General Councilors Fraternal Visit to the Carmelite Community in Argentina
Following his participation in the Provincial Chapter of the Province Fluminense in Belo Horizonte, Nepi Willemsen, General Councilor for the Americas, undertook a fraternal visit with the Carmelite community in Argentina from January 31 to February 5.
The Carmelite presence in Argentina dates back to 1946 and forms part of the Province of Aragon, Castile, and Valencia, which contunes to have responsibility for the Order’s mission in the country.
At present, the community is made up of six Carmelites, brothers and priests, who reside and minister in the greater Buenos Aires area, specifically in and around Lomas de Zamora. Their pastoral work is centered on two parishes, Our Lady of Mount Carmel (with the Lourdes chapel) and Saint Rose of Lima, both of which were founded by the Carmelites and continue to be entrusted to their pastoral care.
In addition to parish ministry, the Carmelites provide regular pastoral service at the local hospital in Lomas de Zamora, offering spiritual care and accompaniment to the sick, their families, and healthcare staff.
Attached to the parishes are two educational institutions where the Carmelites collaborate in various pastoral services, including chaplaincy, catechesis, and the spiritual accompaniment of students, faculty, and families. These institutions offer educational opportunities from kindergarten through secondary education.
The community lives together at the Saint Elias Priory, the former Carmelite Seminary, located near the parishes. There they share common prayer, fraternal life, and regular reflection on their pastoral experiences, strengthening communion and shared mission.
Amid pastoral and economic challenges in Argentina, the Carmelites continue to offer their service with perseverance and openness, maintaining a living community presence, remaining attentive to the possibility of future vocations, and welcoming visitors who wish to share in their life and ministry.
