Today, April 8, is the 39th foundation anniversary of the Carmelite Monastery of Carmel of Our Lady of Nazareth in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
Carmel of Our Lady of Nazareth
Km. 109, Maharlika Highway, Sumacab Estate
P.O. Box 213 Cabanatuan City 3100, Nueva Ecija
Tel: (+63)44-4631277
Email: cabanatuancarmel@yahoo.com
Sometime in 1982, the late Bp. Vicente Reyes of Cabanatuan requested from the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family in Guiguinto, Bulacan to put up a monastery in the diocese.
On April 8, 1983, the monastery decided to send seven nuns to the diocese to start a foundation, and so the Carmel of Our Lady of Nazareth was born.
The community was first established in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija then later on transfered to Cabanatuan City while waiting for its permanent home to be finished. The sisters moved to their current location in 1986.
At present, the community has 11 solemn professed nuns, one temporary professed, and two novices.
The community was also able to help establish other monasteries in the country. In 2000, it sent four sisters to join the newly established Federation monastery in Tanay, Rizal, the monastery of Carmel of Mary, Star of the Sea. The sisters who voluntered were Rev. Mo. Ma. Delos Angeles, O. Carm., Sr. Ma. De Jesus, O. Carm., Sr. Ma. Esperanza, O. Carm., and Sr. Mary Grace, O. Carm.
Then on November 22, 2008, the community founded the Carmelite Monastery of Jesus of Nazareth in Maramag, Bukidnon of the Diocese of Malaybalay. Four sisters joined the foundation – Sr. Maria Cristina Gadrinab, O. Carm.,Sr. Maria Bernardita Blanco, O. Carm., Sr. Maria Violeta de Leon, O. Carm. and Sr. Maria Raquel Ylagan, O. Carm.
Let us pray for our dear sisters, that they would continue to be a blessing to the Diocese of Cabanatuan and its neighboring places.
May our dear Mother and Sister, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, continue to cover them with her love and protection.
May our Father, through the love and guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ in unity with the Holy Spirit, shower them with more spiritual blessings.
Photos from the internet and by Ritche T. Salgado, O.Carm.