The Carmelite International Commission for Evangelisation and Mission organized a workshop on the ministry of preaching in the Carmelite tradition at Casa São Nuno, Fatima (Portugal) from the 15th to the 18th January 2019. This event was based on chapter three of Evangelii Gaudium of Pope Francis with the title “The Need to Preach and the Art of Preaching.”
Each day had a separate theme beginning on the first day with the question of ‘proclamation’. The participants then continued by examining the ‘context’ of preaching, the tradition of preaching in the Order and finally our mission of preaching into the future. The principal speakers were: Fr. Timothy Radcliff, O.P. (author and former Master General of the Dominicans), Professor Donna Orsuto (The Lay Center and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome), Carmelites Frs. Huub Welzen (Neer), Míceál O’Neill (CISA), Alexander Vella (Mel), Michael Plattig (Ger), John Keating (Curia), and Mr. Paolo Rocha (Communications Director of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference), Sig.na Sabrina Rubio Peréz (Carmelite youth committee and JUCAR).
Each day a member of the commission led the different sessions: Sanny Bruijns (Neer), Fr. Conrad Mutizamhepo, Councillor General for Africa, Frs. Desiderio García Martínez (ACV), Klaus Schenkelberger (Gal). Frs. Klaus and Luca Sciarelli (Ita) led the liturgies. On one of the days, the Emeritus Carmelite Bishop of Beja, Mons. António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas celebrated the Eucharist for the group at the place of the apparitions. The Commissary General of Portugal, Fr. Ricardo Rainho, welcomed the participants and extended a generous and fraternal welcome to all. In all, there were forty-five, from different groups within the Carmelite Family, taking part in the workshop.
