On January 12, Fr. Constant Dölle, O. Carm., of the Dutch Province celebrated his 100th birthday. Father Constant is currently the oldest member of the Carmelite Order. The celebration began with a Mass of Thanksgiving in his community at Zenderen, after which there was a reception for family and friends who wanted to offer congratulations. Along the Prior Provincial of the Netherlands, Fr. Jan Brouns, O. Carm. and many Carmelites he had a visit from the Mayor of Borne, Mr. R. Welten. During this reception Fr. Edgar Koning, O.Carm., the prior of Zenderen, read two letters: one from the Prior General and another from the King and the Queen of the Netherlands.

The day after our oldest Carmelite was interviewed by the local newspaper and for television. This is truly a great joy for the Order and for the whole Carmelite family. Father Constant Dölle ... ad multos annos!

Pope's Prayer Intentions for January 2016

Universal:  Interreligious Dialogue - That sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice.

Evangelization: Christian Unity- That by means of dialogue and fraternal charity and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Christians may overcome divisions.

Lectio Divina Jannuary, Ereno Gennaio 2016

CHRISTUS NATUS EST NOBIS!
VENITE ADOREMUS!
NATALE HILARE ET ANNUM FAUSTUM
25.XII.2015

FERNANDO PRIOR GENERALIS
DOMUSQUE GENERALIS COMMUNITAS

IMAGE: Madonna con Gesù Bambino, Autore ignoto, Convento di San Martino ai Monti, Roma

The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Santa Ignacia, Tarlac, Philippines, was held 17 December 2015. The following were elected:

• Prioress:  Sr. Arlene Marie Reporte, O.Carm.
• 1st Councilor:   Sr. M. Victoria San Diego, O.Carm.
• 2nd Councilor:  Sr. Mary Ann Inosanto, O.Carm.
• Director of Novices:  Sr. M. Victoria San Diego, O.Carm.
• Treasurer:  Sr. Mary Ann Inosanto, O.Carm.
• Sacristan:  Sr. M. Lourdes Maria Viernes, O.Carm.

The Carmelite review, “Carmel in the World” which marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2011, has just put out its most recent issue using a new format. The Editor of the review, Patrick J. Breen, O.Carm., and the new editorial board, in collaboration with Edizioni Carmelitane in Rome, decided to modernise the image of the review to make it new and more attractive. As well as that, the recent issue shows some changes in the presentation and the orientation of the articles. The hope in this is to reach a wider readership among people who are interested in the topic of Carmelite spirituality.

It is noteworthy, and a cause for gratitude, that “Carmel in the World”  (which in the beginning was published in various languages, and now comes out only in English) intends to continue offering this service to the Carmelite Family, at a time when many reviews have been folding up. From Citoc-online, we congratulate the editorial team and express the wish that this new change will add new impulse to the spread of Carmel in the World.

The 86th Assembly of the USG (Union of Superior Generals) took place November 25 to 27, 2015, at the “Salesianum” in Rome. The theme for this meeting was “To embrace the future with hope. The consecrated persons on a journey with the people of God.”

The participants studied a number of themes related to the recent Synod on the Family and they also heard various “voices from the Synod” from some of those who took part in the Synod. The superior generals reflected deeply on the theme of the Synod and on the presence of religious in the Synod. They also considered the “synodal” nature of the Church, a topic very dear to Pope Francis, and one on which he dwelt in his address at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the institution of the Synods of Bishops.

During the Assembly were the elections of P. Mauro Jöhri, OFM Cap., as President and Michael Brehl, CSsR, as Vice-President of the Union, along with other members elected to the various organisms of the Union. There were also reports from the commissions of the USG. The Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., is a member of the Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue, presided by René Stockman, FC.

The Assembly was marked by a spirit of joy and true fraternity along with the desire that the USG will continue to be a source of discernment and support for religious life throughout the world.

In different places, activities are beginning to appear to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the birth in Florence of St. Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi. In the conference room of the Carmelite parish in Ayala, Madrid, on the 12th and 13th of November, the 6th Seminar of “Textos para un Milenio” (Texts for a Millennium) was held, focusing this year on the life and doctrine of this Carmelite saint. The Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., opened the seminar which numbered among its speakers, Fr. Mario Alfarano, O.Carm., the delegate for the anniversary celebrations, who spoke about the life and spiritual profile of the saint, and Fr. Míceál O’Neill, O.Carm., who spoke about her mystical experience in the liturgy. Other speakers were the professors, Henar Pizarro, the director of Texts for a Millennium, who spoke about the echoes of Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi’s canonisation in Spain, Maria Jesus Fernandez Cordero, who spoke about her theological approach to the Incarnate Word, and Esther Jimenez Pablo whose theme was the Jesuit influence in the saint’s life.

The Carmelite Third Order of the province of Italy, has been publishing regularly a series of leaflets as aids to reflection, centred this year on the doctrine of St. Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi, and  written by the nuns in the monastery of Sutri (Viterbo, Italy). The leaflets contain a number of texts from the writings of the saint and points for reflection, for both individuals and groups.

In the monastery of Granada (Spain) founded in 1508, work is being done on an exhibition with different artistic representations of the saint down through the years.

Very soon, on the website of the Order (www.ocarm.org) a permanent section devoted to the commemoration of the birth of St. Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi will appear.

The Pope’s Prayer Intentions for December 2015

Universal: Experiencing God’s mercy - That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving.

Evangelization: Families - That families, especially those who suffer, may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of certain hope.

Lectio Divina December - Diciembre - Dicembre 2015