O.Carm
Celebrating At Home - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Missionaries of the Kingdom
(Luke 10:1-12)
On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches the disciples the meaning of ‘following’ him. Part of that following is the proclamation of the Kingdom - drawing attention to the reign of God in the world and in its peoples.
There is a sense of simplicity and urgency as Jesus commissions the seventy-two to spread the Good News of God’s involvement in human life. The Gospel, of course, is not about an historical 72 people being sent out. It is about the mission of every disciple of Jesus. Spreading the message of the Gospel is always to be done in a non-threatening way – by winning over hearts and minds through good example and good living. It is best accomplished by making oneself vulnerable and keeping oneself focussed on the mission rather than on comfort. Real rejoicing is not to be had in the conversion of great numbers of people, but in knowing that one has done the word and the will of God.
Disciples can’t afford to be weighed down by too many things or lost in idle conversation (gossip). They are to be bearers of the peace of God - a peace which heals, strengthens, soothes, frees and restores. Difficulties will be encountered, but the disciples will not be overcome.
That is the cause for the rejoicing sung about in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. God is at work among his people like a nurturing mother and a flowing river bringing nourishment, peace, comfort and delight. People flourish when the presence of God is recognised and welcomed.
May that presence be always seen and felt in us.
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- pdf Celebrando en Familia - XIV Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (552 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - XIV Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (515 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - XIV Domingo do Tempo Comum (507 KB)
Lectio Divina July, 2025
Opening Prayer
Father,
You call Your children to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of Your truth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrating At Home - Saints Peter and Paul
Who Do You Say I Am? (Matthew 16:13-19)
At this point in St Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus and his chosen ones have travelled and lived together for some time. He now invites them to explore what they understand about his identity. Even in his question there is explicit hint: Who do people say the Son of Man is? The disciples tell Jesus what they have heard from others: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.Jesus then asks the disciples, “But, who do you say I am?” It is Peter who adds to the title ‘Son of Man’ by recognising Jesus as ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God’.Jesus names Peter as a happy man. This same Peter whose faith faltered when he was buffeted by the wind and waves now shows his openness to God and recognises Jesus for who he is. But this is not the end of Peter’s story. There are ups and downs in his response, as we see in another passage when this ‘rock’ of faith becomes a ‘stumbling block’ to God’s purpose (Matthew 16:21-23).In spite of that, Jesus names Peter as the ‘rock’ on which he will build the church. Peter has a new name and a new vocation. This church will have to battle hostile forces which seek to enslave people in sin. It will be a safe haven of freedom by being the living presence of God.Peter’s job is to use the ‘keys of the kingdom’ to unlock and release the reign of God’s grace into the world. In this work, decisions have to be made for the whole community of the church. Here, Matthew’s words about ‘binding’ and ‘loosening’ have nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins. They are a kind of pledge that the sincere and honest decisions of faithful people have divine backing. It does not mean that these decisions are the best or most perfect ones. Discernment and decision-making are part of the job of being disciples finding together the way of the Lord; of being the living presence of God in the world.Finally, Jesus binds the disciples to silence about his true identity lest his Messiahship get confused with the people’s expectation of a messiah who will free them from Roman occupation.Peter is a lot like us. We really want to believe, to become the presence of God, but we don’t always seem to be able to do it. We have great moments of faith and moments in which we are deeply in tune with the heart of God. Most of us also have moments when we fall back into narrow and harsh ways that cannot hold the power of God’s love. But the Gospel reassures us that, in spite of our weakness and the many ways in which we may be found wanting, God is still close to us and faith is a journey, not a destination.
In my thoughts, words and actions, who do I say Jesus is?
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- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Solemnidad de San Pedro y San Pablo (521 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - Santi Pietro e Paolo (486 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Solenidade de San Pedro e San Paulo (547 KB)
Province of St. Elias Holds Chapter in Middletown
Province of St. Elias Holds Chapter in Middletown, New York (USA), to Elect New Leadership June 17-20, 2025
The North American Province of St. Elias held its 31st Provincial Chapter in Middletown, New York from June 17-20, 2025. The theme of the Provincial Chapter was "Daily Bread for the Journey: Carmel and the Eucharist.”
