The third congress of ALACAR (Latin American Association of Carmelites) was held in São Paulo, Brazil from the 22nd to 27th October. The theme of the meeting was "Community life in Carmel: gift and sign of joy and hope." More than 120 participants attended, including friars, nuns, sisters and lay Carmelites from both branches of the Order (O. Carm., and OCD).
The main speakers were the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., and former Superior General, Fr. Felipe Sainz de Baranda, O.C.D. Other presentations were given by Sister Marian Ambrosio, President of the Conference of Religious of Brazil, and Frs. Edênio Vale, SVD, Rafael Santamaría, OCD, Marío Naranjo, OCD and Antônio da Silvio Costa Jr., O. Carm. The speakers addressed the theme starting from different perspectives, personal experiences, and communities. The participants, meanwhile, worked in groups, deepening the topics covered in the talks and suggesting practical ways for strengthening the fraternal life in their communities.
During the meeting the participants made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, where Bishop Antônio Muniz, Carmelite Archbishop of Maceió in the northeast of Brazil, presided at the Eucharistic celebration. This was followed by a guided tour of this beautiful Brazilian shrine.
The next ALACAR congress will be held in 2015 and will be organized by the executive members of the association Fr. Raúl Maraví, O. Carm., and Fr. Marcos Juchem, O.C.D, and their collaborators. This meeting is an important initiative in the development and interaction among all members of the great Carmelite Family in Latin America.
