Global Plan of the General Council 2019-2025

Robert Thomas Puthussery, O.Carm.

“As a contemplative brotherhood, we seek the face of God also in the heart of the world… as an open fraternity, able to listen to the world it lives in, and willing to be questioned by it; ready both to meet life’s challenges and to give an authen­tic, evangelical response based on our charism” (Con. 21).

Asia-Australia-Oceania area is known for its rich diversi­ty and the wealth of its personnel. Firstly, the socio-cultural and politico-religious diversity is both an asset and a chal­lenge for the geographic area. On the one hand the constant dialogue with other religions and cultures strengthens the Carmelite witness. On the other hand, the anti-religious and political attitudes in the different regions of this geo­graphical area pose a significant challenge to our Carmelite presence and ministry. However, “if we really believe in the abundantly free working of the Holy Spirit, we can learn so much from one another! It is not just about being better informed about others, but rather about reaping what the Spirit has sown in them, which is also meant to be a gift for us”(EG, 246).

In this time of expansion, inclusion and inculturation, ways should be sought to ensure that the living tradition and charism of Carmel are expressed authentically to form a just society in the context of this geographic area. Sec­ondly, the richness of this area can be found in its every in­creasing numbers of young people. This richness gives re­newed vitality and freshness to the Order in its mission in Asia-Australia-Oceania and elsewhere. It is a richness that needs to be strengthened through the Carmelite charism in order to empower the geographic area and to support those geographic areas of the Order that needs personnel assistance through mutual collaboration and planning. An earnest attempt to tap into the diversities and the resources in the area in order to create a positive change can be ac­complished through various collaborative programs in the geographic area as well as inter-nationally.

Plans

1. Convene regular and timely meetings of the regional su­periors for focused collaboration in the area.
2. Engage in fraternal visits to know and encourage the brothers and sisters in their areas of ministry.
3. Work towards promoting vocations and effective forma­tion seeking to give authentic expressions of the living traditions and charism of Carmel in the particular so­cio-anthropological-cultural context of Asia-Australia-Oceania.
4. Encourage the friars to develop expertise in Asian/Ori­ental spirituality in order to have an effective ministry in the geographic area.
5. Foster intra-geographical collaboration through ex­change of expertise in various fields, especially forma­tion, with a view to supporting emerging entities in the area in conjunction with the relevant Commissions.
6. Organize common programs in the area for initial and on-going formation.
7. Explore and support the idea of forming international communities in different parts of the Order through promoting mutual collaboration of the different geo­graphical areas.
8. Promote initiatives among major superiors to support young Carmelites of this area for personal enhancement through higher studies, pastoral training and mission experience with a view to strengthening the life of the Order wherever necessary.
9. Collaborate with the Commission of JPIC to address the various challenges in this geographical area.