Community Elections

On Monday, 23 February, we held our community elections, presided over by our Father, Fr. Roeland Van Meerssche, and assisted by our confessor, Fr. Paul Delmé. The result is as follows:

Prioress           - Rev. Mother Lutgardis of Mary
1st councillor   - Sr Maria Luisa of the Immaculate Heart
2nd councillor - Sr. Mary Carmela of Jesus Crucified
3rd councillor  - Sr. Lutgart of the Holy Face

The outgoing prioress, Mother Ann Christi, who has led the community for many years can now take her much deserved rest. Thank you dearest Mother for your magnanimous heart and for being a real mother to the community all those years....

Our community with Father Povincial and Fr. Paul Delme. New addition to the are:
Sr. May Benedicta of God the Father, 1st from left -kneeling  (from the Carmel of Cebu)
and Rowena Valencia ( in white), our aspirant.

A Blessed Christmas & A Grace-filled New Year 2015!

Prayerful greetings from all the Sisters!

“He came as a LIGHT to illumine the darkness.
To those who receive HIM, He brought light and peace:

peace with the Father in heaven,
peace with everyone who, like them,
are children of light — a deep interior peace of heart.
The Child in the manger extends His little hands,

and His smiles seems to be saying
what would come forth later from the lips of the Man:

“Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy burdened.”

         
              - St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

OPENING OF 5th CENTENARY OF OHM St TERESA of AVILA

Procession with the relic of La Madre and her Centenary Candle

The concelebrants

The choir

Father Provincial as main celebrant assisted by Rev. Jan Goyvaerts, deacon of the Troostbasilica

Sr. Maria of Brugge playing the violin during Offertory and Holy Communion

Secular Members of the Carmelite Family

The Carmelite Nuns and brothers, with Fr. Piet Hoornaert, superior of Gent community

A BLESSED ADVENT TO ALL!

With Mary, we await in joyful expectation for the coming of Our Lord!

decoration in our Troostbasilica

Advent house

CENTENARY PRAYER - St. Teresa of Avila

ST. TERESA OF AVILA
1515-1582

   First woman doctor of the Church

Reformer and Foundress of the
Discalced Carmelite Order

CENTENARY PRAYER
translated by Fr. John Sullivan, OCD

(Novena days 6-14 October; Feast 15 October)

“ Loving Father, you grant us the grace
of celebrating this feast of St. Teresa.

You offer us the example of her life,
the help of her intercession,

and the share in her destiny
that we might be inspired
by the joyful witness of her actions
and follow resolutely
the way she has shown us.

A way of humility and truth,

of poverty and joy,
of obedience and freedom,
of self-sacrifice and mutual love,

of prayer and commitment,

a way of perfection.

This way is none other than your own Son,
Jesus Christ,
the One Who was crucified for us,

the One who rose from the dead,
the Way, the Truth and the Life.

No one goes to the Father except through Him,
the only way of salvation,

our Way and nourishment,

our Companion as we walk,

our True Friend.

Grant to us, O Lord, through St. Teresa
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
that we might know how to follow her teaching
and, like her, enjoy true life in your house,

the home of us all.
AMEN

                            

Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus - feast of the novitiate!

October 1; Feast of St. Therese,  is the feast of the novitiate.
Sr. Marie Paul Thérèse here reads her retreat account.
She renewed her temporary vows after the Holy Mass. Loving congratulations, dear Sister!

Bookmarks with texts from St. Therese given to the Sisters.

Every year, the community is invited to the novitiate on this day
for a simple paraliturgy in honor of Little Therese.
This year took on another significance because Sr. Paul Therese bade goodbye
 from the novitiate to move on to her next phase of formation in the community.

After 5 years in the novitiate dormitory, Sr Paul Therese now transfers to the community dormitory. We accompanied her in procession to her new room, while singing the Litany of Our Blessed Mother,  to begin the  Rosary month.

In her new room (In Carmel we call it "our cell").
Our Mother welcomed her to the community with short exhortation related to her retreat account.

Links to the virtual choir of Carmelites

For the opening of the 500 year of the birth of our holy Mother, St. Teresa of Avila, a virtual choir of Carmelite nuns from different parts of the world has been created and now available at You Tube:
Virtual Choir of Carmelites : NADA te TURBE

It has received very positive reactions from those who have seen it, including young people! They may not directly understand the lyrics because it is in Spanish: "Nada te Turbe" but the music and the concept as a whole speak so strongly to the viewers.

Here is also a second virtual choir composed of Carmelite nuns, friars and OCDS (secular order of Carmelites): SALVE REGINA

Enjoy watching them and share with your families and friends.