. At the airport, the representatives were met by the Cofradia members (Bro. Benijie, Sis. Sal, Sis. Ivy and others) bearing the banner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A warm welcome with flowers greeted the National Council. After a hearty lunch, the National Council was toured around the area of Dipolog and Dapitan. The Rizal Shrine was visited and the parish church of Dapitan wherein there is also an existing Cofradia.

On Nov. 13, after the holy mass, consultation between the Cofradia and the TOC National was done to find out the possibility of establishing a community there. The Cofradia members were enthusiastic about it and solidly said that they want a TOC community established there. With this development, the National Council decided to create the TOC community there and assigned Sis. Menchie Martinez, TOCarm., priores of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi TOCC in Alido, to oversee the formation of the new community. The community in Dipolog is to be known as St. Teresa of Jesus TOC Community.

The Cofradia del Nuestra Senora del Carmen is one of the oldest church organization in Dipolog alongside with the Apostleship of Prayer. It has been in existence before World War II in the area. Pictures of the event can be seen at the Facebook Album - Dipolog - of the TOC Philippines.