O.Carm
Vitam Coelo Reddiderunt
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28-12-24 |
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02-02-25 |
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11-02-25 |
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24-02-25 |
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Communications Directors of the Order Meet in Rome
For six days, communications directors from various parts of the Order met in Rome to participate in three events related to communications. The first was a three day conference at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce entitled Communication and Evangelization: Context, Attitudes and Experiences. One of the university’s focuses is communications. This was the 14th professional seminar for Church communications offices.
The goal of the conference was to explore the Church’s evangelizing. This is something present in each diocese as well as religious order on various levels. The form of dialogue used brings together characteristics such as the primacy of charity, love of truth, respect for the person and his or her freedom, and the promotion of pluralism. In addition, the various dimensions of the Church's communication refer to the horizon of evangelization: internal communication, relations with journalists, creation of media and channels, presence on social networks, listening, dissemination of content, and institutional relations. When put together and used appropriately, these activities make the Church capable of proclaiming Christ, the Good News.
To explore the theme a number of presentations as well as panels of experts from various parts of the world were provided. Presentations were in English, Spanish, and Italian (with simultaneous translations for the large gatherings). The breaks provided the opportunity to connect with fellow workers in this particular vineyard.
The full program can be found at en.pusc.it/csi/ucc2025/progr.
The second part of the Carmelite gathering was to participate in the Jubilee Year of the World of Communications. This was the first of the Jubilee events scheduled throughout 2025. The Vatican estimated that 10,000 journalists, editors, and industry professionals participated from 139 countries. The three days included some input sessions but was mostly am opportunity to celebrate.
On Friday evening, January 24, there was a welcome and penitential celebration organized by the Vicariate of the Diocese of Rome at St. John Lateran Basilica. The following day members had the opportunity to participate in a procession from Piazza Pia with the Jubilee cross to St. Peter’s Basilica. Participants then passed through the Holy Door. After a pause for a simple breakfast and coffee provided by the Vatican outside the Paul VI Audience Hall, participants assembled in the aula for a meeting with Pope Francis. The papal session was preceeded by a round table session, moderated by the former editor of the Italian national newspapers, La Repubblica and La Stampa, on the theme of “Communication and Hope.”
Two speakers participated. The Filippino journalist Maria Ressa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for "efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace" spoke first. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Rappler, a Filipino online news website. Ms. Ressa gave a powerful talk on the crisis of democracy and her arrests by the Philippine government.
The second presenter was award-winning Irish writer Colum McCann who wrote Apeirogon among several other books. He spoke about the “democracy of storytelling” outlining the power that telling the people’s stories can have in bringing people together.
Following the talks there was a musical interlude. The Pope Francis entered the aula and took his place in center stage. However, after very few minutes he tossed aside his text and began greeting the cardinals and bishops present and then the people seated in the very front rows. It was a rather odd finish to what was billed as a major moment of the three days.
The following morning, on the “Sunday of the Word of God,” participants were invited to Mass inside St. Peter’s basilica presided over by Pope Francis.
The following day, the Carmelite communicators gathered live as well as via zoom to participate in a discussion of the status of the various communications programs in the Order and the provinces. Each participant was asked to share three things they felt everyone should know about their ministry of communications. They were also asked to complete a one-page survey which will be summarized to give a more complete picture of the state of our communications. There was quite a bit of enthusiasm generated during this meeting and future gatherings are being planned.
Concurrent with this meeting, the presidents of episcopal commissions for communications, the directors of national communications offices, as well as some directors of communications for the religious orders were invited to a three-day meeting at the Pontifical University Urbaniana to address some of the most frequent questions that communicators in the Church face today. As director of communications office for the Order, William J. Harry participated in these sessions which began with an audience with the pope.
On January 29-February 1, members of the Order’s International Communications Commission then met at CISA. Members had the opportunity to discuss each of the pieces of the just concluded communications meeting as well as the implications and decisions from each. The group also had the opportunity to walk over the new offices of the Dicastery for Communications in the Vatican Radio building (which now falls within the dicastery). We met with Dr. Paulo Ruffini, the prefect and Nataša Govekar, director of the theological-pastoral department which the Order’s communications efforts would fall directly under.
In the near future, individual releases will contain more detailed information about these meeting.
