Never again! Never forget!
Statement of the Student Friars of the Order of Carmelites
Province of Bld. Titus Brandsma
While many supporters of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos are trying to revise history, glorifying the late dictator and dubbing his brutal and vicious martial law years as the “golden age” of our country’s economy or denying the liabilities of the family members on their role in the atrocities of those times, the dead, the disappeared, the torture victims, the poor who have been robbed of their future, and the whole country who have been stripped of its dignity, continues to call for justice and for the country, for all of us, to never forget.
But we have forgotten, and many of the young people who never experienced martial law and even those who did experience martial law seemed to have forgotten.
The Marcoses are back in power, one even trying to grab the second highest seat of the land, while we have a tyrannical president who publicly extols his family’s relationship with the late dictator and even shamelessly propagandizing the ambition of the younger Marcos for the presidency
Today, we allow ourselves to be ruled by a president who, by all indications, is more inclined in replicating the horrors of martial law rather than to address the concerns of the country such as rising inflation that leads to the rising cost of basic goods and the weakening economic power of the people; increasing number of extra-judicial killings and the rising criminality, which sadly, have implicated many police officers and other government officials who are supposed to protect the welfare of the people; and the continuing suppression, intimidation, and harassment of church people and development workers who are working to help the poor and the people in the margins.
Have we forgotten?
We, the Student Friars of the Order of Carmelites in the Philippines, celebrate the life and contemplate on the sacrifices of our Carmelite brothers and sisters – lay, religious, and priests – who offered their life for the freedom of our country from the tyrannical Marcos dictator.
We remember the Escalante Massacre of September 20, 1985 which killed 20 of our lay faithful in Escalante and injured around 30 others.
We remember Bro. Isagani Valle, whose love for the poor granted him the crown of martyrdom on May 14, 1983, killed by the police in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. His bullet-ridden body was later put on public display in front of the municipal hall.
We remember Fr. Engelbert van Vilsteren who was hacked to death on January 1973 when he attempted to recover the body of a murdered teacher in one of the mountain barangays of Agusan del Sur.
We remember Fr. Jan Simon Westendorp, Sr. Henrica Berentsen of the Julie Postel Sisters and all the religious, priests and lay faithful who were martyred when, on their way to Cebu as part of their involvement with the rural missions amidst the repression of the Marcos dictatorship, their ship, M/V Doña Cassandra, sank off the coast of Camiguin on November 21, 1983.
And then there are our lay partners who were killed mercilessly for their involvement, most especially in the building of the Basic Ecclesial Communities during the Martial Law years, especially Manoling Malicay, Boy Lagurin, Loloy Algunas, and Ani Mariano.
These are but some of our brothers and sisters in the Carmelite Order – lay, priests, nuns, and brothers – who gave their lives to bring light in the darkest period of our country’s history and fight the evils of the dictatorship of Marcos. There are, of course, all those other victims of the Marcos atrocities.
Today, as we remember the declaration of the Martial Law in 1972, we are faced with the growing tyranny marked by a culture of impunity that denied justice for many victims of extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and other unjust and inhuman acts.
Let us not forget and together, let us shout, “Never again to Martial Law!”
Septemper 2018
St. Elijah Student Friars Community
Order of Carmelites
Province of Bl. Titus Brandsma - Philippines
In Sassone (Rome) from September 15 to 20, 2018, an International Congress of Carmelite Laity was celebrated, with the participation of some 250 people from 24 different nations around the world, mostly lay people and also some Carmelite friars and sisters.
The theme of the Congress was "Our Lady of Mount Carmelo: Mother of the Family". The main speakers included, Archbishop Antônio Muniz, O.Carm., Archbishop of Maceío (Brazil); Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., Prior General of the Order; Ms. Christine Wade, TOC of Australia; and Giovanni Grosso, O.Carm., President of the Institutum Carmelitanum. In addition to the conferences and the work in linguistic groups, the participants had the opportunity to listen to some testimonies and experiences of the Carmelite vocation in the life of lay people.
