On the 13th May, 2014, the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. and the Councillor General for Europe, John Keating, O.Carm. attended the Assembly of the French Delegation which took place at Notre Dame de Lumières, Nantes. The occasion marking 25 years since the re-foundation in France afforded each member of the communities of Nantes and Angers an opportunity to reflect on this experience and to look towards the future. The three young French friars, Fr. Yves de Sainte Marie, Bros. Martin de la Croix and Elie presented the situation of Carmel in France now while the two friars who have served from beginning, Frs. Gianfranco Tuveri (Ita) and Jordi Prunera (Cat), together with the present Delegate, Fr. Klaus Schenkelberger (Ger) and Fr. Terence Cyr (PCM) contributed from their experience of many years in the French Delegation. Other celebrations have marked this 25th anniversary both in Nantes and in Angers. Bro. Martin will be ordained for priestly ministry in Nantes on the 31st May 2014.
The Prior General in closing the Assembly thanked the members for their service to the Order and acknowledged with gratitude the presence of Frs. Pascal Sawadogo (Bet/BF) and Andreas Dedy Purnawan (Indo). Many others have worked in the Delegation over the years and the General Council wishes to also acknowledge their important contribution to the restoration of the Carmelite Order in France.
Announcement at the Dutch Provincial Chapter of a new reality within the Province
The Prior General and his Council are pleased to announce that in response to a formal request made by the Dutch Province on the 14th April 2014, regarding the women associated with the Province over a period of thirty years, and with their unanimous assent of the women themselves, the Prior General and his council agreed to the erection of a sodalitium of the Third Order in the communities of Boxmeer, Zenderen, Nijmegen and Almelo. At the end of the Provincial Chapter held at Denekamp, in The Netherlands, from the 7th to 11th May 2014, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm, announced that the General Council had accepted the request, thus establishing for this group a sodalitum of the Third Order in conformity with the Code of Canon Law 312:3 and the Third Order Rule, n. 56. In doing so, the group becomes formally part of the Carmelite Family.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Granada, Spain, was held 10 May 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Lourdes Santos Álvarez, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Dolores Montes Márquez, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr Cherrie Marie Vazquez Ramos, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Dolores Montes Márquez, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Cherrie Marie Vazquez Ramos, O.Carm.
During the Provincial Chapter of the Dutch Province held on 7-11 May 2014 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Jan Brouns, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Ben Wolbers, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Tjeu Timmermans, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Cees Bartels, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Fr. Falco Thuis, O.Carm.
During the Provincial Chapter of the British Province held on 25-28 February and 5-9 May 2014 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Antony Lester, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Kevin Melody, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Damian Cassidy, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Francis Kemsley, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Br. Paul Jenkins, O.Carm.
