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.