Representatives of the entire Carmelite Family, made up of the two traditions of the Carmelite Order (OCARM and OCD), gathered to celebrate the Jubilee Year in Rome on June 2, 2025.

In the afternoon, the members of both General Councils undertook the pilgrimage way to pass through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica. Starting from the new Piazza Pia, the group moved along Via della Conciliazione chanting the psalms, singing the litany, and listening to Scripture and other reflections until they passed together through the Holy Door.

Inside St Peter’s Basilica, the group was led to the Tomb of St Peter. There, everyone recited the Apostles’ Creed and were blessed by the Preposito General of the Discalced Carmelites, Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD.

After a short break, everyone gathered again for the celebration of the Eucharist in the Church of Our Lady in Traspontina. The church was full to capacity as many members of the Carmelite Family who were present in Rome at that time gathered to celebrate the Jubilee Year together.

The prior general of the Carmelite Order, Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm., presided at the Eucharist and the preposito general, Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD, preached the homily. Giuseppe Midili, O. Carm., and the other members of the community at Traspontina guided the celebration liturgically and musically. Two members of the Carmelite community at Albano also assisted. After Communion, the choir from the Teresianum sang a hymn that they had composed especially for the Jubilee Year.

Afterwards, Tadeusz Popiela, O. Carm., prior of the community, welcomed both General Curial communities (along with some guests) to a supper in Saint Albert’s International College (CISA) with the rest of the community there.

June 14 | Memorial

Elisha, the Disciple Par Excellence

Elisha is not Elijah's only disciple. According to a Jewish tradition found in the Vitae prophetarum, in Jerome's introduction to his Commentary on the Book of Jonah, and in some other patristic writings, Jonah was the son of the widow of Zarephath, brought back to life by the prophet and became Elijah's disciple: “Jonah, after his death, was resurrected by the prophet Elijah: he followed him, suffered with him, and, because of his obedience to him, merited the favor of the gift of prophecy” (Arabic Jacobite Synaxarion of September 22).

G. Baconthorp knew this tradition, which he derived from Jerome. G. de Cheminot, following F. Ribot, makes a disciple of the man whom Elijah sent back when he was fleeing from Jezebel, the first one. It is this man whom Elijah sends to the top of Mount Carmel to watch for the coming of the rain.

According to the Vitae prophetarum, Obadiah, Ahab's steward who hid the hundred prophets, fifty by fifty, sent by Ahaziah, became a disciple of Elijah. Theodore Bar-Koni, an eighth-century Nestorian author, specifies that he was endowed with the gift of prophecy after following Elijah. Medieval Carmelites list Obadiah among the great disciples of Elijah. Philippe Ribot is the only 14th-century Carmelite to also make the prophet Micah a disciple of Elijah.

In this group of disciples, Elisha occupies the first place (Cheminot, Ribot).

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God Enfleshed In Us (John 16:12-15)

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• pdf Celebrando en Familia - Domingo de la Santísima Trinidad (470 KB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa -  Domenica della Santissima Trinità (469 KB)
• pdf Celebrando em família - O Domingo da Santíssima Trindade (467 KB)

12 June Optional Memorial

Hilary Januszewski, born Pawel on June 11, 1907, in Poland, joined the Order of Carmelites in 1927 and was ordained a priest in 1934. During the German occupation of Poland, when other friars were arrested, Fr. Hilary decided to present himself in exchange for an older and sick friar. From that day his Calvary began. He was sent to the prison of Montelupi (Cracow), then to the concentration camp of Sachsenchausen and in April 1941 to the concentration camp of Dachau. There he was a model of prayer life, encouraging others and giving hope for a better tomorrow. Together with the other Carmelites, among whom was Saint Titus Brandsma, they often joined in prayer. He died on March 25, 1945, from typhus, shortly before the camp's liberation. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on June 13, 1999.

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Let God’s Love Be Seen (John 14:15-16, 23-26)

• pdf Celebrating At Home - Pentecost Sunday [PDF] (2.93 MB)
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• pdf Celebrando em família - Domingo de Pentecostes (566 KB)

Liturgical Congress Provides Carmelite Family Week of Discussion on Encountering the Risen Lord

Eighty people attended the Order’s international liturgical congress held in May 2025. The Congress, which had been organised by the Order’s Liturgy & Prayer Commission, was held in the Carmelite centre outside of Rome (Istituto Madonna del Carmine “Il Carmelo”, Sassone) from May 5 to 10, 2025.

The overall theme of the Congress is: “Encountering the Risen Lord: Liturgy and prayer in Carmel today.”

