Four Brothers make Solemn Profession of Vows

The Order of Discalced Carmelites Philippine Commissariat celebrated with great joy the Solemn Profession of vows of four new confreres last August 15, 2009 on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary at the shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, New Manila, Quezon City. It is the first time in the history of the Order here in the Philippines that, four brothers professed their solemn vows at the same time. They are: Bro. Peter Paul Ganon of the Good Shepherd (Iloilo City), Bro. Ramil Paul Michael of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Gen. Santos City), Bro. Joey Mabborang of the Blessed Sacrament and of Mary (Apayao), and Bro. Jack Joseph of the Cross (Cagayan Valley). Father Narciso C. Reyes, Provincial Superior of the Order, received their lifetime profession of vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.

In accordance with the Norms and Constitutions of the Order, the newly-professed friars are now given their respective assignments—Bro Peter is stationed in our Novitiate House in Tugbok, Davao City, Bro. Ramil in Postulancy House in Jaro, Iloilo City, Bro. Joey in the Students’ House in New Manila, Quezon City, and Bro. Jack will have his diaconate in the Mt. Carmel Shrine Parish in New Manila, Quezon City.

The Order wishes to thank the families, friends, and benefactors, especially the Carmelites Scholastics Foundation, who is very instrumental in sustaining the financial needs of the education of these four brothers and the rest of the students as well. May God continue to bless you and your family! Let us continue to support and pray for our newly professed brothers that they may truly be like Christ in offering their lives for others.

PRIOR'S CORNER

The closing of school year 2008-2009 saw six (6) student friars graduate inTheology,This is the most in number that the order ever had. Brothers Peter Ganon, Ramil Oraiz, Joey Mabborang and Jack Tangan all graduated from the Loyola School of Theology (LST). All of them proceededto the Novitiate House in Tugbok, Davao for their second novitiate and they are scheduled to take thier solemn profession of vows in August 15, 2009.

Vincent Pham Huan, on the other hand finishsed his Computer college degree from St. Joseph's College.

At the same time, three students were sent for their pastoral year. Bro. Jeffrey Panganiban in Bacolod to help facilitate in the spirituality center there, Bro. Jonald Panganiban in Iloilo to assist in the postulancy program and Bro. Haluendo Amit as the National Vacation Director.

The summer school break was also full with Bros. Andie Quiza and Christopher Loh going for immersion in Nueva Ecija while Bros. Benedick Piangko, Richard Escoto and Jupiter Diloy in the province of Aurora. Bro. Ransom went to Bacolod and Bro. Joseph Nguyen Binh went for a retreat giving exposure in several parts of the country. Six (6) students stayed in-house for their philosophy credit requirements while Bro. Vito Competente Jr. took Spanish Lessons at the Instituto Cervantes de Manila. Bros. Francis Quach Tien and Vincent Pham Huan enjoyed their two month vacation in Vietnam.

The arrivals of Bro. Damian Tay, Roy Supramaniam and Bernard Wee from Singapore signaled the start of the new school year and community ws busy.

They first went to Bacolod for their annual community retreat from May 11 to 15 which was a great spiritual experience reminding them of the evangelical vows; the theme of the sad recollection. Immediately, they traveled to Iloilo to be in solidarity with Fr. Neil Maravilloso in hid Presbyteral Ordination in Jaro and Thanksgiving Mass in Maasin. The Carmelite Missionary (CM) sisters generousll provided for heir accomodationand they made our stay truly enjoyable. Back in the monastery, the community underwent a week o House Policy Evaluations before proceeding to their Annual Community Outing (June 3 to 5) in Lucena. They truly enjoyed the beautiful accomodation of Graceland in Tayabaas and the Mexican themed beach resort Pueblo por La Playa courtesy of the Lucena nuns, Susan Alcoreza and other very good friends and benefactors. We thank them all; they made our outing relaxing indeed.

Finally classes began in June with fourteen (14) students at the Loyola School of Theology (LST), seven (7) students at the Mary Hill School of Theology (MST) and one (1) at the Philosophy School of the Ateneo de Manila (AdMU).

The community prays and hopes that God, our loving Father continue to shower them with guidance and blessings as they continue on with the formation of the students.

St. John of the Cross Community is formation house dedicated for breeding new generation of Carmelite Friars in the East Asia and Oceania region. Professional men who have earned their degrees ranging from doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, engineers, and humanities from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao reside in the Student's House for their Philisophical and Theological studies. As simple professed religious, they have to learn throughout the years of formation how to balance community, academic, apostolate, and the spiritual life. Here is where the true sense of a Carmelite spirit is embued. What comes next is a glimpes of how life in the student's house is spent.

Apostolate

The Vocation Ministry conducted search-ins in the Carmelite monasteries in the cities of Lipa, Angeles and Naga. Ten aspirants attended a three-day recollection in the OCDS House of Prayer in New Manila, Quezon City last November 1-3, 2008. Six come from Luzon while the rest are from the Visayas. There were also several university sorties initiated by the team: Bros. Jeff and Jack visited Mater Carmeli School and Centro Escolar University in response to the school's respective Vocation Awareness Day.

The Spirituality Team, in collaboration with the OCDS Sta. Teresa of Jesus Community, facilitated the annual Lecture Series. The theme for this year's series: "Louis and Zellie: Saints for the Modern World." Louis and Zelia Martin, parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, were beatified on October 19, 2002. Three consecutive Sundays of November were alloted to four distinctive speakers, namely: Prof. Eduardo Calasanz, NDV, Thelma Balajadia, OCDS, Mel Lopez, OCDS, and Fr. Paulo Gamboa, OCD.

Three apostolate teams are connected to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine Parish - the Youth Ministry, the Basic Ecclesial Communities, and the Social Services and Developement Ministry (SSDM). Bro. Andie Quiza and his BEC team are always on the go in visiting our parishioners through Sunday masses and Bible sharing sessions. They ably assisted the parish BECs in the following programs and projects: Apostolate Evaluation (October 27 - 28), BEC Formation Day (November 9), and the Kasalang Bayan (November 22) officiated by Fr. Alex Collera, OCD, the Parish Priest. Finally, the SSDM team assists the doctors in giving regular medical services to the indigent constituents of our parish. They also give guidance to the parish scholars.

Continuing Formation Program

The house is blessed with the coming of the new brothers from Taiwan-Singapore Circumscription. Bros. Sin Wee Chin and Christopher Loh have enrolled in Maryhill School of Theology, and Bro. Jeffrey Tan at Loyola School of Theology.

Rev. Nathaniel Maravilloso, OCD is ordained to the Order of Diaconate on November 14. The ordaining prelate was Most Reverend Honesto Ongtiongco, DD of the Dioces of Cubao. The ordained deacon was joined by the friars form the Carmelite communities of Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, and New Manila. At present, Rev. Niel is assigned in the Parish Community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine.

As a way of updating and continuing yearly formation of the solemnly professed friars, an input was given by Sr. Joy Javier, CM and Ma. Teresa Villasor, Ph.D. It started November 17 and lasted five days. Some interested simple professed brothers also attended.

Community Feasts

On December 13, the Solemnity of St. John of the Cross was celebrated. This time, the Student's House hosted the celebration since the community was named and dedicated after St. John of the Cross. It was a festive gathering of generous benefactors and friends who have been supportive to the students and the Carmelite friars as well.