CITOC Archive (588)
On June 14, the closing ceremony of the academic year was celebrated in our International Center of San Alberto (CISA) in which the members of both international communities (Curia and CISA) present in those days in Rome participated. Like every year, during Solemn Vespers, the Prior General shared with the members of the community some of the latest activities of the Order and dwelt on some points related to the next General Chapter this coming September. This being the last meeting of this type of this sexennium, the Prior General thanked the Prior of CISA (Míceál O'Neill), the Sub Prior (Noel Rosas), the bursar (Jan Wozniak) and the Regens Studiorum (Giovanni Grosso ) for their great work at the service of this international community. He also thanked those in charge of the various services and entities that have their headquarters in the CISA (the Institutum Carmelitanum, the General Archive, the libraries, etc.) and the employees for their service in support of culture and formation in the Order. He also highlighted the good atmosphere that exists in CISA and stressed that everyone has contributed to make this happen. The Prior General had a special mention for Fr. Ton Van der Gulik, librarian of the Carmelite Library (who ends his service in September, to return to the Dutch province) for his excellent work in charge of this great Carmelite library and the Carmelus bibliography. The celebration concluded with dinner in an atmosphere of fraternity and joy.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Machakos, Kenya, was held 10 June 2019. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Winifred Katunge Mbui, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M.Magdalena Medrano Jimenez, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr.M. Jacinta Wayua, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Therese Ndinda Mutisya, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Therese Ndinda Mutisya,O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Jacinta Wayua, O.Carm.
A new Federation of Carmelite monasteries on the American continent
Written byOn May 21, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established the new Federation "Nuestra Señora del Carmen" which includes the Spanish-speaking monasteries of the American continent. They are the seven autonomous monasteries: Trujillo Alto and Mayagüez (Puerto Rico), Santiago de los Caballeros, La Vega, Santo Domingo and Monción (Dominican Republic), Camaná (Peru) and Porlamar (Venezuela). The foundations of Barinas (Venezuela) and Azua (Dominican Republic) are associated with these. The same Congregation also approved the Statutes and appointed the first Assistant: Fr. Jorge Luis Rivera Maldonado (ACV-Antilles). This federation joins the five already existing: three in Spain, one in the Philippines and one in Italy.
A meeting of the Federal leaders and the Commission for the Constitutions of the nuns
Written byFrom May 21 to 29, at the Carmelite Centre in Sassone in Italy, the second assembly of the Federal Presidents and representatives of the non-federated monasteries of the Carmelite Order took place together with the Commission for the updating of the Constitutions of the Carmelite Nuns. Some provincial assistants and delegates also attended the meeting. The first three days were dedicated to the presentation of the documents, Vultum Dei Quaerere and Cor Orans, linking them to the tradition and spirituality of Carmel. After the initial report of the General Delegate, Fr. Mario Alfarano, who led the whole meeting, there were some introductory communications regarding, the updating of the Constitutions of the friars (Fr. Michael Farrugia, Procurator General), the experience of the Dominican friars and Dominican nuns (Sr. Claudia Benigno, OP), and the history of the Constitutions of the Carmelite nuns (Vera Frantellizzi). Archbishop Filippo Iannone and Fr. Rafal Wilkowski, OCD, gave their input on the first three parts of Cor Orans, and that was followed by some items of communication relating to a number of concrete themes: the federal leader (Sr. M. Sagrario Lorite, VAL), the foundations ( Sr. M. Clare Kasichana, MUT), the suppressions (Sr. M. Dolores Dominguez, COR) and the affiliation of monasteries (Sr. Miriam Tamiano, CER), the enclosure (Sr. Lourdes Aviles) and the media (Sr. Marianna Caprio, VET). The theme of formation was treated in relation to the formator (Sr. Madonna Morales, WAH), the ongoing formation of a community (Sr. Carmen Izquierdo, BAR) and leadership in a federation (Sr. M. Elena Tolentino, BUR).
