CITOC Archive (588)
On the 5th of November, Pope Francis appointed João José da Costa, O.Carm. to be the Coadjutor bishop of the Archdiocese of Aracaju (Brazil). Bishop João Costa, who up to now has been the Bishop of Iguatu, is a member of the province of Pernambuco (Brazil), where he was the Prior Provincial from 1998 to 2004. In union with the whole Carmelite Order and the Carmelite Family, we send him our congratulations and best wishes, as we unite in prayer for his ministry.
The Celebration of the 150 Years of the Life of the PCM Province
Written byThis last 22nd to the 25th of October, in Leavenworth (Kansas, U.S.A.) a commemoration of the arrival 150 years ago of the first German Carmelites (Cyril Knoll and Xavier Huber) in North America was celebrated. This was the first step in what would lead to the establishment of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (PCM). The celebrations included a variety of events. The participants were welcomed by the Pastor of Leavenworth, Fr. David McEvoy, O.Carm. on the banks of the river Missouri, where the Prior Provincial, Fr. William Harry, O.Carm. blessed a commemorative plaque and the Mayor of the city delivered an address in which he thanked the Carmelites for the work they have done throughout these years. A carriage parade began from there, recalling the journey of the first Carmelites, and moved to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where all were welcomed by the archbishop, Joseph F. Naumann who led the celebration of the Thanksgiving Eucharist.
On the 23rd, the participants travelled to Scipio (KS) where they were given a presentation of the history and presence of Carmel in America by the Priors General, Falco Thuis, O.Carm., (who was not able to be present on account of ill health, but sent a video recording of his address), Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm., and Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., who led the solemn celebration of the Eucharist. In the small local cemetery, the participants held a very moving moment of prayer by the graves of Carmelites who have been buried there during these 150 years.
The programme included important talks by the theologian, Joseph Schmidt, FSC, on Carmelite Spirituality for the 21st century, and the well-known journalist, and CNN’s Vatican expert, John Allen, whose spoke about the challenges that Pope Frances has been presenting to the Church and to the Carmelite Order in our time. Along with all that there was a concert given by the famous choral group called the Chanticleer.
In addition to the Prior General, the celebration was attended also by the Prior Provincial and the members of the General Curia who belong to this province, (Frs. Raul Maravi and Carl Markelz), the bishop emeritus of Sicuani, (Peru) Michael LaFay, O.Carm., the Prior Provincial of the North American Province of St. Elias, Mario Esposito, O.Carm., Bro. Günter Benker and Fr. Tobias Kraus, of the German province representing the “mother province” in the absence of the Prior Provincial who was indisposed, along with numerous Carmelites from various parts, all of whom enjoyed this wonderful celebration.
foto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/carmelites/with/15459909179/
Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Monción, Dominican Republic
Written byThe Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Monción, Dominican Republic, was held 23 October 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Josefina Luna, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Consuelo Rivera, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Rosanna Serrata, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. Cruz M. Núñez, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Susana Collado, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Consuelo Rivera, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. Fátima M. Amaro, O.Carm.
Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of La Vega, Dominican Republic
Written byThe Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of La Vega, Dominican Republic, was held 22 October 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Ana María Arroyo, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Cecilia Morini, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. de los Ángeles Márquez, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. del Carmen Ferreira, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Lillian Ferreira, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Lillian Ferreira, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. del Carmen Ferreira, O.Carm.
Celebrations of the Opening of the 5th Centenary of St. Teresa
Written byOn the 14th and 15th of October last, the official opening of the 5th Centenary of the birth of St. Teresa of Jesus took place. On the 14th, in the birthplace of the saint, solemn vespers were celebrated, at which Fr. Saverio Canninstrà O.C.D. presided accompanied by the bishop of Avila, Jesus Garcia Burillo, and Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. and this was followed by the Eucharist which marked the closing of the novena.
