Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 5, 1952, and a graduate in law, Fr. Joseph Chalmers entered the Carmelite Order in 1975. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) with a license in spirituality which won the Papal Gold Medal.

In 1981, a year before finishing his studies, Fr. Joseph was ordained priest in Glasgow by the Cardinal, Archbishop Thomas Winning.

From 1995 to 2007, Fr. Joseph was a Prior General of the whole Carmelite. after two terms as Prior General he retured to his own province and served as Novice Director for the past four years at Aylesford Priory in Kent. Fr. Chalmers recently joined Saint Luke Institute as Director of Formation.

As Prior General of the Carmelite Order between 1995 and 2007, Father Joseph is very well known across the international Carmelite Family and beyond. Since returning to ministry in his native province of Britain, he has published a number of best-selling books, including The Sound of Silence: Listening to the Word of God with Elijah the Prophet, and Let It Be: Praying the Scriptures in company with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Antequera, Spain, was held 8 November 2012. The following were elected:

• Prioress:  Sr. Liliana Mª Campos Rosa, O.Carm.
• 1st Councilor:   Sr. Angelina Ngina Muli , O.Carm.
• 2nd Councilor:  Sr. Teresa Ngusye Mbuvi, O.Carm.
• Treasurer:  Sr. Angelina Ngina Muli , O.Carm.
• Sacristan:  Sr. Juliana Kavithe Mwololo, O.Carm.

From 26 October to 4 November 2012 seventeen formators from the Asia-Australia-Oceania region gathered at the Provincial House of the Saint Thomas Province in Thrissur, India. They listened, discussed, and studied three important topics presented by three excellent facilitators: Fr. Stanislaus Swammikannu, SDB (formation for formators), Fr. John Keating, O.Carm. (Carmelite formation based on the RIVC), and Fr. Leopold Glueckert, O.Carm. (Carmelite history).

This regional formators gathering also formed a New Regional Formation Committee whose main task is to organize regional collaboration in the area of formation such as organizing the next regional formators gathering and the next regional Carmelite student friars meeting. They also proposed that the regional superiors consider a common preparation for solemn profession for Carmelites at regional level.

The group enjoyed the fraternal hospitality and were very grateful to the Carmelites from the Saint Thomas Province. They also visited Carmelaram, the community of the Delegation of Indian Latin and some communities of the Saint Thomas Province at Carmel Nivas (Minor Seminary), Carmel Book Stall, and Carmel Bhavan Retreat House (Karukutty).

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.