O.Carm
Lectio Divina February 2023
Lord our God,
help us to love You with all our hearts and to love all people as You love them.
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
Provincial Chapter of the Rio Province in Brasil
The members of the Province of Fluminis Januarii held their chapter from January 23-27, 2023, in the retreat house of São Carlos a Jundiá in São Paolo, Brasil.
The theme of the gathering was “Carmel –a Passion for God, for Humanity, and for the Brotherhood—in a World in Transformation.” Fraternity and mission were key themes of the Chapter.
The province was founded by Carmelites from Portugal. In 1595 the vice-province of Brazil was erected, consisting of four houses: Olinda (1583), Bahia (1586), Santos (1589) and Rio de Janeiro (1590). In 1720, the province was erected from the vice-province of “Estado do Brasil,” being separated from Bahia-Pernambuco.
Because of the political situation, most of the houses belonging to religious orders in Brazil were forced to close in the 19th century. However, from 1894 the Spanish Carmelites came to restore the province. In 1904 the Dutch Province undertook the restoration. Having reunited with the Province of Bahia for a decade, the Fluminis Januarii Province was re-established in 1962 and placed under the protection of St. Elias the Prophet.
During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:
Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale:
Frei Adailson Quintino, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere:
Frei Thiago Borges, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere:
Frei Atanael de Almeuda, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere:
Frei Geraldo D'Abadia, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere:
Frei Eduardo Ferreira, O. Carm.
Memorial of Blessed Archangela Girlani, Virgin
29 January Optional Memorial in the Italian Provinces
Born Eleonora, she was born in 1460 in Trino in the Marquisate of Monferrato.
It is written in an old manuscript that Blessed Archangela lived her religious life so intensely that, just as the monastery was entitled "Saint Mary in Paradise", she and the other nuns, even though still here on earth, lived as if already absorbed into heaven.
Prayer*
Father in heaven,
you gave the virgin Blessed Archangela Girlani
particular dedication to the mystery of the eternal Trinity.
Through her prayers
may we taste the delights of your glory
already here on earth,
and look upon you for ever in heaven.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
*Texts taken from the “Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours,” Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome: 1993.
Celebrating At Home - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Catching the vision
(Matthew 5:1-12)
Last Sunday’s Gospel introduced the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, his call to repentance, the choice of some disciples and the spread of his fame.
Now, over the next four Sundays, the church will take us on a journey through Jesus’ teaching in Chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s Gospel. These chapters form the Sermon on the Mount. Each Sunday’s Gospel builds on the one before – they are part of this first discourse in Matthew’s Gospel and need to be understood in a connected sense, not as a series of isolated sayings.
The text we know as the ‘Beatitudes’ introduces Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom, discipleship, the true meaning of the Law and true righteousness (virtue), interior disposition of the heart against external fulfilment of Law, trust in God and keeping the Kingdom as the focus of the disciple’s life.
Matthew’s beatitudes have been understood as a pattern of life for the follower of Jesus. Put in the context of Jesus’ call to conversion (the idea of radical change and transformation), those willing to be transformed will enjoy the blessings of the kingdom as their reward.
To be ‘poor in spirit’, to experience sadness (‘mourn’) because of the present state of affairs, to be gentle and unselfish rather than on the make, to have a passionate commitment to justice, to exercise mercy instead of taking advantage, to be ‘pure in heart’, to be ‘peacemakers’, to endure persecution and calumny for the sake of the right way of life (‘righteousness’) and allegiance to Christ: all these things make one vulnerable here and now, entailing much loss. The vulnerable make the world safe for humanity.*
For those who live according to the heart of God as Jesus reveals it, the blessings of the Kingdom will be theirs, their place in the household of God will be assured and they will be making the world a safe place for their brothers and sisters.
*Byrne, Brendan, Lifting the Burden: reading Matthew’s Gospel in the Church Today. St Pauls, 2004, pp55-57
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF] (5.50 MB)
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- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Cuarto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (673 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - IV Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (501 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em familia - 4 Domingo do Tempo Comum (502 KB)
Elective Chapter of the Monastery of Janua Coeli
The Carmelite community of Janua Coeli Monastery in Cerreto di Sorano (GR), Italy, celebrated its Elective Chapter on January 17, 2023.
The monastery was established on May 19, 1992, by nuns from the Carpineto Romano community. Its canonical erection was on September 8, 2000. It is part of the Federation of Santa Maria Magdalena de' Pazzi. More can be learned about the monastery by visiting its website: www.monasterocarmelitane.it
The results of the elective chapter were as follows:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sr Miriam del Dio Vivente Tamiano, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr Carmela del Cuore di Gesù Bambino Conventi, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Ester di Cristo Re Salerno, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Ludovica dell'Emmanuele Benedetti, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Daniela del Buon Pastore Solustri, O. Carm.
