Three Kings

God provided us with very willing kings on the Epiphany Sunday mass with the Filipino community. Two males nurses, who just arrived from the Philippines last month came to celebrate with us the Eucharist. Not only that, they were so happy and willing when asked to be kings together with another younger boy. They went with the priest in the entrance procession, brought the Offertory and distributed gifts to the children after the mass. Everyone enjoyed and appreciated their presence. Thank you, three Kings!

Three kings during the Filipino Mass on Epiphany Sunday

Filipino children enjoying buffet on the ground

Vietnamese children of our family in Belgium were also present




And of course, inside the Sisters also had fun!

A blessed & white Christmas!

Sr. Aloysia throwing bread to migrating birds.

Dialogue between the ox (Sr. Elizabeth) & the ass ( Sr. Paul Therese)

"The Christmas Alphabet" by the novitiate

'O Holy Night' with flute and guitar

Ours was not only a blessed but also a truly white Christmas this year because the snow kept coming. But despite the unfavorable condition on the road, there were still quite a number of churchgoers who braved the snow, even more than we expected. The Gregorian choir of the Norbertine Abbey in Grimbergen contributed a lot in making our midnight Mass very solemn.

On Christmas day itself, we also had a very well prepared Liturgy. Two of our Sisters and two lay musicians played the flute. Our churchgoers greeted us after the Mass as a tradition on special and big feasts like Christmas and Easter.

In the evening of the 25th, the Novitiate presented a short play around the crib, a dialogue between the ox and the ass, a choral presentation with illustrations on the Chrismas Alphabet, then "O Holy Night" with flute and guitar. Simple yet meaningful presentation that delighted our Sisters. We then retired early to make up for our lack of sleep the previous night because we return to bed at past 2:00 o'clock in the morning because after the midnight mass we still partook of some warm drink and bread.

Wishing you all a blessed and happy Christmas and a grace-filled 2011!

Saint Nicholas and Black Peter

Saint Nicholas and his assistant black Peter came a day earlier than his feast on December 6.

Piet told us to go to another place in procession.

So all went eagerly and cheerfully in obedience.

Sr. Paul Therese played with the flute a hymn to St Nicholas so that he will come.

And indeed, the Saint appeared!

and gave each sister some words of advise and encourgament.

And of course, the much-awaited gifts!
Our eldest sister, Sr. Augustina received a teddy bear!

Sr. Lutgart, our liturgist, received clear books for her music pieces.

After each one received her gift, a souvenir pose with the Saint before he proceded to his next itinerary. Black Peter took this photo so he is nowhere to be seen.

Winter 2010

On the first week of December we had our first snow this winter. It is still the second winter for our 3 new Filipina sisters, so we went out again to our garden so that they can really feel, play and enjoy the snow!

Hurrah! Thank you, Lord for the snow!

As if we have a very big forest no?

Under the weeping willow

Oei, oie, oei, what are they going to do with the ladder?

So,now you know, someone wanted to climb the Magnolia tree.

How do you like this one? And my! Look at Sr. Paul Therese's very big pair of boots!

Here is also another one, Sr. Elizabeth, posing with Jesus on the Cross
but not resembling Mary Magdalen because she is smiling and not crying

Thanks to our very patient and eager photographer, Sr. Aloysia!

Advent

A blessed advent season!

Be watchful!

"Let us walk in the light of the Lord" - Isaiah

While the super markets and department stores have already long displayed Christmas items and Christmas carols have perhaps been played several times already on the radio, we in Carmel have just lighted the first candle of our Advent wreath and only this afternoon have we put up the Advent house, with still one window open. We are still about to start the great adventure...

We are still about to plunge deeper into the mystery of this very rich season, together with Our Blessed Mother, in silent yet joyful expectation of the coming of Jesus in our heart, not only on Christmas day but each day and each moment of our life.

Advent house

Autumn in the Troost

The views in our monastery garden during this season are just marvelous that we wish to share them with you. One sunny morning when it was not so cold, we brought our oldest sister, Sr Augustina (84), around the garden, an advance treat for her birthday on the 7th of November. The two novices, Sr. Elizabeth and Sr. Paul Therese, were in the laundry, so they could join us for souvenir photos.

Our new friend, Lieze

Lieze with our two novices in the parlor before she left

Introducing to you our new fine young Belgian friend, Lieze, 19 years old, from Keselo, a student at the Sacred Heart Institute in Heveerle. She is preparing herself to become a nursery school teacher. We came to know her the first time when she came to interview one of our sisters about of life in February this year. Later, during the summer and autumn vacations, she asked to spend a day of recollection in the monastery. She said that she relished the silence, her spiritual reading, and praying the Divine Office with the Sisters and the Holy Mass, everything helped her to be herself again. Lieze left us a thank you note with her beautiful drawings based on what she has read during the day. She looks forward to her next recollection day, perhaps during the Christmas break. You are always welcome, Lieze!