On February 13, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrated its 4th Centenary by enrolling a number of new members and by inaugurating the restored seventeenth century statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The statue is now attributed to Pietro Paolo Troisi.

The celebration took place in the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel  in Valletta,  Malta.

The Ceremonies were attended by the President of the Republic of Malta, Dr. George Vella and his wife as well as the Prime Minister Emeritus, Lawrence Gonzi.

Also participating was the Archbishop of Malta, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and the Carmelite prior provincial,  Joseph Saliba, O. Carm.

From June 10-12, 2022, people from various parts of the Italian Province came together at ll Camelo, the Carmelite guest house in Sassone, Italy. This was the first celebration of the Feast of the Carmelite Family after the two-year pandemic. The day was a time to celebrate and to reflect on God's presence and action in our lives. 

The theme proposed by the committee was: "Guarding Relationships.” The group was assisted in their reflections by Fr. Roberto Toni, prior provincial of the Italian Province, Fr. Míceál O'Neill, prior general of the Order, and Fr. Luigi Maria Epicoco. 

The various sessions were enriched by the testimonies of a married couple, Sister Anastasia from the monastery in Ravenna, and the community of families living in Salaiole (Florence). They illustrated in practical terms how the guardianship of relationships can find fulfillment when we entrust ourselves to God's love and walk with Him, taking an example from what the first Christian communities handed down to us. 

To conclude the day, the enthronement of an icon of St. Titus Brandsma that the Third Order Carmelites wanted to create to commemorate Brandsma’s canonization by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022, in St. Peter's Square.

Missionaries of the Kingdom
(Luke 10:1-12)

On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches the disciples the meaning of ‘following’ him. Part of that following is the proclamation of the Kingdom - drawing attention to the reign of God in the world and in its peoples.
There is a sense of simplicity and urgency as Jesus commissions the seventy-two to spread the Good News of God’s involvement in human life. The Gospel, of course, is not about an historical 72 people being sent out. It is about the mission of every disciple of Jesus. Spreading the message of the Gospel is always to be done in a non-threatening way – by winning over hearts and minds through good example and good living. It is best accomplished by making oneself vulnerable and keeping oneself focussed on the mission rather than on comfort. Real rejoicing is not to be had in the conversion of great numbers of people, but in knowing that one has done the word and the will of God.
Disciples can’t afford to be weighed down by too many things or lost in idle conversation (gossip). They are to be bearers of the peace of God - a peace which heals, strengthens, soothes, frees and restores. Difficulties will be encountered, but the disciples will not be overcome.
That is the cause for the rejoicing sung about in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. God is at work among his people like a nurturing mother and a flowing river bringing nourishment, peace, comfort and delight. People flourish when the presence of God is recognised and welcomed.
May that presence be always seen and felt in us.

A committed missionary
knows the joy of being a spring
which overflows and refreshes others...
Only the person who feels happiness
in seeking the good of others,
in desiring their happiness,
can be a missionary.

The Joy of the Gospel n. 272

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The 30th Chapter of North American Province of St. Elias was held June 21-24, 2022 en Middletown, New York. During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:

Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale: 
Fr. Mario Esposito, O. Carm.

1^st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere: 
Fr. Mark C. Zittle, O. Carm.

2^nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere: 
Fr. Francis M. Amadio, O. Carm.

3^rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere: 
Fr. Anthony Trung Nguyen, O. Carm.

4^th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere: 
Br. Robert Chiulli, O. Carm.

The Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite community of the Monastery of the Holy Family in Guiguinto, Philippines. The Chapter took place on June 21, 2022 with Bishop Dennis C. Villarojo, the bishop of Malalos as president.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Sr. Pamela Isabel Maria F. Cruz, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr. Ma. Rescelia S. Garcia, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sr. Ma. Fatima B. Faustino, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3^a Consigliera: 
Sr. Mary Ruth Alethea C. Clavio, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4^a Consigliera: 
Sr. Mary Jenicca L. Mariano, O. Carm.

Director of Novices | Maestra de Novicias | Maestra delle Novizie
Sr. Ma. Jenicca L. Mariano, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma  | Economa: 
Sr. Ma. Rescelia S. Garcia, O. Carm.

Sacristan | Sacristán | Sacrestana:
Sr. Ma. Fatima B. Faustino, O. Carm.

