O.Carm
Logo Captures Spirit of 2025 General Chapter
Chapter Logo Captures Spirit of 2025 General Chapter
On the first day of the Chapter, Christian Buenafe, president of the preparatory commission of the General Chapter, took a few moments to introduce the logo and its significance to the members of the Chapter. We thought is useful to bring to your attention the creative logo for the 2025 Chapter. It seems to have capture well the spirit present in the Chapter as well as our lives together as Carmelites.
Open Hands: As a Symbol of Prayer, Also Hard-Working Hands
The Carmelite charism is a gift from God to the Church and the world. One of them is Prayer: Prayer is the root and support all working activities in the Carmelite Order including fraternity and service. The colors refer to national flag of Indonesia.
Carmelite Shield: Shows the Uniqueness of the Carmelite Order: Prayer, Fraternity and Service Inspired by the Prophet Elijah and Mother Mary
The symbol of a brown mountain on a white background area, has the meaning of the majestic name of Carmel as the charisma of the Order which always longs for and fights for unity with God through a life of prayer and contemplation which has begun since the beginning of the Carmelites.
The Cross of Christ: Symbol of Christ, the Source of Life for the Carmelites
The cross is the source of strength for the Carmelites. They work not because of their abilities or their individual charisma but the Christ’s cross as their power.
Five People Gathered Symbol of Fraternity
The Carmelite Fraternity is a brotherhood born of contemplative life. This brotherhood is bound by one strength, the cross of Christ. Differences will always exist but they are called to be one in community. Living in community bound by the cross of Christ will bring the spirit of mission to all continents represented by 5 colors:
- white: Europe,
- green: Africa,
- red: America,
- blue: Oceania/Australia,
- yellow: Asia
Five People with Outward Movement as a Symbol of Service
The Carmelite Service is born from brotherhood. There is no personal work. There is only shared work, because it is bound by one power, namely the cross of Christ. Together moving outward, having achieved union of love with Christ.
General Chapter of the Congregation of St. Elias Held
The Congregation of Saint Elias held their Third General Chapter in Cikanyre, Indonesia, on August 5-11, 2025
While the Congregation was founded in July of 1986, it was aggregated to the Carmelite Order on December 19, 2002. In 2023, there are just over 100 members residing in 10 houses.
Its website is www.carmeliaindo.org.
The following members were elected to leadership:
Minister General | Ministro General | Ministro generale
Sergius Paulus, CSE
1st Vice | 1er Vice | 1o Vice
Elisa Maria, CSE
2nd Vice | 2o Vice | 1o Vice
Joseph Krisostomus, CSE
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Eugene de Jesus, CSE
2nd Councilor | 2o Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Georgius Paulus, CSE
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3o Consigliere
Athanasius Maria, CSE
4th Councilor | 4o Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Epiphanius Maria, CSE
Celebrating At Home - Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Not to Condemn, But to Save
(John 3:13-17)
It is rare for us to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on a Sunday. This feast commemorates the dedication, in 335, of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built on the site of the Crucifixion by the Emperor Constantine.
There is a very clear relationship between the first reading (Numbers 21:4-9) and the Gospel. The people in the first reading are healed by looking at a bronze serpent lifted up in their midst by Moses. Jesus says in the Gospel that he, too, must be lifted up so that all who believe may have life. The second reading is the beautiful hymn from the letter to the Philippians (2:6-11). It is about God who willingly gives up his divinity in Christ to become one of us, accepting death on the cross to show the depth of God’s love.
The cross is a symbol full of contradictions: an instrument of cruelty and torture, and yet the means of saving love; an instrument of shame and death, yet the way of restoring true dignity and life; an instrument of hatred and contempt, yet the strongest symbol of Love.
The symbol of the cross also carries the mixed realities of human life: moments of crucifixion and resurrection, moments of sorrow and joy, moments of suffering and healing, moments of hatred and reconciliation.
We use the Cross continually in our Christian tradition. We use it to mark the beginning and end of prayer and the Eucharist. It marks the beginning and end of our Christian journey in Baptism and the Funeral Rites. So, we use the Cross in moments of joy and gladness and sorrow and distress.
The Cross draws us into moments of deep awareness of the mystery of God’s love for us. It reminds us that suffering and death are not the end of our story, that life and healing can come out of darkness and pain, that God in Christ remains faithful to us even to death and beyond.
Today we rejoice in a God who loves us that much and pray that we may be a continuing source of love, life and healing for one another.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - Exaltation of the Holy Cross [PDF] (3.43 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - Exaltation of the Holy Cross [ePub] (3.05 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - La Exaltación de la Cruz (506 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - Esaltazione della Santa Croce (503 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - A Exaltação da Cruz (501 KB)
General Chapter of the INSC Held in Rome
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
General Chapter Officially Opens
General Chapter Officially Opens With Cultural Celebration and Mass
The members of the Carmelite General Chapter gathered at the front entrance to the Harris Hotel in Malang, Indonesia to be officially welcomed to Indonesia and the Chapter. The prior provincial, Franciscus Xavier Hariawan Adji and members of his council offered words of welcome.
All the Chapter participants were then given a batik scarf by members of the province. A traditional Javenese Gembyong dance was then performed by students from St. Albert’s College, the Carmelite school in Malang. Music accompanying the dance was provided by students and teachers and Carmelites from St. Albert’s.
