O.Carm
Chapter of the Indian General Commissariat Held
The second chapter of the General Commissariat of St. Therese and St. Albert was held in Asirbhavan, Ernakulam, Kerala, India from February 13-18, 2023. "Hopeful walking to the plans of God" (Jer. 29:11) was the theme of the chapter.
Among those attending were the prior general Miceal O' Neill, general councilor Robert Thomas Puthusery, and 30 members of the commissariat working in Inda and abroad.
Some Indian Discalced Carmelites of the Latin rite, with permission of their superiors, asked that they might enter the Carmelite Order. On October 27, 2011, the General Delegation was canonically established. On September 3, 2019, the prior general, with the consent of the general council of the Order, instituted the General Commissariat of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. Albert of Jerusalem. According to the 2019 Status Ordinis, the Commissary has five houses in India and one in Germany.
During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:
Commissary General | Comisario General | Commissario Generale:
Fr. Kuriakose Chandanaparambil, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere:
Fr. Jacob Robin Chakkalaparambil, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere:
Fr. Emmanuel Dixon Rebero, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere:
Fr. Michael Joseph Jackson, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere:
Fr. Titus Rancy Kalaburackal, O. Carm.
Celebrating At Home - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Going the extra mile
(Matthew 5:38-48)
Vengeance, retaliation and violence seem part and parcel of the human experience. When we are hurt our first instinct is often to strike back, to take revenge on the one who hurt us - ‘pay back’, as we call it.
That’s how cycles of violence get started. These cycles can continue, between families for example, for generations, enduring long after the original incident has been forgotten.
In continuing his Sermon on the Mount in today’s Gospel, Jesus calls his disciples to a new way of handling violence and unjust treatment - not with revenge and retaliation, but with open-hearted generosity and forgiveness.
Jesus’ teaching must have sounded like the ravings of a mad man to his hearers. Even for us today that teaching can be ‘hard to swallow’. Is Jesus seriously asking us to offer the other cheek to the one who strikes us, to suffer double the injury? If someone wants our shirt, do we have to give them our coat as well? If someone forces us to go one mile, do we really have to go two miles with them? Love your enemies?
Pray for those who persecute you? Seriously?
The challenge in Jesus’ words is for the disciples to always act in our dealings with one another as God would act. That is how we can break the cycles of violence which would otherwise entrap us.
Jesus calls his disciples to a more abundant righteousness even when they are unjustly treated. He takes traditional interpretations of the ancient biblical teachings and corrects and extends them in a more generous interpretation.
Virtue and righteousness are not about looking good on the outside, fulfilling the ‘letter of the Law’. They are about being good on the inside and acting for the good of others, allowing God’s heart to reign within our own. That’s what brings us into right relationship with God and neighbour.
True Christian virtue always goes beyond merely what is required. It is always willing to ‘go the extra mile’ in tolerance, love, forgiveness and mercy. It mirrors the excessive generosity of God.
The perfection of true holiness is found in acting towards others, including our enemies, as God acts towards us all.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF] (6.03 MB)
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- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Séptimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (673 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - VII Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (672 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em familia - 7 Domingo do Tempo Comum (672 KB)
Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
INITIUM NOVITIATUS
01-02-2023 Peter Lima (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
01-02-2023 Brandsma Banty Parichha (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
01-02-2023 Norbert Rohan Paltasingh (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
01-02-2023 Ambrose Philmon Sabhasundar (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
01-02-2023 Gerard Joel Thottakth (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
01-02-2023 Brocard Bibek Soreng (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
01-02-2023 Savio Arbin Jatarma (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
02-02-23 Gabriel Wilson Dupad (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
02-02-23 Paul Niral Nayak (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
02-02-23 James Juburaj Baliar Singh (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
02-02-23 Francis Ajay Kumar Banavasi (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
02-02-23 Joseph Adlin Pinheiro (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
02-02-23 Alphonse Akash (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
05-01-23 Francis Ajith Alosious (STSA) North Paravur, Kerala, India
26-01-23 Étienne Roudelin (ACV-Antillas) Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
26-01-23 Julien Étienne (ACV-Antillas) Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
26-01-23 Robert Batista Ferrera (ACV-Antillas) Santo Domingo, República
Dominicana
11-02-23 Everton Ramos Cláudio (Pern) Recife, Brasil
11-02-23 José Edson da Silva (Pern) Recife, Brasil
11-02-23 José Roberto Santos (Pern) Recife, Brasil
ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
27-12-22 Ebin Mathew (STSA) Kalamassery, Kerala, India
15-01-23 Thomas Renju Maliyackal (STSA) Vandiperiyar, Kerala, India
28-01-23 Sergio Roberto Sánchez Mejía (PCM) Tlalnepantla de Baz, México
28-01-23 Joseph Bazilou Bacyé (Baet) Kudugú, Burkina Faso
Picture captions:
2023 Profession ceremony, Commissary of St. Thérèse and St. Albert of Jerusalem (India)
2023 Ceremonia de Profesión, Comisariado de Santa Teresa y San Alberto de Jerusalén (India)
2023 Cerimonia di professione, Commissariato di Santa Teresa e Sant'Alberto di Gerusalemme (India)
Meeting of the Carmelite European Geographical Area
On January 16-17, 2023, the provincials, commissaries and delegates general of the European Geographical Area met in St Albert’s International Centre (CISA) Rome for their fourth general meeting of the sexennium.
