Chapter Preparation

Please join us in our spiritual preparation for our Provincial Chapter to be held May 19 - 29, 2008. This prayer, that is being prayed daily in each of our communities, was written by one of our Friars. Please join us as we pray:

Heavenly Father,

assembled in Your Name

we graciously ask Your Blessing

on ourselves and our Apostolic work.

As we observe the eighth centenary

of our Carmelite Rule,

grant us Your special grace

to be faithful to it

as we live out our vocation

at the heart of the Church.

Be gracious to us above all at this time

as we prayerfully plan

for the needs of our Province.

May Your Holy Spirit enlighten our minds,

inflame our hearts

and strengthen our wills

to direct our planning to its fulfillment.

These graces we ask

in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son

and through the intercession of Mary,

Mother and Queen of Carmel.

Amen.

Please pray for our Brothers

Please pray for Bro. Robert and Bro. Thomas who will be ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 13, 2008.

...and for Bro. James who will make his Solemn Profession on May 24 and then be ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 27, 2008.

Celebration of the Religious of the Diocese of San Jose

On April 19, 2008, Bishop Patrick McGrath hosted the Celebration of Consecration Life for the Religious who serve in the Diocese of San Jose, California.

Pictured with the Bishop and our Friars are the Blessed Virgin Missionaries of Carmel.

St. Paul Preaching Award

On March 31, 2008 at the Mount Angel Seminary Annual Annunciation Dinner, Deacon Bro. Thomas Reeves was awarded the prestigious 2008 St. Paul Preaching Award. Each year this award is given to a member of the graduating deacon class who exemplifies the preaching method and standards as taught by Mount Angel Seminary. Bro. Thomas Reeves, along with Bro. Robert Barcelos, will be ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 13, 2008.

March 25, 2008 Bro. Juan Medina installed as Lector

On March 25, 2008, during the Octave of Easter, Bro. Juan Medina was installed to the

Ministry of Lector in a private ceremony at the International Carmelite College (Teresianum - Rome) where he is in his first year of theological studies. The presider was Fr. Luigi, one of our Definitors General.

Good Friday

"This is the wood of the Cross on which hung the Savior of the World.

Come let us worship."

Outdoor Stations of the Cross at Mt. St. Joseph

Holy Thursday

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."
(Matthew 26:26-28)

"My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me."
(Matthew 26:38)

Sainthood path for Sr. Lucia, OCD

Published: February 15, 2008
Pope Benedict has decided to fast-track Fatima visionary Sr. Lucia’s road to sainthood waiving the obligatory five year waiting period to start the canonisation process. Catholics World News and Catholic News Service reports the decision by the Pope means that the diocesan phase of the sainthood process can begin immediately. Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes head Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins said, at a Mass in Coimbra on Wednesday commemorating the third anniversary of Sister Lucia's death, that Pope Benedict had reduced the waiting to three years. On May 13, 1917, when Sister Lucia was 10 years old, she and her cousins - Francisco, 9, and Jacinta, 7 - claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary at Fatima, near their home. The apparitions continued once a month until October 1917 and later were declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church. In 2000 Pope John Paul II beatified Sister Lucia's cousins, who died as children. Sr Lucia, who spent most of her life as a Carmelite nun, died at the age of 97 at her monastery in Coimbra, near Fatima, in Portugal.

SOURCE: (Catholic World News 14/02/08) and (Catholic News Service 14/02/08)

February 23, 2008

Bro. Ramiro Casale of Christ on the Cross, OCD

ordained to the Diaconate

On February 23, 2008, Bro.. Ramiro of Christ on the Cross was ordained to the Order of Deacons by our Carmelite brother, Archbishop Jean Sleiman, OCD (Archbishop of Baghdad). The ceremony was held at the Basilica of San Pancrazio (Rome), our Church located next to the International Carmelite College (the Teresianum) where Bro. Ramiro is finishing his Theological studies.

February 14, 2007

During the closing liturgy of our Plenary Council, Deacon Bro. Robert blessed the icon, "The Rule of Carmel". This icon, written by Bro. Claude Lane, OSB, of Mount Angel Abbey, was commissioned by our Province in honor of the eigth centenary of our Holy Rule.