Giuseppe Midili, O. Carm. (Pontificio Ateneo Sant'Anselmo), celebrated the Opening Eucharist and gave the opening presentation entitled: Ars celebrandi: to “contemplate the beauty and truth of the Christian celebration” (Desiderio Desideravi ) in the light of the Carmelite charism. During his presentation, he reminded the participants of the Carmelite Constitutions which call on us to prepare for, love and renew our concern for the liturgy. He noted that the artist in the liturgy is Christ who brings into existence the art of offering himself to the Father. We journey from a liturgy of appearances to a liturgy that opens to the experience of the Paschal Mystery.

Michael Plattig, O. Carm., presented on “Carmel, a school of prayer: personal and liturgical”. He began by exploring the development of prayer based on the New Testament, the Rule of St Albert and the Book of the Institution of the First Monks. Michael noted that Titus Brandsma wrote: “We are not called to do great, remarkable, much-discussed things in public life. That would be inconsistent with the simplicity that we Carmelites wish to practice. However, it is our task to do ordinary things in a great way, that is, with sincere intentions and giving our all.” One of these ordinary things is prayer which is the cultivation of a personal relationship with God in everyday life.

Simon Nolan, O. Carm., reflected on: Carmel and Music, brining the participants on a fascinating journey through early Carmelite Chant to the 1700s. He noted that the medieval Carmelite Choir Book witness to the emergence of a musical tradition. Simon concluded that there is a living tradition within the Carmelite Family today involving many different peoples and different musical and cultural traditions.

Valéry Bitar OCD (Teresianum) presented the topic: "You must assemble every morning to participate in the Eucharistic celebration" (Rule 14). He noted that Carmel needs to meet every day to celebrate the Eucharist in the central oratory, in order to remain faithful to itself and to its mission in the Church. From this, the source of eternal life will also spring up in us.

Anastasia di Gerusalemme, O. Carm., presented the topic: Celebrating the Word of God in the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. She noted that the Carmelite Rule offers very concrete indications which help us to grow and become aware of what it means to live the encounter and relationship with the Word of God. The Word appears within our everyday experiences especially in the refectory, in the cell and in the oratory.

Professor Donna Orsuto (Gregorianum) presented on the topic: Carmelites celebrating Mary in her feasts. As a guideline, Carmelites in celebrating and preaching about Mary can present Mary in her simplicity, help people grasp that she is approachable and show that she can be imitated.

Giovanni Grosso, O. Carm. (Ita), presented on The Marian Apostolate in its various forms: the Order's extra-liturgical Marian devotion. He began by linking the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the very origins of the Carmelite hermit community. Giovanni noted many different forms of extra liturgical devotion including the role of confraternities, Marian antiphons, solemn Marian Wednesdays, and the “crowns” of Our Lady which involved the reciting of several Hail Marys.

Fernando Joaquín Millán Romeral, O. Carm. (Comillas), presented on the topic: Celebrating the witness of the Saints of Carmel in our contemporary world. God alone is holy, but in Christ and through Christ, we share in that holiness. Over time, the church clarified the concept of saints and applied it first to martyrs and then to pastors, virgins, hermits and so on who stood out for their holiness. In recent years, the Order has been blessed with the ecclesial recognition of several examples of holiness. Each in their own way emphasise various aspects of Christian and Carmelite life. 

Désiré Unen Alimange, O. Carm. (Ita-Congo), presented on the topic: Rites of Carmelite religious profession. Désiré began by noting the first traces of a rite of monastic profession between the fifth and sixth centuries before we get to procession in mendicant orders (professio in manibus). The Rite of religious profession for Carmelites reflects the nature and spirit of the Order.

Shortly after Désiré’s presentation, the participants were overjoyed to see the “white smoke” suddenly start to appear from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Together, the participants waited in anticipation to find out who our next pope would be. There was much joy when we learnt of the election of Pope Leo XIV.

On Friday, 9^th May, all the participants travelled into the centre of Rome for a pilgrimage day together. Monsignor Enda Murphy (Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) celebrated the Eucharist for the participants in S. Maria in Traspontina. As Cardinal Arthur Roche (Prefect, Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) had post-Conclave commitments, Monsignor Enda then read Cardinal Roche’s text on his topic: The role of the liturgy within a Synodal Church. Cardinal Roche noted that liturgy and synodality are not distinct yet are linked. Our encounter with the Lord in various ways in the liturgy leads to communion.

The participants then made their pilgrimage through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. After free time, they celebrated Evening Prayer with the community of Saints Silvester & Martin ai Monti before returning to the conference centre for the evening meal.

