| My dear Brothers and Sisters in Carmel, Warm greetings on this meaningful celebration of Christmas and a hope-filled New Year! As you all know, the coming year, 2003, is also the last year of our triennium. As we look back at the past two years, we ask ourselves where are we now and what still needs to be done to be able to accomplish what we have set out to do, during our last Chapter. With the continued support of the Dutch province, we were able to improve further, among other things, our vocation promotion work. We now have two full-time vocation promoters: Max, who is in charge of the program, covers the Visayas and Mindanao, and Jerry for Metro Manila and Luzon, thus ensuring a good number of candidates for our College seminary and our Postulancy program this coming school year. Hopefully, a proportionate number of candidates will be coming from Metro Manila and Luzon. The Formators' Conference has finished reviewing and updating our Initial Formation Manual in line with the new RIVC and with our VMG. It is now ready for publication. The impact studies conducted on ICTC and on the Inserted Community would be a big help in our efforts to improve and strengthen the same. Beginning school year 2002-2003, our College seminarians are now studying in the Rogationist seminary, majoring in Philosophy. According to Pete, they are adjusting very well. Our seminarians from all levels, including our Novices and Student-friars, gathered in Cebu for the 2nd General Assembly last December 21-23. According to Tjeu, there seems to be an over-all positive development of our formandi, and our formators agree with this observation. To ensure the continuous growth and development of the well-being of the Friars as well as Associates, which would contribute to our efforts at community building, we have conducted on the Commissariate level, several courses on our On-going Formation such as, on Spirituality, on Human Sexuality and on Leadership. These were meant to complement the various activities and initiatives undertaken by the different local communities. We are grateful for all these. We intend to continue with these studies, particularly on the Filipino concept and understanding of community life, on prayer life, on lifestyles, etc... The on-going review being conducted on our Center-building and also on BCC/BEC will surely help us in our community building as well as in our various ministries. We are grateful to ICTC for holding CTEP this year, which was well attended by our confreres. With the addition of Toon Mol, who recently returned from the Netherlands, our confreres in Cebu are now a full community. The College seminarians are also happy to have Toon to help guide them in their formation. Welcome home Toon. We are also grateful to the German province for our new College building in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. The efforts to address the well-being of confreres in order to help build community life also serve as a welcome gesture to our new confreres like Arnel who was ordained to the priesthood last December 28 and to Cocoy and Eman who are finishing their studies in ICTC. Unfortunately, we also saw the departure from the Order of our confreres Jay-are Aplacador, Venancio Pacquiao and Renie Gomisong. We pray for their success. We are likewise hopeful that we finally be able to implement the recommendation of the two previous Pastors' Conferences on expanding our presence in areas where we are not yet present. We have already started the process by requesting the nuns in Cabanatuan to sound off the Bishop on the possibility of our presence in the diocese. A tentative schedule has been arranged in January to meet with the Bishop. We are happy to report that we have taken the first steps in establishing our economic base. Special thanks to the members of San Francisco community for their initiative. We are pursuing other possibilities with the assistance of the nuns in Leyte, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Cabanatuan. We encourage all our confreres to be involved in this major enterprise. We still have a long way to go. We are looking forward to the day, hopefully not too long, when the expenditures from all stages of our formation program are subsidized fully from local sources. Lastly, whatever positive developments we are experiencing is due to the cooperation and initiative of us all. Let us continue to work together so that our dream of a strong and independent Philippine province will be realized soon. May Mary, Mother of Carmel continue to inspire and guide us in our endeavor! OCARM - OCD JOINT MEETING The OCarm-OCD Councils Joint- Meeting last December 10, 2002 marked the beginning of a renewed partnership between the two branches. A good way to start 2003! Attendees of said meeting were: (from the O. Carm) Frs. Christian Buenafe, Anton Hoogland, Artemio Jusayan and Antonio dela Cruz, O. Carm - Commissary Provincial, Order of Carmelites; (from the O. C. D.) Frs. Narciso Reyes and Joel Borreo, O. C. D. - Commissary Provincial, Order of Carmelites Discalced. The meeting held at Titus Brandsma Center focused on the possibilities for collaboration. Prior to this, an informal caucus was held last September 14, 2002 by the two Provincials and two Councilors wherein areas for collaboration were identified. Exploration on the "fellowship level" was also stressed since "fellowship" is a step to make them at ease with each other. Examples of fellowship activities well-attended by members of both branches