Biara Carmelite
Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Miri.
Ini adalah kegembiraan dan keistimewaan kami untuk berdoa untuk Gereja, dunia, para imam, dan bagi semua yang meminta doa kami. Untuk mengemukakan permintaan doa, isi borang kami atau melawat kami di biara kami dan Sisters akan membentangkan petisyen anda kepada Tuhan kami di Sakramen Mahakudus semasa Misa Kudus dan Pengujakan Ekaristi..
*Maaf,Jika borang tidak dapat dilakukan kerana melebihi had untuk bulan ini. Sila gunakan borang 2 atau borang 3 atau e-mel terus kepada mereka carmelmiri2@gmail.com
*if form is unabled due to exceed limit for this month. Please use form 2 or form 3 or email them direct carmelmiri2@gmail.com
(Permintaan Doa)
Anda juga boleh gunakan Form 2 atau Form3
Biara Carmelite yang khas di Miri telah diasaskan oleh Rahib Margarita pada tahun 1985..
Para biarawati tinggal dalam persekitaran yang terkurung (dikelilingi pagar) dan hidup bertafakur sepenuhnya. Para biarawati dibenarkan menghubungi keluarga duniawi mereka hanya sebulan sekali. Walaupun mereka tidak dibenarkan keluar dari biara, mereka boleh mendapat rawatan perubatan apabila sangat diperlukan atau apabila peralatan tidak dapat dibawa masuk ke dalam biara.Cara hidup ini merupakan warisan spiritual yang diturunkan kepada para biarawati Carmelite oleh St Teresa dari Avila (1515 hingga 1582), seorang Sepanyol dan pengasas Mazhab Carmelite.
Para biarawati menjalani kehidupan yang penuh berdoa (berpandukan St Teresa dari Avila dan St John di Salib). Gaya hidup pertapaan ini, yang dicontohi oleh Nabi Elijah dari zaman Gunung Carmel, terus diamalkan hingga ke hari ini.
Setiap hari dicirikan oleh kesunyian untuk berdoa
Sebagai tambahan kepada perayaan harian Liturgi penuh Jam, dua jam diketepikan untuk sembahyang senyap tanpa henti. Komuniti disimpan agak kecil.
Di samping meraikan Liturgi Waktu sepenuhnya setiap hari, tempoh selama dua jam diluangkan untuk doa yang senyap tanpa gangguan. Komuniti hidup ini dikekalkan agak kecil bilangannya.
Risalah dari biara menyatakan bahawa: “Biara Carmelite merupakan saksi terbuka kepada realiti kehadiran dan kewujudan Tuhan, yang sering tidak diakui dalam dunia yang tidak sempurna ini. Ia merupakan peringatan kepada dunia tentang kesahihan nilai-nilai Injil.
“Di taman yang tersembunyi, keperluan, kegembiraan, luka dan kedukaan dunia dibawa ke hadapan takhta Tuhan setiap jam setiap hari, terutamanya dalam Liturgi Suci.”
Aktiviti ini, yang disucikan oleh kasih sayang Tuhan, juga telah menjadi doa pengantaraan untuk pihak Gereja dan seluruh dunia. Selepas Upacara Pengakuan mereka (untuk mengabdikan diri mereka kepada Mazhab Suci ini), mereka, seperti semua biarawati Carmelite sebelumnya, akan menghabiskan seumur hidup mereka di biara dan dikebumikan di pekarangan biara apabila meninggal dunia. Dalam beberapa tahun ini, beberapa biarawati telah meninggal dunia dan dikebumikan di pekarangan biaraBiara Carmelite telah berkhidmat kepada jemaah Miri dan sesiapa sahaja yang ingin agar doa dibaca untuknya. Ramai orang yang bukan beragama Katolik juga melawati biara itu untuk doa dan bantuan khas. Biara Carmelite telah berkhidmat kepada jemaah Miri dan sesiapa yang ingin berdoa untuknya. Ramai bukan Katolik juga melawat biara untuk solat dan bantuan khas.
Skapulir Coklat adalah sebahagian daripada jubah keagamaan yang dipakai oleh ahli Carmelite untuk menunjukkan kesalihan mereka kepada Bonda Maria di Gunung Carmel, kepercayaan mereka terhadapnya, dan komitmen mereka untuk hidup sepertinya. Terdapatnya suatu bentuk yang dipermudah sebagaimana yang digambarkan dalam foto untuk mereka yang tidak memakai jubah Carmelite penuh. Terdapatnya juga Scapulir dalam bentuk medal.
