Summer Student Seminar

Each summer, our Friar-students gather for an intensive study of some aspect of Carmelite spirituality. This year, the students, guided by Fr. Christopher, studied OHF, St. John of the Cross' work, the Ascent of Mount Carmel. The students read, discussed, wrote a paper, drew a diagram which represented a modern day Ascent of Mount Carmel, and gave an oral presentation.

Bro. Raymond giving his presentation

Bro. Richard explaining his modern day Ascent to Mount Carmel.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ

What a blessed and joyous way to begin the Year for Priests! Today, Fr. James Zakowiz, OCD, and Fr. Ramiro Casale, OCD, were ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests. Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, was the ordaining prelate. The rite of ordination within the liturgy took place at our St. Therese Parish in Alhambra, California.

A slide show of the liturgy and celebration will be available, next week, at http://www.discalcedcarmelites.com/

Fr. Stephen's 25th Jubilee of Priesthood

On June 16, 2009 Fr. Stephen Watson of the Cross, O.C.D. celebrated the 25th Jubilee of his ordination to Priesthood of Jesus Christ. It was a blessing for the Mount Saint Joseph Community to host this Jubilee since it was in the same chapel that Fr. Stephen was ordained on June 16, 1984.

May Crowning

On May 30, the vigil of Pentecost, the Friars at Mt. St. Joseph hosted a "crowning of an image" of the Blessed Virgin Mary. With procession, rosary, crowning, flower offering and benediction, about one hundred people joined the community in this traditional ritual which became popular in the 18th century.

Seminary Graduation

On May 13, 2009, three of our Brothers received academic degrees from Mount Angel Seminary.

Rev. Bro. David Guzman, O.C.D. received a Master of Divinity Degree. Deacon Bro. David will be assigned to one of our ministries in preparation for his priestly ordination.

Rev. Bro. Ramiro Casale, O.C.D. received a Master of Arts and a Master of Divinity Degrees. Bro. Ramiro had previously received an STB degree from the Teresianum in Rome. Deacon Bro. Ramiro will be ordained in June and receive an assignment to a ministry in our Province.

Bro. Leonel Varela, O.C.D. received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and will return to Mount Angel Seminary next fall to begin his Theological Studies.

Diaconate Ordination

Bro. Mark Kissner was ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 23, 2009 by Archbishop John Vlazny (Archbishop of Portland) at St. Mary Cathedral.

Bro. Mark and his parents.

Thanks to Mr. Matthew Townsend for the pictures used on this post.

Carmelite Directors of Formation Program

Fifty-two Discalced Carmelite Friars and Nuns from all over the U.S. (and Canada and Guam) gathered in Seattle, Washington for the Carmelite Directors of Formation Program from May 17 through May 26. Fr. Gerald, Fr. Adam Gregory and Fr. Christopher represented our Province.

Address to the Order

Our new Superior General, Fr. Saverio Cannistra of the Sacred Heart, addresses the Order at the conclusion of the General Chapter.

Transition Retreat

Seven of our Friars met recently at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests, Los Angeles, for a "Transition Support Retreat". For five years following ordination, our Province offers particular support to our men transitioning out of Formation and into the life and ministry of the Province.

The Retreat was composed of Conferences, dialogue, Sacred Liturgies, confession, individual spiritual direction, fraternal sharing and recreation.

Rome visit

I was greatly blessed recently with a fifteen day pilgrimage through Italy and France. The pilgrimage began in Rome where I was able to visit with the three members of our Province who are presently stationed in Rome.

Fr. Jose Luis, Fr. Stephen, Fr. Adam Gregory and Bro. Juan Elias.

We also had a great visit with our two Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart who are stationed in Rome: Sr. Judith and Sr. Pauline Therese. It was also a special blessing to have our good friend, Norbertine Frater Elias, who is doing his theological studies in Rome, join us. Frater Elias is the son of two of our San Jose OCDS members: Steve and Marlene Rauwold.

Our new Superior General

On April 20, 2009, during the General Chapter held in Fatima, Portugal Fr. Saverio Cannistra of the Sacred Heart was elected as our new Superior General. Fr. Saverio is from the Tuscany (Italy) Province.

For more information, please visit our Generalate website: www.discalcedcarmel.com

Holy Week Schedule at Mt. St. Joseph

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord's Supper 5:00 p.m.

Good Friday

Outdoor Stations of the Cross 2:00 p.m. (difficult up hill climb - 1/3 mile)

Commemoration of the Lord's Passion 3:00 p.m.

Holy Saturday

Easter Vigil 8:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday

Lauds 8:30 a.m.

Holy Mass 9:30 a.m.

Carmelite Monastery

12455 Clayton Road

San Jose, California

Carmelite Blessed Nuno to be canonized

Due to the miracle of a blind woman in Portugal, our Carmelite brother, Blessed Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira will be canonized on April 26, 2009 in Rome.

For more information on Blessed Nuno click here:

http://www.blessednuno.org/about_us.html

Georgetown (California) Carmel

Our Carmelite Nuns of Georgetown, California, recently completed a remodel of their public chapel santuary. It was designed by the Nuns themselves. It certainly lifts one's heart and soul toward heaven and is a beautiful place to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

For more information about our sisters at the Georgetown Carmel please visit their website: http://carmelitemonastery.com/

God bless our volunteers

We are blessed with many generous and good friends and benefactors. Many of them came to our assistance on Friday evening, March 13, to stuff envelopes for the Mt. St. Joseph Benefit Dinner, which will be held in May.

February 26, 2009

Bishop Joseph B. Willigers, M.H.M., Bishop of Jinja, Uganda, was present with Fr. Provincial Matthew Williams and our Definitor General Stephen Watson for the Blessing and Dedication of our new House of Studies in Jinja. This is our second foundation in Uganda.

Mardis Gras Benefit at El Carmelo

Provincial Assembly 2009

From February 10 - 12, 2009, the Provincial Council, Local Superiors and several other Friars met for the Annual Provincial Assembly. The gathering began with a Day of Recollection (which ended with the diaconate ordination of our brother, Rev. Bro. David Guzman, OCD) and included spiritual talks, business matters and fraternal recreation.

February 10, 2009

During the Provincial Assembly, our

Bro. David Guzman, O.C.D.

was ordained a transitional deacon by the

Auxiliary bishop of San Bernardino, Rutilio del Riego,

at El Carmelo Retreat House in Redlands, California.

The ordination of Rev. Bro. David brings our number of transitional deacons to four (three of whom are pictured here).

First Profession of Vows

Bro. Richard of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta, O.C.D.(Castillo)

Bro. Marinello of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, O.C.D.(Saguin)

Professed First Vows on February 2, 2009

at Mt. St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery, San Jose, California

Slide shows of the recent Solemn Profession and First Profession may be viewed at: www.discalcedcarmelites.com - recent events