CITOC Archive (588)
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Machakos, Kenya, was held 9 June 2016. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Winifred Katunge Mbui, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Magdalena Medrano, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Pauline Kavindu, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Therese Ndinda, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Dorothy Ndomo, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Anastasia Katungwa, O.Carm.
Meeting of the Two Councils - O.Carm and OCD and Pilgrimage to the Holy Door
Written byOn the morning of 11 June, the members of the two Councils, O. Carm. and OCD, assembled at the start of Via della Conciliazione to begin their Pilgrimage towards the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. They were accompanied by the former Secretary General and Bishop-elect Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista, O. Carm., who led them in five moments of prayer along the way, concluding with a prayer as the group reached St. Peter's Basilica. At the end of the pilgrimage, the members of the two councils came together at Santa Maria in Traspontina and sang the "Flos Carmeli" in front of the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Shortly the two Generals will send a brief message to the Carmelite Family regarding the Year of Mercy.
Later the group went to the International Center of St. Albert (CISA) to hold their bi-annual meeting. A preparatory commission was set up to prepare the next extraordinary meeting, (held every three years) to be held from November 30 to December 2, 2016, on Mount Carmel in Israel. After an exchange of various information from the two Generals, the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm., presented a copy of the works of St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, just published in Italian, to the Superior General Saverio Cannistrà OCD.
The meeting concluded with a joyful and fraternal lunch together with the community of CISA.
On June 7, 2016 the Ordinary Session of Cardinals and Bishops met to discuss the cause for beatification of the Servant of God Mother Maria Elisea Oliver Molina (1869-1931), foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (HVMMC) . We are happy to inform you that the outcome of the vote was positive. We now await the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Card. Angelo Amato, to submit to the Supreme Pontiff the conclusions of the Ordinary Session and to authorize the Congregation to promulgate the Decree on the heroic virtues of Mother Maria Elisea, who will have the title of Venerable. We are joyfully united therefore with this dear Carmelite congregation. As Venerable no cult is allowed, but this is a key step forward on the path to final canonization. We pray to God that, through the intercession of Mother Elisea, there will soon follow a miracle for beatification.
On May 27 (in session 144) General Council of the Order, at the request of the Maltese Province, gave a positive response to the introduction of the cause of beatification and canonization of Fr. Avertano Fenech, O.Carm. (1871-1943).
On June 22 the Diocese of Jundiaí (Brazil) will host the opening session of the supplementary Inquiry into the life, virtues, reputation for holiness and extraordinary facts regarding the Servant of God Dom Gabriel Paulino Bueno Couto (1910- 1982), Carmelite bishop.
Fr. Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista, O.Carm.: New Carmelite Bishop
Written byThe Carmelite Order is once again delighted to announce today, 8th June 2016, that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has nominated bishop of the diocese of Cajazeiras, in Brazil, the Secretary General of the Order, Fr. Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista, O.Carm., of the Province of Pernambuco. Fr. Francisco de Sales was born at Araripina in Brazil, on 17th April 1968. Following his profession in the Order on 24th January 1988, he was ordained priest on 25th November 1995. Among his many responsibilities in the Order, from 2005 to 2011 he served as Prior Provincial, from 2012 to 2013 as Subprior of the “Centro Internazionale S. Alberto” (CISA) in Rome and from December 2013 until today as Secretary General of the Order.
To Fr. Francisco de Sales we offer our warmest congratulations on behalf of the whole Carmelite Family.
Second booklet from the International Commission of the order for Evangelization and Mission
Written byThe International Commission for Evangelization and Mission of the Order met at the Casa Generalizia in Rome from the 27th to the 29th April 2016. On the agenda for the meeting was the feedback from the Order regarding the booklet “To be a Carmelite today: A joy ever new, a joy to be shared”. It was distributed to the provinces, all members of the Carmelite Family via CITOC-online and on the Order’s website. It was noted that the booklet was used in many different parts of the world by different communities and evoked a positive response. The Commission is most grateful for the feedback. The second booklet entitled “Joy in being contemplative Community” is now available on our website https://s3.amazonaws.com/ocarm.org/ebooks/evaen.pdf
The intention of the commission is to engage with communities, groups belonging to the Carmelite Family and individuals so as to reflect on the relationship between the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, and the spiritual tradition of the Order. The third booklet for the year 2017 will have the theme “Joy in Proclaiming the Word.” It is hoped that these booklets, containing seven moments of reflection would be of value for community meetings of friars, nuns, affiliated sisters, Carmelite institutes, local chapters of Third Order groups and all connected with our spirituality and charism.
