Vulnerable Risk-Takers
(Matthew 5:13-16)

Last Sunday, in the ‘Beatitudes’, Jesus called his disciples to be vulnerable risk-takers in the way they lived their lives.
Continuing the Sermon on the Mount this week, Jesus goes on to say that if they live this way, they will be like the salt that transforms the flavour of food and the light that transforms the darkness.
Undertaking this path of transformation produces the flavour and light of good works which lift burdens from our fellow human beings, not for the praise of the disciple but for the praise to God. In this way, these good works draw others into the circle of God’s friendship and the experience of the kingdom.
Disciples walk the path of vulnerability and risk in order to help lift burdens from human beings; to make the world safe for their brothers and sisters.
These good, life-giving actions towards our fellow human beings restore life, heal relationships and seek peace and justice.
This non-aggressive, non-grasping, non-competitive stance towards one another would hardly be described by many in today’s world as the way to a successful life. It is a real challenge to live by the Gospel in a world which fawns over and celebrates wealth, power, aggression, status and deceptive and combative behaviour. We, too, can be easily seduced.
We need to be bold and brave in our care for one another, like a light-filled city on a hilltop.
So, can we run the risk of being poor in spirit, gentle, a peacemaker, working for what is right, being merciful, or persecuted in the cause of right? Can we be vulnerable risk-takers?
As always, the first reading (see back page) provides an introduction to the Gospel text. The reading from Isaiah (58:7-10) gives some very practical examples of good works: share your bread with the hungry, clothe the naked, look after your family members. Then ‘your light will shine’. Integrity will be yours and God will walk with you. ‘If you do away with the angry word and the clenched fist, feed the hungry, give relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness and your shadows become like noon.’
A great ‘setting of the scene’ for the Gospel!

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Celebration of the 30th World Day for Consecrated Life on February 2nd, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for World Day for Consecrated Life on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Preaching on Luke’s Gospel to the people assembled in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope spoke of Simeon and Anna recognizing and proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah in the Temple. The pope pointed out that this Scripture passage speaks of two movements of love: that of God coming to save his people and that of humanity, awaiting his coming with faith. He stressed that this is the mission of religious men and women in the Church as well as in the world.

The pope, a member of the Augustinian Order, understands well the power that consecrated life can have for teaching about Christ to the whole world. He said those professing the evangelical counsels “are called to bear witness to God’s saving presence in history for all peoples, even within a society in which false and reductive understandings of the human person increasingly widen the gap between faith and life.”

Referring to religious communities as “outposts of the Gospel” he stressed that consecrated individuals “are called to testify that the young, the elderly, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned hold a sacred place above all else on God’s

The annual observance was started by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1997.

Homily of Pope Leo XIV on February 2, 2026

Elective Chapter of the Rio de Janiero Province in Brazil Held January 26-30, 2026

The Carmelite Province of Fluminense gathered for its Provincial Chapter in the city of Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, from January 26 through 30, 2026, with the theme “Gratitude that Drives, Co-responsibility that Builds” -- a theme that springs from the concrete experience of those who recognize that God has been faithful to Carmel throughout history and continues to act in our present reality. Christian gratitude does not paralyze us in the past. On the contrary, it drives us forward. Those who give thanks do not settle; they take on the demands of the mission with greater freedom, maturity, and generosity. For this reason, this Chapter was not only about grateful memory, but also about missionary zeal; not about the end of a cycle, but about a confident opening to the future.

We had as our advisor Jesuit Father Jaldemir Vitório, theologian and professor at the Jesuit college in Belo Horizonte, who addressed the theme of the crisis of fraternity in religious life, pointing to Marian spirituality as a model response to the challenges of consecrated life today.

Friar Thiago Borges Isidoro was elected provincial. Friar Thiago is 36 years old, was born in the city of Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, and is currently parish priest of the Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel in São Paulo.

The website of the province is https://carmelitas.org.br

The following members were elected to leadership at the Chapter:

Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale
Thiago Borge, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^o Consigliere
Adailson dos Santos, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2^o Consigliere
Atanael de Almeida, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3^o Consigliere
Evaldo Xavier, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4^o Consigliere
Geraldo D'Abadia, O. Carm.

January 29th | Optional Memorial in the Italian Provinces)

Bl. Archangela Girlani was born Elanor Girlani in 1460 at Trino, on Monte Ferrato in northern Italy to a noble family. 

It is written in an old manuscript that Blessed Archangela lived her religious life so intensely that, just as the monastery was entitled "Saint Mary in Paradise", she and the other nuns, even though still here on earth, lived as if already absorbed into heaven.

Read more ...