Videoconference on Carmelite Jean de Saint-Samson Held
Carmelite Charlò Camilleri Delivers a Videoconference on Jean de Saint-Samson
On February 23, 2025, Charlò Camilleri of the Maltese Province was the invited guest speaker at a video conference hosted by the SOLARS Centre for Spirituality on the doctrine of the Carmelite spiritual master Jean de Saint-Samson. Participants joined from Canada, the UK, France, and Malta. The conference featured a presentation on Holy Wisdom in the doctrine of John of Saint Samson. Inspired by a phrase frequently repeated by John of Saint Samson in Le Vray Esprit du Carmel—"the Host and House are One and the Same"—the event explored this mystical concept within his teachings. In doing so, it aimed also to foster dialogue with Advaita and Buddhist spiritual traditions, which employ a similar metaphor in their practices. The talk was followed by engaging discussions.
In 1655, Donatien de Saint-Nicolas published Le Vray Esprit du Carmel, which was later incorporated into the Œuvres complètes, published in two volumes between 1658 and 1659. In these writings, the Carmelite mystic—blind from birth—sheds light on the bold mystical journey of those who embark on the path of interiority, where one becomes aware of welcoming the Wisdom that welcomes us.
Fr. Charlò earned a doctorate in sacred theology with a specialization in spirituality from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2007. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Moral Theology at the University of Malta, where he teaches spiritual theology, consecrated life, and gender studies. In 2023-2024, he was appointed director of research at the Centre d'Études d'Histoire de la Spiritualité de Nantes (C.E.H.S.). In addition to contributing to several academic journals, he is the editor of the critical edition project of the Œuvres complètes de Jean de Saint-Samson, in collaboration with Edizioni Carmelitane. He also serves as the vice-postulator for the cause of the Servant of God Jean de Saint-Samson.
The SOLARS CENTRE offers conferences and training courses to explore and deepen the mystical heritage of Christianity in dialogue with other spiritual traditions, the sciences, and the arts.
Lectio Divina March, 2025
Opening Prayer
Father, keep before us the wisdom and love You have revealed in Your Son. Help us to be like Him in word and deed, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrating At Home -8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sound Tree, Good Fruit
(Luke 6:39-45)
The Gospel opens with a parable about one blind person leading another and both falling into a pit. The disciples, like ourselves, are on a lifelong journey with Jesus, our teacher. On this journey there is always more to discover, greater depths to be plumbed, new insights to be gained as we grow to be more like Jesus; as we move from being ‘blind’ to ‘seeing’ with the eyes of Jesus.
We gradually learn to let go of our self-righteous inclination to judge small faults in others while never noticing our own larger, more destructive, blind spots (the story of the splinter and the plank).
When we learn God’s way of mercy and generosity we refrain from the kinds of judgements which would otherwise limit God’s generosity, mercy and kindness at work in us. Our hearts are being built in goodness.
Like trees that are known by their fruit, so will the disciples be known by their words and actions, their values and attitudes, by who they truly are, by what is in their heart.
Our journey of learning with Jesus gradually builds God’s heart within our own so that we live, speak and act, more and more, out of that great store of mercy and generosity.
- pdf Celebrating At Home -8th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](3.76 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub](2.79 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - VIII Domingo del Tiempo ordinario(490 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - VIII Domenica del Tempo ordinario(499 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Oitavo Domingo Do Tempo Comum(498 KB)
Celebrating At Home - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Generous Relationships
(Luke 6:27-38)
This week, Jesus’ radical teaching focusses on lavish generosity in human relationships. The opening words, ‘Love your enemies,’ set the tone of the rest of the text.
Again, at first glance the words of Jesus seem absurd and almost impossible to follow. Should we really offer the other cheek to someone who strikes us?
Are we really meant to give the rest of our clothes to someone who steals our coat? Are we really meant not to fight to get our property back from the one who steals from us? Is this what Jesus really is asking us to do?
The point of this kind of prophetic speech by Jesus is to stimulate his audience (and us) to reflect on the whole pattern of behaviour in human relationships.
Jesus is not really suggesting rules to be followed literally in certain circumstances. Rather, we are being invited to reflect on how we can respond to unreasonable demands and personal injuries with nothing but generosity and abandoning all claims to retribution and restitution.
What Jesus is suggesting are responses to insults and injuries which break cycles of violent retaliation and provide pathways to peace and reconciliation.
By doing this, Jesus says, we can allow the utter generosity of God to shine through us. Doing good only to those who do good to us is not enough to convey the generosity and welcome of God. Only acting with overwhelming generosity and compassion allows the mercy, generosity and compassion with which God meets each of us to be clearly seen in concrete actions.
