July 13, 2008

Beatification of St. Therese's parents

ALENCON, France, JULY 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Louis and Marie-Zélie Martin, parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, will be beatified on Mission Sunday at the Cathedral of Lisieux.Cardinal Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, made the announcement Saturday when he presided at a Mass at Notre-Dame Church at Alencon to mark the couple's 150th wedding anniversary.Mission Sunday is celebrated this year on Oct. 19.The news comes days after Benedict XVI recognized a miracle attributable to the intercession of Louis and Marie-Zélie Martin. It involved the healing of Pietro Schiliro of Monza, Italy.Pietro was born in 2002 with a fatal lung malformation. Italian Carmelite Father Antonio Sangalli suggested that the child's parents pray a novena to Thérèse's parents to receive the strength to endure their suffering.However, Pietro's mother decided to do the novena to ask for her son's cure. When Pietro regained his health, he and his parents went on pilgrimage to Lisieux to thank the Martins.

American OCD Formation Conference

Fr. Gerald, Fr. Christopher, and Fr. Adam Gregory are participating in the American OCD Formation Conference along with some other 55 Friars and Nuns.

First Masses of Thanksgiving

Fr. Thomas Reeves, OCD, celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving at Mt. St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery (San Jose, California) on

June 14, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.

Fr. Robert Barcelos, OCD, celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving at Five Wounds Church, San Jose, California on June 14, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ

Bro. Thomas of Jesus and Mary (Reeves) and Bro. Robert of Divine Mercy (Barcelos) were ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 13, 2008. The ceremony took place within the Eucharistic Liturgy at Five Wounds National Portuguese Church in San Jose, California. The ordaining bishop was our own Carmelite brother, Archbishop Jean Sleiman, OCD, Archbishop of Baghdad.

Family Vocation Day

On May 31, 2008, our parish, St. Therese, in Alhambra, California hosted a Family Vocation Day with the Fathers of Mercy.

Provincial Chapter closes

Our new Provincial Council

The 2008 Provincial Chapter

Bro. James ordained to the Diaconate

On May 27, 2008 Bro. James Zakowicz was ordained to the Order of Deacons by San Bernardino Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego at our Retreat House in Redlands, California.

Solemn Profession of Bro. James of the Holy Wounds

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, Bro. James Zakowicz of the Holy Wounds, O.C.D. professed Solemn and Perpetual Vows at St. Therese Church. The Profession liturgy also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Parish Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

Click here for a slide show on the celebration.

2008 Provincial Chapter Day 2

Day 2 of the Provincial Chapter, May 21, 2008, offered an opportunity of dialogue with our Carmelite Nuns and Carmelite Seculars.

2008 Provincial Chapter Day 1

On May 20, 2008, our Provincial Chapter opened. The day was spent in a Day of Recollection led by Bishop Gordon Bennett, SJ.

At Solemn Vespers that evening, Fr. Matthew Williams was installed as the new Provincial Superior of the California-Arizona Province of Saint Joseph.

Seminary Graduation

On May 10, 2008, four of our Brothers graduated from Mount Angel Seminary with various degrees. Our own Bro. Thomas delivered the "Senior Farewell".

Bro. Thomas Reeves, OCD

Baccalaureate In Sacred Theology

Master of Arts

Master of Divinity

Bro. Robert Barcelos, OCD

Master of Arts

Brother Mark Moran, OCD

Bachelor of Arts

Bro. Raymond Bueno, OCD

Bachelor of Arts

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.