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.