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice:
Sr Miriam del Dio Vivente Tamiano, O. Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa:
Sr Maria Joseph di Nazareth Lumicisi, O. Carm.
Sacristan| Sacristana | Sacrestana:
Sr M. Irene della Trinità Angelantoni, O. Carm.
Elections of the Province of Pernambuco, Brasil
The Province of Pernambuco, serving in northern Brasil and Mozambique, held their provincial chapter on January 16-20, 2023.
The first house of the Order in the Americas was founded in the city of Olinda (Pernambuco), in 1583, by priests from the Province of Lusitania (Portugal). In 1720, two provinces were simultaneously established in Brazil, namely: Rio de Janeiro and Bahia-Pernambuco. From the year 1679 the Pernambucan convent of Goiana (founded in 1666) had accepted the Reform of Touraine. This reform movement eventually led to the establishment of the autonomous province of Pernambuco. In 1683 the Prior General Angelus Monsignani decided that the convents of Recife (founded in 1654) and Vila Real (which was later succeeded by Paraiba) would be handed over to the Carmelites of the Reform. In 1725 a vice-province was instituted and in 1744 the province of Pernambuco was canonically established, having three convents, six residences and about one hundred brothers. The religious and political conflicts of the 19th century severely affected the province.
As the seed for a new birth, the convent in Recife remained until, in 1894, the brothers from Spain arrived to begin the work of restoration. Goiana reopened, Gameleira (1920) and Princesa (1938), Campina Grande (1951) and Camocim de Saint Felix (1962) were founded. In 1990, the old convent of Piedade, now restored, was designated the House of Formation as many young men came to join the province as a result of the focus of the province over the years on vocational ministry. Five new houses opened: Petrolina (1998), Carmopolis (2000), Aracaju (2002), and Icó (2011). The São Cristóvão convent, founded in the 17th century, was handed over to the Province by the Archdiocese of Aracaju to be inhabited by the Carmelites again.
In 2002, a house was opened in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, with a second house founded in 2019 in Matola. In 2012, the original church and monastery in Olinda was restored to the Province.
During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:
Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale:
Frei José Roberval, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere:
Frei Paulo Fernando, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere:
Frei José Leandro, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere:
Frei Aloísio Da Silva, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere:
Frei Josué Laurindo, O. Carm.
General Chapter of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters
The General Chapter of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters took place from January 2 to 8, in Cajazeiras - PB, northeast Brazil. The theme was "Hand in Hand, on the Way, Toward the Fountains of First Love" and the Motto "Lord Give Me This Water" (Jn. 4:15).
Let us pray for the Mission at the service of the Congregation and the Church.
The results of the elective chapter were as follows:
Superior General | Superiora General | Superiora Generale:
Ir. Vilma Aves
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Vice General | Vice General | Vice Generale
Ir. Sineide Almeida Ângelo
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Ir. Neilda Maria de Castro
3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera:
Ir. Edileide de Oliveira Nicácio
4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera:
Ir. Maria do Socorro Rodrigues
Celebrating At Home - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
The light shines
(Matthew 4:12-23)
Last Sunday’s Gospel served as an introduction to Jesus, the Lamb of God.
The Sunday Gospels between now and the beginning of Lent will use the Sermon on the Mount to help us explore and reflect upon who this Lamb of God is and how we, as disciples, should respond to him. They will unfold for us how Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the source of true peace and how we can find our way to him and to one another – that is, how we can live faithful to the tradition of Jesus.
This Sunday Jesus begins his ministry in an unexpected place – Capernaum in the countryside, not in the holy city, Jerusalem. The familiar Gospel demand: Repent for the kingdom is close at hand, is sounded for the first time by Jesus, echoing John the Baptist.
To the ministry of proclaimers of the Kingdom Jesus adds four intimates who will be with him throughout the journey into the light.
The Gospel begs many questions: just what is this Kingdom all about? Who is this Jesus who seems to have the power to compel prosperous, ordinary men to follow him? What does it mean to be ‘fishers of men’? Why does Jesus begin his ministry in an unexpected place? What is this Good News of the Kingdom that Jesus offers?
In all, the Gospel serves not just to tell us about Jesus and what he did, but also to help us reflect on our own experience of Jesus: what does it mean for us also to be called (not just as followers but also as ‘fishers’)?
How immediate and life-changing is our response to him? Can we follow him all the way to the cross? How do we proclaim the Good News of the kingdom? How are we healers of people and situations which are part of our lives?
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- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Tercer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (532 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - III Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (532 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em familia - 3 Domingo do Tempo Comum (528 KB)
“Behind the Scenes”: the Life of Bl. Angelo Paoli
On January 20, the Carmelite Order celebrates the memory of Blessed Angelo Paoli. The day is celebrated as an optional memorial in the Order but as an obligatory memorial in the Italian provinces.
