Pope Benedict XVI has awarded Fr. Fabian M. Rosette, O. Carm., founder and Prior of Mount Carmel Hermitage in Christoval, TX, USA, the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for distinguished service to the Church.
On 15 August 2010, during the Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of his Priestly Ordination, the Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI., bishop of San Angelo, conferred the Papal Award. The medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is the highest award the Pope can bestow upon a Religious.
Fr. Fabian founded Mount Carmel Hermitage as a Diocesan Carmelite Hermitage in 1991, and in 2003 the community was aggregated into the Carmelite Order by former Prior General Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O. Carm. The Mount Carmel Hermitage website is www.carmelitehermits.org.

There was an International Course for Carmelite Formators from around the world in Camocim de São Félix, Brazil from 1st to 15th August 2010. The two-week course provided an opportunity for the 69 participants to engage in a common reflection on the Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanae (RIVC) making ten years since its publication.
There were four main areas of discussion: the roles of formator and formandi; the interior spiritual journey; human development and the vows; internationality, inculturation and fraternity. The presentations focused on the existing RIVC text together new material drafted for inclusion in a new edition.
Principal speakers were: Frs. Desiderio García Martinez (Arag), Michael Plattig (GerS), Quinn Conners (PCM) and Carlos Mesters (Flum). A paper from Charlò Camilleri (Mel), who had Visa difficulties, was read for the participants. There were also a number of special topics addressed by Frs. John Keating (Curia), Francisco de Sales Alencar (Pern), Albertus Herwanta (Curia), Giampiero Molinari (Ita) and Raúl Maraví (Curia).
The course, which was organized by the Order's International Formation Commission, experienced the warmth of the hospitality of the Province of Pernambuco and of its Provincial, Fr. Francisco de Sales Alencar, O.Carm. The Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm was present during the first week. In his initial and closing remarks he invited the participants to a balanced and creative approach to formation.
Archbishop Antonio Muniz, O.Carm. visited the meeting for two days. Other Carmelite bishops in Brazil, who were unable to attend, sent greetings to the participants.

The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Jaboticabal, Brazil, was held 23 July 2010. The following were elected:

• Prioress: Sr. Francisca Marlene Rocha, O.Carm.
• 1st Councilor: Sr. Maria do Carmo Silveira Moraes, O.Carm.
• 2nd Councilor: Sr. Silvana Cristina Gameiro, O.Carm.
• Director of Novices: Sr. Silvana Cristina Gameiro, O.Carm.
• Treasurer: Sr. Maria do Carmo Silveira Moraes, O.Carm.
• Sacristan: Sr. Silvana Cristina Gameiro , O.Carm.

The Carmelite Order has presented a donation of €10,000 to help alleviate the suffering of those affected by recent floods in Brazil. This donation was made possible by the generosity of the donors to the Society of the Little Flower, the Curia's fundraising charity in Britain and Ireland.
The presentation was made at a Eucharist celebrated as part of the international gathering of Carmelite formators taking place at Camocim de São Félix, Brazil A cheque was given by the Prior General to fellow friar Don Antonio Muniz Fernandes, O.Carm., Metropolitan Archbishop of Maceió.
Some weeks ago Archbishop Antonio wrote to the Carmelite Family to publicize the grave situation that has arisen from the floods in the State of Algoas in the north east of Brazil.

After many years of discussion and some previous experience of co-operation in various fields, the monasteries present in the two provinces and one general commissariat in Italy decided to formalize the relations between them. In the most recent prioresses' meeting held in Sassone from 26 to 28 April, 11 of the 12 canonically erected Italian monasteries decided that they would join together in a Federation.
The Apostolic See has accepted their request, and on 16 July this year canonically erected the Federation of "St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi" of the monasteries of the nuns of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel". At the same time the statutes of the federation were also approved and Fr. Matteo Palumbo O. Carm. (Ita) was appointed as the first religious assistant to the federation for a period of three years.
We wish the federation every heavenly blessing and that this union will help the monasteries to grow for their good and the good of the whole Church.