On May 25, all 35 participants went on pilgrimage to the places associated with St. Mary Magdalene de 'Pazzi in Florence. The Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán, led the celebration of the Eucharist in the monastery of the Saint. For lunch, all were guests of the community (the friars and families) of the Carmine in Florence. The last three days were devoted entirely to the work of the Commission on the Constitutions.
The Carmelite Order has experienced two moments of celebration in Germany relating to the two contemplative female communities present in the Province. On May 10th, an extension of the community of the Carmelite Hermits of Chester, USA, was inaugurated in Seligenthal, near Cologne, formed by two hermits: Sr. M. Antonia Sondermann and Sr. M. Magdalena Höppener. The celebration, led by Dominikus Schwaderlapp, the auxiliary bishop of Cologne, in the church of the hermitage, was attended by the Provincial of Germany, Fr. Peter Schröder, a number of Carmelite friars and nuns, Discalced Carmelites, and numerous other priests and religious.
Then, on June 2nd, in the monastery of Erlangen, a Mass of welcome was celebrated for five Filipino nuns, Sr. M. Barbara, Sr. M. Florencia, Sr. M. Resurrection, Sr. M. Violeta and Sr. M. Jonally, all from the monastery of Burgos. The German monastery, the last of the Province, remained with only one nun, Sr. Thoma, and therefore was affiliated to the monastery of the Philippines which strengthened this community allowing the Carmelite nuns to continue to be present, with their vocation and mission, in Germany. The Provincial, Fr. Peter Schröder, and numerous priests and faithful took part in the celebration, led by Ludwig Schick, the Archbishop of Bamberg.
In the city of Vung Tau, in Vietnam, near the diocesan shrine dedicated to the Mother of God, a group of six consecrated women, who followed the Rule and spirituality of Carmel came together. They asked to become members of the Carmelite Order as nuns and went, in 2013, to the monastery of Burgos, in the Philippines, to receive formation. On May 1, in Vung Tau, four of them, Sr. M. Andrew, Sr Rose Mary, Sr. M. Therese, Sr. M. Angel made their solemn profession in the hands of Sr. M. Elena Tolentino, Prioress of Burgos, while two others are completing their formation in the Philippines. Together with the four Vietnamese, Sr. Leonora, a Filipina, joined in initiating this new foundation. The solemn profession took place in a great festive atmosphere. The celebration was led by the Bishop of Vung Tau, accompanied by the General Delegate, Fr. Mario Alfarano, by the Provincial of New York, Fr. Mario Esposito, the Provincial Commissary of Vietnam, Fr. Hung Tran, and numerous Carmelite, diocesan and religious priests. The Carmelite students led the singing in the liturgy. The participants included nuns from Burgos, numerous local religious and many faithful.
Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Written byThe Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, was held 20 May 2019. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Grecia del Carmen Abreu Báez, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. María del Carmen García Collado, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Silveria María García Durán, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Ramona Ramos Hernández, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Concepción Solano Ureña, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. Silveria María García Durán, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Nieves Tavárez Tavárez, O.Carm.
In cooperation with the German Carmelite Institute (Forschungsinstitut der Deutschen Provinz der Karmeliten) the 5th Bi-Annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Philosophy of Edith Stein (IASPES) will take place at the University of Cologne, Germany, August 15-17, 2019.
The subject is "Edith Stein's Itinerary: Phenomenology, Christian Philosophy, and Carmelite Spirituality". There will be 60 papers given by international researchers in four languages (German, English, French, and Spanish) and two keynotes from Prof. Dr. phil. Dr. phil. h. c. Andreas Speer, University of Cologne, and Sister Prof. Dr. Anneliese Meis Wörmer SSpS, Pontificial University of Santiago de Chile / Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
The congress program includes i. a. a visit of the Edith-Stein-Archives in the Cologne Convent of the Carmelite Sisters (o.c.d) and possibilities to visit special places of memory of Edith Stein in Cologne.
