CEBU, Philippines - Each one’s spiritual journey is unique and it can only be made by the spiritual traveler himself. No substitutes and definitely no excuses – that is if one is truly serious in enriching his relationship with his God.
When I decided to join the Order of the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (O.Carm) early this year, in the hope of deepening my spiritual life, I never thought that life at the seminary would be very challenging.
The journey is not just about learning rituals or discussing theology, nor is it solely about prayers or of intellectual discussions on spiritual writings. More than that, I realized that it is also about deepening one’s relationship with himself and his community, in the hope of finding intimacy with God in each interaction.
Before being accepted into the Order’s Postulancy Program, which lasts for one year, each candidate is invited to try life in the community for two months. This is called aspirancy or pre-postulancy, and the daily schedule that was given to us didn’t look intimidating.
Each day starts with Morning Prayer at 6, followed by cleaning or manual labor for 30 minutes to 1 hour, before breakfast. At around 9, we would have classes facilitated by different friars and lay Carmelites.
Classes included, among others, Carmelite History, Carmelite Spirituality, prayers in the tradition of the Carmelites, and the sharing of the different ministries and missions of the Order, including a session with Fr. Rey Caigoy who related to us his experiences in Papua New Guinea where he is currently assigned.
Before lunch, the brothers would again chant the Liturgy of the Hours.
In the afternoon, classes start at 3, followed by recreation, which can be a sports activity, gardening, or any other activity agreed by the brothers. Evening prayer is at 6, followed by Mass at 6:30. The day concludes with night prayer at 9, then some personal time for writing one’s journal or to meditate on God’s Word before lights off at 10.
Weekends have a different schedule. Saturday’s highlight would be the Community Night where the brothers engage in entertaining activities like movie screening, videoke, or having a barbecue party. Sundays would be the brothers’ day off and since majority is not from Cebu, it’s spent going around the city.
The schedule, however, is not fixed, and each batch may have a different set of activities depending on the decision of the Formation Team based on their evaluation of the current program. The aims of the program, though, are the same, and that is to guide the applicants in discovering themselves, preparing them to the challenges of religious life.
Fr. Ken Ombrog III, O.Carm, the order’s national vocation animators team (NVAT) director, shared that with the current realities of the Church, the Order has to make sure that whatever issues each applicant’s need to resolve with oneself, should be resolved. The Formation process is formulated to guide them in this journey. However, for the program to be successful, the applicant must willingly and whole heartedly submit himself to formation, opening oneself to the program with all honesty, so that any issues needing attention would be addressed.
There were also plenty of opportunities where the applicants got introduced to many of the Order’s ancient practices like when they were taken and left in a secluded place in uptown Cebu City to taste the life of hermits. This became an opportunity for each applicant to reflect on his life and calling, to pray, and to meditate on God’s words – for according to the Order’s rule as written by St. Albert of Jerusalem: “Each one of you is to stay in his own cell or nearby, pondering the Lord’s law day and night and keeping watch at his prayers unless attending to some other duty.†(Rule of St. Albert, no. 10).
Physically, the journey seemed easy and fun as there were plenty of opportunities to travel and visit the many ministries of the Order. But as we started the process of looking back into our childhood, our past, our pains and hurts, the world suddenly started weighing on our shoulders. The pre-postulants were guided by Cynthia Lakip in the processing of all the weight consciously and unconsciously carried by each one, in the hope of starting the process of healing.
And during the course of the program, each applicant was given an opportunity to share his struggles, pains, and needs.
The journey to Carmel is not easy. And should one choose this spiritual path, expect that the roads are rough and steep. From time to time one would stumble on a rock, fall face down on a puddle of mud, and even get cuts and bruises. But as the ancient crusader’s itinerary circa 1231 puts it, the destination is “the most beautiful place†– Carmel, God’s garden.
Should you be interested to try this path, the Order of the Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (O.Carm) prefers young professionals aged 21 to 35, who are “sensitive and responsive to the needs of the people,†and “enjoys comradeship and faithfulness.†For more information, email NVATOCarm@yahoo.com or call (0917)3099672, (032)3465573, and 3462722. (FREEMAN)