Displaying items by tag: Institutes Affiliated to the Carmelite Order

Tragic Automobile Accident in Tanzania. Four Carmelite Sisters of Santa Marinella Killed

Four sisters from the Congregation of Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (Congregazione Suore Carmelitane Missionarie di S. Teresa del Bambino Gesù) and their driver were tragically killed in an automobile accident in Tanzania. A fifth sister remains in very serious condition in the hospital.

The deceased are Sr. Lilian Gladson Kapongo, general superior of the Congregation; Sr. Maria Nerina De Simone, a general councilor and the general secretary; Sr. Damaris Matheka, provincial councilor for the Province of East Africa; Sr. Stellamaris Muthini; and their driver, Mr. Bonifasi. Sr. Paulina Crisante Mipata is in hospital and is in serious condition.

The members of the Carmelite General Chapter being held in Malang, Indonesia, received the news in the early morning hours of September 16th by email from Sr. Zelia da Conceiçao, vicar general. The sisters and the members of the Congregation, and the family of Mr. Bonifasi were remembered at the morning Eucharist.

As further information becomes available, we will let you know.

General Chapter of the Institute of Our Lady of Carmel (INSC) Held in Rome on July 21 through August 10  

From July 21 to August 10, the General Chapter of the Institute of Our Lady of Carmel (INSC) was held at the mother house in Via dei Baglioni. In a fraternal atmosphere, important issues such as dissemination and internationality were addressed. Some new articles were added to the Constitutions regarding the possibility of having provinces within the Institute. The election of new leadership was very positive.

The Institute was founded in the Italian city of Montevarchi (Arezzo) on October 15, 1854 by Maria Teresa Scrilli (1825-1889). Her goal was to assist in the moral, Christian, and civil education of girls. The Institute received diocesan approval on December 13, 1854.

The sisters, although dispersed due to the abolition of the school by order of the public authority in December 1859, remained under the care of the foundress until 1875, when the foundress herself re-established the community in the city of Florence. After the death of Blessed Scrilli, the Institute received many new members, attributed to Clementina Mosca (Sr. Mary of Jesus, 1862-1934). Sr. Mary of Jesus also obtained a new diocesan approval of the Institute on January 19, 1929.

The affiliation to our Order took place on March 31, 1929. The apostolate of the sisters continues to be carried out with the education of youth, health care, and in the care of the poor. The Institute exists today in Italy, the United States of America, Canada, Poland, India, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Holy Land.

On October 8, 2006, Maria Teresa of Jesus Scritti was beatified; her liturgical memorial is celebrated on November 13.

The website of the Institute is: www.inscarmelo.it

The General Chapter elected the sisters who will form the general government of the Institute during the next six-year period. They are:

General Superior | Superiora General | Superiore generale:
Sr. Wilma Moly Pinherio

1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera
Vicar General | Vicario General | Vicario Generale:
Sr. Adriana Stellin

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr. Germeena Naduvathezhathu

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr. Barbara Elzbieta Ogonowska

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr. Chona Torremocha

On September 28 members of Spain’s Mater Unitatis Federation held a course on finances given by José Mª Herranz, O.S.A., at the monastery of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas in Madrid.

The first part of the course dealt with the way of living and concretizing the vow of poverty in the consecrated contemplative life, starting from the following of Christ and dealing with practical questions.

In the second part he presented the document of the Sacred Congregation Boni dispensatores multiformis gratiae Dei which deals with the fundamental criteria that should govern the relationship between the different institutions that make up the consecrated life and material goods, essential for the survival and development of their own goals and charism.

The professor showed great experience and knowledge on the subject and gave us valuable guidance.

From October 7 to 11 the sisters took part in the ongoing formation course in the monastery of the Incarnation in Zaragoza. Salvador Villota, O. Carm., prior provincial of the Province of Aragon, Castile and Valencia, and doctor of Sacred Scripture presented the Wisdom and prophetic books. 

According to the possibilities of each monastery, sisters from Valencia, Madrid and Huesca attended in person. The rest of the sisters received it online, so all the monasteries of the federation participated. 

This year the Carmelite Nuns of the Federation of America also participated in this transmission, according to their possibilities and schedule compatibility, at the request of their president, M. Consuelo. Consuelo.

According to chronicler, Carmelite Sister Mª Brunilda Rodríguez, “As every year, we all received an abundance of spiritual fruits that Fr. Salvador, with his wisdom and humility, served us from the abundant table of the Word of God.”