Perkataan 'scapulir' membayangkan sesuatu bentuk pakaian yang telah dipakai oleh para biarawan apabila mereka bekerja. Dengan peredaran masa, orang ramai telah mula memberikan maksud yang simbolik kepadanya, seperti salib yang perlu dipikul setiap hari sebagai pengikut dan penganut Kristus. Dalam beberapa mazhab keagamaan, seperti golongan Carmelite, Scapulir berubah menjadi lambang cara hidup mereka. Scapulir Coklat menjadi lambang dedikasi khas golongan Carmelite kepada Maria. Oleh itu, Scapulir Coklat ialah simbol yang melambangkan keputusan untuk mengikut Yesus seperti Maria:
sikap terbuka kepada Tuhan dan kepada kehendakNYa,
berpandukan iman, harapan dan kasih,
rapat dengan keperluan orang ramai,
berdoa pada setiap masa,
menemui Tuhan yang wujud dalam semua perkara yang berlaku di sekeliling kita
memperkenalkan orang ramai kepada keluarga Carmel,
menunjukkan harapan yang diperbaharui semula untuk menemui Tuhan dalam kehidupan abadi dengan bantuan perlindungan dan doa pengantaraan Maria ...
Scapulir Coklat telah diluluskan oleh pihak Gereja selama lebih daripada tujuh abad.
Scapulir bukanlah suatu tangkal ajaib untuk melindungi anda atau suatu jaminan yang anda akan diselamatkan secara automatik.
Mengikut Jemaah Ibadat Tuhan pihak Vatican (Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship), Scapulir Coklat merupakan "suatu lambang luaran bagi hubungan ibu yang diwujudkan antara Perawan Maria yang Dirahmati Tuhan, Bonda dan Permaisuri Gunung Carmel, dan orang yang beriman yang mengamanahkan mereka sendiri dengan sepenuhnya kepada perlindungannya, yang mendapat bantuan daripada doa pengantaraan keibuannya, dan yang sedar akan keutamaan kehidupan spiritual dan keperluan untuk doa."
Terimalah Scapulir ini (oleh mana-mana paderi), lambang hubungan istimewa anda dengan Maria, Bonda Yesus, yang anda berjanji untuk mencontoh. Semoga ia akan menjadi peringatan kepada anda tentang maruah anda sebagai seorang penganut Kristian, dalam berkhidmat kepada orang lain dan mencontoh Maria. Pakailah skapulir sebagai lambang perlindungan Maria dan lambang bahawa anda tergolong dalam keluarga Carmel, melakukan kehendak Tuhan secara sukarela dan mengabdikan diri anda untuk membina dunia yang setia kepada rancanganNYA untuk komuniti, keadilan dan keamanan.
Kemasukan Skapulir Coklat pada Hari Perayaan Liturgi Bonda Maria di Gunung Carmel, 16 hb. Julai. Dalam bentuk kecilnya, ia sangat popular dalam Gereja Katolik sebagai barang keagamaan dan berkemungkinan besar telah menjadi prototaip bagi semua skapulir kesalihan lain.
Skapulir dan Kehidupan Berdoa.
Skapulir Coklat Bonda Maria di Gunung Carmel:Suatu Tanda Iman dan Komitmen Kristian
Skapulir (Ingris: Scapular) berasal dari bahasa latin: “scapula” yang berarti bahu. Skapulir ini awalnya berupa kain yang cukup lebar yang melintang di bahu. Pada awalnya, skapulir ini berasal dari kehidupan para rahib. Sama seperti yang memakai stola adalah seorang iman, maka seorang rahib ditandai dengan skapulir. Kemungkinan, pemakaian skapulir ini dapat ditelusuri mulai abad ke-7, dimana skapulir menjadi salah satu peraturan dari ordo benediktus. Dengan berkembangnya ordo-ordo, seperti ordo ketiga (third order) – yang terdiri dari kaum awam, maka skapulir ini juga berkembang, bukan hanya kain yang besar yang dikenakan oleh para rahib, namun skapulir yang cukup kecil, yang juga digunakan oleh kaum awam. Lebih lanjut, ordo Karmel berjasa dalam menyebarkan devosi skapulir (sekitar abad 13), yaitu dengan skapulir coklat atau “brown scapulir”. Ada begitu banyak jenis skapulir. Dan devosi ini mencapai puncaknya pada abad pertengahan, dimana skapulir dan rosario menjadi dua devosi kepada Bunda Maria.
