By Kuching Carmel
JARO, ILOILO — Four French Carmelite nuns from Hue, Vietnam arrived at the invitation of then-Jaro Bishop James Paul McCloskey to set up the religious order’s first monastery in Jaro, Iloilo City in 1923. On 9 November 2023, the Carmelite communities in the Philippines celebrated the centennial of the first Carmelite foundation in the country (1923-2023).
As members of the Federation of the Discalced Carmelite nuns, Philippines, Mother Margaret and Sister Dominica from Kuching Carmel were invited (6–14 November) to join the grand celebrations. They joined the 22 Carmels from the Philippines, OCD Friars, OCDS and also met the representatives of Carmelite Sisters from China, Vietnam, and France the country of the first Foundress in the Philippines.
The 9.30 am livestream Thanksgiving Mass in Jaro Cathedral, Iloilo was presided by the Apostolic Nuncio of Manila, His Excellency Charles J Brown and concelebrated by His Grace Archbishop of Jaro, Jose Romeo O Lazo, OCD Superior General Fr Miguel Marquez Calle, Carmelite General Definitor for East Asia – Oceania, Fr Chris Surinono OCD, and about 50 OCD priests all over the Philippines.
In the congregation were Mdm Meg Ramos (President of Philippines OCDS) and Mdm Immaculada Gallego (President of Iloilo OCDS) and hundreds of OCDS and the faithful of Iloilo.
The three branches of Carmelites rejoiced at their time spent together at lunch, dinner, and the concert to celebrate the 100 Centenary of Jaro Carmel, with the presentations from the various religious institutions and the faithful of the Jaro Archdiocese, Iloilo.
The OCDS enchanted all with their excellent Philippine traditional and Spanish dances. The atmosphere erupted in humour and fun when an ice cream man (OCDS) caught everyone’s attention with his ice cream bells and yummy ice cream! Superior General Fr Miguel was delighted with his request for three cones of ice cream and there were numerous requests to pose for photos with the ice cream cones.
The Carmelite Sisters also gathered to discuss with Superior General Fr Miguel, in an open forum (livestream with Carmelites at home on Zoom) for the revision of their constitution and implementation of Cor Oran, election of representatives to attend the forum in Rome, evaluation of the courses of formation for formators discussed last August, etc.
The nuns as well as Kuching Carmel, are very grateful to our Superior General who spared time to have private audiences with Carmels who needed his help.
May God bless our Superior General and take good care of him. Amen.
