In the year that saw the parish community celebrate the fifth centenary of the presence of the Carmelites in Mesagne, as well as the birth and inauguration of the "Beata Maria Teresa Scrilli" House of the Sisters of the Institute of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Minor Pontifical Basilica of Carmel in Mesagne welcomed, on the occasion of the beginning of the Novena in preparation for the patronal feast, the Prior General of the Order of Carmelites, Irish Father Míċeál O'Neill. In the course of his stay he met with the bishop of the diocese of Brindisi-Ostuni, His Excellency Msgr. Domenico Caliandro, and the mayor of Mesagne Toni Matarrelli.  Father O'Neill presided over the Eucharistic Celebrations of the first two days, Wednesday, July 6 and Thursday, July 7.

In particular, on the evening of July 6, in the presence of the members of the technical-scientific committee promoting the periodic study sessions of a historical, social and cultural nature of the past months and in communion with all the priests of the Messapian city, who were invited to the event, the parish was engaged in the General's welcoming party, enlivened - from 9:30 p.m. onward - by the presence of soprano M° Chiara Marangio and pianist M° Damiano Tamburrino.

On the morning of July 7, at Palazzo Celestini, seat of the Mesagne City Council, the Prior General visited the parish of Our Lady Most Holy of Carmel on the occasion of the beginning of the Novena in preparation for the patronal feast and met with the mayor of the Messapian city, Toni Matarrelli, and the president of the city council, Omar Ture.

Father O'Neill was accompanied by the parish priest, Father Enrico Ronzini, and Father Cosimo Pagliara, prior provincial of the Neapolitan Province, to which the Mesagna basilica belongs.

Matarrelli, who called the General's visit "a great honor for Mesagne and for the parish in which I grew up," expressed words of appreciation and thanks for the industrious presence of the Carmelites in Mesagne since 1521. He paid tribute to the Prior General with a copy of the historian Diego Ferdinando's "Messapography" (edited by Domenico Urgesi and Francesco Scalera) and one of the volumes "Still Appia" (a photographic book capturing images of the Regina Viarum between Rome and Brindisi). He added the philatelic cancellation of the postcard depicting the city of Mesagne on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Commissariato di Pubblica Sicurezza (Public Safety Commissariat).

In turn, the Carmelites made a gift to the city administration of the latest publications published by the Neapolitan Province, especially remembering the figure of St. Titus Brandsma, a Carmelite priest, theologian and journalist executed in the Dachau concentration camp for opposing National Socialist propaganda.

The Prior General, after the evening Eucharistic celebration (followed by a concert by internationally renowned harpist Claudia Lamanna), visited Mesagne in the late evening accompanied by a guide provided by the city administration.

The members of both the OCARM and the OCD General Councils met at Centro Internazionale Sant’Alberto on June 4. These bi-annual meetings have been held since the time of John Malley as prior general of the Carmelites and Camilo Maccise as superior general of the Discalced Carmelites. The purpose was to build connections between the two orders and develop area of cooperation.

This June meeting was structured around building fraternity among the two groups. The Discalced Chapter was held in September 2021. Following moments of prayer, the two groups discussed possible collaboration in common projects, the possible development of the Carmelite presence in the Holy Land, working together at the United Nations through our respective NGOs, possible pastoral situations and initiatives in the academic field with courses and publications. These projects will be discussed in more detail at their winter meeting.

The current superior of the Discalced Carmelites is Fr. Miguel Márquez Calle from Spain. He is assisted by eight definitors and eleven offices of the general curia.

The Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Jose Advincula challenged Catholics, especially the young people, to combat disinformation amid what he called “crisis of truth” in the country. Speaking at the Thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of St. Titus Brandsma on Saturday in the Cubao Cathedral in Quezon City, the archbishop asked the faithful to use social media as a “pulpit” to evangelize and defend the truth.

“If there are forces that use social media to deceive and spread lies, let us combat them by flooding it with the truth of God’s word,” Advincula said. While he acknowledged that the task is not easy, he stressed that when truth is at stake, “remaining apathetic and silent is a sin.”

