Fall 2010: Flos Carmeli

The Fall 2010 issue of the Flos Carmeli is available here.

It features our very own Ramona Zelasko, Diane Gray, Mary Miranda, and Maron Burke!

2011 OCDS Provincial Congress

2011 OCDS Provincial Congress
Oklahoma Province
Lafayette, LA
http://www.ocds2011congress.com

THURSDAY, June 23, 2011
Registration
MASS
Evening Prayer-Grand Ballroom
Reception-Welcome to Lafayette

Congress Address: Father Gregory Ross, O.C.D., Provincial for the Oklahoma Province

FRIDAY, June 24, 2011
Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist

Continental Breakfast & Registration
Morning Office-Grand Ballroom

Congress Presentation: Dr. Susan Muto
"St. Teresa, Our Holy Mother, A Directress of Formation for All Times"

MASS
Buffet Lunch
OCDS Ratio Institutionis for the Oklahoma Province
WORKSHOPS
Evening Prayer-Grand Ballroom
Buffet Dinner-Grand Ballroom

Congress Address: Father Aloysius Deeney, O.C.D.
"Celebrating St. Teresa throughout the Nation of Carmel"
Provincial Meeting

SATURDAY, June 25, 2011
Continental Breakfast
Morning Office-Grand Ballroom

Congress Presentation: Father Bonaventure Sauer, O.C.D.
"St. Teresa, Our Holy Mother Teaches us the Way of Perfection"

MASS
Buffet Lunch-Grand Ballroom
EXCURSION: Carmelite Monastery of Mary, Mother of Grace
OPEN FORUM: with the Friars, Presenters, and visiting Community members
Evening Prayer-Grand Ballroom

2011 OCDS CONGRESS BANQUET

SUNDAY, June 26, 2011
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Continental Breakfast
Morning Office-Grand Ballroom

Congress Presentation: Father Daniel Chowning, O.C.D.
"St. Teresa, Our Holy Mother Teaches us the "Our Father" as the Way of Perfection"

CLOSING MASS

December 2010: First Promises

On December 11 2010, two of our members, Marianne Gonzales and Rebecca Snook, Made their First Promise into the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites:

"inspired by the Holy Spirit, in response to God's call, sincerely promise to the Superiors of the Order of the Teresian Carmel and to you, my brothers and sisters, to tend toward evangelical perfection in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and of the Beatitudes, according to the Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, for three years. I confidently entrust this, my Promise, to the Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel."

The rite was celebrated during the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Georgetown, TX. Msgr. Louis Pavlicek, Pastor of St. Helen’s celebrated the Mass. A reception followed afterwards at the Parish Activity Center.



For more pictures of this event, click here.

November 2010: Malawi Project

Thank you to all Carmelites that practicing the virtue of detachment donated books for the library project in Malawi Africa. John Paul is very
thankful and most importantly learning the virtues from all of you!

October 2010: Priest Talk

Www.triumphofthecrossocds.blogspot.com

October 2010: Morning Prayer

Octubre 2010 Meeting: Priest Talk

August 2010 Meeting

Special gifts to our dear founders, Dora Zavala and Lois Vasquez, presented by Birdie Ehrenfeld are two scarves bearing the image of Blessed Mary Teresa of St. Joseph of the Carmel of the Divine Heart of Jesus. Sr. Lydia Braun of the Carmelite Sisters DCJ in Corpus Christi had sent these scarves as well as other materials about Blessed Mary Teresa to Birdie for our study group to read and enjoy.

August 2010 Monthly Reflection

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

 

July 2010 Professions

On the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, July 16, 2010, four of our members, Ramona Zelasko, Diane Gray, Mary Miranda and Maron Burke, celebrated the Rite of Definite Promise into the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. The rite was celebrated during the 6 PM Mass at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Georgetown, TX. Fr. Will Straten, Associate Pastor of St. Helen’s celebrated the Mass and Fr. Howard Goertz and Msgr. Louis Pavlicek concelebrated. A reception followed afterwards at the priest’s residence.

