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3.14.2011

Students from the Atheneum van Vilvoorde


On March 14, 8 high school students from the Atheneum van Vilvoorde with their religion teacher, Els, came to visit the "Troost" Carmel. They wanted to know more about our life. The dvd about the Troost was shown to the group, afterwhich they asked questions based on it and what they have read beforehand in our website. They sang songs at the beginning and end of their visit to the accompaniment of the guitar. They prayed and sang before the image of Our Lady of Consolation before finally having this souvenir pose.

The commuity with Godfried Cardinal Danneels

The whole community having a souvenir pose with His Eminence, Godfried Cardinaal Danneels, at the end of our very beautiful retreat. The Cardinal led us deeper into the mysteries of our faith by delving into the Life of Jesus, as recorded by the evangelist, St. Luke. His insights were very deep and high yet simple to understand. How he could easily relate a gospel episode with a text in the Old Testament and then relate it to the present situation in Belgium, was really remarkable! We could not hzlp but sing God's praises and mercy for the graces of the retreat and for sending us a holy guide, one who has followed the path trodden first by Our Lord and meant for all Christians.

3.08.2011

A blessed and meaningful lent!

Jesus tells us in the Gospel read on Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) to begin the lenten season:

" When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

The prophet Joel advises us with the following words:

"Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment."- Joel 2:12-18

With Jesus, let us journey together into the "desert" of our heart...





3.07.2011

Community Retreat

The Sisters request you to accompany us with your prayers during our community retreat, starting March 6-12. We have the privilege to have our retired Archbishop, Godfried Cardinal Danneels as retreat master this year. We also keep you in our prayer during these intense days of preparation for the Lenten season.

Visit of Filipino Bishop and priests


On 26 February we received the visit of Bishop Gilbert Garcera of the diocese of Daet, Camarines Sur, in the Philippines. With him were his chancelor and Fr. Ruben Torres, who presently resides in the seminary in Amsterdam. Kind-hearted lay Filipinos drove them to Belgium to visit the Carmels of Vilvoorde and Antwerp, the latter now preparing to welcome their two new Fillipina Sisters from Naga Carmel, who will be coming soon.

It was a short but very memorable visit. We thanked the Bishop for including us in his itinerary after their Adlimina visit in Rome with the holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

(Two of our Sisters are not in the photo so the community here is not complete)

2nd group from Melsbroek Parish


Another group of children from our neighboring parish, who are preparing for their Confirmation in May came to visit our monatery on 16 February, together with their catechists, in order to know more about our life and to pay homage to Our Lady of Consolation. After singing a song invoking the Holy Spirit, they viewed a DVD about the "Karmel Troost", then asked questions afterwards. Their visit ended with a prayer to Our Blessed Mother and the singing of the Hail Holy Queen. This souvenir photo was taken just before they left.