For further information please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Fisciano, Italy, was held 26 April 2019. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Regina Di Serafino, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Elisabetta Giliberti, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Giuseppina Albano, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Arcangela Parisi, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Arcangela Parisi, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Carmela Massaro, O.Carm.
Christus resurrexit!
Resurrexit vere! AlleluIa!
In Pascha Domini
A.D. 2019
Fernando Prior Generalis
Domusque Generalis Communitas
Image: Icona, Monastero carmelitano di Sogliano al Rubicone, Italia
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The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Barcelona, Spain, was held 6 April 2019. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Pilar Simón Blasco, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Carmen Izquierdo Marín, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Jacinta Mutio Muithya, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Carmen Izquierdo Marín, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Jacinta Mutio Muithya, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Carmen Izquierdo Marín, O.Carm.
A topic of which we speak little, but which has an important relevance in the life of our Order, is the management of the cultural assets that we have received from past generations. Our houses, even those of more recent foundation, are rich in memory. Libraries, archives, art objects and even handicrafts for daily use fill our homes. All this memory must be recognised, preserved and made available to many people who, in different ways and for different reasons, are interested in knowing our history and our life.
For this reason, at the end of February and in the first days of March (27 February - 2 March), a training course for archivists, librarians and directors of Carmelite museums was held at the Sant'Alberto International Center in Rome, which saw the participation of about thirty people, friars O.Carm. and OCD, nuns and lay people present in various capacities. The conferences focused on theoretical and practical aspects of the management of archives and libraries. Much appreciated were the presentations of the Carmelite library in Krakow and the museum of the monastery of Granada. Participants were also able to visit the Order's historical archive and the Carmelite General Library, located at CISA, the current archive at the General Curia and the Theological Faculty of the Discalced Carmelites with the rich specialized library in spirituality.
The initiative proposed by the "Institutum Carmelitanum", in continuity with what has already been done in the past by the Association of Carmelite Librarians, has been much appreciated and we hope to continue with other similar events.
From the 22nd to the 24th,of March, the Second Meeting of Carmelite Laity of the Iberian Region took place at the "Casa Sao Nuno" in Fátima (Portugal). The meeting was organized by the Laity Commission of the so-called "mixed team" of the Iberian Region, composed of the three provinces of Spain (Aragón-Castilla-Valencia, Bética and Cataluña), the General Commissariat of Portugal, the three Federations of Nuns from the Iberian Peninsula and the two congregations of Carmelite Sisters of apostolic life.
One hundred and sixty people participated in the meeting (among them, the Provincials and the Superior General of the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart). The central theme was "the shared mission" and the main presentation was given by the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., who insisted that our mission as Carmelites of the 21st century has as its subject the entire Carmelite Family . He also shared a series of keys to understanding to rethink this mission. These keys were analyzed in various groups and round tables.
Several members of the Carmelite Family shared their experience of belonging to Carmel and offered their proposals and initiatives for the future.
During the meeting there was a small pilgrimage to the various emblematic places of Fatima. Also, the musical group "Karmel" of Villarreal (which has recently completed 25 years of existence) offered a beautiful prayer-concert centered on the figure of Mary.
As always, the hospitality of the Commissariat of Portugal was exceptional and the whole meeting took place in an atmosphere of fraternity and joy.
First Chapter of the Provincial Commissariat of St. Joseph (SEL), Vietnam
Written byDuring the First Chapter of the Provincial Commissariat of St. Joseph (SEL), Vietnam, held on February 28 - March 1 2019 were elected:
- Commissary Provincial: Fr. Joseph Hung Tran, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Joseph Thien Nguyen, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Joseph Trung Tran, O.Carm.
They begin their office on March 19, 2019, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the day the Commissariat comes into existence. God bless them, and may Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph bless this new part of the St. Elias Province.