During the meeting, the commission was addressed by Mr. Jean Luc Moens (Emmanuel Community) on different approaches to evangelization. They also began initial preparations for a special international workshop on the Proclamation of the Gospel as outlined in chapter three of Evangelii Gaudium (110-175). Further details of this workshop will be communicated in the coming year.
Electronic newsletter for the Lay Carmelites III-No1-MMXVI
Written byWe are delighted to offer you the latest issue of the Lay Carmelite E-Bulletin. This is a special issue since this year we celebrate the 450th anniversary of the birth of Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, a Carmelite nun from Italy, who was a renowned spiritual writer of her times. Through different and varied articles, this edition gives us an opportunity to learn more about the life and spirituality of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, as well as about the different celebrations and activities organized for this special anniversary.
We cannot forget our Church is celebrating the Year of Mercy, and in this issue we can read an article encouraging us all to live this year of grace as a community, and moreover as Carmelites.
We also find two interesting articles and wonderful news from the Philippines. On the one hand, about 90 members of the Carmelite Youth, a quite active group in this country, renewed their vows in our Carmelite Order. On the other hand, a group of seminarians, most of them outstanding students from their own dioceses, made their promises to become TOC members, founding their own TOC community.
As usual, we find a nice and inspiring testimony. This time it is a woman from Kenya, who shares with us why she became a TOC member.
We would like to remind you about the new official website of the Lay Carmelites, which provides the latest news, activities, and events of the Carmelite Laity around the world, and also features many articles and lectures from and for the laity. Please bookmark and visit it at www.ocarm.org/lay
We welcome your comments and suggestions, and would like to ask you to contribute news, articles and activities from your different communities to enrich this website.
Please click here to download the E-bulletin
On the 25th of May, the Prior General led the celebration of the Eucharist for the feast of St. Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi at the Hermitage of Santa Maria degli Angeli, in Scandicci (Florence). This monastery was founded n 1987 in the hills opposite where Careggi is situated where the remains of the saint are kept. The Mass, and the banquet afterwards, took place in a festive and fraternal setting. Along with the Prior General, there was a number of Carmelites and three postulants from the Italian province present. There was also a large number of diocesan priests, including the Vicar for that area, priests from the Community of San Leolino and of the “Opera Madonnina del Grappa”. The celebrations were enriched by the presence of the sisters of the Instituto di Nostra Signora del Monte Carmelo, members of the Third Order and many friends of the nuns.
The Carmelite Order is delighted to announce today, 28th May 2016, that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has nominated bishop of the diocese of Mutare, in Zimbabwe, Fr. Paul Horan O.Carm., of the Irish Province. Fr. Paul was born at Drangan in Ireland, on 17th October 1962. Following his profession in the Order on 1st September 1990, he was ordained priest on 7th June 1997. During these past years he has worked in Zimbabwe and is presently the Prior of the Pre-Novitiate house in Nyazure, Rusape in Zimbabwe.
To Fr. Paul we offer our warmest congratulations on behalf of the whole Carmelite Family.
Diocese of Mutare, Zimbabwe
The Diocese of Mutare is situated in the Eastern part of Zimbabwe along the border with Mozambique. It corresponds to the Province of Manicaland and is centred around the Cathedral City of Mutare which is 170 miles east of Harare, the Capital of Zimbabwe.
The Prefecture Apostolic of Umtali (Mutare) was erected on 2nd February 1953 and was confided to the care of the Carmelites of the Irish Province. On 15th February 1957 the Prefecture was raised to the status of a Diocese with the Rt. Rev. Donal Lamont O.Carm (born in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim) as its first Bishop.
Biographical Note
Father Paul Horan was born on 17th October 1962. Having attended the Convent of Mercy Primary School in Drangan (Co. Tipperary, Ireland) and the Presentation Sisters Secondary School (Ballingarry) he qualified as a Certified Accountant (ACCA) and worked in Ireland and London. Fr. Paul was received into the Carmelite Order at the novitiate in Kinsale in 1989, making his first profession there on 1st September 1990. After completing his Baccalaureate in Philosophy and Bachelor of Divinity degrees (Milltown Institute) he was ordained a priest on 7th June 1997.
Fr. Paul was appointed to Terenure College where he held various roles including teaching at both primary and secondary level, head chaplain and head of the Province’s Vocations Team. He went for further studies and completed a M.A. in Theology (specialising in Carmelite Studies) in May 2001 (Washington Theological Union) in the USA.