Untuk mengenakan skapulir ini, tergantung dari jenis skapulirnya, setelah diberkati oleh pastor, maka dengan seseorang memakai skapulir, dia memakai simbol persaudaraan (membership in confraternity). Ada beberapa skapulir yang sering dipakai oleh umat Katolik, seperti:
1) The brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, yang berwarna coklat dan sering dihubungkan dengan sabbatine (Sabtu) Privilege,
2) The red scapular of Christ’s passion,
3) The black scapular of the seven sorrows of Mary,
4) The blue scapular of the Immaculate Conception,
5) The white scapular of the Holy Trinity. Dan ada juga scapular medal – yang mempunyai gambar hati kudus Yesus di satu sisi dan hati kudus Maria di sisi yang lain. Scapular medal ini disetujui oleh Vatikan pada tahun 1910.
Apakah manfaat dari skapulir ini?
Manfaatnya adalah tergabung dalam persaudaraan dari skapulir tersebut. Misalkan seseorang menggunakan skapulir coklat, maka dia tergabung dalam persaudaraan “our Lady of Mt. Carmel”. Dan Bunda Maria menjanjikan untuk orang-orang yang memakai skapulir sampai pada akhir hayatnya akan diselamatkan.
Namun satu prinsip yang harus kita pegang, benda-benda seperti rosario, skapulir adalah benda-benda sakramentali. Katekismus Gereja Katolik (KGK, 1667-1668 mengatakan:
1667: “Selain itu Bunda Gereja kudus telah mengadakan sakramentali, yakni tanda-tanda suci, yang memiliki kemiripan dengan Sakramen-sakramen. Sakramentali itu menandakan karunia-karunia, terutama yang bersifat rohani, dan yang diperoleh berkat doa permohonan Gereja. Melalui sakramentali hati manusia disiapkan untuk menerima buah utama Sakramen-sakramen, dan belbagai situasi hidup disucikan” (SC 60). (Bdk. CIC, can. 1166; CCEO, can. 867.)”
1668 “Gereja mengadakan sakramentali untuk menguduskan jabatan-jabatan gerejani tertentu, status hidup tertentu, aneka ragam keadaan hidup Kristen serta penggunaan benda-benda yang bermanfaat bagi manusia. Sesuai dengan keputusan pastoral para Uskup, mereka juga dapat disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan dan kebudayaan serta sejarah khusus umat Kristen suatu wilayah atau zaman. Mereka selalu mempunyai doa yang sering diiringi dengan tanda tertentu, misalnya penumpangan tangan, tanda salib, atau pemercikan dengan air berkat, yang mengingatkan kepada Pembaptisan.“
Dari dokumen di atas, kita melihat bahwa rahmat yang mengalir dari sakramentali tergantung dari disposisi hati yang memakai. Pada saat seseorang memakai skapulir dengan devosi dan disposisi hati yang baik, maka orang tersebut akan senantiasa diingatkan akan Bunda Maria dan Yesus, sebagai contoh: pada waktu orang tersebut melepaskan dan memakai skapukir, atau pada waktu-waktu tertentu, dia merasakan dan menyadari bahwa dia memakai skapulir. Jadi dalam satu hari, orang tersebut mempunyai kebiasaan untuk mengingat Yesus dan Bunda Maria. Dengan disposisi hati yang baik, maka rahmat Tuhan mengalir, sehingga dapat menyucikan berbagai situasi hidup. (lih KGK, 1667). Oleh karena itu, orang yang memakai skapulir, yang senantiasa diingatkan untuk menyucikan berbagai situasi hidup sampai akhir hayatnya, akan memperoleh keselamatan kekal.