What is the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order?

*Who are we?
*What is the foundation of Carmelite life?
*What is required of Discalced Carmelite Seculars?
*What is the timetable for becoming a Discalced Carmelite Secular?






What is the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order?
Discalced Carmelites Seculars are members of the Carmelite family of the 16th-century reform of St. Teresa of Jesus. Discalced means shoeless. St. Teresa’s followers wore sandals rather than shoes, a practice which distinguished them from Carmelites of the Ancient Observance. These followers are present in the modern world as friars, enclosed nuns and Seculars.


Who Are We?
Discalced Carmelite Seculars come from all walks of life, from every level of education and from every type of work. They are Catholic laypersons over the age of 18 (married or unmarried) or ordained diocesan priests or deacons.

There are more than 45,000 Discalced Carmelite Seculars worldwide and more than 6,000 in the United States. They gather in canonically erected communities or recognized study groups under the guidance and leadership of the order.


What is the foundation of Carmelite life?
The following principles of the Rule of Saint Albert, written for the hermits on mount Carmel in the 13th century, guide Carmelite life today:

-Living in allegiance to Jesus Christ

-Being diligent in meditating on the law of the Lord

-Giving time to spiritual reading

-Participating in the liturgy of the church, both the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours

-Arming themselves with the practice of the virtues

-Seeking interior silence and solitude

-Using prudent discretion in all that they do.

(from “Constitutions of the Secular Order of the Teresian Carmel,” 2003


What is required of Discalced Carmelite Seculars?
The Secular’s obligations can be summarized by the “6 Ms”:

(1) Meditation. A suggestion is 30 minutes each day.

(2) Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and, if possible, Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

(3) Mass. Daily, if possible.

(4) Mary. Every day, Seculars express devotion to Mary. Their primary devotion is to imitate Mary in “reflecting on [all these things] in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

(5) Meetings. Seculars are called to communities whose members have made a commitment to one another. Meetings consist of formation, information and fellowship.

(6) Mission. Seculars share in the Carmelite mission of knowing God so God can be known.



What is the timetable for becoming a Discalced Carmelite Secular?
The entire period of formation commonly requires about six years.

Attendance at 12 monthly meetings of the community is required, so the Aspirant may be supported by its members as he or she learns more about Secular life and discerns
whether he or she has a vocation to the order.

First period of formation

A minimum of two years is required for study and growth in prayer, the apostolate and community life. At the end of this time, the council of the community may invite the candidate to make a Temporary Promise of poverty, chastity and obedience to the order.

Second period of formation

At least three years precedes the Definitive Promise. Either period of formation may be extended if the council and the individual in formation agree that doing so is in the best interest of the candidate.


(1) Source: Oklahoma Province OCDS Aspirancy Brochure

May 2010 Monthly Reflection

Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light. - Matthew 11:28-30

March 2010 Silent Retreat

The Triumph of the Cross Study Group Silent Retreat was held March 19 - 21, 2010 at Cedarbreak Retreat Center in Belton, TX.

Our retreat which began Friday night at 6 p.m. Joining us on Saturday were also visitors from the Waco study group.

Our presenter at the retreat was Father Jerome Early. He gave five very lively and thought provoking talks about community based on St. Teresa Benedicta, St. Frances DeSales, the history of community in the Bible in Acts, and St. John of the Cross.

The retreat ended with mass on Sunday, March 21st at 11:00 a.m.

February 2010 Monthly Reflection

"Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Beth-sa'ida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened."

Mark 6:45-52

January & February 2010 Clothings

In January and February 2010, we celebrated 2 clothings at St. Helen's Catholic Church during the Morning Prayer. Kim & Carole asked to be admitted to the period of formation in the community and received the scapular and the constitution of the secular order.

January 2010 Monthly Reflection

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." - Luke 8:16-18