Prayer: A Dialogue of Love

Forwarded invitation.

Congress on Prayer in Celebration of the 5th Birth Centenary of St. Teresa of Avila

OVERVIEW

2015. 50 years of Vatican Council II. 500 years of the birth of St. Teresa of Avila, Daughter and Doctor of the Church. The congruence of St. Teresa’s vision of a renewed Carmel for the sake of the Church and the Council’s vision of a renewed Church is no mere coincidence. It is co-mutual.The paths to holiness which is the foundation where all pastoral initiatives must be set are personal and call for a genuine ‘training in holiness’ adapted to people’s needs. This training, calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer.

WHAT INITIATIVE CAN CARMEL OFFER IN RESPONSE?

We can show what depths a friendly relationship with Jesus can lead. We can share how prayer can progress as a genuine “What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the Beloved, to point him out, to make him known? Celebrating Saint Teresa of Avila’s 5th birth centenary by way of a Congress on Prayer on March 15, 2015 is a providential opportunity for the entire Carmelite Family to share with everyone the way of prayer from the school of the first woman Doctor of the Church. It is programmed to facilitate encounter with Christ through liturgical and contemplative prayer by way of the Liturgy of the Hours; chants; silent prayer; presentations on the prayer of Christ and the Church, Teresian prayer from the point of attraction to intimate friendship, and, tracking St. Teresa’s way of life; capped by the Eucharistic celebration. The prayerful nature of the Congress encourages all attendees to be generous by way of their active and passive participation.

PROGRAM AGENDA

CONGRESS ON PRAYER

8:00 – 8:05

National Anthem

8:05 – 8:10

Welcome Remarks

Very Reverend Reynaldo Sotelo, OCD

Commissar, Order of Discalced Carmelites

Philippines-Vietnam Circumscription

8:10 – 8:30

Procession / Enthronement

8:30 – 9:00

Liturgy of the Hours

9:00 – 9:10

Orientation

9:15 –10:00

1st Presentation

PRAYER OF JESUS, PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Presenter:

His Excellency Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD

10:00 –10:30

BREAK

10:30 –11:30

2nd Presentation

SPIRITUAL LIFE: THE POINT OF ATTRACTION

Presenter:

Ms. Imelda D. Ramos, OCDS

President, Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines

11:30 –11:35

SILENT PRAYER

11:35 –11:45

Production Number

11:45 –11:50

ANGELUS

11:50 – 1:00

LUNCH BREAK

1:00 – 1:10

Production Number

1:15 – 2:15

3rd Presentation

SPIRITUAL LIFE: WHEN THE WORD OF MY FRIEND PREVAILS

Presenter:

Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD

Prior, Our Lady’s Hill Center for Spirituality

2:15 – 2:20

SILENT PRAYER

2:20 – 2:40

4th Presentation

On the Tracks of St. Teresa: Her Way, Our Way

Presenter:

Sr. May Catherine Salvatierra, OCD

President, Association of Discalced Carmelite Nuns in the Philippines

2:40 – 2:45

SILENT PRAYER

2:45 – 3:15

BREAK

3:15 – 3:30

SILENT PRAYER

3:30 – 5:00

HOLY MASS

Presider: His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle

Closing Remarks

Fr. Danilo D. Lim, OCD

Chairman, National Commission

CLOSING

Singing of GOD ALONE IS ENOUGH

-oOo-

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is this Congress on Prayer all about, and when and where will it take place?

A:It is called “Prayer, A Dialogue of Love,” to be held from 8AM to 5PM, on March 15, 2015, that’s a Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.  It is being held to celebrate the 500^th birth anniversary of St. Teresa of Avila, which is on March 28, 2015.

Q2. Briefly, who is St. Teresa of Avila?

A:St. Teresa of Avila, also known by her religious name, Teresa of Jesus, is a Spanish Saint and mystic who was hailed as a Teacher of Prayer and the first woman Doctor of the Church (in 1970 when all of the 30 Doctors of the Church were male).

Q3. St. Teresa of Avila doesn’t seem to be that known in the Philippines.  Is she the one who carries roses and a crucifix?

A. No, that pretty saint with the roses is St. Therese of Lisieux, or St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who is widely popular in the Philippines. If St. Teresa of Avila were a mother, St. Therese of Lisieux who is 358 years younger would be her great greatgreatgreatgreat granddaughter.  You do the math.  Therese entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites 306 years after its founder St. Teresa died. Now that the Church is celebrating St. Teresa’s 500^th  birth anniversary, it’s the perfect time to make her spirituality better known to the Filipinos.

Q4. How relevant would St. Teresa of Avila’s spirituality be, after all—you know—she’s five centuries old?

A.It’s easy to see how the contribution of this Doctor of the Church fits into our world.  She asks of us to see that the relativism prevalent in the West is now increasingly becoming a global reality.  Our world now is pretty much like in St. Teresa’s time, and as Pope Francis’ EvangeliiGaudium says: “If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ … THE CHURCH URGENTLY NEEDS THE DEEP BREATH OF PRAYER.”