The first day began with the Eucharist which was celebrated by Tadeusz Popiela, a member of the Polish Province and prior of St Albert’s, who welcomed the participants and reminded them that as we face the challenges of our various offices, our human abilities will get us only so far. We need to emphasise that Christ is at the centre of our community.
In assembly, Richard Byrne, general councillor for Europe, reported to the Area noting some practical details especially for any forthcoming provincial or commissariat chapters. He noted that these meetings are not just moments to communicate information but are occasions to continue to get to know each other, to look at the common issues in Europe and take joint decisions. In addition, they can be moments to also learn from each the experience of each other and be moments of support and encouragement for each other. Each participant then shared with the meeting the current reality of their own entity also outlining recent initiatives or challenges within their own context.
In regional groups, the participants then moved to discuss vocations reflecting on the 2017 message from Pope Francis on Pastoral Work For Vocations and looking for concrete proposals for the ministry of vocations. After sharing, they agreed that each of the three regions (Iberia, Italy-Malta and North European) would organise their own meeting of vocational personnel within the next twelve months.
The second day began with Eucharist which was celebrated by Jose Deepak Aracka, member of the Indian Province and sub prior of St Albert’s. In regional groups, the participants then shared their personal experience of leadership noting their best practices under several themes including their role in ‘self-care.’
Building on the work of the General Congregation held in September 2023 in Rome, the progress each participant had made regarding their plan of practical action to support the brothers to live the ‘joy’ of consecrated life and the living of the vows was reviewed. In addition, how best to support local priors was discussed and other themes from the General Congregation that will need attention at future meetings were noted.
The participants received an extensive report of the European common novitiate house which is held in the Convent of San Andrés in Salamanca, Spain. This program has been in place for ten years. Reports were also presented on the other houses of formation in Europe especially those houses in Barcelona, Rome, and Dublin.
Eduardo Andrés Agosta Scarel, a member of the Province of Aragon-Castile-Valencia, was invited to give the participants some ideas on how to continue working and developing the idea of Care for Creation as envisaged in the Decree of the General Chapter (2019). He noted that we participate as an Order in two spaces at the international level: the climate summit, and the biodiversity summit. Among other things, these call us to the divestment of fossil energies and to lead by example with visible changes in our habits and customs.
Information was given regarding the forthcoming “Carmelite Day” during the World Youth Day meeting in Lisbon on August 2, 2023. Finally, the members agreed to meet again in Rome in January 2024 and the meeting closed with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide the European Area in its initiatives and projects.
Provincial Chapter of the St. Thomas Province in India
The members of the Province of St. Thomas in India held their 6th chapter from February 5-10, 2023, in Thrissur, Kerala, in India.
It was an open chapter attended by the prior general of the Order, Miceal O'Neill, Robert Thomas Puthussery, the General Councilor for Asia-Australia-Oceania, and 66 members of the province working in India and abroad.
"Go Out and Stand on the Mountain Before the Lord" (1Kg 19:11) was the theme of the Chapter.
The Province of St. Thomas has its beginnings in the 1973 provincial chapter of the former Upper German Province. The decision was made to invite candidates from India to study in Bamberg, Germany. In 1982 the first house was canonically erected in India. In 1993, the area became a provincial commissariat. By 2000, the commissariat had been so blessed with vocations tha the Indian Carmelites went to Kenya to help establish the Order. In 2007 the new province of St. Thomas in India was established and was institutes on July 16th, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The members belong to the Syro-Malabar Rite of the Church.
During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:
Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale:
Fr. Thankachan Njaliath, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere:
Fr. Thomas Kunnappillil, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere:
Fr. Shaji Mangalath, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere:
Fr. Shiju Njaralampuzha, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere:
Fr. Johnson Baby Kunnath, O. Carm.
