Carmelite monastery celebrates patronal feast day

KOTA KINABALU – The Carmelite Monastery here celebrated its patronal feast day – Our Lady of Mount Carmel – on 16 July 2017.

Archbishop John Wong took time off to celebrate the solemnity with the Carmelite Family – the nuns and the Secular Carmelites (OCDS).  Joining him at the altar was Jesuit Father Larry Tan  of Kuching.

In his homily, the prelate explained to the Sunday crowd about the solemnity, its history, its significance (seeing Mary as mother [who nurtures and guides us to Jesus] and sister [who walks with us]) and the meaning of wearing the brown scapular (sign of one’s relationship with Mary).

He concluded his homily by inviting the people to inculcate a more contemplative lifestyle through four steps: stop (pause from a busy life), listen (to the heart), look (at what God is doing), and gaze (at the wonder of the Lord).

After the Mass, the people were invited to join in the breakfast organised by the OCDS.

Established in Europe in the 14th century, the local monastery was set up in North Borneo (Sabah) in  December 1930 by seven Carmelite nuns from Spain at the invitation of Msgr August Wachter.