Triennial Meeting of the General Delegation of Bohemia and Moravia
The General Delegation of Bohemia-Moravia (Czech Republic) was erected by the General Council of the Order of Carmelites on 2nd October 1984. It was the culmination of a ten-year period in which Fr. Metoděj Minařík secretly organized a group of people who took an interest in the Order, helped them spiritually, trained them and accepted their religious vows. After the erection of the Delegation, the confreres lived another five years in illegality, and after the year 1990 they were able to begin a regular religious life.
As this is a General Delegation within the Order, the Major Superior of the Carmelites in the Czech Republic is the Prior General. At the same time, general delegations are also headed by a superior called the Delegate General whom (along with two other councillors) the Prior General appoints every three years.
Once every three years, coinciding with the end of the mandate of the Delegate General, an assembly of the delegation takes place in order to meet, to strengthen the bonds of fraternity, to have ongoing formation and to discern solutions regarding the various issues that the Delegation faces at that time.
The most recent triennial assembly of the friars within the Delegation was held from 16th to 17th April 2024 in Kostelní Vydří. It was presided over by the Prior General, Míċeál O’Neill who was assisted by the General Councillor for Europe, Richard Byrne. After the Prior General’s address, the Delegate General, Norbert Žuška, OCarm, gave a report on the state of the Delegation.
During the course of the assembly, in small groups and together in assembly, the friars considered the state and health of the Delegation and identified various issues to be addressed and the concrete steps to be taken over the next three-year period. The friars also reflected on what the Czech Republic is asking of Carmelites today and gave an orientation to the new Delegate General and council. In addition, the friars shared with each other their experience and expectations for the various officials that need to be appointed within the Delegation.
A consultation was held regarding the candidates for Delegate General and for the two Councillors that will be appointed by the Prior General during the plenary meeting in May 2024 of the General Council.
On 17th April 2024, the Eucharist was celebrated with the members of the local parish and several members of the Third Order. During his homily, the Prior General spoke about privileged place that Mary holds in the hearts and minds of Carmelites.