The objective of the meeting was to deepen the Marian spirituality of our Order, strengthen the bonds of international fraternity among the various national and provincial groups and encourage the multiplying element of the laity within the Carmelite Family.
This congress was carried out thanks to the work and organization of the current General Commission for Carmelite Laity composed of Raúl Maraví, O.Carm. (President), Joseph Hung Tran, O.Carm., Désiré Unen Alimange, O.Carm., Normita Lacanilao, Jennifer Wanjiku, María José García de la Barrera, Michele Bonanno, José Araújo and José Luis Laghi.
Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Carpineto Romano, Italy
Written byThe Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Carpineto Romano, Italy, was held 21 September 2018. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Noemi Malagesi, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M.Valentina Rossin, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Paola Ricci, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Emanuela Migliore, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Carla Zinno, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Valentina Rossin, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Agnese Talano, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Mihaela Catana, O.Carm.
During the Provincial Chapter of the Maltese Province held on 10-14 September 2018 following earlier elections were confirmed:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Joseph Saliba, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Mark Attard, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Charlò Camilleri, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Jurgen Cucciardi, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Fr. Anthony Cilia, O.Carm.
Pope's Prayer Intentions for September 2018
Universal: Young People in Africa
That young people in Africa may have access to education and work in their own countries.
Lectio Divina: September - septiembre – settembre 2018
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During the recent floods that affected India (mostly in the State of Kerala), producing 1000 fatalities and damaging thousands of homes, Carmelites, both of the Province of St. Thomas and the General Delegation of St. Therese and St. Albert, have been providing assistance to the people most affected by the floods. One example is in Chris Cappell College where shelther and all their basic necessities have been offered to some 650 people. The college buildings can be reached only by boat. Even though the level of the water is going down, many families are unable to return to their homes, and in some cases have lost their homes and continue to live in a state of emergency.
If anyone wishes to offer financial assistance to the work of the Carmelites in Kerala, that may be done through the Carmelite Curia, using the normal channels.
Carmelite course on Preaching in Fatima (Evangelization and Mission Commission)
Written byThe Carmelite General Commission for Evangelization and Mission is offering a workshop on preaching based on the section entitled: Proclamation of the Word from the 2014 Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium of Pope Francis. All provincials, commissaries and general delegates have been informed of this in May 2018.
While the course is open to the whole Carmelite Family, the one condition is that all the participants should have a clear reference group (province, community, Third Order Chapter….) for whom the participants afterwards can organise a course similar to the one that the Commission is offering. This ought to be done with the support of the local province and approved by the provincial.
The course will deal with the meaning, the mission and the art of preaching. Among the principle speakers are Timothy Radcliff, O.P, Professor Donna Orsuto, and Carmelites, Alexander Vella, Huub Welzen, Miceal O’Neill and others.
The four-day course will take place in Fatima (Portugal) at the Casa Sao Nuno, from the 15th (arrivals 14th) to the 18th of January 2019 (departures morning of the 19th). The letter of convocation and application forms can be found on the Order’s website at this link.
For those who have not yet made application, this ought to be sent before the 30th of September 2018.
During the Provincial Chapter of the Province of Indonesia held on 12-18 August 2018 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Ignasius Budiono, O.Carm.
- Vice Prior Provincial: Fr. F.X. Hariawan Adji, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Barnabas Krispinus Ginting, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Yosef Arnoldus Devanto, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Aditya Permana Perangin-angin, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Br. Antonius Sumardi, O.Carm.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Aracena, Spain, was held 13-14 July 2018. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Remedios Alvarez Soriano, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr Elena M. López Font, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr M. Leonor Parrilla de la Cruz, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Sampedro Corchero Sánchez, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. Mª Winfred Nzisa Mutua, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Elena M. López Font, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. Elena M. López Font, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Elsy Arackal Inasu, O.Carm.
More...