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The journey begins
(Luke 9:51-62)

Very often in life we know what the right thing to do is, yet we can find it very difficult to do. There is a sense of that in the Gospel reading for today. The very first lines of today’s Gospel set the tone of what we will read over the next eleven Sundays about the qualities needed by and the costs involved for those who want to follow Jesus.
As the Gospel opens, we are told that Jesus ‘resolutely took the road for Jerusalem’. This long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem will be Jesus’ final journey. There is a sense of determination. Jesus knows what he must do. I think there is also a sense of reluctance. Just knowing it is the right thing to do does not make it easy to do, as we see in Jesus’ encounter with the three would-be disciples in this passage.
And, what happens when we feel we are doing the right thing and get treated badly because of it? Will we act like James and John, wanting to call down fire from heaven to punish the offenders? Or will we follow the way of Jesus and just go ‘to another village’? We can be filled with such a sense of righteousness that we turn ourselves into God’s avengers, but we are really avenging ourselves.
Jesus speaks so often about non-violence and non-resistance. Most of us find that very challenging. Why shouldn’t I strike back against the person who strikes me? Don’t I have a right to defend myself? Yet we know that retaliation simply locks us into a continuing cycle of violence and only forgiveness can break that cycle.
It is also worth contemplating the three would-be disciples in this Gospel passage. All seem to have been touched in some way by Jesus and drawn to him. All seem genuine in their desire to follow him. Jesus reply to the first begs the question: are enthusiasm and desire enough? Jesus’ reminder that he has ‘nowhere to lay his head’ seems to say that there has to be a sense of healthy realism in our decision to follow Jesus. Can we really do it? What does it ask of us? Are we prepared to live with the uncertainties?
The other two would-be disciples are also genuine in their desire and intention, ‘but first’ want to go off and fulfil their family obligations. Again, Jesus’ reply begs the question about what comes first – family obligations or our relationship with him. This is not an either/or question. When our relationship with Jesus comes first, then all our other relationships find their proper place in our lives. We can’t really put our relationship with Jesus ‘on hold’ while we sort out the rest of our lives.
The key to keeping everything in right relationship is our relationship with Jesus as the centre of our lives and who we are.

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INITIUM NOVITIATUS
12-06-22  Derrick Turrentine (PCM)  Middletown, New York USA
12-06-22  Salvador Solis Castro (PCM) Middletown, New York USA
12-06-22  Bernardo Soriano Rosales (PCM) Middletown, New York USA

PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
10-06-22  Adorn Ancel (STSA) Kannur, Kerala, India
13-06-22  Victor Hugo Andrade Aguilar (PCM) Middletown, New York USA
13-06-22  Jose Guadalupe Ayala Garcia (PCM) Middletown, New York USA
13-06-22  Jose Carlos Gordillo Garcia (PCM) Middletown, New York USA
13-06-22  Schafer Knostman (SEL) Middletown, New York USA


ODINATIO DIACONALIS
28-04-22  Fransiskus Febri Putra Dewa (Indo) Malang, Indonesia
28-04-22  Thomas Onggo Sumaryanto (Indo) Malang, Indonesia
28-04-22  Cornelius Danny Septian Pamungkas (Indo) Malang, Indonesia
28-04-22  Julian Antonius Sihotang (Indo) Malang, Indonesia
12-06-22  Wilibaldus Rade (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Yosep Kua (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Kristoforus Rawi (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Yohanes Adrianus Muga (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Florentinus Kopong Belang (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Fabianus Masi (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Adelbertus Nenes (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Yosep Watun Diaz Alfi (Indo) Flores, Indonesia
12-06-22  Maximus Labut Rao (Indo) Flores, Indonesia

The real presence of Jesus in us
(Luke 9:11-17)

Today’s feast celebrates the enduring sign of Christ’s presence with us in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
It also celebrates Christ’s presence with us in the community of the Church. The Eucharist is our sacrament of communion, not only with Christ and God, but also with all those called into the Christian community. Our communion binds us to one another in a sacred union of mind and heart with Jesus.
The word ‘communion’ means to share in common. In Holy Communion what we share in common with God and each other is Jesus Christ present in the Bread and the Wine. Another meaning of ‘communion’ is to be of one mind and heart. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps us in communion of mind and heart with God, with Christ and with each other.
We are very used to thinking about the Real Presence of Jesus being in the Blessed Sacrament. But the real presence of Christ is also in the community when it gathers in his name to feast on the Word of Scripture, to recall what Jesus said and did at the Last Supper (not only the words over bread and wine, but also the washing of the feet), when it shares the food of the Eucharist together, when it goes out and continues to break and pour out that food in acts of loving kindness, in soothing and nourishing words which brings others to life.
The Eucharist is not an object to be looked at, but an action to be done so that the living presence of Jesus continues to touch and heal.
Maybe we need to think more deeply about the real presence of Jesus being in real, living human beings. Bread and Wine have no eyes to gaze with love, no face with which to smile, no mouth to speak soothing words, no arms to hold the grieving and the sick, or to lend a hand, no ears to hear the pain. But we do.
So we are called to become the Eucharist that feeds those around us with the nourishment of breadth of heart and vision, respect, love, compassion, hope and forgiveness.
May we become what we receive. (St Augustine)

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