Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown led the holy mass for the recent historic celebration of the 100 years of Carmelite Presence in the Philippines.

Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo concelebrated the solemn mass with other bishops from different dioceses at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles in Iloilo City.
“The beautiful Catholicity of the Church which is communion in mission is shown in prayer and contemplation which Carmel in the Philippines offered to the world,” Archbishop Brown said in his homily.
“We ask the Lord to grant the hearts of young women the vocation to the life of intimacy, contemplation and prayer to be part of the Carmelite Nuns who pray for the world. The gift of Carmel is a life of intimacy-intimacy in trust, intimacy in contemplation and intimacy in silence,” he added.
The Discalced Carmelites arrived in the Philippines on Nov. 9, 1923. Four French nuns from Hue, Vietnam arrived at the shores of Jaro, Iloilo where they established the first Philippine Discalced Carmelite Monastery.
The theme for the centennial celebration is Celebrating Carmelite Presence and Sharing the Gift of Prayer.
Archbishop Lazo, for his part, cited the important role and contribution of the Carmelites to the Philippine Church.
Several activities were held at the Archdiocese of Jaro for the centennial celebration such as the Carmelite Awareness Sunday on Nov. 5.
Archbishop Lazo has likewise declared the Jaro Carmel as a pilgrimage site where pilgrims may gain a partial indulgence when they visit the Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Jaro, Iloilo City until Nov. 9, 2024.