This event icon depicts the writer, St. Albert of Jerusalem, handing on the rule to Bro. Brocard, who is believed to be the Prior of the early Carmelite hermits. In the mandorla of the icon we see the past as represented by our spiritual Father, St. Elijah, and St. Paul, in recognition of the many references to St. Paul's letters in the Rule. The present is seen in the event - the actual handing on of the Holy Rule to Bro. Brocard. And the future is seen in our Holy Mother, St. Teresa, as she stands beside Bro. Brocard.

February 12 - 14, 2008

From February 12 - 14, twenty-one of our Friars met at our Retreat House in Redlands, California for the 2008 Plenary Council. This council was part of our preparation for the 2008 Provincial Chapter that will take place in May.

February 2, 2008

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

First Profession of Vows

Bro. Jason of the Holy Spirit (Parrott)

Fr. Provincial, Gerald of the Resurrection, presiding

Bro. Jason with his mother, Linda, and brother, James.

February 1, 2008

Investiture and Entrance into the Novitiate

"...you shall be known as...."

Bro. Richard (Castillo) of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

Bro. Marinello (Saguin) of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

January 7, 2008

On January 7, our Province accepted seven new Postulants at our Mission in Kyengeza, Uganda. These men joined our four other native African men in formation and brings the number to eleven (1 novice; 3 philosophy students; and 7 postulants).

Our new Postulant brothers are:

Deogratias Sseduufu
Augustine Sunday
Emmanuel Mayinga
Charles Katende
Lawrence Kabali Seire
Joseph Balituddembe
Boniface Matai

We ask your prayerful support of these men.

December 30, 2007

Christmas bride

On December 30, 2007, the Solemnity of the Holy Family, our sister,

Sister Grace Helena of the Divine Mercy, O.C.D.

(Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles),

professed perpetual (final) Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The ceremony took place in St. Joseph's Chapel (Santa Teresita Medical Center, Duarte, CA). Fr. Adam Gregory served as Master of Ceremonies and our two postulants, Richard and Marinello served as acolytes.

December 25, 2007

The Discalced Carmelite Friars

of the Province of St. Joseph wish all our families, friends and benefactors a very blessed and joyous Christmas.

Remember that the Christmas season continues on the liturgical calendar until January 13, 2008.

December 17, 2007

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly. Come, and teach us the way of prudence.

O Antiphon for December 17

During the final days of advent each Friar makes a personal Day of Recollection (hermit day) in preparation for Christmas. Each night, in keeping with ancient tradition, the Friars process with the statue of the Child Jesus to the cell of the Friar who is beginning his Day of Recollection. Singing the Veni Emmanuel and the Ave Maria, the community prays for a grace-filled day for their brother.

December 14, 2007

Solemn Profession of

Bro. Ramiro of Christ on the Cross, OCD

Today, at the International Carmelite College (Teresianum) in Rome, Italy, our brother, Ramiro Casale of Christ on the Cross, professed his Solemn and Perpetual Profession in the hands of our Superior General and in the presence of our Provincial Superior. Along with eleven other Carmelite Brothers from around the world, Bro. Ramiro professed the evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Poverty for life.

Along with Fr. Provincial, Gerald Werner, representing our Province and attending the ceremony was Bro. Thomas Reeves, OCD and Theresa Thomas, OCDS. Members of Bro. Ramiro's family from Mexico were also present.

Bro. Ramiro is presently in his final year of Theological studies at the Teresianum. He is expected to return to the Province this summer.

December 14, 2007

Solemnity of Our Holy Father

Saint John of the Cross

"Endeavor to remain always in the presence of God, either real, imaginative, or unitive insofar as is permitted by your works."

Saint John of the Cross

Degrees of Perfection

Happy Feastday

Fr. John (Melka) of the Cross, OCD

December 1, 2007

Diaconate Ordination of

Bro. Salvador Roman, OCD

On Saturday, December 1, 2007, Bro. Salvador Roman was ordained a Transitional Deacon by Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas (Bishop of Tucson) at St. Margaret Mary Church, Tucson, Arizona.