Refreshed at Carmel

CEBU, Philippines - Ormoc City is not just about electric power or the sweetest pineapple in the country; it is also a city rich in spiritual heritage evidenced by the many religious Orders and Congregations mostly dotting its mountainscape.

However, despite the presence of these religious organizations, only a few have made their homes a home for the many pilgrims that visit the city, and most prominent of these is the Order of the Carmelites (O.Carm) who in February 2008 set up the Carmel Spirituality Center and the Shrine of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel as a gift to the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte.

The place is built on land donated by the family of Melchor and Rita Larrazabal.

As part of the pre-postulancy program of the Order, we were given the chance to experience the various ministries of the Center and at the same time enjoy the wonderful sceneries and most refreshing atmosphere in the countryside of Ormoc City for a whole week.

A breather from the otherwise hot and humid weather of Cebu where we have been staying in preparation for the postulancy program come June in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Located in Brgy. Milagro, around 45 minutes from the city center, it is not hard to spot the Carmel Spirituality Center as its structure sits at the peak of one of the hills in the area, overlooking the city and surrounded by valleys and hills covered in lush forests.

Aside from the Center, a very prominent landmark that is the reason for people to frequent the place is a reproduction of the ruins of the first Carmelite Monastery that used to stand in Mt. Carmel in Israel, but which the Order had to eventually abandon in the early 13th Century.

In the middle of the ruins is the image of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel keeping watch over Ormoc City, 24/7. Here one could meditate on the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, backdropped by hills carpeted with lush greeneries. Sunrise is the best time to have an intimate conversation with the Blessed Virgin, as the sun paints the skies red, slowly revealing the beauty of nature.

For those wanting to deepen their relationship, the Via Crucis, starting from the entrance of the compound at the bottom of the hill to the very top of the hill, invites one to contemplate on the suffering and death of Christ.

Fr. Fernando “Deng” Lopez, O.Carm, the present administrator of the Center, revealed that since it was established in 2008 it has been envisioned to be a hermitage, remembering the hermitic origins of the Order.

Cottages and kiosks where guests could experience silence, Carmelite spirituality, and a personal encounter with God will soon be built on the side of the hill leading to the White Friar’s Hall. These cells, as the Carmelites call their personal places of rest, will be surrounded by fruit and Benguet pine trees, which are now starting to grow all over the compound according to Fr. Deng, thousands of trees were planted not just to give guests a better appreciation and experience of nature, but also to help break the strong winds that frequently visit the place, resulting in the high maintenance cost of the facilities.

However, this is still to be realized. Hence, the Center has to make do with the few rooms to accommodate a limited number of people for personal and group retreats and recollections. For this the Center continues to appeal to kind-hearted donors who could share their blessings either in cash or in the form of construction materials, in order to realize this vision, benefiting many.

A breathtaking view of the city on one side, a refreshing view of the countryside and the forest-rich mountains on the other, truly, the Carmelite Spirituality Center is the place to be should one be needing a day or two to relax and be refreshed.

There are several activities that can be had at the center, tailor-fit to meet the needs of guests. The priests in the Center play several roles, all to make the experience of the guest very enriching. These roles include the facilitation of retreats, recollections, or spiritual seminars; as confessors; as counselors; and even as spiritual directors. The goal is to help each traveler in their journey towards spiritual enlightenment.

A day at the Center is enough to recover some energy lost after being bombarded with stressors from all sides – work, family, peers, and the self.

For more information on the Center and its services, contact Fr. Deng at (0928)4246160.

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Ritche is one of eight young professionals currently undergoing the Pre-Postulancy Program of the Order of the Carmelites in preparation for the 1-year Postulancy Program in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. (FREEMAN)