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As was previously announced (CITOC 185/2025), Giampiero Molinari, a member of the Italian Province and serving as 1^st Councilor, was nominated to be the secretary general of the Order. At its 22nd session on January 14, 2026, the prior provincial and members of the council congratulated Giampiero on his new service to the Order. They warmly thanked him for his presence and service to the Italian Province in this first part of the Council’s triennium.

The Council then proceeded to a discernment process for the election of a 4th Councilor who replaces Giampiero. The group elected Raffaele Duranti. Contacted by phone, he accepted his election.

Fr. Gian Domenico Meloni continues as priore provincial. The other members of the Council are Giuseppe Midili, vice prior provincial; Henry Venecia Cerro, 1^st councilor; Nicola Sozzi, second councilor; Francesco Sciarelli, third councilor, and the newly elected Raffaele Duranti as 4^th councilor.

Catching the Vision
(Matthew 5:1-12)

Last Sunday’s Gospel introduced the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, his call to repentance, the choice of some disciples and the spread of his fame.
Now, over the next four Sundays, the church will take us on a journey through Jesus’ teaching in Chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s Gospel. These chapters form the Sermon on the Mount. Each Sunday’s Gospel builds on the one before – they are part of this first discourse in Matthew’s Gospel and need to be understood in a connected sense, not as a series of isolated sayings.
The text we know as the ‘Beatitudes’ introduces Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom, discipleship, the true meaning of the Law and true righteousness (virtue), interior disposition of the heart against external fulfilment of Law, trust in God and keeping the Kingdom as the focus of the disciple’s life.
Matthew’s beatitudes have been understood as a pattern of life for the follower of Jesus. Put in the context of Jesus’ call to conversion (the idea of radical change and transformation), those willing to be transformed will enjoy the blessings of the kingdom as their reward.
To be ‘poor in spirit’, to experience sadness (‘mourn’) because of the present state of affairs, to be gentle and unselfish rather than on the make, to have a passionate commitment to justice, to exercise mercy instead of taking advantage, to be ‘pure in heart’, to be ‘peacemakers’, to endure persecution and calumny for the sake of the right way of life (‘righteousness’) and allegiance to Christ: all these things make one vulnerable here and now, entailing much loss. The vulnerable make the world safe for humanity.*
For those who live according to the heart of God as Jesus reveals it, the blessings of the Kingdom will be theirs, their place in the household of God will be assured and they will be making the world a safe place for their brothers and sisters.

*Byrne, Brendan, Lifting the Burden: reading Matthew’s Gospel in the Church Today. St Pauls, 2004, pp55-57

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2026 Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite Province of Pernambuco Held in January

From January 19- 23, in the city of Camocim de São Félix/PE, Brazil, the Provincial Chapter of the Carmelite Province of Pernambuco took place, with the theme: Restored in hope, let us be one! For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3: 28).

With the presence of the Prior General, Friar Desiderio Garcia Martinez, and the Councilor for the Americas, Friar Rolf Nepomuk Willemsen, in a prayerful and fraternal atmosphere, the journey of the 2023-2025 triennium was evaluated, and the 2026-2028 triennium was planned. Also present were the bishops: Dom Frei Paulo Cardoso, O. Carm., Dom Antônio Fernando Muniz, O. Carm., and Dom Frei Francisco de Sales de Alencar Batista, O. Carm.

On Wednesday, the 21st, the new provincial government was elected. Friar José Roberval Mendes Pereira was reelected as Provincial, and the Council was formed with the following friars: Friar Luiz Nunes Pereira, O. Carm. (First Councilor); Friar Rogério Severino de Lima, O. Carm. (Second Councilor); Friar José Adriano Gomes da Silva, O. Carm. (Third Councilor); and Friar Robson José da Silva, O. Carm. (Fourth Councilor).

On Friday, the 23rd, the Chapter ended with a Eucharistic celebration attended by representatives of the Carmelite family.

The Carmelite community of Janua Coeli Monastery in Cerreto di Sorano (GR), Italy, celebrated its Elective Chapter on January 17, 2026.

The monastery was established on May 19, 1992, by nuns from the Carpineto Romano community.  Its canonical erection was on September 8, 2000. It is part of the Federation of Santa Maria Magdalena de' Pazzi. More can be learned about the monastery by visiting its website: www.monasterocarmelitane.it

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Sr Miriam del Dio Vivente, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Daniela del Buon Pastore, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sr M. Benedetta di Gesù, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera  | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Irene della Trinità, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera  | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Giuseppina dell'Immacolata, O. Carm.

Formator | Formadora  | Formatrice:
Sr M. Daniela del Buon Pastore, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma  | Economa: 
Sr M. Benedetta di Gesù, O. Carm.

Sacristan| Sacristana | Sacrestana: 
Sr M. Alessandra del Cuore di Gesù, O. Carm.