Carmelite Fraternity at Carmel Hill
The concluding day of the Novena, January 13, 2023, was remembered with gratitude by all Carmelite friars as they celebrated their brotherhood as Carmelites and gave thanks to the Infant Jesus. Rev. Fr. Pius James D'Souza, Definitor General, officiated the Holy Eucharist together with all the Carmelite friars of the KG Province. Using the best illustrations from the Sacred Scripture, Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor delivered a poignant homily and urged everyone to be obedient to the Lord. The day's theme, "May your hearts be entirely committed to the Lord," reinforced the idea that the Lord chooses religious leaders who would fully obey his laws and act in the way that Jesus has modelled for us. The religious are individuals who resist the devil's temptations, the world's allures, and earthly pleasures. The entire congregation suffers and departs from the Lord if religious leaders are not devoted to the Lord. As a result, one of the community's main goals is to pray for the religious leaders. On the final day of the novena to the Infant Jesus, special prayers were offered to all the religious. At the same time, all the Carmelites expressed their gratitude to the Infant Jesus for all His blessings and prayed for His specific graces as they will continue on the road that our Lord had outlined for them.