Carmelite recording studio launched

The Order of Carmelites in the Philippines, through the Institute of Spirituality in Asia and the Carmelite Center for Social and Pastoral Communications, recently launched the Fr. Bernard Roosendaal, O.Carm. Memorial Multimedia Recording Studio.

“This pandemic has upped the trend of using the internet to communicate, to build communities, and to gather and share information with others,” said Carmelite Philippines Prior Provincial Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm.

“This is also the best opportunity for us to spread the Good News of the reign of God’s Kingdom to a vast majority that is already on the net,” he said.

Fr. Ponce shared that studies have shown that the pandemic is causing undue stress and anxiety to many people, most especially with the limited movement brought about by the preventive measures imposed by the government coupled with the negativy projected in social media with people venting out their frustrations and anxieties.

“We are grieving en masse and what we are experiencing, this anxiety from the lack of social support which we normally get through peer interaction, is causing a worsening in mental health,” he said.

“Many people need to hear the Good News. We have to make them feel that in this time of grief the Church is with them and we too are feeling what they are feeling, we too are thirsting, we too are hungry for the Bread of Life,” he said.

“This is why we were able to conceptualize the Fr. Bernard Roosendaal Recording Studio, which will allow us to create quality content that we could freely share through social media and through our website,” he said.

The studio will be used to produce video and audio contents, including original songs composed by Carmelite friars, that will be shared through the website, social media accounts, and streaming sites of the Order.

“More things are needed to be done in order to maximize the use of the studio but we need funds for this, that is why we are continually looking for people who share our vision of using social media as a means of communicating the hope of the Good News,” he said.

“We pray that more people would support our media ministry,” he added.

For updates on Philippine Carmelites, follow or like us on Facebook. (Text by Br. Ritche T. Salgado, O.Carm)