Apakah orang yang memakai skapulir ini pasti masuk Surga? Tidak pasti, karena rahmat dari benda-benda sakramentali tergantung dari disposisi hati orang yang memakai. Gereja Katolik mengajarkan bahwa keselamatan adalah berkat Allah semata, dengan melalui iman dalam Kristus Tuhan dan dimanifestasikan dengan ketaatan untuk mengikuti seluruh perintah Tuhan. Jadi orang yang memakai skapulir belum tentu diselamatkan, kalau tidak disertai dengan iman kepada Kristus dan melaksanakan seluruh perintah-Nya. Namun, dengan disposisi hati yang baik, seseorang yang memakai skapulir dapat mencapai kekudusan dan memperoleh keselamatan. Sebaliknya, orang yang tidak memakai skapulir, namun terus bertumbuh dalam iman dan sakramen dan melaksanakan perintah Kristus sampai akhir hayatnya, dia juga dapat diselamatkan.
Skapulir dapat dianalogikan seperti cincin pernikahan. Orang yang memakai cincin belum tentu telah menikah. Namun orang yang menikah dan memakai cincin kawin, dengan disposisi hati yang benar, dapat membantu untuk setia terhadap pasangan.
Apakah dasar alkitab dari skapulir?
Kita dapat menghubungkan dasar-dasar Alkitab tentang skapulir dengan dasar-dasar Alkitab untuk pengajaran tentang relikwi, seperti:
Elisa membawa jubah Elia dan memukulkannya di sungai Yordan, sehingga air terbelah, sehingga Elisa dapat menyeberangi sungai Yordan (2 Raj 2:9-14). Di kitab yang sama, diceritakan bagaimana mayat yang terkena tulang-tulang dari Elisa, dapat hidup kembali (2 Raj 13:20-21).
Di dalam Perjanjian Baru diceritakan bahwa sapu tangan dan kain yang pernah dipakai oleh Paulus dapat menyembuhkan penyakit-penyakit (Kis 19:11-12). Kisah Para Rasul juga menceritakan bagaimana orang-orang membawa orang-orang sakit, sehingga minimal mereka dapat terkena bayangan dari rasul Petrus, dan kemudian disembuhkan (Kis 5:15).
Pembahasan menyeluruh tentang hal ini, silakan membaca artikel “Relikwi, mengantar kita kepada Tuhan” (silakan klik).
Secara prinsip, Tuhan dapat menggunakan benda-benda, baik berupa relikwi yang berhubungan dengan santa dan santo, atau skapulir yang diberikan oleh Gereja, untuk mengantar umat pada kekudusan. Semua devosi ini harus mengalir dari disposisi hati yang baik, seperti semua persembahan yang bersifat ekterior mengalir dari disposisi hati yang benar.
Baca lebeh - https://dioceseofmiri.blogspot.com/2018/12/ajaran-scapular-dan-kehidupan-berdoa.html
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English Translation Version
It is our joy and privilege to pray for the Church, the world, the priests, and for all who ask for our prayers. To submit a prayer request, fill out our form or visit us at our convent and the Sisters will present your petition to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament during Holy Mass and Annunciation of the Eucharist
The Carmelite Sisters will be unavailable from 11.00 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. everyday.
The special Carmelite Monastery in Miri was founded by Sister Margarita in 1985..
The nuns live in a cloistered (enclosed) environment and follow a completely contemplative life. The nuns are allowed contact with their earthly families only once a month. Although not allowed to come out of the monastery, they can be attended to medically when extremely necessary or when equipment cannot be brought into the monastery.
This way of life is the spiritual heritage handed down to the Carmelite nuns by St Teresa of Avila (1515 to 1582), a Spaniard and founder of the Carmelite Order.
The nuns lead a very prayerful life (guided by St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross). This hermitic lifestyle, exemplified by the Prophet Elijah from the time of Mount Carmel, continues to be practised even today.
Each day is marked by silence for prayers. The main “work” of the Carmelite is prayer.
The special Carmelite Monastery in Miri was founded by Sister Margarita in 1985..
The nuns live in a cloistered (enclosed) environment and follow a completely contemplative life. The nuns are allowed contact with their earthly families only once a month. Although not allowed to come out of the monastery, they can be attended to medically when extremely necessary or when equipment cannot be brought into the monastery.
This way of life is the spiritual heritage handed down to the Carmelite nuns by St Teresa of Avila (1515 to 1582), a Spaniard and founder of the Carmelite Order.
The nuns lead a very prayerful life (guided by St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross). This hermitic lifestyle, exemplified by the Prophet Elijah from the time of Mount Carmel, continues to be practised even today.
Each day is marked by silence for prayers. The main “work” of the Carmelite is prayer.
The day begins early; they rise at 4:30 a.m. for the recitation of the Divine Office, followed by mental prayer and Holy Mass.