Mater Unitatis Federation Has On Going Formation for Prioresses and Formators

The Federation Mater Unitatis, of Carmelite monasteries in Spain, has had two courses of formation in 2024. The first course was held at the monastery of the Incarnation in Valencia on June 26-28. The second, a course for formators of the monasteries, took place in the monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption in Huesca.

The program of the prioress’ course called for two themes each day. Each morning session involved two moments: the presentation itself and then some “work” on the topic. The various topics discussed by the prioresses were:

+ Some Priorities in the Service of Authority

+ Presentation and Delivery of the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis Desiderio Desideravi

+The Spirituality of Communion: A Path of Ongoing Formation from the Constitutions.

+ Presentation and Distribution of the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis C'est la confiance.

+ Loving in Our Consecrated Life: In the Light of the Encyclical of Benedict XVI Deus caritas est

+ Presentation and delivery of the Bull of Convocation of the Ordinary Jubilee 2025 Spes non confundit

The course was directed by Fr. Rafael Belda Serra, CVMD, the superior general of the Cooperatores Veritatis (Co-workers for the Truth), an ecclesial reality of consecrated life erected in the diocese of Valencia (Spain) and at the service of education and evangelization.

The second course, three intense days, took place from May 28-30, 2024. Titled Human-Spiritual Integration in Carmelite Life: Formation and Accompaniment, the group was facilitated by Alfredo Pisana, O. Carm., a member of the Italian Province. He is currently part of the formation team at the international novitiate of our Carmelites in Salamanca.

He holds a degree in Developmental Psychology of Education. The sisters appreciated his wide knowledge of the subject material as well as his ability to speak from his rich experience.

In the introduction, he commented that the life and history of the people entrusted to us by the Lord are sacred. For this reason, they need and deserve accompaniment of the person first in their present time, adequate to the Carmelite charism and to the monastery itself.

The fundamental presupposition is that the human person is a unity, composed of Spirit (soul), Mind (psyche) and Body.

The starting point is that formation demands a change of perspective from content to process, favoring the maturation of the person to produce real change. A new formative perspective cannot be given without a vision of the person; that is to say, an anthropology with theological value, translated into the monastic experience.

Two elements of formation in Monastic Carmel were highlighted:  the profound experience of the human heart transformed and renewed by the presence of God and the promotion of the deep identity of the called person and to lead her to the joyful maturity of her vocation which means to be "called to be transformed into the image of Christ" (2 Co 3:18).

The formator is called to accompany the candidates integrally; to transmit the Carmelite charism; to foster a personalized accompaniment; to promote human and spiritual maturation; to create an environment of continuous growth and to be a spiritual mother.

The human-spiritual accompaniment of the person tries to see how the human-person functions in order to integrate it with the spiritual aspect.

Fr. Pisano discussed the general characteristics of accompaniment. He emphasized the care in community life, especially the "attributions of thought in intentions," always giving the benefit of the doubt. He also cautioned with respect to the "projections" that can be made, and the risk in the spiritual life when it comes to judgment. The other aspects he dealt with were the affective-relational skills.

The Federation Mater Unitatis was erected on December 10, 1980. The monasteries belonging to this federation are: Caudete, Fontiveros, Huesca Asunción, Huesca san Miguel, Madrid, Onteniente, Valencia and Zaragoza.

The XXIX Meeting of the Carmelite Family of the Iberian Region was held in Fatima from June 28 to 1. The theme of the Meeting was: "This way is holy and good: follow it. Figures of holiness in Carmel". With this theme we sought to continue the increasingly conscious and current reflection that the vocation to holiness is common to all Christians.

In this context, the reflections made and the conferences presented were inspired by Carmelite figures and documents that, from our spirituality, encourage us towards holiness. Thus:

- Friar Pedro Bravo spoke on the Rule of the Third Order of Carmel;

- Cardinal Emeritus of Lisbon, Don Manuel Clemente, spoke about St. Nuño de Santa Maria;

- Sr. Angela Coelho, vice postulator of the cause of the visionaries of Fatima, spoke about the Carmelite traits of the spirituality of Sr. Lucia de Jesus, one of the 3 visionaries of Fatima and who lived most of her life as a Carmelite nun;

- Mariana Frazão and Carmo Diniz, two people who were in the central organization of the World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023, shared a reflection on the challenges of holiness launched by Pope Francis from his words and gestures during that Day.