The Prior of Avila, Fr. David Jimenez, O.C.D. noted at the end of the Eucharist, that “the Saint from her place in heaven is sure to be rejoicing, because just as in 1567 she received a visit from Fr. Rubeo, today the two Carmelite generals are present.”
On the 15th, a solemn Eucharist was celebrated, led by Don Ricardo Blázquez, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, along with several bishops and priests. The beautiful message sent by Pope Francis to the Bishop of Ávila was read as part of this celebration. Following the Eucharist there was a procession in which the statue of St. Teresa was carried through the streets of the city.
In addition, on the 15th of October, in the Monastery of the Incarnation in Alba de Tormes, (the eighth of Teresa’s foundations, and the place where she is buried) Fr. Desiderio Garcia, O.Carm., opened the solemn novena in honour of St. Teresa. The Carmelite community of the novitiate in San Andrés and the student community of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca, were given the job of carrying the statue and relics of St. Teresa in procession through the town of Alba de Tormes at the end of the solemn eucharist led by the bishop of Salamanca and attended by a large congregation of the faithful.
Pope Francis granted the grace of a “Teresian Jubilee Year”, for all the dioceses of Spain, beginning on the 15th of October 2014 and ending on the 15th of October, 2015, with a view to celebrating this 5th Centenary in the most solemn manner.
With great joy and hope we present the first electronic newsletter for the Lay Carmelites. This initiative is the result of our first meeting with the new General Commission for the Carmelite Laity and Youth of our Order. Reflection on this international group has led to the desire to strengthen two aspects during this sexennium: spiritual formation and communications.
We are sure that this newsletter will be a good way to learn more about our charism and spirituality, as well as the various projects of the laity and youth in different parts of the world. In this issue we highlight the figure of St. Albert of Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land who gave us the Carmelite Rule and whose eighth centenary of death we are celebrating this year. We appreciate your suggestions and contributions for future editions of this E-Bulletin. Any news regarding lay Carmelites and Carmelite Youth, please send to us at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Please click here to download the E-bulletin
A Celebration of the 8th Centenary of the Death of St. Albert of Jerusalem
Written byFrom the 10th to the 2th of October, 2014, at the St. Albert’s International Centre in Rome, a symposium was held, to celebrate the 8th Centenary of the death of St. Albert of Jerusalem. On the invitation of the General Council, some eighty people including friars, nuns, religious sisters and lay carmelites, from Rome and from farther afield, in Europe and in Brazil, took part in the event. The celebration opened on the 10th with Evening Prayer at which the Provost General of the Discalced Carmelites, Fr. Saverio Cannistrà, presided. The words of welcome were given by the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. and the President of the Institutum Carmelitanum, Fr. Michael Plattig, O.Carm.
The morning of the 11th of October was taken up with the lectures given first by Fr. Vincenzo Mosca, O.Carm. (Neap) on the biography of St. Albert and on his role in relation to the Carmelite Order, and then by Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.Carm. (Neer) on “Silence and Work in the Carmelite Rule”, After these two conferences the participants went into groups to reflect on the following themes: The Rule and Research; The Rule and Pastoral Ministry; The Rule and Contemplation, and The Rule and the Carmelite Family.
In the afternoon, Bro. Patrick Mullins, O.Carm., (Hib) and Fr. Bruno Secondin, O.Carm. (Ita) responded to the two morning conferences and Sr. Anastasia of the Carmelite community of Ravenna (RAV) presented a summary of all that was said.
A particularly significant moment was the address given by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and successor of St. Albert, his Beatitude, Fouad Twal, who spoke about the situation of Christians in the Holy Land at the present time.
The Patriarch also led the celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday morning, the 12th of October in the Carmelite church of Santa Maria in Traspontina. The concelebrants included, the bishop of Stockholm in Sweden, Anders Arborelius, a Discalced Carmelite, and the two Priors General, Fernando and Saverio along with Carmelites from both branches of the Order.