In September 2001, Fr. Paul was appointed to work in Zimbabwe where he held various roles including Director of Pre-Novices, Director of Novices, School Manager (Kriste Mambo High School), and he served at St. Kilian’s Mission, Makoni. He was elected to serve for two terms on the Zimbabwean Carmelite Commissary Council in 2009 and 2012. Fr. Paul was highly instrumental in getting the first Carmelite (enclosed) Nuns to Zimbabwe who arrived there from the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Machakos, Kenya) in February 2015. Fr. Paul was also been appointed by the Carmelite General Council to the International Commission for Carmelite Schools and Youth. Currently, he is the Prior of the new Carmelite Community in Prophet Elijah Priory, Nyazura, Rusape.
On account of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, proclaimed by Pope Francis in the bull, Misericordia Vultus (April 11, 2015) the Pontifical Council for the promotion of new evangelisation has been publishing a series of aids to help local churches in their celebration of the jubilee. In the sixth publication, under the title, “The Saints in Mercy”, the council offers a series of figures that may give inspiration in living out this fundamental dimension of faith. Among others, the Pontifical Council proposes two carmelite figures, the witness of St. Therese of Lisieux (under the title of “Gratitude for the Just and Merciful God”) highlighting the rich teaching of Therese in relation to mercy, and Blessed Titus Brandsma, under the title, “A Strong and Merciful Father”, representing a man who could combine a strenuous opposition to Naziism with compassion and mercy towards all, including the nurse who gave him the injection that took his life away.
May Blessed Titus, St. Therese and all the saints of Carmel help us to accept this special year in the life of the Church with joy and commitment.
The Webmaster has just launched a new website on the Chronology of the Carmelite Order, listing all the important events of the Order in both horizontal and vertical timelines. The website is being updated on a regular basis so any image or historical event of the Order are welcome. Please send to the webmaster at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.
Please visit the website at www.citoc.info/timeline and at this moment, it is available only in English.
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The foundation of the Research Institute of the Carmelite Province of Germany
Written byIn Mainz on 3rd and 4th of May, 2016, the constituent assembly of the Research Institute of the Carmelite Province of Germany took place. The Prior Provincial, Fr. Dieter Lankes presented certificates of appointment to the director of the institute, Edeltraud Klueting PhD, T.O.Carm. and to the members of the committee, Elisabeth Hense PhD T.O.Carm (assistant director), Christine Riedl-Valder PhD, Monika Storm PhD, Prof. P. D. D. Michael Plattig O.Carm. and Bro. Andreas H. Scholten PhD, O.Carm.
According to its statutes, the purpose and aim of the institute is the "scientific investigation of the history, spirituality, charism, culture and learning of the Carmelite order". To this end, scientific projects that examine the rich cultural heritage of the Carmelite order past and present, will be initiated, accompanied and completed. Besides the editing of publications on Carmelite topics, it is planned to organize and hold different events such as symposia, conferences, seminars etc. The newly founded Research Institute will also have the task of providing professional assistance by securing and making accessible the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of the German province (e.g. archives, libraries, treasures of art and cultural possessions) as well as engaging in co-operation with other Carmelite institutes (e. g. the Institutum Carmelitanum in Rome). The Research Institute is supported by the German Carmelite Province and is based in Bamberg.
The Provincial expressed his thanks to the director and the members of the committee: by their willingness to commit themselves in this way to the spiritual and cultural heritage of our order in Germany, he said, they were making an important contribution to the Carmelite Order's presence in church and society.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Utrera, Spain, was held 13-14 May 2016. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Rosa María Nduku Mbithi, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. María del Carmen Requena Pérez, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Ana María Reina Jiménez, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Lucía Mutio Mbithi., O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Felistas Syokau Maithya, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. Ana M. Syombua Mbithi O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. María de Lourdes Lario Reverte, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Lucía Mutio Mbithi., O.Carm.
Reminder of registration for the Carmelite Day at the World Youth Day
Written byThe date of the next World Youth Day, which is taking place in Krakow Poland from the 25th to 31st July next, is approaching and you are reminded that those wishing to participate in the one-day Carmelite Day on Wednesday 27th July have to make a separate registration for this Carmelite Day. The event, which is at the invitation of the Polish Carmelites, will be held at our community residence in the centre of the city. Information, registration form and all other inquiries can be done by visiting www.sdm.karmelici.pl
Further details regarding allocation of residence etc. ought to be completed before the end of May 2016. Direct contact may also be made with the head of the organizing committee in the Polish Province, Fr. Marcin Siemek, O.Carm. at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Madrid, Spain, was held 27-29 April 2016. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Noemí Temprano Reguilón, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Inmaculada Ochoa Blázquez, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. M. Rosario Almohalla Moreno, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Brunilda Rodriguez Velasco, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. del Carmen Martínez Pérez, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Brunilda Rodriguez Velasco, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Rosario Almohalla Moreno, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Antonia Dominguez Cortés, O.Carm.