“When we seem to be experiencing a crisis of truth, especially in social media. St. Titus inspires us to use social media as a pulpit from which we must proclaim, and if need be, defend the truth,” the archbishop added.

Brandsma, whom Pope Francis declared a saint along with nine others on May 15, is being described as a journalist-martyr of the 20th century. Born in 1881, the Dutch Carmelite priest, theologian, journalist, and author wrote and spoke out against the Nazis’ anti-Jewish laws and propaganda. In January 1942, he was arrested after trying to persuade Dutch Catholic newspapers not to print Nazi propaganda. When Brandsma refused, he was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp in February 1942, where he died by lethal injection on July 27 at the age of 61.

The new saint is the titular patron of the Filippino province of the Carmelite Order.

Among those present during the Mass were Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, members of the Carmelite Order, and some representatives of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Manila.

Cardinal Advincula also exhorted the faithful to be inspired by the saint’s “unwavering pursuit of truth.” “Let us imitate St. Titus in his unwavering courage to proclaim the truth that can never be changed,” he said.

The Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite community of the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas in Madrid, Spain. The Chapter took place on July 18, 2022

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Hna. Inmaculada Ochoa Blázquez, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Hna. Noemí Temprano, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Hna. Rosario Almohalla, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3^a Consigliera: 
Hna. Grascia Mendoza, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4^a Consigliera: 
Hna. Mª del Carmen Ruiz, O. Carm.

Director of Novices | Maestra de Novicias | Maestra delle Novizie
Hna. Mª Brunilda Rodríguez, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma  | Economa: 
Hna. Mª del Carmen Ruiz, O. Carm.

Sacristan | Sacristán | Sacrestana:
Hna. Noemi Temprano , O. Carm.

The hospitality of God
(Luke 11:1-13)

Many people struggle with a name for God. For some, ‘Father’ is fine. For others, the image of God as Father evokes traumatic memories of their childhood experience of pain, suffering, neglect and even abuse.

Alternatively, some prefer terms like, ‘Creator’, ‘Redeemer’, and ‘Sanctifier’. But these terms describe functions, not persons, and they seem to lack the warmth and intimacy that we intuitively feel marks our relationship with God.

In today’s Gospel, one of the disciples, having seen Jesus at prayer, asks him to teach them. The prayer that Jesus teaches them is probably very close what he, himself, prayed.

The prayer has none of the formality of those used in Temple and Synagogue worship. Instead, it begins with a more informal, warm and intimate addressing of God as ‘Abba’ - not as formal as ‘Father’ and not as childish as ‘Daddy’, but somewhere in between.

However we choose to name God, the term we use needs to have the same sense as ‘Abba’ had for Jesus. The disciples also live in the same warm and intimate relationship which God and Jesus share. And it is out of this relationship as members of God’s household that Jesus teaches them to pray.

The focus of the prayer is initially on God alone (‘may your name be held holy’), then moves to what the world needs (‘your kingdom come’), then to what the disciples need (sustenance, forgiveness and rescue from trial, persecution and temptation).
A community which prays this prayer recognises its privileged closeness to God. But it also recognises that the hospitality of God calls the whole human race into this same closeness experienced as the coming of the Kingdom.

The shamelessly persistent knocking on a friend’s door is an encouragement not to be afraid to continually ask God for what we need to live as members of the kingdom. God will not fail to share God’s life and love through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If human beings, as flawed as we are, know how to give good things to our children, then how much more will the loving and gracious God give the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who ask? The Holy Spirit who is the bond of love between God, Jesus and us - the Holy Spirit who helps us sense and experience that we are deeply enfolded in God’s love, care and concern.

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Elijah's memory was kept alive especially on Mount Carmel where he challenged the people to stop hobbling first on one foot and then on the other but to choose who is God in Israel - Yahweh or Baal.

           Read more

∗ The Prophet Elijah– This statue was created by Louis Laumen (https://www.louislaumen.com/) for the Golden Anniversary of Whitefriars College in Melbourne, Australia in 2010. The statue stands at the entrance to the school chapel while the nearby Reflective Garden contains a sculpture of Mary and the adolescent Jesus, capturing the two major inspirations of Carmelite spirituality.

