Brief History

        Mater Carmeli Monastery was conceived in Carmel of the Holy Family (Guiguinto, Bulacan) on the inspiration of celebrating the 750th anniversary of the Scapular with the gift of a new Carmel to our Most Blessed Mother. The Bishop’s written request to have a Carmelite Monastery in the Diocese of Tarlac, arrived on April 24, 2001. There was no difficulty in obtaining a lot for the future monastery. Among several offers, the one in Sta. Ignacia, a town thirty minutes away from Tarlac City, seemed most ideal for a

cloistered life of prayer, sacrifice and contemplation. 

 

      On 26 November – 1 December, 2001, the seven foundresses were sent to clean their temporary residence while at the same time training themselves to live a regular observance of  their Carmelite life under new circumstances. On December 7, 2001, the Farewell Mass presided over by the Most Rev Rolando Tria-Tirona, O.C.D., D.D. (Bishop of Malolos) and the Welcome Mass presided over by the Most Rev Florentino Cinense, D.D. (Bishop of Tarlac) gloriously

brought to birth a new Carmel .

 

       Hence, Mater Carmeli Monastery was built, is growing and continues to be sustained by friends and families of the Sisters who find ways to help them and make their self-offering deeply meaningful.

 

VISION

 

      We, the cloistered contemplative nuns of Mater Carmeli Monastery, summoned by love, envision ourselves as a community seeking the Face of God in the daily events of our life. We find God in His Word spoken in silence, proclaimed in the Liturgy and encountered in the living out of the evangelical counsels, i.e., chastity, poverty and obedience, in allegiance to Jesus Christ. We see our community as a home of Mary receptive to the transforming grace of the Spirit, and a silent presence that brings forth fullness of life, to each of us and to all who touch our lives.

 

MISSION

 

We, the contemplative nuns of Mater Carmeli Monastery commit ourselves:

• to witness to God’s healing and transforming love which we ourselves experience in prayer, in solitude and in community life;

• to build up and support one another with unconditional love and acceptance, enabling each one to develop and share her gifts and talent; and

• to live our lives in holiness and gratitude by welcoming everyone and sharing with them the fruits of contemplation so that they, too, may encounter God.

And in the prophetic spirit of St. Elijah and the humble example of St. Joseph, we respond to the signs of the times.

 

APOSTOLIC WORKS

• Host making

• Summer catechism in the care of the Third Order of Carmel, Carmel Youth, and the Confraternity of Mary, Our Lady of the Scapular