In addition to the lectures, group work was divided into 7 workshops. Each one reflected on an inspiring figure of the Carmelite Order: St. Titus Brandsma, Friar Pablo Maria de La Cruz Hidalgo, Blessed Isidore Bakanja, St. Celia Guérin and Louis Martin, St. Nuño de Santa Maria, St. Teresa of the Child Jesus and Sister Lucia de Jesus.

In addition to the formative dimension, the meeting gave a central place to the prayerful dimension. The Organization provided a bilingual booklet that served as the basis for the liturgical moments. On Sunday, June 30, the participants joined the pilgrims from Fatima and participated in the celebration of the Eucharist at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima.

In the afternoon, the group celebrated the Way of the Cross in the space provided by the sanctuary for this exercise of popular devotion. In this Way of the Cross, the meditations for each station were written by the groups in the work previously presented and based on the life and spirituality of the respective inspirational figure.

On the evening of June 30, a fraternal meeting was held in which each participating group presented something about its place and entity. It was a very festive moment in which we gave thanks for the immense cultural richness present in the Order today.

About 150 participants from the following Carmelite entities, including friars, sisters and lay people, participated in this meeting: Carmelite Sisters of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Carmelite Nuns, Province of Aragon, Castile and Valencia, Province of Betica, Province of Catalonia, General Commissariat of Portugal.

The Meeting took place in an atmosphere of great fraternity, prayer, exchange and healthy coexistence.

The XXX Meeting of the Carmelite Family of the Iberian Region will be organized by the Province of Catalonia.

Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm Return to the Foundress’ Hometown in Scotland

Six Carmelite Sisters and Father Mario Esposito, O. Carm., the vice-postulator for the Cause of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa, traveled to Mossend, Scotland to attend an unveiling of the Venerable's statue. The event was hosted by the Holy Family Parish in Mossend, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, the home parish of Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa.

Although Mother Angeline was born in Northern Ireland in 1893, her family immigrated to Carfin, Scotland when she was seven years old. She became a Little Sister of the Poor, caring for the aged poor. After profession, she was sent to the United States of America and soon began adopting a more American way of serving the elderly of various backgrounds. With the blessing of the Cardinal Archbishop of New York, Mother Angeline and six other sisters withdrew from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor and on September 3, 1929,  began a new Congregation. Two years later the new Congregation became affiliated with the Carmelite Order and became known as “Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm.” Her work for the Church was recognized by Pope John XXII when she received the Pro Ecclesiae Award and the Benemerenti Award by Pope Paul VI. Mother Angeline died in January 1984.

Unfortunately, the statue was delayed in customs and the other planned ceremonies went ahead as planned. These included celebrating Mass at the Venerable’s home parish of Holy Family with the local bishop, Joseph Toal as celebrant, a visit the house where Venerable Mother Angeline lived, and to explore the areas— “to walk in the footsteps of their Foundress”— is a quote from the Congregation’s homepage, proclaiming the days in Scotland were “a great grace and gift to the Congregation.”

The celebration of the Mass on June 23 was a gathering of many. Besides Bishop Toal and the sisters from the USA including Mother General Mary Rose Heery, members of the Mother Angeline Society Pilgrims came from Ireland, and relatives of the Venerable.

The sister humorously expressed the hope that “there might just be another opportunity in the future to visit Mossend again and to see that much awaited statue!

Today the sisters have 18 residences in the United States and Ireland. There are 122 professed sisters. The headquarters is in Germantown, New York.

You Tube Interview with the Carmelites who traveled to Ven. Mother Angeline’s hometown (Sancta Familia Media).

Story of Mother Angeline (EWTN).

The Hermanas de la Virgen María del Monte Carmelo celebrated their XXI General Chapter from July 19 to August 13.

The meetings were held in the congregation's House of Spirituality in Tales (Castellon). The theme of the Chapter was "Be a Transmitter of the Charism: From Our Vulnerability, in the Way of Sinodality".

The final act of the General Chapter was the election of the new general government of the Congregation. This took place on August 12.  

The election results were:

Superior General –
Merry Teresa Sri Rejeki

Vicar General –
María del Carmen Aparicio Personal

2nd General Councilor and General Secretary –
Fabiola Ma Freitas Gusmao

3rd General Councilor and General Treasurer –
M^a Dolores Colon Molina

4th General Councilor –
María del Carmen Sanchez Mesa

The Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady gathered for their Ninth General Chapter to discern the will of God for the Congregation for the next four years. The momentous celebration took place at St. Joseph Seminary College in Agan-an, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, Philippines on April 11-19, 2023.

