The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Machakos, Kenya, was held 10 June 2019. The following were elected:

• Prioress: Sr. M. Winifred Katunge Mbui, O.Carm.


• 1st Councilor: Sr. M.Magdalena Medrano Jimenez, O.Carm.


• 2nd Councilor: Sr.M. Jacinta Wayua, O.Carm.


• Director of Novices: Sr. M. Therese Ndinda Mutisya, O.Carm.


• Treasurer: Sr. M. Therese Ndinda Mutisya,O.Carm.


• Sacristan: Sr. M. Jacinta Wayua, O.Carm.

This homily was delivered by Fr. Raymond Maher, O. Carm. on April 30, 2019 in the chapel of Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel to a group of his fellow pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.  The Gospel for the day was John 3:7b-15.

Sisters and brothers, so here we are on Mount Carmel, the first stop on our pilgrimage and significant to all of us for its place in the Books of Kings as the place where the prophet Elijah successfully challenged the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal to a contest of sacrifices.  I must say it is downright thrilling for me to be here, as this is where the Carmelites began.  The origins of the Order are somewhat obscure, but we know that in the Middle Ages (and perhaps, earlier) hermits had gathered on Mount Carmel (which means “God’s Garden” in Hebrew), dwelling in caves in the Wadi ‘ain es-Siah, near the Fountain of Elijah.  They were probably Europeans who had come to the Holy Land on pilgrimage or to fight in the Crusades and had decided to stay and pursue a life of prayer in the land where Jesus had walked.  It is very likely that most were laymen.  In time they realized that they needed some structure to their life, so they asked the local patriarch, later known as Saint Albert of Jerusalem, to give them some guidelines for their communal solitary life.  Some time between the years 1206 and 1214 Albert composed a Formula of Life for the hermits.  This Formula Vitae was fairly simple, exhorting them to “live a life in allegiance to Jesus Christ (in obsequio Jesu Christi), serving Him zealously with a pure heart and a stout conscience.” Other organizational issues were addressed as well.  This document morphed into The Rule of Saint Albert after we became an official religious order some forty years later.  The Carmelites also claimed Elijah as the founder of the Order!  How and why that happened is a long story, but the prophetic spirit of Elijah, along with the model discipleship of the Virgin Mary, has been an inspiration for Carmelites for over eight hundred years. 

The first words that we hear out of the mouth of Elijah in the First Book of Kings (17:1) are spoken to the wicked King Ahab, who had forsaken the One True God for the worship of the Baals, false gods:  “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”  Taking a cue from Elijah’s self-introduction, Carmelites view our spirituality as a matter of standing in the presence of the living God with an open heart, attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, with a good conscience.  That is Carmelite life in a nutshell, if you wish, and, of course, it is enfleshed in many different ways.  The early Carmelites considered John the Baptist a Carmelite (at least, in spirit), and a fourteenth century Carmelite document called The Book of the First Monks makes mention of Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to Mount Carmel for picnics when He was a child!

I wonder then whether we could not consider Nicodemus in today’s Gospel as a Carmelite in process as well.  As a “leader of the Jews,” he stands in the presence of the living Son of God seeking enlightenment with a sincere heart. He does not understand what Jesus says about being “born of the Spirit,” so he asks for clarification. His attitude is one of humility and openness.  He comes to Jesus at night.  This is usually understood as caution on Nicodemus’ part, so as not to be seen by anyone, especially other Pharisees, as he approached Jesus.  But the phrase “at night” may also connote spiritual unrest and a longing for “the light of all people,” as John refers to Jesus in the prologue to his Gospel (1:4).  Carmelites are said to have a special affinity for the night.  You know the joke:  “How many Carmelites does it take to change a light bulb?”  The answer: “Oh, those Carmelites, they don’t even bother to change the light bulb; they love “the dark night!” In the dark night of the Carmelite mystics, the Lord invites the soul into deeper relationship with Him.  Maybe something like that may be said of Nicodemus in today’s Gospel. In the end, we don’t know how zealously Nicodemus served Jesus Christ in the days after this nighttime visit, but later we find him bringing the myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus’ body for burial (John 19:39).  His final gesture in John’s Gospel is one of reverence for the body of Christ. 

Jesus talks to Nicodemus about “being born of water and the Spirit,” a clear reference to Baptism. Indeed, each of us has been “born from above” in the sacrament of Baptism.  But we know that in the spiritual journey Baptism is the easy step.  (Most of us were literally carried to the waters of Baptism as infants!) It is the days and years after Baptism that require focus and commitment and on-going repentance, as we submit our stubborn hearts and wills over and over to the control of God’s Spirit.  At the start of this pilgrimage we, no doubt, seek many blessings for ourselves and for others.  Perhaps the first prayer each one of us offers might be for the grace of repentance – a change of heart, a fresh start – just as Nicodemus came to Jesus seeking a change from his pharisaical ways of thinking and behaving, and the early Carmelite hermits repented of whatever lifestyle they had left behind for the solitude of this mountain.  