There was a presentation by Dr. Susan Timoney, associate professor of Practice in Pastoral Studies at the Catholic University of America on the elements of Eucharistic spirituality in Carmel. The Chapter also spent time developing provincial priorities for the next triennium. These focus on improvements in the province’s vocation and formation programs, enhancing the quality of our community life, and identifying new areas of ministerial outreach, in line with our Carmelite charism. Reports were also heard about the growth and development of our missions in Vietnam and Trinidad.
The following were elected to positions of leadership:
Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Robert Chiulli, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Anthony Trung Nguyen, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Michael Kissane, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3o Consigliere
Paul Denault, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Marlon Beharry, O. Carm.
Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
28-04-25 Alphonse, Rony (STSA) Kerala, India
28-04-25 James, Kumar (STSA) Kerala, India
28-04-25 Joseph, Praveen (STSA) Kerala, India
PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
28-04-25 Cheeramban Thomas, Matthew (STSA) Kerala, India
28-04-25 Jerome, Abin (STSA) Kerala, India
28-04-25 Michael, Angelin Mary (STSA) Kerala, India
28-04-25 Thomas, Martin (STSA) Kerala, India
28-04-25 Nuno, Nixon (STSA) Kerala, India
ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
13-06-25 Yohanes Seran (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Andrianus Bado Rema (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Georgius Ture (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Daniel Seti Hali Tolang (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Patrisius Rato (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Hendrikus Nggala (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Blasius Wege (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Hilarius Abiops Sawokupu (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Alexandro Putra Bei (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Marianus Ronaldo Tiba (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
13-06-25 Yulianus Yesik M. Rudeng (Indo-Or) Maumere, Indonesia
ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
06-04-25 Itamar dos Santos Neri (Pern) Aracaju, Brasil
26-04-25 Cristiano Garcia Dias Barbosa (Pern) Recife, Brasil
Celebrating At Home - The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ
The Real Presence of Jesus in Us (Luke 9:11-17)
Today’s feast celebrates the enduring sign of Christ’s presence with us in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
It also celebrates Christ’s presence with us in the community of the Church. The Eucharist is our sacrament of communion, not only with Christ and God, but also with all those called into the Christian community. Our communion binds us to one another in a sacred union of mind and heart with Jesus.
The word ‘communion’ means to share in common. In Holy Communion what we share in common with God and each other is Jesus Christ present in the Bread and the Wine. Another meaning of ‘communion’ is to be of one mind and heart. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps us in communion of mind and heart with God, with Christ and with each other.
We are very used to thinking about the Real Presence of Jesus being in the Blessed Sacrament. But the real presence of Christ is also in the community when it gathers in his name to feast on the Word of Scripture, to recall what Jesus said and did at the Last Supper (not only the words over bread and wine, but also the washing of the feet), when it shares the food of the Eucharist together, when it goes out and continues to break and pour out that food in acts of loving kindness, in soothing and nourishing words which brings others to life.
The Eucharist is not only an object to be looked at, but an action to be done so that the living presence of Jesus continues to touch and heal.
Maybe we need to think more deeply about the real presence of Jesus being in real, living human beings. Bread and Wine have no eyes to gaze with love, no face with which to smile, no mouth to speak soothing words, no arms to hold the grieving and the sick, or to lend a hand, no ears to hear the pain. But we do.
So we are called to become the Eucharist that feeds those around us with the nourishment of breadth of heart and vision, respect, love, compassion, hope and forgiveness.
May we become what we receive. (St Augustine)
- pdf Celebrating At Home - The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ [PDF] (2.88 MB)
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- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Santísimo Cuerpo y Sangre de Cristo (463 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - Santissimo Corpo e Sangue di Cristo (462 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Santíssimo Corpo e Sangue de Cristo (459 KB)
Province of Germany Holds Triennial Chapter
Province of Germany Holds Triennial Chapter June 9-13, 2025
The fourth provincial chapter of the German Province was held from June 9 – 13, 2025 in the Carmelite Retreat Center at Springiersbach (Germany).
In his opening address, the prior general, Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm., expressed his wish that the chapter would be “a meeting of minds and hearts that see more clearly who we are, what we have received from God and what is our calling in this country and in Africa today.”
The theme chosen for the chapter was: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9). The chapter participants (gremiales) took this question of God to Elijah as an opportunity to ask themselves what constitutes their religious life today. Arising from this, the gremiales considered their spiritual and community life. They examined how they were to live in the world: how to communicate their lives and what service they wanted to present to people.