A round-table made up of all the speakers, and chaired by the President of the Institutum Carmelitanum, as the final act of the syposium, brought out the various aspects of the role of St. Albert as law-giver, not only at the beginning but for all Carmelites who wish to live in the way that he set out as the foundation for Carmelite life in the “formula Vitae” written for the hermits on Mount Carmel.
At the end, the Prior General, Fr. Fernando thanked all the organisers for their work, and the members of the community of St. Albert’s International Centre for their hospitality which contributed handsomely to the success of the celebration, that took place in a spirit both of fraternity and of family.
The beginning of the 5th Centenary of the birth of Saint Teresa of Avila is now close. We have received news of various events that are happening in various parts of the world which we would like to share with you in chronological order. These are in addition to those we have already publicised (citoc-online 91/2013):
In July the “Teresian Carmelite Family” in Portugal made a pilgrimage to places associated with Teresa in Spain with over 500 people taking part. This association, created for the centenary is made up of the Carmelites, Discalced Carmelites, the Congregations of Sisters and groups of Lay Carmelites. It is now organising a second spirituality congress on the theme of “The Christian Mystical Experience” which will take place in Fatima from 17th – 19th October 2014.
An ongoing formation course took place took place for the Iberian Region in Salamanca from 5th - 6th August on “The Carmelite Milieu of St. Theresa” (Jordi M. Gil, O.Carm.) and “The Presence of the Saint in the City of Salamanca” (Desiderio Garcia, O.Carm.)
The General Commission for Formation organised an ongoing formation course at CITES in Avila from 7th – 17th September 2014. 48 Carmelites from 16 countries took part in the course which focussed on the life and doctrine of Saint Teresa (see citoc-online 82/2014).
In Ireland on 12th October Mass celebrated by Mons Philip Boyce, OCD will be televised from Donnybrook with both branches of the Order taking part. On 22nd November Professor Donna Orsuto will give a conference at our house in Whitefriars Street, Dublin, for the whole Carmelite Family.
The Carmelite Forum of Britain and Ireland which is a collaborative project of the whole Carmelite Family in Britain and Ireland are preparing a whole series of liturgies, events and lectures. The Centenary year will begin with opening Masses celebrated both in Dublin (Saint Teresa’s Discalced Carmelite Church in Clarendon Street) and in London (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Discalced Carmelite Church in Kensington). The forum has established a website as a central resource for the Centenary and this can be found at www.teresaofavila.org
In Australia the “Carmelites Together” association includes the various branches and groups of the Carmelite Family. During October 2015 they are organising a pilgrimage to Teresian sites in Spain which will be led by Greg Burke, OCD and Paul Gurr, O.Carm.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Seville, Spain, was held 7-8 October 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. de Cristo Rey Mora Pérez, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Teresa Molina Sánchez, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Isabel Moreno de la Torre, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Asunción Granados Arellano, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. Hermelinda de Mª Guadalupe Bal Pichiyá, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Teresa Molina Sánchez, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. Blanca de Jesús Toro Sierra, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Hermelinda de Mª Guadalupe Bal Pichiyá, O.Carm.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Fontiveros, Spain, was held 6 October 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Fátima M. de la Redención Luna Ceballos, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. del Pilar de la Trinidad Felipe García, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor and Treasurer: Sr M. Carmela de la Cruz Ronquillo Diamat., O.Carm.
More...
Citoc Magazine IV No.2-2014 is available for download online
Written byCitoc Magazine IV No.2 - 2014 covers all the important activities of the Order from January to July 2014. This Issue also highlights the commemoration of the VIII centenary of the Death of St. Albert of Jerusalem.