in the past were basketball games/sport programs and Carmelite Family gatherings in Manila and Cebu. Other possible partnerships can be channeled through activities engaged by student-friars. Endeavors such as series of joint lectures/sessions of study, lectio-divina, reflection, agape and Emmaus courses are taken as part of the concrete steps to push for the suggested plans. The Center for Spirituality-Manila was also mentioned as an area for collaboration since the O. C. D. has also plans of putting up their Center for Spirituality and in the same way focusing on inter-religious dialogue in Asia. Efforts on collaboration were evident in the past. Unfortunately, those attempts never pushed through and died a natural death. Now, the endeavors proposed during these recent meetings are attempts to revive the plans foreseen before. All hopes are high! May the efforts put together by both branches will come in to light and bring about unity and camaraderie among their communities. REV. ARNEL GLODOBE ORDAINED PRIEST Fr. Arnel Glodobe, O. Carm, a new life ahead! Make way to the newly ordained Fr. Arnel Glodobe, O. Carm! He was ordained last December 28, 2002 at St. Michael Parish, Bahbah, Prosperidad. All were tuned in to festive mood as the celebration started in a small party held at "Kapihan ni San Miguel". Merry making were obvious as guests participated in the singing and dancing. Simultaneously, preparations for said event were being made as volunteers cleaned and arranged the parish and the choir practicing their songs till midnight to be sung during the ordination. Guests were housed in different host families in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. As early as eight o'clock that Saturday, visitors/guests began to arrive. Attendees were co-workers, associates, TOCs and student-friars from Metro Manila, Cebu and Escalante. The ordination started an hour later and was presided by Bishop Juan de Dios M. Pueblo, DD, bishop of Butuan. Co-celebrators were Carmelite and diocesan priests. The "salo-salo" was held in a gym followed by a lively program. The mayor and councilors of Bahbah, Prosperidad were also spotted in the event. Good wishes to Fr. Arnel Glodobe, O. Carm in his new life ahead as priest. Continue and serve your people well. SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN COMMUNITY ADVENT REFLECTION FOR CARMEL NEWS AGUSAN COMMUNITY Fifteen assist ministry graduates launched the second continuing care program in San Francisco Agusan del Sur. As a regular dynamic of this batch, six graduates together with the present director Fr. Romie Lazo, Fr. Chris Mendez, the program in-charge, for the continuing care successfully celebrated life after six months. Many friends and parishioners of the Carmelite district, including the local friars of Agusan community shared the great moment of oneness and solidarity to the great success of the program as an ongoing process for brother priests and religious. Indeed, it was a very fruitful homecoming and getting in touch with one another. Thank you so much from the bottom of hearts of the batch six assist ministry graduates to the Carmelites of Agusan for journeying with us always for true and authentic self discovery and constant healing process. Mabuhay tayo! THE NEWLY NOMINATED AUXILIARY BISHOP OF BUTUAN DIOCESE. The newly elected auxiliary bishop Monsignor Jose P. Salazar, D.D. was chosen by the Pope John Paul II to support the present bishop of Butuan Monsignor Juan de Dios Pueblos, D.D. as officially requested by the bishop and the parishioners of this diocese. He was a survivor of the tragic airplane accident of Laoag Air to continue in serving the entire province of Agusan del Sur as the Auxiliary Bishop. We pray for his early recovery from that traumatic experience. Incidentally, the Carmelites of Agusan community especially in Prosperidad will prepare the way for the smooth turn-over next year if everything will be alright for the official installation of the new bishop. INAUGURATION OF SAINT MICHAEL KAPIHAN The Saint Michael Kapihan was inaugurated and blessed with the strong participation of the basic Christian communities as the sole proprietor and responsible for the management. This was a concrete response to the long awaited dream of unity among the people of Properidad who are actively building the church of the poor as mentioned by the documents of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines. Everyone is welcome in the Kapihan, Dayon kamo!!! NEW PARISH SECRETARY AND PARISH COORDINATOR Our parish priest Fr. Artemio Jusayan, O. Carm created these offices for the smooth accommodation of the entire parishioners of Prosperidad. This was an answer to the growing problem and concerns of the parish in building the future seat of the Diocese of Agusan del Sur. The active presence of the laity of this parish is a tremendous challenge for the pastors and lay leaders to provide for the well-being of the brothers and sisters of this community. PROSPERIDAD CHURCH CONSTRUCTION A MILLION DREAM NEEDS SUPPORT At present, the entire Church construction of the Parish building of St. Michael improved due to ample but dedicated support coming from the sweat of the people of Properidad. The community is proud to face the challenge of making this place a very historical one by building this future Cathedral of the Diocese of Agusan del Sur. We are now facing a lot of problems on how to go about it with minimal resources of funds. The lay leaders together with the pastors