When we act according to the generosity, mercy and compassion of God, refraining from judgement and condemnation and granting pardon, we meet God’s overwhelming abundance of generosity to ourselves.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](3.55 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub](2.60 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - VII Domingo del Tiempo ordinario(479 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - VII Domenica del Tempo ordinario(489 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Sétimo Domingo Do Tempo Comum(487 KB)
Elective Chapter of the Indonesian Province Held
The members of the Indonesian Province of the Carmelite Order held their elective chapter on February 10-15, 2025.
In 1923, the territory of the Diocese of Malang was entrusted to the Dutch Province o the Carmelite Order. On July 6, the first members of the Province arrived in Malang. After 15 years, their number had grown to 25 and the first Indonesian Carmelite had been ordained priest. On March 19, 1960, the foundation was established as a General Commissariat. Seven years later, this was raised to a province.
In 1965 the first foundation was made outside the Diocese of Malang on the island of Sumatra in the Diocese of Medan. Four years later, the province establshed a foundation in the Diocese of Endehena on Flores Island. In 1973, the Diocese of Jakarta was founded.
As of 2023, the Province has a Commissariat in Sumatra and the East. It also has a mission in China. There is the beginnings of a foundation in Hong Kong.
In 2023 the Province has 405 members in 64 houses. Thirteen members live in other provinces. The homepage for the province is: www.karmelindonesia.org
Three major decisions were taken by this Chapter. The commitment to the new East Indonesia Province was formalized. Support will be in the form of finance, formation, and guidance. For three years the Indonesian Province will financially support the new entity based on the number of solemnly professes members.
Due to the change in the culture and situation of the province, the formation manual will be revised based on psychology, sociology, and technology. The present situation of the Church and Order will also be taken into consideration.
The third major decision is a commitment to play bigger role in the Order due to the situation faced by our Order, especially with the European provinces which there are few vocations. This is building on the support that the Indonesian Province is already giving to many parts of the Order through personnel.
The following members were elected to leadership at the meeting:
Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
FX Hariawan Adji, O. Carm.
Vice Provincial | Vice Provincial | Vice Provinciale
Ignasius Budiono, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Ignatius Loyola Joko Purnomo, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Fransiskus de Sales Borta Parlindungan R, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3do Consejero | 3o Consigliere
Stanislaus Lirmanjayasastra, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4do Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Alexander Dimas Pele Alu, O. Carm.
Prior General's Schedule for February 2025
Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of February 2025:
February 1: Venezuela, celebration of the centennary of the affiliation of the Carmelite Sisters of Madre Candelaria to the Carmelite Order
February 3-7: Canonical visitation of the Italian Province (Part 1)
February 9-23: Provincial Chapter of the Indonesian Province; Visit to Carmelites in Sumatra
February 25-28: Fatima: Congress of the Carmelite Third Order
Prayer for the TOC General Assembly in Fatima Announced
The General Assembly of the Lay Carmelite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary (historically known as the Third Order of Carmel, TOC) will be held in Fatima from February 25 to March 2, 2025.
The Committee for the event has prepared a prayer text that we can use to accompany in faith all participants who will be working for our Third Order.
Let us join in prayer that the assembly will be fruitful and fruitful!
Message on the World Day of Consecrated Life
Prior General Marks the World Day for Consecrated Life with a Reflection for the Carmelite Family
On Sunday, February 2, the Church celebrated the feast of the Presentation of the Lord as well as the 29th World Day for Consecrated Life. The celebration for Consecrated Life began in 1997 under St. John Paul II. Pope Francis joined with religious men and women for the celebration of First Vespers. He spoke of the three evangelical counsels: poverty, chasstity, and obedience. He said, “They manifest the goodness of those things in the order of love, rejecting everything that can obscure their beauty— selfishness, greed, dependence, violent use and misuse for the purpose of death and destruction—and embracing instead all that can highlight that beauty: simplicity, generosity, sharing, and solidarity.”
To mark the celebration within the Carmelite Family, Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, the prior general, has written his reflections on three themes-- consecrated life, fraternal affirmation and correction, and the significance of the jubilee year for us, Carmelite religious. He says that he writes these words “not as the answer to all our challenges but as part of a reflection that is ongoing in our Order.”
The Jubilee of Consecrated Life will be celebrated worldwide on October 8-12, 2025, as part of the yearlong Jubilee.
