Presentation of the Guidelines to the Luzon Chapters

The Guidelines for the CMS Regular Meetings were presented to the various Luzon Chapters on August 18, 2008, after it was practiced by the Novaliches Chapter for two months.

Guidelines for CMS Regular Meetings

1. OPENING PRAYER (By Pre-assigned Prayer Leader)
a. The Sign of the Cross
b. Palautian Method of Prayer (Suggested Scripture Reading is the coming Sunday Gospel)
c. Glory Be to the Triune God

2. SPIRITUAL READING (By Pre-assigned Reader)
a. Prayer for Intercession of Blessed Francisco Palau
b. Spiritual Reading from the Writings of Fr. Palau (Just one (1) or two (2) paragraphs or at most, one (1) page)

3. ROLL CALL (By Chapter Coordinator)
a. The complete list of members should be read
b. Members should acknowledge and say "Present" as their names are called
c. Absent members should be noted
d. Introduction of new members
d. Introduction of visitors

4. READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING (By Secretary)
a. Members may comment or make amendments after the Reading
b. Approval of the Minutes

5. REPORT OF THE CMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
a. Business Report First
b. Sharing of Faith Experience

6. REPORT OF THE CMS MEMBERS
a. Business Report First
b. Sharing of Faith Experience

7. INPUT OF THE CM ADVISER OR CM PRESENT DURING THE MEETING

8. TREASURER'S COLLECTION
a. Collection depends upon the agreement of members: Either voluntary through Secret Bag Collection or Agreed Membership Dues
b. Treasurer should be given the Fl0or and count the collection while the members are in attention

9. ASSIGNMENTS
a. Report on Assigned Readings, One (1) Chapter per Meeting
(By Pre-assigned Reporter)
b. Suggested Books:
First Priority: Passion for the Church
Next Priority: From Topics Based on the CMS Plan of Formation
c. Report on Assigned CMS Activity (By Pre-assigned Reporter)

10. OTHER BUSINESS (By Chapter Coordinator)
a. Plan of Activities
b. Other Topics of Interest

11. CMS COMMITMENT (To be read by all CMS Members)

12. CONCLUDING PRAYERS (By Pre-assigned Prayer Leader)
a. Prayer of the CMS
b. Prayer of Consecration to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (To be recited every First Meeting of the Month and on feast days of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
c. Invocations:
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Pray for Us
St. Joseph, Pray for Us
Blessed Francisco Palau, Pray for Us
The 4 CM Martyrs, Pray for Us
Our Guardian Angels, Watch Over Us
d. CMS Greeting of Peace

The Origin of the Guidelines for Regular CMS Meetings

On June 16, 2008, the National Coordinator, Mary Lou Regala presented to the Novaliches Chapter an outline of the guidelines to be followed during regular meetings. This was conceived with the following objectives in mind:

1. To conduct an orderly meeting the CMS way;
2. To adopt a common set of guidelines for all the chapters in the Philippines;
3. To enable the members to be true to the CMS identity; and
4. To reinforce the bond of communion among the CMS members.

The Novaliches Chapter, with the National Spiritual Adviser, Sr. Julie Propera, cm, were very receptive of the idea, and even contributed greatly to the inception of the guidelines and applied them during the meetings that followed. When they saw that it was good, they recommended that these be presented to all the chapters in the Philippines.

History

The Carmelite Missionaries Secular (CMS) Philippines began as a prayer group organized by the Carmelite Missionaries during the late '80s from among the residents of the Sacred Heart Village, Quezon City, where the CM Novitiate was located. The group was formally organized as CMS Philippines in 1995 when the CM General Council requested for canonical recognition of the CMS to the Pontifical Council for the Laity. On March 20, 1996, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed the recognition of the CMS as a Private International Association of the lay faithful.

CMS Philippines has expanded from just one group or "Chapter" in Quezon City to 14 Chapters in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

CMS aims to promote and strengthen the life and mission of the lay faithful in the Church and in the world.

The Association commits to:

-Bear witness to the greatness of the Christian vocation in the mystery of ecclesial communion.

-Be the sign of small churches and active members of the Church.

-Cultivate prayer as a friendly relationship with God and as an experience of ecclesial universality in the light of the Word and of history.

-Promote the values of listening, reflection and contemplation as a personal way to interiority.

-Offer a simple, happy style of life and work.

-Remain in an attitude of service to their brethren by attending to the demands of the Church and the society.

-Collaborate in the transformation of society so that it will be more just and solidary, according to the Gospel.

-Contemplate Mary as model, mother and companion in the constant effort to live in communion with God and neighbors.