History

    On that  memorable day of the  former  feast  of    St. Therese of the Child Jesus,  the  Patroness  of the Missions,  October  3, 1958,  a  first Friday,  the  six    Spanish Carmelite Nuns of the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of Maravillas in Madrid, Spain left the cradle of their religious life. With great trust in God and faith in the Blessed Mother, Mother Trinidad del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Cuesta, together with the five nuns of the same monastery, sailed for the Philippines. Sor Sacramento de la Asuncion Manzaneque whose blue eyes did not match the color of the seas, Sor Maria Ascension del Santisimo Redentor Hernandez , Sor Maria Angelica de la Eucaristia Verdugo, Sor Maria Inmaculada de la Eucaristia  Castrillo and Sor Maria del Pilar Perez had their first ride in the boat that would bring them to the Philippines. At last, after more than a month, on the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, on Sunday night, November 9, 1958, they reached Manila. They were met by Fr. Fidelis Limcaco and some Carmelite Tertiaries. The Dominican Sisters at Gov. Forbes Street, Sampaloc, Manila were only too hospitable letting them stay at the Sta. Catalina Ladies’ Dormitory until their departure for the Visayas. Soon they had to leave on November 11, 1958.  At night, they took the plane which flew them to Cebu where they waited for another plane to bring them to Dumaguete.

 

Dumaguete at last! It was not a new monastery or convent.  Anyway, the people prepared the dilapidated house before the arrival of the nuns. Meanwhile, the nuns had the taste of the hospitality of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres who offered them to stay in their convent while the monastery was being readied. Their “new” monastery was a holy place indeed- it was in the old Roman Catholic cemetery where they could see human bones, skeletons and cracked graves. The solemn inauguration  and   blessing  of  the new Carmelite    Monastery   took   place  on   S u n d a y  November  16, 1958  at  4:00 p.m.

 

The rainy season brought quite a commotion  as the nuns had to move things, tables, beds, etc. to protect them from the rain.

Anyway, the Monastery of Our Lady of Maravillas and St. Joseph , the first monastery of the Carmelite Nuns of the Ancient Observance in the Philippines and in Asia, gradually became known, as some young ladies asked to be admitted. They stayed in this holy ground for six years, after which, they moved to an unfinished house in Agan-an, Sibulan in May, 1964. Here, a room served as dining room, recreation room, ironing room, sewing room, sacristy, etc. The chapel later became the parlor. Repairs, reconstruction and remodeling continued as the years passed.

 

The Most Rev. Epifanio B. Surban, D.D. Bishop of Dumaguete, seeing that the foundress, Mother Trinidad, was sick,  appointed Sor Maria Angelica to be the prioress, and Sor Maria Inmaculada as the Mistress of Novices. The latter could speak some few English sentences , just right to hold a short conversation with the Filipino sisters who had to scratch their heads to find out what she really meant. The Spanish-English dictionary was always there to help, but many times , it could not serve its purpose.

 

Mother Trinidad could hardly walk and at times, she had to drag herself leaning on somebody. She was brought to Cebu and then to Manila. The cemetery had to be constructed because the foundress, Mother Trinidad, died of degenerative disease of the central nervous system, after her five months’ stay in the hospital in Manila. Others now interred in the cemetery are Sor Maria Sacramento, Sor Maria Inmaculada, Sor Maria Ascension and the first Filipino nun, who died of lymphoma, Sor Maria Fe Candelaria de la Santisima Trinidad Painaga.

 

The most important project now was the building of the Carmelite Church. Solicitations  here  and abroad  started  after the laying  of  the first cornerstone on February 2, 1974. In spite of the endless solicitations, the construction had to stop several times. The funds were not always enough.

 

On the 19th anniversary of the Carmelite foundation, November 16, 1977, to  be  exact,   the  new church was inaugurated by Bishop Juan Velasco, O. P. of Amoy. Most Rev.  Salvador P. Modesto, D.D. Auxiliary Bishop of Dumaguete, inaugurated  the  marble  altar donated by Dr. & Mrs. Mariano Sandiego and Family on the feast of the Assumption on August 15,1978.

 

On  the 25th  anniversary  of  the  Foundation - - - - - - - -   November 16, 1983, the church was dedicated by Their Excellencies, the Most  Rev.  Epifanio  B.  Surban, D. D. , Most Rev. Juan Velasco ,O.P. and Most Rev. Salvador P. Modesto. D. D.

 

The completion of the building of the church, aside from the alms of the poor, was made possible through the generosity of Mr. & Mrs. Julio O. Sy, Sr.  Other generous friends and benefactors, whose names are known to God alone, also helped in the construction of God’s house.

 

From this Carmel of Dumaguete, the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Trinity and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the  Archdiocese of  Capiz,  Roxas  City ,  was  founded, thirty -  two  years after   its  foundation. Later on May 1, 2009, another Carmel was founded in the Diocese of Tagbilaran:  The  Carmelite Monastery of Our  Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph,  the Worker at  Malinao  East,  Lila, Bohol.

 

Now we are in a building reconstructed again with the help of  the people, the  late  Fr. John Malley , O.  Carm., and of course, Julio Sy & family and the late Robert Sy.

 

God bless and reward all the builders of His palomarcito.