The Provincial Chapter of the Neapolitan Province was held from August 31 until September 3, 2026, in the Oasi Francescana De Lilla Center (Bari, Italy)
The Prior General, Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., in his homily at the opening Eucharist, reminded the participants that our faith is not based on human intelligence, but on the wisdom of God. (la nostra fede non si fonda sull'intelligenza umana, ma sulla sapienza di Dio) He said, “We must certainly be intelligent witnesses of the Gospel, but Jesus reminds us that intelligence, according to human logic, alone is not enough.” (Dobbiamo certamente essere testimoni intelligenti del Vangelo, ma Gesù ci ricorda che l'intelligenza secondo la logica umana, da sola, non basta.)
While acknowledging the obvious challenges that the province faces, the outgoing prior provincial, Cosimo Pagliara, O. Carm., said that the life of the province (founded in 1379) is rich in having a great history and still has fertile resources for the future. (ricca di una grande storia (1379) e ancora ha feconde risorse per il futuro.) The originality of living the Carmelite charism among the people of Southern Italy must never be lacking.
The theme of the chapter was I Have Plans of Peace for You and Not of Misfortune for a Future Full of Hope (cf. Jeremiah 29:11) – Young People and Interculturality: A Challenge for Carmel.” (Ho per voi progetti di pace e non di sventura per un futuro pieno di speranza (cfr. Geremia 29,11) Giovani e interculturalità: una sfida per il Carmelo.)
Don Riccardo Pincerato (head of Italy’s National Service for Youth Ministry) spent an afternoon in dialogue with the chapter. He reminded the participants that too often young people are seen as the objects of our ministry and not as the subjects themselves who say something to us about God. Instead of trying to answer the question, “What must I do for the young?” instead each person needs to answer the question, “Who am I for the young?” Our youth ministry is about ensuring that young people become adult Christians (and not about creating projects of events). The challenge is to create communities that welcome young people.
Dominic Praveen Lawrence, O. Carm., (who until his election as Commissary General in India had been the prior and rector of the Shrine of Maria Santissima di Campiglione, Caivano, Naples) gave a presentation to the chapter on Internationality and Interculturality. Interculturality does not happen through great meetings or events but through the actions and routines of daily life. He observed that not only was he welcomed but he was valued and given co-responsibility. Interculturality is not just a sociological action but also places Christ at the center which is especially important for Carmelites being brothers called by the same Lord.
Bency Varghese, O. Carm., also gave a presentation to the chapter on Interculturality. He observed how welcomed he was into the province. Interculturality is now an essential part of our religious life which is not just about living together but living in communion. He noted that just because people eat, work and pray together does not mean that they have authentic interculturality. There is always the risk of ethno-centrism: thinking of one’s own culture as being the right culture and using it to judge other cultures. Communion and true interculturality does not come about by hosting people in a province or in a community.
During the chapter, the participants made a visit to the Basilica of St Nicholas in Bari which contains the relics of Saint Nicholas. The Dominicans have had responsibility as custodians of this important shrine for over 70 years. Emmanuel Albano, OP, spent time with the participants explaining the importance of the shrine especially as a center of ecumenism. It is a place which has succeeded in bringing all Christians together. A very special moment was our moment of prayer together at the relics, led by the prior general, Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm.
During the chapter, the following were elected to be the government of the province for the next three years:
Prior Provincial: Cosimo Pagliara, O. Carm.
First Councilor: Nicola Barbarello, O. Carm.
Second Councilor: Milosz Mazewski, O. Carm.
Third Councilor: Bency Varghese, O. Carm.
Fourth Councilor: Aureliano Pacciolla, O. Carm.