In addition to the daily celebration of the full Liturgy of the Hours, two hours are set aside for uninterrupted silent prayers. Communities are kept fairly small.
The day ends at 10:30 p.m. Eight hours of the day are spent in prayer and two hours in recreation, and about five hours are given to manual work, reading and study. Except for the time of recreation, they strive to keep strict silence and recollection so as to make their lives of prayer continuous. During recreation, the Sisters may converse, and it is a joyful time, but her hands are always busy on the many and various works by which they support the community. We depend, also, on the generosity of friends and charitable alms of the faithful.
Meals are simple but nutritious, consisting of such foods as rice, , eggs, fish, vegetables and fruit. they observe the fast and abstinence directed by Our Holy Mother St. Teresa in the Carmelite Rule and Constitutions. During meals, a Sister provides food for the soul by reading from Holy Scripture or some other spiritual work.
The day is long and hard and busy for the Carmelite nun. From the time she rises in the morning to chant the praises of God until she retires to her austere little cell at night, she is striving to make herself more pleasing to God, and so, more valuable to others. Though she spends those many hours before the Blessed Sacrament, her prayers do not end in the chapel. She prays alone in her cell; she prays as she cheerfully goes about her assigned tasks; she endeavors to make her every action a prayer. And gradually she herself becomes a living prayer.
“In the hidden garden, the needs, joys, wounds and sorrows of the world are carried before the throne of God hourly every day, especially in the Sacred Liturgy.”
The Carmelite Monastery has been serving the Miri congregation and anyone who desires to have prayers said for him or her. Many non-Catholics also visit the monastery for special prayers and help.
The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:
A Sign of Christian Faith & Commitment
The Brown Scapular is the part of the religious habit worn by Carmelites to signify their devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, their trust in her, and their commitment to live like her. There is a simplified form as illustrated in the photo for those who do not wear the full Carmelite habit. There is also a Scapular in the form of a medal.
The word 'scapular' indicates a form of clothing which monks wore when they were working. With the passage of time people began to give symbolic meaning to it, such as the cross to be borne every day as disciples and followers of Christ. In some religious orders, such as the Carmelites, the Scapular turned into a sign of their way of life. The Brown Scapular came to symbolize the special dedication of Carmelites to Mary. The Brown Scapular is therefore a sign which stands for the decision to follow Jesus like Mary:
open to God and to his will,
guided by faith, hope and love,
close to the needs of people,
praying at all times,
discovering God present in all that happens around us
introduces people into the family of Carmel,
points to a renewed hope of encountering God in eternal life with the help of Mary's protection and intercession ...
The Brown Scapular has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries.
The Scapular is not a magical charm to protect you or an automatic guarantee of salvation.
According to the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship, the Brown Scapular is "an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer."
Receive this Scapular (by any priest), a sign of your special relationship with Mary the Mother of Jesus, whom you pledge to imitate. May it be a reminder to you of your dignity as a Christian, in serving others and imitating Mary. Wear it as a sign of her protection and of belonging to the family of Carmel, voluntarily doing the will of God and devoting yourself to building a world true to his plan of community, justice and peace.
Enrollment of the Brown Scapular on the liturgical Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 16th July. In its small form, it is widely popular within the Catholic Church as a religious article and has probably served as the prototype of all the other devotional scapulars.
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Mother Philomena, OCD, from the Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Miri
“I entered the Order of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in 1987, after working for five years as a primary school teacher” said Mother Mary Philomena, prioress of the Carmelite Monastery in Miri.
The Carmelite Monastery held an election on 29 July and Mother Philomena was re-elected prioress for a three-year term. This is her second term.
“Since I was very young, even when I was attending Cardinal Vaughan Primary School in Song, I had experienced a deep desire within me to become a Sister,” said the soft-spoken and demure Mother Philomena. “At that time I didn’t even know the word ‘religious Sister’ and its meaning. I used to pray alone in St Herbert Church, in front of the statue of Mother Mary. So with confidence I say, Mother Mary was the one greatly responsible for my vocation”.
“Since I was very young, even when I was attending Cardinal Vaughan Primary School in Song, I had experienced a deep desire within me to become a Sister,” said the soft-spoken and demure Mother Philomena. “At that time I didn’t even know the word ‘religious Sister’ and its meaning. I used to pray alone in St Herbert Church, in front of the statue of Mother Mary. So with confidence I say, Mother Mary was the one greatly responsible for my vocation”.