Let us end with a story.  A tale circulated in the Middle Ages about a young woman who managed to be expelled from heaven! As she left, she was told that if she would bring back the gift that is most valued by God, she would be re-admitted.  She brought back drops of blood from a dying patriot. She brought back some coins that a destitute widow had given to the poor. She brought back a Bible that had been used for years by an eminent preacher.  She brought back some dust from the shoes of a missionary laboring in a remote wasteland. She brought back many similar things but was turned away repeatedly.

One day she saw a small boy playing by a fountain.  A man rode up on horseback and dismounted to take a drink. The man saw the child and suddenly remembered his boyhood innocence. Then, looking in the fountain and seeing the reflection of his hardened face, he realized what he had done with his life. Tears of repentance welled up in his eyes and began to trickle down his cheeks. The young woman took one of these tears back to heaven and was received with joy and love!

On May 21, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established the new Federation "Nuestra Señora del Carmen" which includes the Spanish-speaking monasteries of the American continent. They are the seven autonomous monasteries: Trujillo Alto and Mayagüez (Puerto Rico), Santiago de los Caballeros, La Vega, Santo Domingo and Monción (Dominican Republic), Camaná (Peru) and Porlamar (Venezuela). The foundations of Barinas (Venezuela) and Azua (Dominican Republic) are associated with these. The same Congregation also approved the Statutes and appointed the first Assistant: Fr. Jorge Luis Rivera Maldonado (ACV-Antilles). This federation joins the five already existing: three in Spain, one in the Philippines and one in Italy.

From May 21 to 29, at the Carmelite Centre in Sassone in Italy, the second assembly of the Federal Presidents and representatives of the non-federated monasteries of the Carmelite Order took place together with the Commission for the updating of the Constitutions of the Carmelite Nuns. Some provincial assistants and delegates also attended the meeting. The first three days were dedicated to the presentation of the documents, Vultum Dei Quaerere and Cor Orans, linking them to the tradition and spirituality of Carmel. After the initial report of the General Delegate, Fr. Mario Alfarano, who led the whole meeting, there were some introductory communications regarding, the updating of the Constitutions of the friars (Fr. Michael Farrugia, Procurator General), the experience of the Dominican friars and Dominican nuns (Sr. Claudia Benigno, OP), and the history of the Constitutions of the Carmelite nuns (Vera Frantellizzi). Archbishop Filippo Iannone and Fr. Rafal Wilkowski, OCD, gave their input on the first three parts of Cor Orans, and that was followed by some items of communication relating to a number of concrete themes: the federal leader (Sr. M. Sagrario Lorite, VAL), the foundations ( Sr. M. Clare Kasichana, MUT), the suppressions (Sr. M. Dolores Dominguez, COR) and the affiliation of monasteries (Sr. Miriam Tamiano, CER), the enclosure (Sr. Lourdes Aviles) and the media (Sr. Marianna Caprio, VET). The theme of formation was treated in relation to the formator (Sr. Madonna Morales, WAH), the ongoing formation of a community (Sr. Carmen Izquierdo, BAR) and leadership in a federation (Sr. M. Elena Tolentino, BUR).

On May 25, all 35 participants went on pilgrimage to the places associated with St. Mary Magdalene de 'Pazzi in Florence. The Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán, led the celebration of the Eucharist in the monastery of the Saint. For lunch, all were guests of the community (the friars and families) of the Carmine in Florence. The last three days were devoted entirely to the work of the Commission on the Constitutions.

The Carmelite Order has experienced two moments of celebration in Germany relating to the two contemplative female communities present in the Province. On May 10th, an extension of the community of the Carmelite Hermits of Chester, USA, was inaugurated in Seligenthal, near Cologne, formed by two hermits: Sr. M. Antonia Sondermann and Sr. M. Magdalena Höppener. The celebration, led by Dominikus Schwaderlapp, the auxiliary bishop of Cologne, in the church of the hermitage, was attended by the Provincial of Germany, Fr. Peter Schröder, a number of Carmelite friars and nuns, Discalced Carmelites, and numerous other priests and religious.

