The Carmelite story begins with Mt. Carmel, rising directly out of the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Mt. Carmel is the “homeland of the heart” for the Carmelite family, those who live and breathe the spirituality that grows out of the physicality of that mountain. In every century, Carmelites everywhere need to breathe the air of the heights of Carmel if they are to live. Carmelites are mountain men and women, called to match the mountain that gives them their name.
Welcome to ocdsphilippines.com, the official website of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines (OCDS Philippines).
Let us follow the Lord in silence
"And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone." -- Matthew 14:23
Come with us to our 'Prayer Room'. There are moments in our pressure-cooker days when we ache to be alone with the Father.Not all of us can escape our noisy environment, or have a mountain to retreat to, but we can, even in front of our computers, have a few moments of silence and solitude with the Lord.That’s the inspiration behind one of this website’s new features: the Prayer Room.To enter the Prayer Room, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.
You are invited to our LECTURE SERIES ON the teachings of ST. TERESA OF AVILA this November. For details, please click on The News on our MENU.
For updates, you may also click on The News and Reflections. And while we’re still awaiting more news updates from our 47 Communities from all over the Philippines (a rather slow process since we’re an archipelago of 7,100 islands and islets) we are kept abreast of what’s happening with the rest of the world by the websites we’ve added, see Links on the Menu.We would love to hear from you. Our email addresses will serve as a Suggestion Box to catch your comments, observations, ideas, and feedback of any kind. Please email to:
We thank you very much and with the help of Our Lady of Mount Carmel assure you of prayers in our journey in Carmel. (For OCDS Philippines, Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS Philippines Councilor for Communications).
The Carmelite Shield
The shield of a religious community usually symbolically expresses some key insights into their understanding of their charism. This is particularly true of the Carmelite Shield. It embodies a great deal of what the Carmelite charism is all about.
My years as a lawyer before I underwent formation were marked by an incessant drive to gain material wealth and to ascend the hierarchy in the law firm. I thought these were the things to aim for. Material wealth and advancement in career were my two gods; all other considerations had to serve these two false gods.
We invite you to try this beautiful exercise. To open the door to our Prayer Room, click on the candle (below)—there you may sit in silence, converse with God, and light candles for your petitions. If you wish to simply post a prayer request in the Prayer Box (right) just type your name and your message in the fields provided, and your prayer will instantly be published. Wherever you may be, always say a little prayer—God is always listening!
The Prayer Box
Sing in Praise!
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Updates
Appointments by the Definitory General
Our beloved Fr Aloysius Deeney, from Oklahoma Province, was reappointed Delegate General for the OCDS and the Associated Institutes. This is Fr. Deeney's third term.
Father Saverio Cannistra elected Superior General of Discalced Carmelites
FATIMA, PORTUGAL, April 20, 2009—Father Saverio Cannistrà of the Sacred Heart, until now Provincial Superior of the Italian Province of Toscany, has been chosen this morning, 20th of April, the new General Superior of the Discalced Carmelite Order. After the election and the acceptance of the position, the new Superior General made the profession of faith. Later, the Chapter participants transferred to the chapel of the Domus Carmeli in procession singing the Te Deum. Once in the chapel, each one of those present expressed their acceptance of the new General by means of a fraternal embrace while singing Ecce quam bonum and Nada te Turbe of Santa Teresa of Jesus.
North Luzon Answers 'The Call Within'
By Tess S. Tayag, OCDS. Twenty six participants, all from North Luzon, embarked on a process of self discovery and healing in “The Call Within” on its first run for the year at the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of San Fernando Pampanga on April 14 to 19, 2009.
OCDS Davao Cluster A had their annual retreat last Feb. 20 - 22 at the Benedictine Nuns Monastery in Digos, Davao del Sur. It has been the biggest group that Fr. Ernie Montuerto, Provincial Delegate to the OCDS, has handled in the region, with 74 Seculars attending, according to Josie Tionko, OCDS, president of St. Teresa of Jesus Community in Davao.
Formation and Communications receive a push from Fr. Ernie
TUBA, BENGUET, May 4, 2008—Fr. Ernesto Montuerto, OCD Provincial Delegate to the OCDS, emphasized today the need to strengthen the areas of Formation and Communications among the Secular Carmelites in the Philippines.
Provincial Delegate's Schedule for 2008-09 released
The OCDS Provincial Delegate's schedule of activities for 2008-2009 was released today by Fr. Ernesto Montuerto, OCD. The activities include conferences, meetings, visitations, retreats, ceremonials and others taking place in the country's five regions from June 1, 2008 to February 25, 2009. Fr. Ernie said more activities may be added in the near future as Communities demand and his schedule permits.
As he has promised, OCD Provincial Superior Fr. Narciso 'Chito' Reyes writes about the recent Provincial Chapter held in Our Lady's Hill Center of Spirituality in Bacolod City. The item also contains the list of new assignments for OCD Friars nationwide. Kindly circulate this among the members of your OCDS Communities.
Chica with Chito: Getting to know the OCD Provincial-elect
When news spread last November about Fr. Chito Reyes being elected as OCDS Provincial, not a few Secular Carmelites from all over the Philippines frowned as they asked, “Who’s he?”
It seemed nobody knew Fr. Chito, although this did not mean Fr. Chito was a nobody. He was simply “low-profile”—such that very few would even know his real first name: Narciso.
OCDS East Asia Congress renews hope for future of Carmel in Asia
The first East Asian Congress of the Secular Order was celebrated in Tagaytay City, Philippines from the 21st to the 25th of November. It was attended by 220 Seculars coming from eight (8) nations of East Asia: Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and the Philippines. The format of the program was Seculars talking to Seculars about how to be Seculars.