Mother Philomena grew up in Song, the youngest daughter of John Imak ak Tuloi and Anna Jerama ak Jemat who were farmers. “I have five sisters and I am the youngest” said Mother Philomena. “They love me very much even before I became a Carmelite Nun. And now their love for me is doubled”.
Being a prioress comes with great responsibilities. Mother Philomena is responsible not only for the Sisters’ physical well-being but also for their spiritual need and growth. “This is of course beyond my ability to know and to tackle, but I entrust each and every one of them totally to Mother Mary’s loving care,” said Mother Philomena modestly. “She knows each one of them and since she is full of grace, she would guide them with her unfailing help”.
As a Carmelite community spiritual growth is strengthened through participation of annual retreat and monthly community retreat.
“Community life is a great paradox. You get your sanctification within the community, if you surrender and accommodate yourself to the Carmelite ways and customs of each community. If you are not able to do so, you won’t be able to withstand the community life,” said Mother Philomena. “We shared the joy and sorrows of each other”.
“Community life is a great paradox. You get your sanctification within the community, if you surrender and accommodate yourself to the Carmelite ways and customs of each community. If you are not able to do so, you won’t be able to withstand the community life,” said Mother Philomena. “We shared the joy and sorrows of each other”.
“Our mission is to pray for the Church, for the Pope, the Bishops, the priests, all the faithful and also for those who haven’t got any knowledge of religion or God,” said the Prioress.
Lack of vocation is one of the challenges faced by the newly re-elected prioress. She hoped that through prayer God would bring in more vocations. To the new vocations she encouraged them to submit willingly and to take instruction readily for she believed “when you submit to simple thing, God will use you for greater thing”.
Sophia Soo
5th August 2015
5th August 2015
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Exclusive interview with Discalced Carmelite Sister Josephine Mary of the Cross
On 16 July 2019, Discalced Carmelite Sister Josephine Mary of the Cross celebrated her Diamond Jubilee of religious profession. Bishop Richard Ng presided over the Jubilee Mass with 16 priests concelebrating.
Hundreds of faithful including friends and relatives of the Diamond Jubilarian gathered at the Eucharistic celebration which was followed by a fellowship dinner.
Sr Josephine Mary was born in Kuching on 28 February 1940. As a child she went to school at St Teresa’s Convent where she received a good education from the Franciscan Sisters. During this time she developed a desire for vocation to the religious life.
On 8 May 1957 at the age of 17, Sr Josephine joined the Carmelite Sisters of Kuching. Two years after on 16 July 1959 she made her simple profession.
During her religious life she has served as Sub-prioress and Portress in Kuching. After she moved to Miri on 23 May 1985 she continued to serve as Portress for many years offering advice and prayers to those who came to seek her.
Due to her advanced age she was relieved from the office of Portress in November 2017. Her daily activities now include gardening, feeding birds of the air, adorning statues with fresh flowers from the garden, and selecting good pieces of host to be packed and sent to all parishes.
In his homily, Bishop Richard described Sr Josephine’s motherly role a reflection of her special relationship with Mother Mary who is the mother of the Carmelite Order.
Following is the story of Sister Josephine’s vocation story through Carmel
I am a simple Carmelite nun who left home and family at an early age of 17 to enter to devote myself to God to pray for bishops, priests, sinners and all who are in need of prayers. Through my penances and sacrifices I hope by God’s mercy my good intentions can alleviate their pains, sufferings and ignorance of God’s goodness.
What attracted you to be a Carmelite Nun?
It started like this. After knowing the Sisters for some time, my friend Apollina and I became very enthusiastic about joining them. One day we visited the turn in the monastery. We told Mother Beatrice of our great desire. She was very happy and she welcomed us. During an interview she warned us of the difficulties and sacrifices in Carmel but none disturbed us. So on 8 May 1957, on the evening after Benediction, Fr Harry blessed me and I entered Carmelite Monastery.
Why Carmel?
I was attracted to the prayerful silent life, the solitude and the isolation from the world.
Is the life of a nun difficult? What were the most difficult challenges you encountered?
Jesus values sufferings and sacrifices very much. When I entered Carmel I had all the picture of health. But as we know, Jesus needs a lot of victims to save souls. So when I reached my 28 years Jesus targeted me with painful operation one after another. My Superior encouraged me to be brave and to offer everything to God. I did and Jesus blessed me and restored my health, though not fully. At least I still can serve him in my community.