Course for Carmelite students in initial formation on Bl. Titus Brandsma
Written byCarmelite Students in Initial Formation, from twenty-five countries around the world, gathered in the Netherlands and Germany to find inspiration and learn from the life of Bl. Titus Brandsma. The course took place in Nijmegen - Mainz - Dachau, from the 22nd of July to the 3rd of August 2018. The theme was Bl. Titus Brandsma as a Carmelite, Academic, Journalist and Martyr “Contemplation as the Dynamic Element that Unifies them All” (RIVC #28).
The course was planned and organized by the General Formation Commission: Frs. Benny Phang, Noel Rosas and Quinn Conners; in collaboration with the local organizers: Hettie Berflo and Sanny Bruijns from the Dutch Province and Br. Andreas Scholten from the German Province. Both provinces provided support to the course with the presence of the Priors Provincial, Frs. Jan Brouns and Peter Schröder, who offered great hospitality to the participants. The translations were aided by Frs. Raul Maravi and Nico Hofstede.
The students were guided and enriched by a series of presentations from Anne Marie Bos, Sanny Bruins and Fr. Kees Waaijman from the Dutch Province, Fr. Benny Phang, Fr. François Manga, Br. Andreas Scholten together with the Prior General Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, The participants were offered the opportunity to personally integrate the information through group discussions and reflection. Together with the talks, the participants made pilgrimages to important places connected with the life of Bl. Titus, including Megen, Boxmeer, Oss, Nijmegen, Mainz, and the concentration camps at Amersfoort, Netherlands, and Dachau, Germany.
They were very grateful for the opportunity to build up the international community of simple professed Carmelites.
Pope's Prayer Intentions for August 2018
Universal: The treasure of Families
That any far-reaching decisions of economists and politicians may protect the family as one of the treasures of humanity.
Lectio Divina: August - agosto - agosto 2018
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The Carmelite Formators from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe met at the Mutare Diocesan Pastoral Training Centre, Zimbabwe from 21-29 July 2018 for a conference under the theme: Vision of African Carmel - Experiences, challenges and responses - towards establishing a vibrant Carmel in Africa. The meeting was organised by the General Councilor for Africa, Fr. Conrad Mutizamhepo, O.Carm. and the Key speakers were drawn from different Congregations.
A statement agreed upon by the participating formators underlines the importance of joint formation programmes, exchange programmes between students within African countries, be they Philosophy or Theology students and that formators may be assisted and surrounded in formation communities by brothers who have a vital interest in the ministry of formation. They also recommend that formators themselves receive formation.
The formators are deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the vision, concerns and resources allocated them, which show that formation is a central concern for African Carmel, and indeed, of the entire Order.
On this past 2 August, a commemorative ceremony took place in the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany, to honor the ten Carmelites buried there, among whom were Titus Brandsma and Hilary Januszewski, beatified in 1985 and 1999 respectively.
This ceremony concluded the international course of formation for Carmelite students which took place in Holland and Germany, and which Citoc-online will presently describe. The celebration began with a welcome by the prioress of the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Dachau, called the Carmel of the Precious Blood (“Karmel Heilig Blut”). She illustrated for the participants the history and the motive of the nuns’ presence in such a place: reparation and prayer for reconciliation and peace.
The Carmelites present were then led in procession to the Memorial of the camp, where the Prior General, Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm., unveiled a stone which recalls the ten Carmelites, eight Poles and two Dutchmen, who had been in this place of suffering and oppression. There, they had the opportunity to greet the director of the Dachau memorial, Doctor Gabriele Hammermann.
Afterward, the participants experienced a touching moment of common prayer at “Barracks 26” (where most of the Carmelite prisoners lived), and then celebrated the Eucharist in the chapel of our Discalced Carmelite Sisters, who hosted this large group of young Carmelites with great joy and fraternity. In the name of the preparatory commission, Father Benny Phang Khong Wing, O.Carm., General Councilor for Formation thanked the sisters for their presence in the camp, and for their incisive witness.
The Prior General concluded the celebration asking that “the witness of Blessed Titus Brandsma and Blessed Hilary Januszewski would help the Carmelites of the Twenty-first century to be men and women of reconciliation and signs of God’s love for every human being.”