As a junior high student at the Cathedral of St. Raymond’s in Joliet, Illinois I was given the opportunity to attend a journalism class at Joliet Catholic High School, run by the Carmelites.

As a junior high student at the Cathedral of St. Raymond’s in Joliet, Illinois I was given the opportunity to attend a journalism class at Joliet Catholic High School, run by the Carmelites. I jumped at the chance. It was titled the “Titus Brandsma Journalism Class.”

As an eighth grader. I had no idea who Titus Brandsma was. I would soon find out. Our instructor, Father Kevin Shanley, O. Carm., made Titus’ life story required reading.  It was a compelling read. I was struck by how one man dared to stand up to the Nazis, their ideology and their inhumane treatment of those who stood in their way.

Most impressive to me, was the fact that those persecuted shared little in common with Titus other than their humanity. He needed no other reason to stand up for them, those without a voice. Given multiple opportunities to walk away, he chose to stand by his beliefs.

Father Kevin focused our attention to Titus the journalist. Even while founding the Catholic University of Nijmegen, he still edited a newspaper. He championed freedom of the press and freedom of educational well before the start of World War II. He hailed his heroic efforts to bring a letter, written of his urging, from the Council of Bishops of Holland to the editors of 17 Catholic publications. It detailed how they were to deny the Nazi efforts to add content to and censor their publications. These letters were hand delivered by Titus.

His continued ministry while imprisoned in Dachau has been well documented, as have his mistreatment and murder. His life and death as a martyr for the freedom of the press led to his beatification and canonization.

All of the above are well documented facts but what impact did this have on me? What impact should this have on all of us.

Personally, I witness daily those in need, the homeless, the hungry, those battling substance abuse and personal demons, they too need a voice. I have found numerous agencies in my area to work with such as Habitat for Humanity and the Northern Illinois Foodbank. I hope to provide a voice for my neighbors in need. I do not pretend to have the personal courage of Titus; I am not sure if I have the conviction of faith to give my life for a cause. That does not mean that, inspired by Titus and others, I cannot make a difference in the lives of others. The impact may not be as significant, the results as momentous, but nonetheless an impact.

All of us can benefit from the inspiration of Titus, whether it be in our community, nationally or internationally, life presents us with limitless opportunities to follow his lead.

This leads us to the legacy of Titus. We need to tell his story to our children. We live in a world where the truth can, at times, seem elusive. Our young students would be well served hearing the story of one man. Committed to the truth, compelled to share that truth and show the conviction of his principles.

The lesson of the true costs of freedom and what one man was willing to sacrifice need to be shared with future generations. If not for Father Kevin, I can truthfully say that I would know little of Titus’ legacy. His veneration to sainthood would have gone almost unnoticed. All in spite of receiving my high school education at a Carmelite high school.

While we have all read of the heroic efforts of soldiers on D Day and at the Battle of the Bulge, little time is spent passing along the narrative of lives such as Titus. It was no less heroic than the afore mentioned. He also provides an example of how all us can and should resist crimes against humanity. He provides a wonderful narrative of a human being who was willing to fight for those who shared neither a common faith, ethnic origin or national roots. Most Importantly, they shared humanity and needed to be protected and their story needed to be heard.

If we hope to find a Titus in among us, his story needs to be told, unedited. It is easy to ignore crimes against humanity when we are not personally affected. History, specifically Titus’ story, shows us this is not a good idea.

As we celebrate the legacy of Titus at occasion of his canonization, there is no better way to do so than by telling his story.

Zelo zelatus sum pro domino deo exercituum.