The theme of the Chapter, “You are the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World” taken from Matthew 5:13-14 underscores the congregations unique calling to be agents of change in a world that hungers for love and light. As a Congregation, they seek to embody the love of Christ in a special way and are committed to be the light in the world.

At the General Chapter of Elections, the following were elected for the next quadrennium:

Superior General –
Sr. Baybeth Marie K. Andaya, Carm. O. L.

1st General Councilor and General Assistant –
Sr. Jocelinda Agnes C. Cacas, Carm. O. L.

2nd General Councilor –
Sr. Leonila Augustine N.  Kilinguen, Carm. O. L.

3rd General Councilor and General Treasurer –
Sr. Liezl Soreth B. Jaralve, Carm. O. L.

4th General Councilor and General Secretary –
Sr. Elena Therese T.  Soldivillo, Carm. O. L.

The leadership of the Congregations and Institutes affiliated to the Carmelite Order met at the Passionist Retreat Center in Rome from May 22-26, 2023. The meeting, which is held every six years, was focused on the theme "Carmelite Identity and Experience." Some 20 members participated this year.

At the end of the meeting, the participants returned to their communities of origin enriched by the intense days of prayer, reflection, and sharing in which they strengthened their spiritual closeness to the Carmelite Family.

The General Delegate for Congregations and Affiliated Institutes, Luis Maza Subero, who is also General Councilor for the Americas, invited the sisters and brothers from the various groups they represent to share their evaluation of the meeting held in Rome.

Among the questions asked of the participants were:

1. What is the value of this gathering for your congregation?

2. How can we move forward as members of the Carmelite Family?

3. Were you satisfied with the organization of this gathering?

4. What are your suggestions for the next gathering?

In the answers given by the sisters and brothers, we can appreciate the importance given to the meeting which served to "cultivate the sense of belonging to the Carmelite Family in the spirituality of communion." They also highlighted the centrality of the theme of Carmelite identity and experience and the themes of the conferences, which were "good and enriching." The various days of the meeting were an excellent occasion to, in their own words, "cultivate cooperation and dialogue among us" and "work together in vocation ministry, evangelization, and in formation."

The participants highlighted that to move forward as members of the Carmelite Family, the key is to "stress communion and participation, each one from his or her reality, with our gifts and limits, as St. Paul tells us."

Likewise, proposals were received to "organize meetings of the Carmelite family more frequently" at the geographical area and international level and to "implement the practical proposals for collaboration that emerge from the study groups during these conferences."

In particular, it was proposed to move forward as a Carmelite Family. “As a bigger family likes to gather, [we would like gatherings] not only of the affiliated congregations, but also with the Friars. [Then we will be more] ready to collaborate as one family."

The sisters and brothers agreed in highlighting the excellent organization of the conferences, the fraternal climate, and the wonderful hospitality provided by the Passionist Retreat Center in Rome, the venue of the meeting. Among the evaluations received, it was stressed that "the ambience was very conducive to reflection and prayer" and that "the fraternal and serene atmosphere was an excellent ‘glue’ for all of us." They also remarked that the conferences "were all interesting" and pointed out the usefulness of "having the texts of the conferences translated into the different languages."

A special thanks was given to the translators for their excellent work and patience.

Finally, the participants reaffirmed the need to "continue with the periodic meetings, deepening the Carmelite charism and the themes related to evangelization and pastoral work." They also commented that "the liturgical resources were well prepared," but they lacked "a multilingual hymn booklet and a guitar to animate the Eucharistic celebration."

The leadership of the Congregations and Institutes affiliated to the Carmelite Order will meet at the Passionists Retreat Center in Rome on May 22-26, 2023. The gathering is held every six years. This year the theme of the meeting is Carmelite Identity and Experience.

According to Benny Wing, the vice general of the Order, the gathering provides an opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between the Order and the various groups as well as among the groups themselves.  “We will spend time exploring how to cooperate more effectively in evangelization, formation, and vocation promotion,” said Fr. Benny.

Along with the General Delegate for the Affiliated Congregations and Institutes, Luis Maza Subero, who also serves as General Councilor for the Americas, the sisters will have an opportunity to speak about the various groups they represent. There will also be presentations and discussions on Contemplative Fraternity, Challenges and Issues on Safe Environments, Prophetic Inculturation (with the experience in the Americas being highlighted), Shared Mission, and Carmel as a Gift.

The prior general, Míċeál O’Neill, will welcome the group at the opening session on Monday.

The Global Plan of the General Council for 2019-2025 has 3 steps to be taken by the General Secretariate for the Affiliated Congregations during this term of government. These are available on the Order’s website here.