Preparations are already well under way for a Carmelite youth gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July 2013 during the World Youth Day (WYD). Fr. Raul Maravi, O.Carm., Councillor General for the Americas has been working with a committee of the Rio Province and they will soon publish details of the Carmelite event. The icon of “Our Lady of Hope”, which was in Madrid during the Carmelite Day in 2011, is now travelling from community to community in Brazil and will finally arrive in Rio for the WYD itself. In North America a committee has been working towards a “Pilgrimage of Hope” for the Carmelite youth in Canada and the United States.

The Carmelite Youth Committee of Europe, established by the General Council and led by Fr. John Keating, O.Carm., Councillor General for Europe, continues its meetings towards a pan European Carmelite Youth Programme in this continent. A plan, approved by the General Council this year, has been sent to all the Provincials, Commissaries and Delegates General in Europe. From the 27th September to 1st October 2012, this committee met in Taizé, France, to work on the final details of the plan, which is being offered to Carmelite youth leaders and young participants. During their time in Taizé, the committee was helped by Brother Emile, who was former assistant to the founder of Taizé, Brother Roger Schutz.