Mission Spirituality and the Carmelite Family in the Philippines: Celebrating 500 Years of Christianity

On September 18, 2021, ISA organized a public lecture on “Mission Spirituality and the Carmelite Family in the Philippines: Celebrating 500 Years of Christianity” with Fr. Ritche Salgado, O.Carm., M.A. as resource speaker.

He started his talk by quoting a chapter from the rule of St. Albert of Jerusalem: “Many and varied are the ways in which our Saintly forefathers laid down how everyone, whatever his station or the kind of religious observance he has chosen, should live a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ – how, pure in heart and stout in conscience, he must be unswerving in the service of his Master.” Based on this quote he tried to let the participants see how the Carmelites are a gift to the Church. He shared about the Carmelites in the Philippines and the evolution of the Carmelites in the country. He also talked about Mission Spirituality by sharing three (3) points: 1) The poor is the center of the Gospel, the object of evangelization, 2) To be a Christian is to be a Missionary, and 3) The Christian life transforms lives. He also talked about the Carmelite family as a gift to the church, highlighting three (3) points: 1) Carmelite service: A witness of God’s presence among the poor, 2) Carmelite community: A witness of God’s love in community, and 3) Carmelite prayer: A witness of God’s transforming and saving grace.

He also presented videos of his interviews with some religious and lay Carmelite groups. There were 77 participants who attended the webinar with some attending in groups.