The Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady was born on February 11, 1982 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
In May 1962, the Sisters of Mt. Carmel from Louisiana, USA, opened a mission in the Philippines through the invitation of Bishop Epifanio B. Surban. He asked Msgr. Fidelis Limcaco, a Carmelite priest assigned in Escalante, to find Carmelite Sisters who can teach in the parochial schools. While in the States, Msgr. Limcaco met the Carmelite Sisters of Louisiana and talked to them.
Mother Marcella Foret, who just retired as Superior General of the Order, informed Bishop Epifanio B. Surban during her visit to the Philippines with another Sister that they would only serve Dumaguete if the bishop would send girls to join the order. Pantaleona Deloria (Sr. Mary Rose) and Erlinda Nadela (Sr. Linda Nadela) joined the Sisters of Mt. Carmel in Louisiana, New Orleans, with some others, and returned as professed Sisters to serve the diocese.
The dream of Mother Marcella Foret was to serve the diocesan schools in Dumaguete. However, after Mother Marcella was transferred to Manila and later died of a heart attack, and Sr. Carmelita left for New Orleans, the new leaders of the Congregation moved towards social ministry. In 1981, the new leadership in the Philippines was moving the Sisters out of the classroom in Dumaguete.
Sr. Mary Rose Deloria wanted to continue the dream of Mother Marcella Foret to strengthen the religious education of the diocesan schools in Dumaguete. She discussed her plan to separate from the Congregation with Bishop Surban. Sr. Linda Nadela, who also wanted to leave the Congregation, joined Sr. Mary Rose Deloria. Bishop Surban, who was very encouraging and supportive of the Sisters’ decision, advised them to seek advice from his trusted vicar, Msgr. Tomas Q. Avenido, who in turn told them to see the Nuncio, Msgr. Bruno Torpigliani. The Nuncio then advised them to meet with Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a canon lawyer. Archbishop Cruz advised them to write the Sacred Congregation of Women Religious in Rome, with a copy sent to the General Council of the Sisters of Mt. Carmel in New Orleans mailed on the same day. The Sisters wrote the letter in September 1981, and they received a response from Rome in November 1981.
Sisters Linda Nadela and Mary Rose Deloria continued to the next step of forming the new community. Bishop Epifanio B. Surban approved the desire of the Sisters to establish a Religious congregation in his diocese. On the same day, February 11, 1982, Sisters Mary Rose Deloria and Linda Nadela signed the Indult of Secularization in the presence of the Superior of the Sisters of Mt. Carmel and in the afternoon, they professed their vows in the presence of eight (8) priests from the diocese, some Religious Sisters, and friends of the Sisters. Bishop Salvador T. Modesto, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Dumaguete, officiated the Holy Mass as a delegate of Bishop Epifanio B. Surban leading to the establishment of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady.
Bishop Epifanio B. Surban, who received the inspiration and the grace of the Holy Spirit in establishing the congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady, is considered the Charismatic Founder of the Institute. Sr. Mary Rose Deloria and Sr. Linda Nadela are the Co-Charismatic foundresses. The Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady is of diocesan right. The Sisters are present in the different dioceses and archdioceses in the Philippines, as well as in the archdioceses of Seattle and Vancouver serving God’s people as women of prayer and women of mission.