created a project proposal that will let everyone be a part of this construction. We continue to pray that Mission-Canada will continue to share their resources now and in the future .We are inviting all the people in the country and of any Catholic organizations in the world to partake the building of the Church of Jesus. As we continue to build also the Church in our hearts and among the Basic Christian Filipino Communities. UPDATES FROM STUDENT FRIARY As Advent began, the student friars had prepared various activities to make the season more meaningful. Alain who was fresh from his exposure in the communities of Kabute, West Rembo, Makati City, led the student friars for their Christmas Caroling. This project aimed to raise funds for the upgrade of the computers in the Elijah’s Student Friary Computer Center. The heralding voices of the student friars (St. Elijah's Herald) had reached the fences of the Carmelite Nuns of Guiguinto in Bulacan last December 14, 2002, where they were very much appreciated not only from their beautiful voices but also from their explosive "otso otso" dance performance. They were requested to repeat the performance as the Spanish Prioress got their attention while singing the Spanish Repertoire. In the afternoon of that same day, they had a sharing with Fr. Tjeu, the Prior Provincial, a sort of an informal sharing about the development and the life of the student friars. December 16, 2002 was an evening to remember for all Carmelites in Manila as they gathered together to celebrate Christmas. The student friars prepared the liturgy and at the same time rendered a Christmas Carole. Various activities highlighted the gathering, the exchanging of gifts, the usual agape, parlor games, etc. It was really an evening to remember. After their Christmas party in ICTC (Inter-Congregational Theological Center) last December 18, the student friars sailed to the Island of Cebu where they were expected to join the novices, postulants and college students for, "Carmelite Formands' Forum". The student friars came together from their vacation from different places in the Philippines and served in the ordination rites of Rev. Arnel Glodobe in Bahbah, Prosperidad, who had been with the student friars during their novitiate year. The presbyteral ordination was scheduled on December 28, 2002. They were expected to go back to the Student Friary on January 5, 2003 after their Christmas Vacation. ESCALANTE COMMUNITY FILM DIALOGUE AT MCC Around 35 faculty and administrators finished an "Introduction to Film Dialogue" course held on November 16, 2002 at the Titus Brandsma AudioVisual Room of Mount Carmel College in Escalante City. Fr. Christian B.Buenafe, O.Carm. was the resource facilitator of the said training. The participants viewed "Jologs", "Minsan lang sila Bata" and "Children of Heaven". There was reflction and open sharing afterwards. POSTULANCY UPDATE EMMAUS COMMUNITY BUILDING MODULE The nine postulants attended a "Community Building" second module seminar facilitated by the Emmaus Center Foundation Inc. on August 30 - September 1, 2002 at the Lestonnac Youth Center, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City. Seventeen others also joined, including postulants from the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ), from the Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM) and from the Daughters of the Divine Love congregation. The formators also attended, including Fr. Noel Rosas, O.Carm. POSTULANTS IMMERSION WITH HIGAONON LUMADS The nine (9) Postulants had a one month immersion with the Higaonon Lumads, a national tribal minority in Sinakungan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur from September 15 to October 16, 2002 in coordination with the IPA Program of the Diocese of Butuan through the Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM). A one (1) week orientation was held at the MSM postulancy house at Cabadbadran, Agusan del Sur before the they formally started the area immersion. They were then dispersed into the six (6) areas, including Sinakungan Proper (Sentro), Tugpan, Migdalaut, Tulawas, Simontanan and Imbatog; the last two areas are the farthest from the Senator. The immersion meant experiencing the lives of the lumads in the forests and trekking mountains and valleys and crossing rivers and swamps, often taking long hours or the whole day to reach the farthest area. It also meant eating frogs, tree worms, deer, wild pig, birds and wild fruits. Unfortunately, two (2) of the seminarians got malaria and typhoid fever from the area, but have now recovered. SEXUALITY AND CELIBATE LIVING MODULE SEMINAR Seven (7) postulants*, with formator Fr. Noel Rosas, O.Carm., attended the "Sexuality and Celibate Living" third module seminar facilitated by the Emmaus Foundation, Inc. at Manressa Retreat House in Cagayan de Oro City on November 22-24, 2002. Eighteen others postulants also joined, including the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) (7), Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM) (5) Daughters of the Divine Love (4) and the Missionary Congregation of Mary (MCM) (2), with their respective formators. The seminar emphasized that sexuality and spirituality can be integrated. By transcendence, the eros is transformed into productive energy challenging every formandi and the religious to an authentic celibate living. POSTULANTS HOLD VOCATION CAMPAIGN The postulants, with formator Fr. Noel Rosas, O.Carm., conducted a series of vocation campaigns to graduating 