Seminar on Elijah Held in Nantes
On February 11, the Carmelite Centre d'études d'histoire de la spiritualité (CEHS) in Nantes organized the fourth seminar enlisted in the program of activities for the year 2022-2023 on Carmelite Spirituality. The seminar, which included two talks, was conducted by Frère Louis-Marie Mingard, O. Carm., on the Prophet Elijah. The talks focused on an exegetical and symbolic interpretation of the mantle and the journey of Elijah and Elisha leading to Elijah's ascension in the chariot of fire.
The seminar was well attended by members of the Carmelite Third Order Secular as well as individuals, lay and consecrated, who are attracted to Carmelite Spirituality. The upcoming conferences in the CEHS programme Parcours "La Source du Carmel" Découvrir la Spiritualité Carmélitaine include seminars on John of Saint Samson and Titus Brandsma.
Elective Chapter of the Monastery in Córdoba, Spain
On February 7, the Monastery Sagrado Corazón y San Titus Brandsma, in Córdoba, Spain, held its elective chapter.
This monastery was founded in 1985 by the Federation "Mater et Decor Carmeli" of the Betica Province of Spain. From its foundation it is intended to be the Federal House, providing a common formation program at the service of all the monasteries of the Federation. It is the seat of the Federal President and is the seat of courses of Initial and Permanent Formation.
The results of the elective chapter were as follows:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sor Reinhild Maschke, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sor Ma Dolores Dominguez Pérez, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sor Ma Belén Garrido Garrido, O. Carm.
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice:
Sor Ma Dolores Dominguez Pérez, O. Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa:
Sor Ma Belén Garrido Garrido, O. Carm.
Sacristan| Sacristana | Sacrestana:
Sor Anastasia Katungwa Makua, O. Carm.
Celebrating At Home - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Excessive generosity
(Matthew 5:17-37)
In the Jewish tradition, guidance about how to be at rights with God and neighbour is found in the Torah, the teaching contained in the fi rst fi ve books of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).
It is especially important for St Matthew, writing his Gospel for Jewish believers, to show that Jesus is not opposed to Jewish teachings and traditions. He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to complete or fulfi l them.
But for Jesus it is not enough to follow these teachings only in external actions. The path that Jesus is calling his disciples to is a path of thorough-going transformation from within.
The short version of this Sunday’s Gospel begins with, ‘I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.’ Those listening to Jesus would have been deeply shocked by these words. The scribes and Pharisees were considered the righteous ones – those who stood most chance of getting into heaven. They were expert practitioners of the Law. But Jesus is calling his disciples to a more abundant righteousness. He takes traditional interpretations of biblical teachings and corrects and extends them in a more generous interpretation.
A number of examples in today’s Gospel reading serve to make the point. As always, Jesus’ words go to the heart and from there address issue. For example: it is not enough to be able to say, ‘I have kept the commandment not to kill’. What about the anger in your heart that gives rise to a whole raft of insults, bitterness and injury against another person?
Virtue and righteousness are about being in right relationship with God and others. It is not about looking good on the outside, fulfi lling the ‘letter of the Law’, but about being good on the inside; having the right attitude of heart so as to be in right relationship with God and neighbour. Such an attitude of heart will manifest itself in generous life-giving actions that make the world safe for others.
True Christian virtue always goes beyond merely what is required and always mirrors the excessive generosity of God.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF] (5.54 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub] (4.14 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Sexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (506 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - VI Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (508 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em familia - 6 Domingo do Tempo Comum (508 KB)
Vitam Coelo Reddiderunt
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Online Seminar on Spirituality in a Post-Truth Society
Online Seminar
Spirituality in a Post-Truth Society
André P. DeBattista
In 2016, the Oxford Dictionary chose ‘post-truth’ as its international word of the year. It defined it as an adjective “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief”. Since then, this phrase has often been used in relation to populist politics. Nonetheless, the same description can be extended to woke trends. Information is now weaponised by different entities in order to manipulate public opinion and political outcomes.
These situations challenge Christians. How can the Christian – who believes that Christ is the “way, the truth, and the life” – live coherently in a world which recognizes no truth, but, rather, a multiplicity of “truths”? How can the Christian witness to the truth in a post-truth age? How should Christians react to populist and woke ideologies? After defining the salient points of the ‘post-truth’ society, this seminar will seek to address some of the above questions.
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Programme
Friday 10 February 2023 – from 06:00 p.m. to 08:00 p.m.
Saturday 11 February 2023 — from 09:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Venue
Online via Zoom.
How to Register
Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Payment
The seminar is being organized free of charge; however, if you wish to donate, you may do so:
(1) via bank transfer to our account [IBAN] MT 28 VALL 2201 3000 0000 400 1797 9621 [beneficiary "Carmelite Institute"]
(2) by cheque addressed to "Carmelite Institute" for amounts greater than €20 (as per directive n. 19 issued by the Central Bank of Malta)
