The prior general and his council nominated Fr. Michael Farrugia, O. Carm., general procurator as the general delegate for the Third Order.

During the last General Chapter, held during September 2025, Fr. Michael Farrugia was re-elected as the Order’s procurator general for a six-year term, from 2025 to 2031. Fr. Michael is also the president of the General Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons.

He previously served as Prior Provincial of the Maltese Province.

Descarga el Material y llena el Cuestionario
Scarica il Materiale e compila il Questionario
Download the Material and fill out the Questionnaire
Baixe o Material e preencha o Questionário
Download Materi dan isi Pertanyaan

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Photos of the International Carmelite Congress for the Laity 2024
Fotos del Congreso Internacional para Laicos Carmelitas 2024
Immagini del Congresso Internazionale dei Laici Carmelitani 2024
Imagens do Congresso Internacional dos Leigos Carmelitas 2024

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View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://ocarm.org/en/itemlist/tag/lay-carmelites#sigProId847d2ba7c2

Members of the Third Order of Carmelites from all over the world gathered for the General Assembly in Fatima, Portugal

From February 25 to March 2, 2025, members of the Third Order of Carmel convened in Fatima, Portugal, for a transformative General Assembly, attended by delegates from around the world. The gathering, which follows the successful International Lay Congress in Sassone, Italy in 2024, aimed to enhance the identity and unity of the Carmelite Family through improved communication, collaboration, and formation. Emphasizing their commitment to serving Christ amidst contemporary challenges, the Assembly recognized the vital role of lay witnesses in inspiring transformation across secular society.

The participants expressed deep gratitude to Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, Prior General, and Fr. Luis José Maza Subero, General Councilor, and the General Council for the historical significance of the Assembly for the Third Order. They reflected on the continuity within the Carmelite community, where the aspirations of predecessors are often realized by succeeding generations. Emphasizing the essence of being a Carmelite, they highlighted the importance of listening and heartfelt communication, while acknowledging the lay Carmelites' role in extending the love of Carmel and Mary to areas beyond the reach of friars and nuns. They also recognized the diverse richness of their laity and expressed appreciation for Fr. Michael Farrugia, Procurator General's dedicated work during the Assembly.

A key outcome of the Assembly was the establishment of a Provisional International Council (TASK FORCE), composed of delegates appointed from the different regions of the world, tasked with drafting regulations for future governance and preparing for subsequent assemblies. The Assembly underscored a collective mission to embody the charism of prayer, fraternity, and service while honoring the spirit of The Rule of St. Albert in the pursuit of a more united Carmelite community.

The new Provisional International Council of the Third Order of Carmel, which will function for a two-year term (2025-2027), is to draft International Statutes for the regulation and election of an International Council of the Third Order of Carmel, in accordance with point 74 of its Rule. The group will also facilitate communication and coordination within the Third Order and the Carmelite Family, as well as prepare for a General Assembly of the TOC to be held before March 2027.

The Provisional International Council (TASK FORCE) will be facilitated by two General Coordinators, and six Delegates, representing the regions of Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, Latin America, and North America. Each region has one Delegate, selected from among their peers by region. The two General Coordinators were nominated for plenary consideration from all the regions.

The Provisional International Council (TASK FORCE), elected during the Assembly in Fatima, consists of the following members:

General Coordinators:

Kelley Henderson, T.O.Carm, and Rosario Maria Vera Martin, T.O.Carm.

Delegates:

The General Assembly of the Lay Carmelite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary (historically known as the Third Order of Carmel, TOC) will be held in Fatima from February 25  to March 2, 2025. 

The Committee for the event has prepared a prayer text that we can use to accompany in faith all participants who will be working for our Third Order. 

Let us join in prayer that the assembly will be fruitful and fruitful!

pdf To Read and Download the Prayer (868 KB) ...

The Congress of Lay Carmelites was held in Rome from September 15-21, 2024 to Discuss Formation, Service, Fraternity and Prayer

The Carmelite retreat center Il Carmelo, located in Sassone, Italy, hosted 200 members of the Carmelite Laity from 30 nations for a week of conferences and sharing experiences about formation, service, fraternity and prayer in their lives and in their local communities. The theme of the Congress was Lay Carmelites: Called to ignite the world.

From October 15, 2023 to March 25, 2024, local communities reflected on a questionnaire, sent by the International Secretariat for the Laity. A total of 643 responses were received from all five continents. These responses were used to prepare an Instrumentum Laboris, a preparatory document that guided the discussions of the Congress.

At a later stage, the Congress was held in Sassone. The Lay Carmelites, in addition to the presentations and the sharing of experiences, had the opportunity to share meals and free time, as well as to participate in the papal audience and to visit the city of Rome.

The third phase will be to implement some of the ideas raised at the Congress and to present some proposals to the General Chapter of the Order to be held in 2025.

In addressing the theme of the Congress, the Congress agrees with the emphasis of Pope Francis on the need for openness of our Church; to go out to others to reach out to the human peripheries.  One participant expressed: “We want to emphasize that we are mission, a laity in action, that we seek to go out of ourselves and out of the comfort of our communities, to set out on the road (...) the love of God, like the Prophet Elijah, burns our hearts and impels us to share that love with others to change the world”.

Luis José Maza Subero, General Councilor, who is the liaison between the General Council and the International Secretariat of the Carmelite Laity, expressed the following at the closing of the Congress: “The Carmelite Order is promoting the role of the laity, an example of which was this Congress, in which our laity expressed themselves in the final paper. “Our Order has much to offer to the world, as Carmelites we have been able to live this Congress as a transforming experience, we return different from how we came, prayer and shared fraternity gives us strength for the mission; we have seen how the Spirit in our diversity, acts and urges us to move forward. We are not building for today. We are not working for tomorrow. We are forging a path for eternity”.

A book is being prepared by Edizioni Carmelitane containing the presentations and other materials from the Congress, to make the ideas presented during the week available to those who could not attend, as well as to those who are interested in the latest developments in the Lay Carmelite communities.