In the Carmel of Vilvoorde the closing of the 5th centenary year was celebrated on 11 October 2015 with a Solemn Mass presided by Reverend Fr. Piet Capoen,"deken" of the Federation Vilvoorde, assisted by our chaplain Fr. Koen Meys, OPraem. and our deacon Reverend Jan Goyvaerts. Two professional singers added color to the celebration. At the end of the Mass, our Filipina sisters together with a Spanish woman sang Nada te Turbe to the accompaniment of castanets, guitar, tambourine and.marakas in the spirit of our holy Mother, St Teresa. May our imitation of her life and example not end with this celebration but continue till the rest of our lives...
(photos still to follow...)
The following Saturday, 17 October, the Carmelite Province of Flanders also held a closing celebration during the Carmel Family Day in Ghent. It was presided over by His Grace, Rev. Mgr. Anders Arborelius of Stockholm, Sweden. Concelebrating with him were 13 Carmelite priests and 3 brothers, and deacon Jan Goyvaerts, associate of Vilvoorde Carmel. Around 30 Carmelite nuns from the Flemish Federation of Carmels and more than a hundred lay people, joined in the celebration. Invited were the president of the Belgique Sud Federation (French Federation), a representative from the Federation of the Netherlands. The Dutch provincial, Fr Dick Cobbens, gave an inspiring talk on St Teresa and the contemporary world. The afternoon affair had a very familial and warm atmosphere among the sons and daughters of La Madre. Here below are few of the many photos taken on that day...