Among the normal reports and topics, typical of every provincial chapter, the gremiales considered how they could strengthen their relationship with Cameroon. Time was also spent considering the new leadership of the province and what needed to happen after the provincial chapter was concluded. In addition, the chapter supported the province’s participation in the projects for closer cooperation within the North European Region.
The chapter was facilitated and moderated by Frau Stefanie Kainzbauer. Wilmar Santin, O. Carm., Bishop of Itaituba, Para, Brazil, a member of the province, attended as a guest. In addition, Dr Raoul Kiyangi, OCD, provincial of the Discalced German Province attended for a day as a guest of the province.
The following members were elected to leadership:
Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Peter Schröder, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Theodor Vreeswijk, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Stephan Panzer, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3o Consigliere
Lorenz van Rickelen, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Severin Tyburski, O. Carm.
Vitam Coelo Reddiderunt
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Institutum Carmelitanum Leadership Renewed
New Leadership of the Institutum Carmelitanum Announced
The Carmelite Order is pleased to announce a new leadership team for their international academic institution, Institutum Carmelitanum, located at St Albert’s International Centre in Rome (Italy).
Boby Sebastian Tharakkunnel, O. Carm., (Province of St Thomas, India), has been appointed as the President of the Institutum Carmelitanum. He will direct, coordinate, and promote the research and the scientific activities of the Institutum Carmelitanum for the next six years.
Father Boby was born in Kerala (India) and made his first profession as a Carmelite in 1993. He worked as Executive Secretary of the Order’s Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission and also as a member of the Order’s Inter-Religious Dialogue Commission. After earning his doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute (Rome) in 2014, he has been a professor of Canon Law, Civil Law and director of retreats and courses of personality development. Currently, he is the prior and rector of our minor seminary “Carmel Nivas” in Kerala (India).
Speaking about his appointment, Father Boby said, “It is with joy and humility that I embrace the role of President of the Institutum Carmelitanum, eager to honor the legacy of distinguished Carmelites before me and to help shape a future of renewal and excellence for this great institution.”
Giovanni Grosso, O. Carm., (Italian Province) has been appointed as the General Archivist. The Order’s General Archive is located at St Albert’s International College (Rome). The General Archivist is responsible for the entire patrimony and takes care of the ordering, custody, restoration, consultation and enhancement of the documentation preserved in the Archive.
Maximilianus Kolbe Agung Wahyudianto, O. Carm., (Indonesian Province), has been appointed as the General Librarian. In addition to a small general section, the Carmelite General Library has a specifically Carmelite section which collects all the publications of Carmelite authors and subjects. As General Librarian, Father Maximilianus will take care of the organization, conservation, updating, consultation, and enhancement of the library.
Mario Loya, O. Carm., (PCM Province) has been announced as the Secretary of the Institutum Carmelitanum. As a member of the secretariat, Father Mario has the task of helping to coordinate the activity of the Institutum Carmelitanum especially with regard to its publications.
Michael Plattig, O. Carm., (German Province), continues in his role as editor of Carmelus, the academic journal of the Institutum Carmelitanum. Carmelus is a multi-lingual journal of scholarly articles along with an annual bibliography of Carmelite spirituality, theology, history, and biography along with other works important to researchers and students in the area of Carmelite studies.
The Institutum Carmelitanum has the task of making known the spiritual heritage of Carmel throughout the Order and throughout the modern world. It was established in 1951 by the then prior general, Kilian Lynch, to promote studies especially in the areas of Carmelite history, Mariology, and spirituality and is now developing into other areas. It produces several publications through the years including an academic journal, Carmelus.
Elective Chapter Held in Machakos, Kenya
Elective Chapter Held in the Monastery of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Machakos, Kenya on June 10, 2025
On June 10, 2025, the Carmelite nuns of the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Machakos, Kenya held their elective chapter.
The monastery was founded in 1999 by sisters from the Carmelite monasteries in Utrera, Spain and Santo Domingo. It was the first Carmelite monastery in Kenya. Two other enclosed monasteries now exist in the country: Juja Farm and Kitui.
The following nuns were elected to leadership:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sr. Mary Winifred Katunge Mbui
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr. Mary Therese Ndinda
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr. Mary Jacinta Wayua
3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr. Mary Lucy of St. Joseph
4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr. Mary Dorothee Ndomo
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa
Sr. Mary Therese Ndinda
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice
Sr. Mary Therese Ndina Mutisya
Sacristan | Sacristán | Sacrestana:
Sr. Mary Jacinta