Then, on June 2nd, in the monastery of Erlangen, a Mass of welcome was celebrated for five Filipino nuns, Sr. M. Barbara, Sr. M. Florencia, Sr. M. Resurrection, Sr. M. Violeta and Sr. M. Jonally, all from the monastery of Burgos. The German monastery, the last of the Province, remained with only one nun, Sr. Thoma, and therefore was affiliated to the monastery of the Philippines which strengthened this community allowing the Carmelite nuns to continue to be present, with their vocation and mission, in Germany. The Provincial, Fr. Peter Schröder, and numerous priests and faithful took part in the celebration, led by Ludwig Schick, the Archbishop of Bamberg.

In the city of Vung Tau, in Vietnam, near the diocesan shrine dedicated to the Mother of God, a group of six consecrated women, who followed the Rule and spirituality of Carmel came together. They asked to become members of the Carmelite Order as nuns and went, in 2013, to the monastery of Burgos, in the Philippines, to receive formation. On May 1, in Vung Tau, four of them, Sr. M. Andrew, Sr Rose Mary, Sr. M. Therese, Sr. M. Angel made their solemn profession in the hands of Sr. M. Elena Tolentino, Prioress of Burgos, while two others are completing their formation in the Philippines. Together with the four Vietnamese, Sr. Leonora, a Filipina, joined in initiating this new foundation. The solemn profession took place in a great festive atmosphere. The celebration was led by the Bishop of Vung Tau, accompanied by the General Delegate, Fr. Mario Alfarano, by the Provincial of New York, Fr. Mario Esposito, the Provincial Commissary of Vietnam, Fr. Hung Tran, and numerous Carmelite, diocesan and religious priests. The Carmelite students led the singing in the liturgy. The participants included nuns from Burgos, numerous local religious and many faithful.



 

Evangelization – Priests

That priests, through the modesty and humility of their lives, commit themselves actively to a solidarity with those who are the most poor.

The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, was held 20 May 2019. The following were elected:

• Prioress: Sr. Grecia del Carmen Abreu Báez, O.Carm.


• 1st Councilor: Sr. María del Carmen García Collado, O.Carm.


• 2nd Councilor: Sr. Silveria María García Durán, O.Carm.


• 3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Ramona Ramos Hernández, O.Carm.


• 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Concepción Solano Ureña, O.Carm.


• Director of Novices: Sr. Silveria María García Durán, O.Carm.


• Treasurer: Sr. M. Nieves Tavárez Tavárez, O.Carm.

In cooperation with the German Carmelite Institute (Forschungsinstitut der Deutschen Provinz der Karmeliten) the 5th Bi-Annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Philosophy of Edith Stein (IASPES) will take place at the University of Cologne, Germany, August 15-17, 2019.

The subject is "Edith Stein's Itinerary: Phenomenology, Christian Philosophy, and Carmelite Spirituality". There will be 60 papers given by international researchers in four languages (German, English, French, and Spanish) and two keynotes from Prof. Dr. phil. Dr. phil. h. c. Andreas Speer, University of Cologne, and Sister Prof. Dr. Anneliese Meis Wörmer SSpS, Pontificial University of Santiago de Chile / Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile.

The congress program includes i. a. a visit of the Edith-Stein-Archives in the Cologne Convent of the Carmelite Sisters (o.c.d) and possibilities to visit special places of memory of Edith Stein in Cologne.

For further information please contact: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.

The General Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation met for its last session of the sessennium from 6-11 May 2019. Since its composition in 2014 it has been seized with the task of promoting the formation, development and animation of JPIC structures in the whole Carmelite Family. Over the course of the past five years the General Commission has been working towards the publication of a Carmelite JPIC Handbook. At the end of our latest meeting we presented the Prior General, Fr Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm., with a copy of the handbook entitled "From Contemplation to Action: Handbook for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in the Carmelite Tradition". The document acknowledges that there has always existed in Carmelite consciousness the desire to be of service to God and one’s neighbour in diverse ministries of prayer, pastoral care, education and advocacy. During the July 2017 Carmelite JPIC International Congress at Fatima, participants expressed the desire to have a handbook to help those appointed to JPIC ministries by providing information on the foundations, nature and methodology of Carmelite JPIC ministries.

Appreciation and gratitude go to all the members of the Commission who were drawn from various branches of the Carmelite Family – friars, consecrated religious sisters and a lay woman. The members of the Commission are: Frs Conrad Mutizamhepo, O.Carm (Praeses), Hariawan Franciscus Adji, O.Carm. (Indo), Eduardo Agosta Scarel, O.Carm. (ACV), Mark Zittle, O.Carm. (SEL), Jane Remson, COLMC, Annah Theresa Nyadombo, HLMC, and Ester Martin Lozano (Karit). Fr Florent Dundji Dhenyi, O.Carm. (Ita-Con) (RIP) was a member of the Commission but died in the DR Congo on 6th June 2017.