Q5. I see you quoted from a Church document.  How does St. Teresa’s teaching sync with that?

A.To help us re-evaluate human dignity, which is threatened by today’s culture, we have St. Teresa’s vision of the human person as the dwelling place of God, open to communion with Him as a friend, able to welcome Him at the center of his soul.  Continuing with EvangeliiGaudium, Pope Francis says: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”  Marvelous, isn’t it?  “Evangeliigaudium” is Latin for “joy of the Gospel.”  Now, it’s time for St. Teresa’s children in Carmel to go and deliver this invitation to joy!

Q6. What is the objective then of your Congress on Prayer?

A.  The central objective is TO HERALD PRAYER AS AN EXPERIENCE OF FRIENDSHIP AND A DEEPENING ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST.  That’s why we’ve called it “Prayer: A Dialogue of Love”—focusing on a relationship which is that personal.

Q7. So it’s a whole day affair.  Who may participate in it?  Is it open to everybody?

A.   Much as we wish to, we can’t make it a “General Patronage” thing like in the movies where everyone aged 1-100 is welcome.  This Congress on Prayer would be appreciated by—and therefore welcomes—those aged sixteen (16) and above, AND (this is important) IS INTERESTED TO BEGIN AND MATURE in a life of prayer. 

Q8. Hmmm, sounds like it’s only for nuns and priests…?

A.  Certainly not, in fact, laypersons might benefit most from it.  Although it is an initiative of the Order of Discalced Carmelite friars, nuns and seculars, priests, nuns and seminarians of various Religious Orders welcome it as a response to a great need in the Church.  The Congress on Prayer is open to laypeople like professionals and college students, lay associations, parish mandated organizations, parish pastoral council members and commissioned ministers, and transparochial communities.

Q9. Wow, that’s a lot!  And what would it cost someone to attend the Congress?

A.   The good news is, admission is free, but with MoA Arena issued tickets.  For the welfare of the participants, MoA imposes a No-Ticket-No-Entry policy, so do take note, don’t come empty-handed!

Q10. And how does one get tickets?

A.  Attendees have to fill out Registration Forms, whether they belong to big groups or small groups or wish to attend as individuals.

The registration form is downloadable from our website, www.teresa500philippines.com  You may also register through Facebook, teresaofjesus500@gmail.com

Registration Forms for Ticket Reservations may also be obtained from the Congress on Prayer Secretariat with contact details: Telephone numbers: (02) 722-4667; (02) 721-4252; (02) 710-2641; 0939-9207365; 0906-5732305. You may also email us for additional information: teresa500philippines@gmail.com

Q11. Since it’s going to be a whole-day event, may we bring along food?

A.  So sorry but that’s another policy that MoA management strictly imposes on attendees: “No bringing in of food.”  Snacks, however, will be available at Php 80.00 and lunch at Php 100.00 through the Arena concessionaires.  Persons with health conditions that require them to nibble at crackers or candy at prescribed hours may be allowed to bring in a packet or two, but please don’t try to smuggle in a whole carton for the whole barangay!

Q12. Could you give us an idea of what the program will contain more or less?

A.  Well, celebrating Saint Teresa of Avila’s 5th birth centenary through a Congress on Prayer is a providential opportunity for the entire Carmelite Family to share with everyone the way of prayer from the school of the first woman Doctor of the Church. The prayerful nature of the Congress should facilitate encounter with Christ through a program that includes liturgical and contemplative prayer through the Liturgy of the Hours; chants; silent prayer; presentations on the prayer of Christ and the Church, Teresian prayer from the point of attraction to intimate friendship, and, tracking St. Teresa’s way of life.  The day will be capped by the Eucharistic celebration with His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as Presider.

Q13. That sounds promising, but can ordinary people like us digest that?  May we know who the speakers are?

A.  We assure you of very substantial but highly digestible inputs.  We have as first speaker His Excellency Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD, presenting “PRAYER OF JESUS, PRAYER OF THE CHURCH.”  Then we have Ms. Imelda D. Ramos, OCDS, President, Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines, with her piece, “SPIRITUAL LIFE: THE POINT OF ATTRACTION.”  This is followed by Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD, Prior of Our Lady’s Hill Center for Spirituality presenting “SPIRITUAL LIFE: WHEN THE WORD OF MY FRIEND PREVAILS.”  Finally we have “On the Tracks of St. Teresa: Her Way, Our Way” by Sr. May Catherine Salvatierra, OCD, President of the Association of Discalced Carmelite Nuns in the Philippines

Q14. If the Congress on Prayer is to be summed up in 50 words or less, what would its essence be?

A.  The Congress’ name, “A Dialogue of Love” should give you a clue.  St. Teresa defines prayer as “Nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”  That quote contains only 23 words—but that should give you an idea what to expect on March 15, Mall of Asia Arena.  See you there!