On the last morning, Míceál O’Neill, O. Carm. (Prior General), presented on his topic: Glorifying the Lord with your lives. During his presentation, the Prior General noted that the Carmelite mystic, Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, in time spent in thanksgiving after she received Holy Communion, would often ponder the Gospel of the day. As we move away from the altar and from the church, we move as people who who in some way have been transformed by the encounter and who will bring that gift with them into the rest of their lives.  After the participants reviewed together the experience of the week, the Prior General celebrated the Closing Eucharist of the Congress.

The members of the Liturgy & Prayer Commission are: Richard Byrne, O. Carm. (President), Sr. Nerina de Simone, CMSTBG, John Keating, O. Carm, (Ireland), Robert Manik, O. Carm. (Indonesia), Désiré Unen Alimange, O. Carm. (Ita-Congo), Alexander Vella, O. Carm. (Malta)

Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of June 2025:

June 2 – 6: General Council plenary session.

June 2: Jubilee pilgrimage and celebration OCARM and OCD together.

June 6: Celebration of the closing of the bicentennial year of the birth of Madre Teresa Scrilli, Montevarchi, Arezzo.

June 9-13: Provincial Chapter in the Province of Germany

June 27 - 30: Convocation of Lay Carmelites in Washington, DC, via zoom. 

Invitation to the Second Biennial Congress of the Titus Brandsma Circle

Rome, November 27-29, 2025

Registration is open for participants of the next congress of the Titus Brandsma circle. Please register via our website: https://titusbrandsmacircle.org

Please find the program here. It is also available on our website:

https://titusbrandsmacircle.org/program-congress-2025/

The fee for the conference, your stay in Instituto Maria SS. Bambina, the meals which are mentioned in the program, the tours, including transfer and entrance, coffee and tea comes to € 590 / US$ 670 for members of the Titus Brandsma Circle who paid their contribution this year and € 640 / US$ 727 for those who are not members or who did not pay their contribution.

Please transfer your conference fee to the following bank account:

Istituto per le Opere di Religione, Cortile Sisto V – 00120 – Città del Vaticano, giving TITUS BRANDSMA CIRCLE, account number 12918060, IBAN:  VA62001000000012918060, BIC: IOPRVAVX or IOPRVAVXXXX.

Please transfer half of the full amount, that is € 295.00 / € 320.00 by the middle of June at the latest. The other half of the full amount can be transferred at the end of September.  

The membership fee for the Titus Brandsma circle is €50.00 or US$50.00 for Europe and North America. The fee for members in Asia, Africa, and South America is €40.00. There is a €10 or US$10 discount for members of the Order.

Titus Brandsma Congress November 27-29, 2025

Program 

November 27, 2025  (Chair Giovanni Grosso)

8.30 – Morning Prayer  (Januarius Elijah Mutinda)

9.15 – Lectures. (20 minutes each, discussion in between) – Sala Luciani

• Word of Welcome (Fernando Millán Romeral)
• Titus Brandsma and the Liberating Power of Truth in John 8:32 (Lester Hallig)
• Titus Brandsma, the Resistance Fighter (Anne-Marie Bos)
• Journalists Ask for an Additional Patron Saint (Emmanuel van Lierde)

11.00 – Coffee / Tea

11.30 – Lectures. (20 minutes each, discussion in between)

• Titus Brandsma and Animal Protection (Michael Plattig)
• A Contemplative Prophetic Brotherhood in the Midst of the People: Titus Brandsma and the Elian Prophetic Dimension of the Carmelite Charism (Francis Lefani Mwanza)
• Mysticism and the Everyday: Titus Brandsma and the Search for God in the Contemporary World (Bruno Schröder – online)

13.00 – Lunch

14.00 – Free Time 

16.00 – Coffee / Tea at CISA (Centro Internationale San Alberto)

16.30 – Tour through the Archive and the Library (Giovanna Brizi / Giovanni Grosso)

18.00 – Free Time

November 28, 2025 (chair Michael Plattig)

8.30 – Morning Prayer  (Januarius Elijah Mutinda)

9.30 – Lectures (20 minutes each, discussion in between) – Sala Luciani

• Titus Brandsma and Soreth (Patrick Mullins)
• Titus Brandsma and the Journaal Ons Geestelijk Erf (Rob Faesen)
• What Concept and Image of God for today? Inspiration taken from Titus Brandsma’s Lecture On the Concept of God (Charlo Camilleri)

11.00 – Coffee / Tea

11.30 – Lectures (20 minutes each, in between discussion)

