From the 14th to the 15th of September, 2012, on the eve of the 5th International Congress for Lay Carmelites, a meeting of provincial delegates and lay provincial moderators took place at Sassone (Ciampino, Rome). The theme of the meeting was, “Roles and Responsibilities in guiding and motivating lay Carmelites”. The meeting, organised by the General Delegate for Lay Carmelites Fr. Josef Jančář, O.Carm., was seen to be a continuation of the meeting that took place in 2011. More than fifty Carmelites took part, with friars and lay people from all around the world.

Its purpose was to clarify and interpret the respective roles and responsibilities of religious and lay people in accompanying and directing the lay Carmelite movement. From the theological and ecclesiological points of view, Prof. Cettina Militello assisted the reflection by her talk on the autonomy and co-responsibility of lay people. Fr. Sergio La Pegna, D.C. spoke on the theme of the relationship between lay people and consecrated people (altius moderamen, ecc.), particularly from the point of view of common law and the Magisterium after the II Vatican Council. Fr. Giovanni Grosso, O.Carm., dealt with the theme from a practical point of view and with reference to the new Rule of the Third Order.

In addition, the participants enjoyed the opportunity to share their own experiences in group work. The meeting was marked by a fraternal and open atmosphere of dialogue.