4th year high school students from August 27 to November 18 covering Camiguin and Misamis Oriental for Mindanao. They also went to Negros Occidental and Siquijor for the Visayas. In Misamis Oriental the group went to Cagayan de Oro City, Medina and Gingoog City. In Camiguin they went to the five (5) municipalities namely Mahinog, Mambajao, Catarman, Sagay and Guinsiliban. In Negros Occidental they went to Calatrava, Toboso, Cadiz, Escalante, Kabankalan, Magtalisay, Cauayan, Dancalan, Hinobaan, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Silay and Sipalay. In Siquijor, all the five (5) municipalities were covered, namely Siquijor, San Juan, Lazi, Larina, Maria and Enrique Villanueva. POSTULANTS START NEGROS IMMERSION The postulants were dispersed to the various fishing and farming communities of Escalante City, organized by PAMALAKAYA, for their 3-month immersion from December 12, 2002 to March 15, 2003. They were be assigned to foster families where they will hope to experience the reality of poverty and their struggles. The postulants proceeded to their respective areas for the immersion program following their successful mid-year evaluation based on the five pillars of formation, namely community, academics, pastoral, psycho-emotional and spirituality aspects. CONDOLENCES Condolences to postulant Francis Reanne Galaura and his family for the passing away of his father, Anastacio C. Galaura last November 27, 2002. From Comrades Carmeli - Postulancy Community and the entire Carmel Commissariat. TERESA COMMUNITY UPDATES ICTC FINANCIAL POLICIES REVISION The growing problem of financial viability of Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) was tackled by the Procurators from different Congregations and Orders participating in this theological institution. Last November 7 and 8, the procurators amended the existing policies of the institution to arrest the growing financial deficit. On November 8, the Board of Provincials approved the amendments of the Financial Policies with their additional recommendations. Representing the Carmelites are Sirenio Jaranilla, O. Carm (Procurator) and Antonio dela Cruz, O. Carm (Commissary Provincial) CLOTHING DONATION FROM NETHERLANDS In this season of giving and receiving, we are happy to impart the clothing donation of the Toots Hofstede and friends of the Netherlands to the less fortunate. These clothes was sent via Toto Jaranilla, O. Carm and were distributed by the Third Order Carmelites and Donum Dei Missionaries to the urban poor, pedia wards, prison cells and old-aged homes. The boxes were turned over on the months of July, October and December. The Teresa Community is thankful for all these donations for the poor. Truly, to share ... is notable ministry especially in a world where selfishness reside. To our benefactors, may you receive God's blessings. CARMEL MANILA HOLDS CHRISTMAS PARTY Christmas is long in the Philippines, said a confrere. Indeed it is ... and to celebrate Christmas, the co-workers, friends and friars of Carmel Manila bonded last December 16. The celebration was joyous with the kids of the co-workers running, laughing and crying at the same time. Anyway, Christmas is for children, young and old ... so we celebrated it with much gusto! It was started with a mass celebrated by Fr. Aris Escobal. The Homily delivered by Bro. Rico Sabanal was heart-moving. What can we do? But to nod to what he expressed from his heart. Christmas is indeed the season of the heart. After the Mass we ate and had a programme. This was ably supervised by our Toastmaster Jude Caballero and Gerald Flor Gutierrez. Normie Lacanilao and Jackie Losala were good in their "Laban o Bawi" Contest. Participation however is the key element in any programme's success. The Party was not wanting on this quality. TERESA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS MEAL Last December 19, the Teresa Community had its Solemn Christmas meal. Bernard Roosendaal, Tony dela Cruz, Toto Jaranilla, Marlon Lacal, Aris Escobal, Arie Kuil and with the presence of Noel Valencia came together to celebrate the year's graces in this community. The table was well-set and the food tasted heavenly, thanks to Noel's culinary technique and kitchen staff. The community talked about our plans and there were even fraternal corrections ... why not? We do this only once-a-year. To all, Merry Christmas from Teresa Community. TOC UPDATE The TOC National Council has come up with its tentative Calendar of Activities in connection with fraternal visits, Reception and Profession as follows: Feb 22, Saturday, a.m. - Guiguinto, Bulacan (Fraternal visit) Mar 2, Sunday, p.m. - Sta. Ana, Manila (FV) Mar 15, Saturday, whole day - Sta. Cruz, Laguna (Reception/Profession) Mar 22, Saturday, whole day - Pilar, Las Pinas (R/P) Apr 4, 5 & 6 - Bicol (FV) Apr 27, Sunday, p.m. - Tondo (FV) May (Open) - Fraternal Visit to Visayas/Mindanao Regional Formators' meeting June 14, Saturday, a.m. - Sikatuna (FV) June 14, Saturday, p.m. - Kamias (FV) June 28, Saturday, a.m. - Project 7 (FV) July 12, Saturday, a.m. - Cubao (FV) July 26, Saturday, a.m. - Pilar, Las Pinas (FV) July 26, Saturday, p.m. - Fatima, Las Pinas (FV) Aug 9, Saturday (Overnight) - Cabanatuan (FV) Aug 23, Saturday, whole day - Tarlac (FV) Sept 6, Saturday, a.m. - Proj 4 (FV) Sept 20, Saturday, whole day - Tanay (FV) Oct 10, Friday (open) - Palawan (FV) Oct 25, Saturday, a.m. - Makati (FV) Nov 8, Saturday, a.m. - Sta. Cruz, Laguna |
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