As part of the the World Youth Day, which is under way in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 700 young people from various Carmelite parishes and schools of the Americas have come together.  The meeting is taking place at Holy Family school of the " Irmãs Carmelitas da Divina Providência " (ICDP), Vila Isabel. The event has been prepared over recent months by a committee chaired by Fr. Raul Maravi, O. Carm., General Councillor for the Americas, in collaboration with Fr. Wilson Fernandes, O. Carm. and a group of Carmelite friars and sisters. Fr. Geraldo D’Abadia Pires Maciel, O. Carm., Provincial of the Province of St. Elias in Rio (Fluminis Januarii) welcomed all present. The meeting began with Mass celebrated by the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm., who invited participants to enter deeply into this moment together and to assume, as young Carmelite missionaries the commitment that Pope Francis is asking of young people around the world. Later, representatives of Carmelite young people from the American continent carried in the icon of Our Lady of Hope that has presided over meetings of many young people on its pilgrimage tour across various countries and now across almost the entire territory of Brazil. This beautiful icon is presiding over and accompanying the youth for the entire gathering from the 21st to the 29th July.

In the mornings, throughout the meeting there have been several talks for the young people and a sequence of  various cultural events. On many of the evenings the young people are free to participate in World Youth Day celebrations which will culminate with a vigil and Mass with His Holiness Pope Francis to be held on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July respectively in "Campus Fidei" at which more than three million people are expected to be present. The meeting of these young Carmelite people is taking place in an atmosphere of joy and communion.

In order to see some of the photographs of the meeting go to:

https://www.facebook.com/JornadaMundialDaJuventudeCarmelitanaRio2013?fref=ts

On the 16th of July, 2013, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the decision of the Prior General, with the consent of his Council, to erect the Province of the Philippines comes into effect.  Up to now this had been a General Commissariat and before that a Provincial Commissariat of the Province of the Netherlands. Blessed Titus Brandsma will be the Patron of the new province.
The leaders who have been appointed to hold office until the first provincial chapter, in February 2014, are:

• Prior Provincial:  Fr. Christian Buenafe, O.Carm.
• First Councillor:  Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm.
• Second Councillor: Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, O.Carm.
• Third Councillor:  Fr. Gilbert Sabado, O.Carm.
• Fourth Councillor:  Fr. Eduardo Albino, O.Carm.

The erection of the new province will take place on the 16th of July 2013 in Quezon City, Manila in the presence of the Vice-Prior General, Fr.  Christian Körner, O.Carm., the Councillor General for Asia, Australia and Oceania, Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O.Carm., and of the Prior Provincial of the Province of the Netherlands, Fr. Ben Wolbers, O.Carm.
We offer our congratulations and prayer to the members of the new province.