The Magazine is available for download online at http://www.ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/citoc-magazine-iv-no2-2014
If anyone would like to buy a subscription and ship it to your house please click here:
http://www.ocarm.org/en/content/book-store#!/Citoc-Magazine-IV-No-2-2014/p/42208534/category=0
On the occasion of the 5th centenary of the birth of St. Teresa of Jesus, on September 7 – 17, 2014, forty-eight Carmelites coming from 16 countries around the world gathered in Avila and Salamanca, Spain, for their on-going formation course. The course was organised by the General Formation Commission, chaired by Fr. Benny Phang, General Councilor for Asia, Australia and Oceania, and its administrative secretary, Fr. Noel Rosas (Curia). Fr. John Welch (PCM) and Fr. Desiderio Garcia Martinez (ACV) facilitated the whole course. Fr. John talked about the life and works of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross: the Interior Castle, Prayer, Transformation, Songs of the Heart, Letting go of Lesser Gods, Divinized Humanity, and how they are relevant to each person and to the present times. Fr. Desiderio, on the other hand, took all the participants to the places where St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross were born, grew up, entered Carmel, inspired reform of the Order, died, and were buried. In those places the participants prayed, and meditated, contemplated, and savored the writings of the two Saints where they were actually written.
Fr. Raul Maraví, General Councilor for the Americas, and the Prior of CISA, Fr. Míceál O’Neill, helped with the translation. Fr. Nicolas Sozzi (Ita) helped to create a very prayerful ambiance for the liturgy.
The course was capped by the conference of the Prior General Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral on Blessed Titus Brandsma, a devotee and a scholar of St. Teresa of Jesus. The course became a beautiful moment of fraternity and sorority and friendship. After the final Eucharist, led by the Prior General Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, the participants went home with spirit renewed and hopeful for the future.
The coordinating team of Carmelite NGO met on September 17, 2013 in Rome. The members present were Sr Jane Remson (COLMC), Conrad Mutizamhepo, O.Carm., General Councilor for Africa, William Harry, O.Carm. (PCM), Hariawan Adji, O.Carm. (Indo), Sr Blaise Fernando (COLMC), Sr Annah Theresa Nyadombo (HOLMC), Arie Kuil, O.Carm. (Neer), Eduardo Agosta Scarel, O.Carm. (ACV-Arg), and Andrea Ventimiglia (TOC, Italy).
The items discussed at the meeting included reports from regional representatives, the New York office, finances, communication and some projects dealing with human trafficking and climate change. Special attention was given to the social media and the cooperation between Carmelite NGO and the General Commission of JPIC. The Carmelite NGO will renew the presentation and format of its website by making it more active and interactive. Furthermore, the Carmelite NGO and JPIC commission have agreed to cooperate in the work of JPIC for the whole family of the Order. The first cooperation will be to develop a curriculum that deals with the issue of climate change for students and pastoral workers. The long term cooperation would include the support and participation of the Carmelite NGO in developing a Carmelite JPIC handbook to be published by the international commission of JPIC in the year of 2019.
Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the death of Fr. Jerome Gracián
Written byThe first part of the celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Father Jerome Gracián (Valladolid, June 6, 1545 - Brussels, 21 September 1614) took place on September 21, 2014, exactly 400 years after his death, in the church of the Discalzed Carmelites, Brussels, Belgium. Presiding at the Eucharistic celebration was the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites, Fr Saverio Cannistrà, OCD., and concelebrating members of our Order were the Prior General Fr Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm, Vice Prior General Fr Christian Körner, O. Carm., and the Councillor General for Europe, Fr John Keating, O. Carm . Also present was a member of our Dutch Province and Discalced Carmelites from Belgium, Italy, France, England and Spain. In his homily, Father Saverio reflected on the virtues of this great friend of St. Teresa of Jesus. Following the Eucharistic celebration, the two Generals unveiled a plaque in the church to mark the event.
The second part of the anniversary celebrations will be held from the 12th to 13th of November 2014 in Madrid with a conference on the life and spiritual profile of Fr. Gracián. (see citoc-online 3/2014) Also in Madrid on Friday, November 14, the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm., will preside in the church of San José a Eucharistic celebration concluding this centenary.
