On the occasion of the 5th centenary of the birth of St. Teresa of Jesus, on September 7 – 17, 2014, forty-eight Carmelites coming from 16 countries around the world gathered in Avila and Salamanca, Spain, for their on-going formation course. The course was organised by the General Formation Commission, chaired by Fr. Benny Phang, General Councilor for Asia, Australia and Oceania, and its administrative secretary, Fr. Noel Rosas (Curia). Fr. John Welch (PCM) and Fr. Desiderio Garcia Martinez (ACV) facilitated the whole course. Fr. John talked about the life and works of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross: the Interior Castle, Prayer, Transformation, Songs of the Heart, Letting go of Lesser Gods, Divinized Humanity, and how they are relevant to each person and to the present times. Fr. Desiderio, on the other hand, took all the participants to the places where St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross were born, grew up, entered Carmel, inspired reform of the Order, died, and were buried. In those places the participants prayed, and meditated, contemplated, and savored the writings of the two Saints where they were actually written.

Fr. Raul Maraví, General Councilor for the Americas, and the Prior of CISA, Fr. Míceál O’Neill, helped with the translation. Fr. Nicolas Sozzi (Ita) helped to create a very prayerful ambiance for the liturgy.

The course was capped by the conference of the Prior General Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral on Blessed Titus Brandsma, a devotee and a scholar of St. Teresa of Jesus. The course became a beautiful moment of fraternity and sorority and friendship. After the final Eucharist, led by the Prior General Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, the participants went home with spirit renewed and hopeful for the future.