The first half of this year is now over and the students are now enjoying their semestral school break. Going into the second half, we first reminisce the many graces that our good Lord has provided to our community of five formators and twenty-five students.
May 2008: We had our Community Summer Spirituality Seminar with focus on St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). This is our way of grounding ourselves with our Carmelite spirituality. Fr. Nadz Ruanto was our main speaker. The following week we had our Annual Community Retreat, a week of complete silence setting our minds and hearts on God as we readied ourselves for the challenges and opportunities of the school year ahead.
June 2008: We took time out by going to the Bicolandia for our Annual Community Outing. The OCD Naga Nuns were our gracious hosts. We were also warmly welcomed by the families of our Bicolano brothers, Vito Competente Jr. in Tiwi, Albay, Archie Buenaagua in Goa and Dionesio Balute in Ragay, both in Camarines Sur. Among others, the community visited the majestic Mayon volcano and the renowned virginal islands of Caramoan (it’s a must visit place). We were also lavishly entertained by the University of the Northern Philippines (UNEP), complete with sumptuous meal and a chorale. We give thanks to all our hosts especially the Naga Nuns for such a tremendous accommodation.
August 2008: Bro. Willow Andaya made his renewal of vows before Fr. Chito Reyes and the community as witness.
September 2008: Three newly professed brothers from the Taiwan-Singapore circumscription have joined our student community. They took their Novitiate formation last year in Davao and were professed last July 2008. They are Chin Sin Wee (Malaysian), Christopher Loh (Malaysian) and Jeffrey Tan (Singaporean). They will complete their theological studies here in Manila.
October 2008: This time the students went to La Union for their Extra Recreation. This annual event is a venue for students to make ‘kamustahan,’ fraternal corrections, personal sharings and the likes. The San Fernando OCD Nuns were our gracious hosts and they billeted us at Cesmin beach resort. It was a first for many of the students to visit La Union especially the San Fernando Carmelite Nuns. We give thanks to all who supported us in our brief stay, especially our dear Carmelite sisters.
Two of the three students taking their pastoral year have moved to their new areas of ministry. Bros. Carlo and Johmie are now in the Our Lady’s Hill Spirituality Center in Sta. Rita, Bago City. They will help in running the center. Bro. Willow, meanwhile, is just back from Vietnam from visiting our Vietnamese aspirants. He still heads the vocation ministry. Bro. Ramil, together with Fr. Chito, is in India for a two-week seminar on Liturgy.
As we go into the second half of this school and formation year, we are ever trustful that our good Lord will continue to bless us with many graces so that we may continue to build a better community for the service of His people.
May 2008: We had our Community Summer Spirituality Seminar with focus on St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). This is our way of grounding ourselves with our Carmelite spirituality. Fr. Nadz Ruanto was our main speaker. The following week we had our Annual Community Retreat, a week of complete silence setting our minds and hearts on God as we readied ourselves for the challenges and opportunities of the school year ahead.
June 2008: We took time out by going to the Bicolandia for our Annual Community Outing. The OCD Naga Nuns were our gracious hosts. We were also warmly welcomed by the families of our Bicolano brothers, Vito Competente Jr. in Tiwi, Albay, Archie Buenaagua in Goa and Dionesio Balute in Ragay, both in Camarines Sur. Among others, the community visited the majestic Mayon volcano and the renowned virginal islands of Caramoan (it’s a must visit place). We were also lavishly entertained by the University of the Northern Philippines (UNEP), complete with sumptuous meal and a chorale. We give thanks to all our hosts especially the Naga Nuns for such a tremendous accommodation.August 2008: Bro. Willow Andaya made his renewal of vows before Fr. Chito Reyes and the community as witness.
September 2008: Three newly professed brothers from the Taiwan-Singapore circumscription have joined our student community. They took their Novitiate formation last year in Davao and were professed last July 2008. They are Chin Sin Wee (Malaysian), Christopher Loh (Malaysian) and Jeffrey Tan (Singaporean). They will complete their theological studies here in Manila.
October 2008: This time the students went to La Union for their Extra Recreation. This annual event is a venue for students to make ‘kamustahan,’ fraternal corrections, personal sharings and the likes. The San Fernando OCD Nuns were our gracious hosts and they billeted us at Cesmin beach resort. It was a first for many of the students to visit La Union especially the San Fernando Carmelite Nuns. We give thanks to all who supported us in our brief stay, especially our dear Carmelite sisters.
Two of the three students taking their pastoral year have moved to their new areas of ministry. Bros. Carlo and Johmie are now in the Our Lady’s Hill Spirituality Center in Sta. Rita, Bago City. They will help in running the center. Bro. Willow, meanwhile, is just back from Vietnam from visiting our Vietnamese aspirants. He still heads the vocation ministry. Bro. Ramil, together with Fr. Chito, is in India for a two-week seminar on Liturgy.
As we go into the second half of this school and formation year, we are ever trustful that our good Lord will continue to bless us with many graces so that we may continue to build a better community for the service of His people.