• Titus Brandsma: The Decolonizing Dimension of the Mission of the Dutch Carmelite Order to Malang-Indonesia within the Context of Colonization. (Edison Tinambunam)
• Societal Action Inspired by Titus Brandsma (Rico Ponce)
• A New Bibliography of and about Titus Brandsma (Henk Rutten – online)

13.00 – Lunch

15.30 – Coffee and Tea 

16.00 – Silvio Maestranzi: Le due croci /The two crosses (introduction to the film Fernando Millan Romeral)

19.00 – Free Time

November 29, 2025  (Chair Fernando Millán Romeral)

8.30 – Morning prayer  (Januarius Elijah Mutinda)

9.30 – Lectures (20 minutes each, discussion in between) – Sala Luciani

• Titus Brandsma as a Carmelite Retreat Leader (Sanny Bruijns)
• The Poetry of St Titus Brandsma – An Underappreciated Part of His Oeuvre? (Marcin Polkowski)
• Titus Brandsma and Marian Spirituality in Rome: Santa Maria Antiqua and the Catacombs of Priscilla (Giovanni Grosso)

11.00 – Coffee / Tea

11:30 – Network Titus Brandsma Circle: Report of the Bursar, Elections of the President, Bursar, and Secretary by the Members of the Titus Brandsma Circle, Plans for the Next Congress in 2027 (Christian Körner, Fernando Millán Romeral)

12.30 – Break out groups

13.00 – Lunch

15.00 – Tour of the Catacombs of Priscilla (Giovanni Grosso)

19.00 – Eucharist 

20.00 – Dinner at Maria Bambina

Departure from Maria Bambina, Rome on November 30, 2025, no later than 9:30 a.m.

Normandy Celebrates 100 Years of Sainthood for Its Most Famous Citizen

The Catholic Church and the town of Lisieux celebrated the 100th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face with three days of solemn celebration on May 16-18, 2025. On May 18, the Basilica of St. Thérèse carried a live broadcast of Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass from St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on large screens.

The popular French saint, often referred to by devotees as "The Little Flower," was born Thérèse Martin. Following just nine years of religious life in the cloistered Carmelite monastery in Lisieux, she died at the age of 24 of tuberculosis in 1897. She lived with two of her older sisters and eventually her closest sibling in the same monastery.

Following her death, Thérèse became known worldwide through her spiritual memoir, Story of a Soul. She quickly became the object of astonishing devotion. The basilica built in her honor in Lisieux is today the second most visited place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes. Some 1 million visitors come annually to the basilica. Beatified in 1923, she was canonized in Rome on May 17, 1925, by Pope Pius XI, who proclaimed her patroness of missions in 1927. Pope Pius X called her “the greatest saint of modern times.” One hundred years after her death, in 1997, St. John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church.

The celebrations this year involved the entire city. Activities were planned to appeal to everyone, regardless of their age, level of faith or religious practice.

On May 16 in the evening -- a procession carrying the relics of St. Thérèse on a horse-drawn cart traveled through the streets of Lisieux, followed by several hundred people. This is the reliquary which has travelled the world always bringing in large crowds of Thérèse’s devotees. The reliquary spent some time in the Cathedral where the Martin family went to Mass regularly. It was then transferred to the basilica for a vigil of prayer.

The following day, the reliquary was displayed in front of the basilica. Some of her writings were read and the large crowd sung hymns. The Mass included the reading of the homily that Pope Pius XI delivered in Rome during the canonization Mass in 1925.

The rest of the weekend, pilgrims and others participated in activities related to the life and spirituality of St. Thérèse. They were able to make a jubilee pilgrimage and go to confession, but also take part in treasure hunts for children, guided tours of the wax museum, and, in a nod to 21st century intrigues, helped build a large structure out of Lego-style building bricks.

People dressed in late 19th century period costumes, took visitors through places Thérèse lived so they could easily enter into the atmosphere of everyday life in Lisieux in St. Thérèse's time.

The bishop of Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux, Jacques Habert, commented that there today a fascination for people of various backgrounds with Thérèse. "When I walk across the square in front of the basilica in Lisieux, I am always struck by the number of people who clearly are not used to going to church," he said. "They have heard about Thérèse, are interested in her, and want to come in and light a candle. It is a kind of attraction that is beyond our understanding."

"During World War I, many soldiers, both French and German, testified to their devotion to her and the graces they had received through her intercession," Father Schwab added. "And since then, enthusiasm for her has not waned.

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Called to be the Living Presence of God (Luke 24:46-53)

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