‘IF something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ….The Church urgently needs the deep breath of prayer.”
These are the words of Pope Francis from his Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), where he stresses the need for people to turn to prayer.
The pope reiterated his call to prayer during his state and pastoral visit to the Philippines last month.
When he met with families at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on January 16, he said: “If we do not pray, we will not know the most important thing of all: God’s will for us.
And, for all our activity, our busy-ness, without prayer we will accomplish very little. Resting in prayer is especially important for families.”
Under the guidance of these papal exhortations, the National Commission for the Celebration of the Fifth Birth Centenary of Saint Teresa of Avila will be holding a prayer congress on March 15, from 8 am to 5 pm at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Admission to this first-of-its-kind congress is free but participants have to secure their tickets beforehand. Forms may be downloaded from www.teresa500philippines.com.
Aptly titled “Prayer, a Dialogue of Love,” the prayer congress will be held as part of the celebration of the 500 birth anniversary of Saint Teresa of Avila on March 28, 2015.
It also marks the 50th year of the Vatican Council 2.
The congress aims “to herald prayer as an experience of friendship and a deepening encounter with Christ.”
Celebrating the fifth birth centennary of Saint Teresa of Avila through a congress on prayer is a providential opportunity for the entire Carmelite family to share the way of prayer from the school of the teacher of prayer and first woman Doctor of the church, the National Commission said.
It said: “The paths to holiness which is the foundation where all pastoral initiatives must be set are personal and a call for a genuine ‘training in holiness’ adapted to people’s needs.
This training calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer.”
The National Commission added: “We can show what depths a friendly relationship with Jesus can lead. We can share how prayer can progress as a genuine ‘Dialogue of Love.’”
To stress this point, the National Commission quoted Pope Francis in his Evangelii Gaudium: “What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the Beloved, to point him out, to make him known?” The prayer congress will be attended by Order of Discalced Carmelite (OCD) friars, nuns and seculars, the Carmelite family, other religious orders, priests and seminarians, professionals and college students, lay associations, parish-mandated organizations, parish pastoral council and commissioned ministers and transparochial communities.
The congress will facilitate the participants’ encounter with Christ through liturgical and contemplative prayer through the Liturgy of the Hours, chants, silent prayer and presentations on prayer.
It will be capped by a Eucharistic celebration. Very Reverend Reynaldo Sotelo, OCD, commissar, Order of Discalced Carmelites Philippines-Vietnam Circumscription, will give the welcome remarks.
Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD, will give a presentation on “Prayer of Jesus, Prayer of the Church;” Ms. Imelda D. Ramos, OCD, president, Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines, on “Spiritual Life: the Point of Attraction;”
Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD, Prior, Our Lady’s Hill Center for Spirituality, on “Spiritual Life: When the Word of My Friend Prevails;” and Sr. May Catherine Salvatierra, OCD, President, Association of Discalced Carmelite Nuns in the Philippines, on “On the Tracks of St. Teresa: Her Way, Our Way.”
His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle will preside over the Holy Mass in the afternoon, while Fr. Danilo D. Lim, OCD, chairman of the National Commission, will give the closing remarks.