Have you ever experienced something that made you re-evaluate your vocation? How did you overcome that experience?
Time passes quickly and now I am reaching the threshold of eternal life for which I long. I am very grateful to Jesus for directing me to Carmel I feel so happy and contented all these years of my religious life, though not without crosses, trials and temptations. But God’s grace overcomes all difficulties, provided one is humble enough to forgo one’s ego and pride. I never look back or regret.
What advice would you give to a young person who is considering religious life?
I would like to advise them, if you notice you are drawn to spiritual things, say, like going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion, love to pray and listen to the Divine Words, are disgusted with all the allurement of the world, you can be certain that Jesus is calling you.
Now that you have reached the 60th Anniversary of your religious profession, what can you say about God who has chosen you and brought you to this day
After all these years of my consecration to God, I feel very settled and contented. I realised as I grow in age and knowledge of God who is all love, mercy and compassion, I have become wiser and more matured in my contemplation of the spiritual and eternal life.
How do you express your love for God?
I am very grateful to God and each day as I go on living, I feel more indebted to his love, his blessings, his graces and care for me. In return for his love, I accept and offer up to him all the sicknesses that he has allowed me to endure
What are the benefits of community life that you’ve experienced these 60 years?
The solidarity of the community is very beautiful and outstanding. Besides, there is also the joy of sharing, caring and concern for the elderly and young.
What are the challenges of community life that you experience? What did you do to overcome them?
Community life is not all roses. We have occasional ups and downs as present in all
societies, and our characters are all different. I have seen and experienced
that, when some disagreeable scene breaks out, the best remedy is to ignore it,
as something of no importance, and hold your peace. Otherwise your soul will be
very disturbed. The fidelity of keeping well the presence of God will always
hold us up from any disorderly spirit.
Solemn Profession of Sister Mary Alice
Sister Mary Alice, a Bisaya from Limbang took her solemn profession. She is third sibling in her family. She worked in Brunei and Miri as a sales personnel in a Supermaket before she decided to enter the Carmelite Monastry in 2015. Read more
Kenyah twins take vows to become Carmelite nuns
Kenyah twins, Mary Sheila and Shirley Therese, just 25, took their Solemn Profession to be Carmelite nuns after five years of training as Novices in the Carmelite Monastery at Brighton Road, also called Jalan Temenggong Oyung Lawai Jau after the late paramount chief of the Kenyahs.
They would be the world’s first Kenyah twins to become Carmelite Sisters — which is itself a Malaysian record set by the small indigenous community of Sarawak.
Sister Mary Sheila of the Infant Jesus and Sister Shirley Therese of the Child Jesus will henceforth be their names.
The twins were the first-born of Juliana Dau, a housewife and a volunteer Sunday School teacher, and Stephen Lucas Emang, a retired timber camp worker.
Read More...They would be the world’s first Kenyah twins to become Carmelite Sisters — which is itself a Malaysian record set by the small indigenous community of Sarawak.
Sister Mary Sheila of the Infant Jesus and Sister Shirley Therese of the Child Jesus will henceforth be their names.
The twins were the first-born of Juliana Dau, a housewife and a volunteer Sunday School teacher, and Stephen Lucas Emang, a retired timber camp worker.
Celebration at Miri Carmel of the
5th Centenary of the birth of St Teresa of Jesus
1515 – 28th March – 2015
The whole of the Carmelite family all over the world had been preparing for the celebration of the 5th Centenary of the birth of our Foundress St Teresa of Jesus or commonly known as St Teresa of Avila. She was born in Avila, Spain, on 28 March 1515. With the wise guidance of our Father General and his collaborators, we began in 2011. Each Carmelite community was encouraged to study all the four books written by our holy Mother St Teresa, with the sole aim of deepening our appreciation and knowledge of her works.
Thus in 2011, we studied the “Way of Perfection”, in 2012, “Life”, in 2013, “Foundation” then in 2014 the “Interior Castle”. And this year, 2015, we studied her other works such as her letters.
