Three OCDS take definitive promises

KOTA KINABALU – The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was commemorated at the Carmelite Monastery of our Lady of Mt Carmel at the morning Mass 8 Dec 2014,   celebrated by Fr Aloysius Deeney OCD, General Delegate of East Asia and Oceania.

It was also an occasion to mark with joy and thanksgiving for three members of the community of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites, Agnes Frances Moniu, Lucia Udus and Jacinta Chai who made their lifelong commitment to the vocation of a Secular Discalced Carmelite after undergoing more than seven years of formation.

They made their definitive promises individually before Fr Deeney during the Mass in the presence of members of the Carmelite family and the whole congregation gathered there.

They confidently entrusted their definitive promises to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel to faithfully give witness to Christ in words and deeds by living an evangelical life taking the Virgin Mary as their model, and by collaborating in the Church’s mission by means of their contemplative prayer and apostolic activity.

In his homily, Fr Deeney exhorted the Blessed Virgin Mary as the approachable mother of all as exemplified in the Memorare – a prayer of help from our Blessed Mother Mary. Her great intercessory power comes from her being full of grace as angel Gabriel had greeted her “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee!”. Her awesome strength comes from her womanhood, gentleness, love and obedience to God’s will which all men and woman should emulate. – OCDS KK