From the 27th to 29 May 2008, the first meeting of the International Commission for Formation took place at the General Curia in Rome. Present were: John Keating, General Councillor, Mario Alfarano, Secretary, Quinn Conners (PCM), Günter Benker (GerS), Desiderio García Martínez (Arag), Giampiero Molinari (Ita), Dionisius Kosasih (Indo), Vitalis Benza (Hib-Zimb) and Romualdo Borges de Macedo (GerS-Par). Present also was Kevin Alban (Bursar General) for helping with the translation.
The Commission was welcomed by the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romerál and the Vice General, Christian Körner. The members of the commission began their work with a reflection on the key issues facing formation in different parts of the world. It then examined the proposals and recommendations emanating from the General Chapter, the future programmes for initial and on-going formation, the question of vocations to the Order, revision of the RIVC in conformity with CON 129, the necessity of a pre-novitiate programme in the provinces and some specific issues. The commission met with Christian Körner (Communications Commission) regarding formation and the use of the Order’s website, and with Mark Attard (Delegate for Studies) regarding the meeting in Malta of the Carmelite Libraries Association. Three sub-committees were set up – one to prepare future meetings, another to plan for a gathering of those in initial formation on Mount Carmel, and the third to research a methodology for all future formation courses run by the Formation Commission. A special meeting of the new commission will take place in November to deal specifically with this topic.

A special meeting of the International Formation Commission of the Order took place in Rome, from the 18th to the 19th of November last. The purpose of this extraordinary meeting was to discuss the style, method and contents of the international courses on formation run by the International Commission. In the context of the Six-year Global Plan of the General Council and the recommendations of the General Chapter, the commission began its work by considering the theme of “mystagogy”. Also participating and assisting the Commission in this reflective process, were the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral and Professor Donna Orsuto of the Gregorian University, Rome. Specific programmes were prepared for the next 5 years for formators, and those in initial and on-going formation. The Commission, led by the Councillor General for Formation, John Keating, also considered some of the work that needed to be done regarding the initial responses received from the provinces relating to the revision of the RIVC. The meeting ended with Evening Prayer, supper and discussion on the work of the Commission hosted by the Carmelite formation community of San Martino, Rome. Following the commission meeting in Rome, a detailed programme of the course for those in initial formation in the Holy Land next summer was prepared by Frs. John Keating, Mario Alfarano, Secretary General/Commission Secretary and Alexander Vella, Maltese Provincial. This sub-committee met in Malta on the 21st and 22nd of November.