Themed “I was born for You, Lord, what do You want of me?” this celebration of the 5th centenary of St Teresa’s birth, seeks to rediscover and appreciate the depth of her dependence on God and her total trust in Him, come what may. This theme was actually taken from one of her many poems, entitled “In the Hands of God” or more commonly known as “I was born for you.” Throughout the poem’s 12 stanzas St Teresa sings of her purpose in life like one in love, like one who lives on the will of another. The entire lyric is both a prayer and a poignant meditation on her complete surrender to God: Since God is all things to her, she will be all things for Him. Whether He gives dryness or consolation in the Saint’s prayer, whether He wills her to be at rest or to “die working,” whether He grants light or darkness, she is prepared to accept all from her “sweet Spouse.” Only one who knows why she’s been born can speak so, and mean it. Inspired by this poem, our Sr Sheila composed a song based on it, and it became the theme song of our celebration here.
Officially, the centenary year began on 15 October 2014, and continued through 15 October 2015. During this year our Carmelite Order moved from a more internal to a more public celebration of her life and teaching. Thus, we, the Carmelite Sisters and our OCDS (the secular Carmelite brothers and sisters) of Miri began our celebration with a Triduum. Rev Fr Jeffrey Athanasius, a Carmelite priest from Singapore came to give some talks on our holy Mother St Teresa. This enabled us to share her legacy with our brothers and sisters in Miri Diocese. During his talks, Fr Jeffrey emphasized that her legacy was not only for the Carmelite family but for the whole Church and that the life and works of St Teresa can only be best understood within and in relation to the Church.
On the first night, Fr Jeffery spoke on St Teresa and the Church. Perhaps one of the most outstanding virtues of St Teresa is her great love for the Church. Though she lived in a cloister, the missionary works of the Church was one of her main concerns. Thus, much of her prayers and sacrifices were dedicated to this cause. In order to ensure that her prayers were effective, she did her very best to live out the evangelical counsels and be the best friend of Jesus. Her exclamation at her death bed, “At last, I am happy to die as a daughter of the Church,” speaks volumes of her great love and sacrifices for the Church.
On the second night, Fr Jeffery touched on St Teresa and the Scriptures. He highlighted the fact that during St Teresa’s time, the Bible was not readily available to everyone and was written in Latin, a language she did not know. Nevertheless, no obstacles would stop this saint from her thirst for the Word of God. The many sermons that she had heard and the many books that she had read provided her with the scriptural knowledge that nourished her spiritual life and which eventually found their way into her many writings. On the final night of the Triduum, the audience was enlightened on St Teresa and the Mass. According to Fr Jeffery, she received most of her mystical graces in the Mass especially during Holy Communion. One of it was the grace of becoming the Foundress of the Reformed Carmel. Fr Jeffrey pointed out that St Teresa would make full use of the time of thanksgiving after communion to thank and converse with God because, according to her, God gave her great graces at that time. Thus the audience was challenged to do the same.
The long awaited 15 October finally arrived. In order to create an ambiance suitable to our celebration, a life-sized statue of St Teresa was placed near the entrance of our Chapel for the veneration of the faithful. The highlight of the event was a solemn Mass at 5.30 that evening which was presided over by our dear Bishop, Rt Rev Richard Ng and concelebrated by seven priests. During the Mass we were privileged to witness the Solemn Profession of Sr Marie Pauline of the Sacred Heart, who entered this monastery on 5 March 2011. At the end of the Mass the faithful and clergy were treated to a double-celebration dinner at our chapel’s compound.
For us, Carmelites, this celebration has been a fruitful one as the theme, “I was born for You Lord, what do You want of me?” has helped enkindle in our hearts a greater love for Our Holy Mother St Teresa and it has also challenged us to ask the same question, “I was born for You Lord, What do You want of me?” Although St Teresa lists many possibilities of what God may ask of her, St Teresa’s purpose in life is to do one thing, which in practice is many things: the will of God. Thus, as we remember our Foundress’s birth, we pray, above all else, for a rebirth or reinvigoration of her spirit and teaching among us who would call ourselves her sons and daughters.
Sr Mary Philomena , OCD
Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Miri, Sarawak
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BIARA CARMELITE
Hati Kudus Yesus
Carmelite Monastery
of the sacred heart of Jesus
Jalan Temenggong Datuk Oyang Lawai
P.O. Box 392,
98008 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
of the sacred heart of Jesus
Jalan Temenggong Datuk Oyang Lawai
P.O. Box 392,
98008 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
email: carmelmiri2@gmail.com
Compiled by Ben Chang