His life can be divided into two periods: the years spent in his religious province of Tuscany, and those spent in Rome. The second part he spent, first, as novice-master, then as bursar, sacristan and organist, and also as director of the conservatory for girls
Wherever he had worked, he had given a fine impression as a religious steeped in silence, prayer and mortification, but, above all, given to the works of charity, both spiritual and corporal, in favor of the sick and the poor — so much so that at Siena they gave him the name of "Father Charity."
A conference examining the life of Blessed Angelo Paoli was held in Rome on November 12, 2022. The meeting took place at the parish hall of the Carmelite church of Santa Maria in Traspontina. Entitled “Behind the Scenes” the speakers examined various aspects of the Blessed’s very active life. The overall scope of the conference was to present new aspects of Blessed Angelo Paoli that have emerged from the latest archival research.
Through his ministry of visiting Roman hospitals, Angelo had a great impact on the way those without financial resources were dealt with. He established a convalescent home for those poor who were left to care for themselves after leaving the hospital. His charity to the poor of Rome became noted and valued even by the wealthy and powerful whom he constantly encouraged to join him in his ministry.
Marco Papasidero, who recently published a book on the miracles of San Angelo of Licata, gave a presentation on the miracles and the healing practices attributed to the Blessed. Simona Serci of the General Archives spoke about the social network that Angelo created during his 32 years in Rome. Carmelite Matteo Antollini, a student at CISA, presented on the witness to his life given by the other Carmelites. Giovanni Grosso, director of the Institutum Carmelitanum in Rome, further developed the topic of Paoli as one of the great men of charity in Rome.
Emanuele Atzori, from Rome’s Archivio storico Maestre Pie Venerini, and Maria Conforti, of the University La Sapienza of Rome, developed the theme of Blessed Angelo’s work hospital work and his convalescent home.
Other presentations included a study of the iconography of the blessed that are in the General Archives of the Order by Ruggiero Doronzo of the Università degli Studi di Bari A. Moro. We are able to include a few examples of these here.
The conference was sponsored by the General Archives of the Order and the Office of the Postulator General of the Carmelites.
5/2023: Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
INITIUM NOVITIATUS
13-01-2023 Freyman Alonso Quiroga Barrios (Ita-Co) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Ronal Álvarez Calderín (Ita-Co) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Luis Fernando Láinez Palacios (PCM) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Raúl Sharley Chafloque Orozco (PCM-Perú) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Bernardo Soriano Rosales (PCM) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Rafael Junior Florez Martínez (Ita-Co) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Jorge Alberto Salazar Bedoya (Del TB) Lurín, Perú
13-01-2023 Salomón Santana Marquez (Ita-Co) Lurín, Perú
PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
07-01-2023 Luis Valeriano (PCM) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Juan Melendez (PCM) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Irvin Zometa (PCM) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Marcelo Girn (PCM) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Augusto Padilla (PCM-Perú) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Eduardo Vega (PCM) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Eloy Vasquez (PCM-Perú) Lurín, Perú
07-01-2023 Kevin Flores (PCM) Lurín, Perú
15-01-2023 João Gabriel de Souza Viana (Par) Paranavai, Brazil
15-01-2023 João Victor de Campos Tomé (Par) Paranavai, Brasil
15-01-2023 Caio Daniel Maria Dos Santos Nogueira (Pern) São Cristovão, Brasil
15-01-2023 João Victor de Paiva Carvalho (Pern) São Cristovão, Brasil
15-01-2023 Matheus Berto da Silva (Pern) São Cristovão, Brasil
15-01-2023 Jeiner Duván Santiago Bayona (It-Co) São Cristovão, Brasil
15-01-2023 Cristian Ariel Julio Prada (It-Co) São Cristovão, Brasil
15-01-2023 Julio Gabriel Delgado Manzano (Cat-V) São Cristovão, Brasil
PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
03-12-2022 Ma. Consolata Phyui Y (Bur) Pangasinan, Philippines
08-01-2023 Rafael Dorgival Alves F. Neto (Pern) Albano Laziale, Italia
ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
07-01-2023 Cândido Augusto Vida (Pern-Mz) Maputo, Moçambique
ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
03-12-22 Manoel Messias de Oliveira (Pern) Porto da Folha, Brasil
10-12-22 Nicolas Ubaldo Carrizales (Cat) Maturin, Venezuela
10-12-22 Yedo Ian Bezerra de Araújo (Pern) Patos, Brasil
17-12-22 Daniel Ulises González Cabrera (PCM) Ciudad Delgado, El Salvador
07-01-23 Evir Jesús Zambrano (PCM-Perú) José Galvez, Perú
