News News Friars, News Nuns, News Superior General, News
4 December 2023

Philippines: celebrating 100 years of the Carmelite Nuns presence

The Carmelite Communities all over the Philippines rejoice in thanking the Lord for the gift of 100 years of God’s faithfulness and love. It started in Jaro in November  1923 when Bishop James Paul McCloskey requested the Carmelite Nuns in Vietnam to establish a Carmel in the Diocese of Jaro to pray for the clergy and the faithful.

To share the centennial graces, priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese with our nuns and the OCDS organized Carmel@100: Carmel Cares, a medical mission program for two of the nearby villages. On 7 November, the priests, religious, seminarians and various choir groups in the Archdiocese presented Carmel@100: A Prayer Concert, graced by our Father General, Very Rev. Fr. Miguel Marquez Calle, OCD and Fr. Christianus Surinono, OCD, Definitor for East Asia-Oceania, with the members of the Federation’s Centennial Assembly, friends and benefactors of Carmel.

On 9 November 2023, the celebration started around the Eucharistic table presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio, Abp. Charles John Brown, D.D.  His co-concelebrants included Abp. Jose Romeo Lazo, D.D. of Jaro, Father General, Fr. Christianus,  several Prelates including our own Abp. Rolando Tria-Tirona, OCD, Fr Rey Sotelo, our Provincial and all the friars of the Province, the clergy of the Archdiocese and several visiting priests. Countless friends of Carmel, devotees and pilgrims filled whatever empty spaces one could find in the Cathedral.