That was followed by a procession into the chapel for the General Chapter. The prior general presided and the members of the outgoing General Council concelebrated. Music at the Mass in Kroncong style (a combination of Javenese and Dutch instruments) was provided by the Carmelite students in formation.
The events were graced with the presence of the local bishop, Carmelite Henricus Pidyarto Gunan. Bishop Pidyarto is well-known to and friends with many of the participants at the Chapter because of his studies at CISA in the 1980’s and his participation in the life of the Order over these many years.
During his homily, the prior general presented 3 questions. Who are we? Why have we come here? And what are we going to do? It is important to see ourselves as we are: having been called and to accept that calling and live in every way in allegiance to Jesus Christ. That is who we are—with our calling and our gifts. And with these gifts we are to celebrate this chapter of brothers, as contemplatives, to discern the will of God for us and what God wants us to do to spread the Gospel.
In the afternoon of Day 1, the prior general, Míċeál O’Neill gave his report to the Chapter. This report on the spiritual and temporal state of the Order is mandated by the Constitutions of the Order. The prior general explained that his original talk was 28 pages long but that he would give a much-shortened version to the Chapter assembly. It is his desire that the report, as well as those in the days to come regarding the various regions, will spark some discussion among the delegates.
Pope Leo XIV Addresses the General Chapter
Pope Leo Tells Carmelites to Use General Chapter as Time of Spiritual Renewal
Pope Leo XIV wrote the members of the General Chapter being held in Malang, Indonesia. Through the letter, he imparted his Apostolic Blessing on “all in the Order as a pledge of wisdom, joy, and peace in the Lord.”
Fr. Míċeál O’Neill read the letter to those present at the end of the Mass to open the General Chapter.
The pope, himself an Augustinian, sees the work of religious “whether through preaching retreats, spiritual accompaniment, parish work, or education youth” as a way of bearing “witness to the gift of unity, especially in those parts of society fractured by division and polarization.”
“Trust that this time together will be an occasion of spiritual renewal,” wrote the pope, "holding fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful," a quote from the Letter to the Hebrews.
Read the entire Letter ...
Livestream of Opening Mass of the General Chapter
From the General Chapter | September 9-26, 2025
Livestream of Opening Mass of the General Chapter on Tuesday, September 9 at 8:30AM (GMT +7)
The Opening Mass of the 2025 General Chapter will be livestreamed from Malang, Indonesia courtesy of the Communications Office of the Indonesian Province. A recording will also be posted on the Order’s Youtube channel for the convenience of those who would like to watch it later.
The livestream starts at 8:15AM (GMT +7). The link to the Indonesian province’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/live/mBsVy3BWqn0
Carmelite General Chapter Set to Begin
The 2025 General Chapter of the Carmelite Order begins on Tuesday, September 9, in Malang, Indonesia. It will be the first General Chapter outside Europe. It will take place at the Harris Convention Center and Hotel. The Chapter is scheduled to run through Friday, September 26.
On Sunday, September 21, the Chapter members will travel to Saint Albert Dempo High School for celebration of Indonesian Day. Monday, September 22, is designated Carmelite Family Day—a time for conversation with cloistered nuns, active sisters, Third Order, and youth. Another highlight will be a retreat day with Bishop Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan, O. Carm., of the Diocese of Malang, on Thursday, September 18, a day prior to the start of the elections.
On the afternoon of September 26, the Chapter will move to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Malang for a closing Mass and the signing of the Acts of the Chapter.
The Communications Office of the Order in conjunction with the Indonesian Province Communications Office plans on bringing periodic updates from the Chapter to subscribers to CITOC and our other social media platforms throughout the Chapter.
In the meantime, we invite you to join with the members of the General Chapter in prayer. You can download the Chapter Prayer in English, Spanish, or Italian from the OCARM website (ocarm.org).
Celebrating At Home - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Real Reality
(Luke 14:25-33)
There is very little that is real in so-called ‘reality TV’. We know that, in fact, situations and circumstances are highly contrived and rather artificial. People are deliberately set up to fail, tensions are fuelled and contestants often exploited emotionally and physically.
Today’s Gospel contains a rather heavy dose of real reality about what is required in order to be a disciple of Jesus.
The words of Jesus have to be read against the background of the Kingdom life God is inviting us into and the central message of Jesus that we need to place God in the centre of our hearts.
The language about hating family members and even our own lives comes from a Semitic idiom which expresses preference. If you prefer one person or thing over another you are said to ‘love’ the first and ‘hate’ the second. The Gospel is not calling us to hate either our relatives or ourselves.
When we let the presence of God flood our hearts and minds all other aspects of our lives, including our relationships, find their proper place. Relationships become more genuine and less exploitive; possessions have less hold over us and we begin to share them more generously, our need for power and status fades.
To do this, however, is no easy thing. It requires many daily decisions, choosing to see with God’s eyes, to feel with God’s heart and to act according to God’s vision for human life: to choose love over hate, generosity over hoarding, to let go of power and status and be of real service to our sisters and brothers. That is what ‘carrying the cross’ is all about.
Jesus warns that this is a difficult and demanding way, and that a disciple needs to be clear-eyed and ready to take up the task.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF] (4.28 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub] (4.87 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - XXIII Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (353 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - XXIII Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (478 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - XXIII Domingo do Tempo Comum (505 KB)
Vitam Coelo Reddiderunt
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