Bill Bayci

“Joliet Catholic High School - Class of 1974"

INITIUM NOVITIATUS
01-07-22  Acorentio Feliciano João (Pern-Mz)  Nyazura, Zimbabwe
01-07-22  Rafael Jeçone Matias (Pern-Mz)  Nyazura, Zimbabwe
01-07-22  Christino Chiveza (Hib-Zim) Nayazura, Zimbabwe
01-07-22  Tsepo Sande (Hib-Zim) Nayazura, Zimbabwe
01-07-22  Edward Mukomberanwa (Hib-Zim) Nayazura, Zimbabwe
01-07-22  Percy Kuka (Hib-Zim) Nayazura, Zimbabwe

PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
02-07-22  Dionisio Mateus Antônio (Pern-Mz)  Kriste Mambo, Zimbabwe
02-07-22  Nicolau Pedro Valentin (Pern-Mz)  Kriste Mambo, Zimbabwe
02-07-22  Suntissa Fernando Paulino (Pern-Mz)  Kriste Mambo, Zimbabwe
02-07-22  Joseph Calen Maingi (Ken) 
02-07-22  Michael Onyango Ogutu (Ken)
02-07-22  Thomas Mwanzia Muange (Ken)
02-07-22  Tatenda Fanuel Gumbero (Hib-Zim)
02-07-22  Abel Matamisa (Hib-Zim)
02-07-22  Tadiwanashe Caleb Zangirai (Hib-Zim)

PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
20-06-22  Maria Elisabetta di san Giuseppe (Manuela Ferraro) (CAE)
02-07-22  Shelton Zimondi (Hib-Zim)
02-07-22  Underson Musina (Hib-Zim)
02-07-22  Marvelous Tawanda Murungu (Hib-Zim)

ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
18-06-22  Joseph Bayce (Baet) Burkina Faso
02-07-22  Emmanel Po'o Onana (Ger-Cam) Camerun
02-07-22  Nicolas Blaise Owana (Ger-Cam) Camerun
02-07-22  Marie Victoire Bibake Alipe (Ger-Cam) Camerun

ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
02-07-22  Achille Andaka Tchokomb Menengue (Ger-Cam) Camerun
09-07-22  Santos Antolino Menndez Ramírez (PCM) Ciudad Delgado, El Salvador
09-07-22  Henrry Mauricio Cienfuegos Ostorga (PCM) Ciudad Delgado, El Salvador

True hospitality
(Luke 10:38-42)

Preparing food for a special occasion or a valued guest can be a daunting task. These days, it can also be filled with all sorts of traps as food preferences continue to change and various allergies appear.

In the story which Luke tells in this Gospel, it is obvious that Martha has gone to a great deal of trouble to welcome and provide for Jesus, the guest.

Pre-occupied with the serving and annoyed with Mary passively sitting at Jesus’ feet, Martha’s anxiety gets the better of her and she asks Jesus to intervene. 

In a way, Martha is like a well-intentioned host who prepares a full dinner of roast meat only to find that the guest is vegetarian! Perhaps true hospitality might have found that out before the meal was prepared. Perhaps true hospitality might have thought about what the guest has to offer, not only about what the host wants to provide.

So often in the Gospels the initial roles in a story get reversed. In this Gospel it seems that Jesus, the guest, has something to offer that Martha overlooks, but Mary recognises. Jesus becomes the host. And it is he who ends up doing the ‘feeding’, not Martha.

And, what of Mary? Apparently lost in listening to Jesus and oblivious to Martha’s need for help? It seems all wrong to us that Jesus praises her for choosing ‘the better part’. Jesus refuses to send Mary back to the kitchen. His reply can also be read as an invitation for Martha to leave her lavish preparations and to join them.

True hospitality for the disciple lies in getting to know and spending time with the Guest.

The position of this story in Luke’s Gospel, sandwiched between the parable of the Good Samaritan (the ideal disciple) and Jesus’ teaching about prayer, could suggest that both are needed – deep attention to the Word of God and robust action: hearing and doing the Word.

It could also suggest that hearing the Word comes first, followed by doing the Word in works of service. It may also suggest the importance of paying attention to making the right choice at any given moment – not to be so caught up in doing even good works that we forget to nourish our relationship with Jesus.

What it does clearly show, however, is that both men and women are called to discipleship.

Mary, the more marginalised figure in the story, offers the kind of hospitality that Jesus wants in a disciple: an open and listening heart.

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• Celebrating At Home -  default 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub](3.96 MB)
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• Celebrando em Família -  pdf 16 Domingo do Tempo Comum(467 KB)