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As was previously announced (CITOC 185/2025), Giampiero Molinari, a member of the Italian Province and serving as 1^st Councilor, was nominated to be the secretary general of the Order. At its 22nd session on January 14, 2026, the prior provincial and members of the council congratulated Giampiero on his new service to the Order. They warmly thanked him for his presence and service to the Italian Province in this first part of the Council’s triennium.

The Council then proceeded to a discernment process for the election of a 4th Councilor who replaces Giampiero. The group elected Raffaele Duranti. Contacted by phone, he accepted his election.

Fr. Gian Domenico Meloni continues as priore provincial. The other members of the Council are Giuseppe Midili, vice prior provincial; Henry Venecia Cerro, 1^st councilor; Nicola Sozzi, second councilor; Francesco Sciarelli, third councilor, and the newly elected Raffaele Duranti as 4^th councilor.

Catching the Vision
(Matthew 5:1-12)

Last Sunday’s Gospel introduced the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, his call to repentance, the choice of some disciples and the spread of his fame.
Now, over the next four Sundays, the church will take us on a journey through Jesus’ teaching in Chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s Gospel. These chapters form the Sermon on the Mount. Each Sunday’s Gospel builds on the one before – they are part of this first discourse in Matthew’s Gospel and need to be understood in a connected sense, not as a series of isolated sayings.
The text we know as the ‘Beatitudes’ introduces Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom, discipleship, the true meaning of the Law and true righteousness (virtue), interior disposition of the heart against external fulfilment of Law, trust in God and keeping the Kingdom as the focus of the disciple’s life.
Matthew’s beatitudes have been understood as a pattern of life for the follower of Jesus. Put in the context of Jesus’ call to conversion (the idea of radical change and transformation), those willing to be transformed will enjoy the blessings of the kingdom as their reward.
To be ‘poor in spirit’, to experience sadness (‘mourn’) because of the present state of affairs, to be gentle and unselfish rather than on the make, to have a passionate commitment to justice, to exercise mercy instead of taking advantage, to be ‘pure in heart’, to be ‘peacemakers’, to endure persecution and calumny for the sake of the right way of life (‘righteousness’) and allegiance to Christ: all these things make one vulnerable here and now, entailing much loss. The vulnerable make the world safe for humanity.*
For those who live according to the heart of God as Jesus reveals it, the blessings of the Kingdom will be theirs, their place in the household of God will be assured and they will be making the world a safe place for their brothers and sisters.

*Byrne, Brendan, Lifting the Burden: reading Matthew’s Gospel in the Church Today. St Pauls, 2004, pp55-57

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• pdf Celebrando en Familia - IV Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario(476 KB)
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• pdf Celebrando em família - Quarto Domingo do Tempo Comum(453 KB)

2026 Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite Province of Pernambuco Held in January

From January 19- 23, in the city of Camocim de São Félix/PE, Brazil, the Provincial Chapter of the Carmelite Province of Pernambuco took place, with the theme: Restored in hope, let us be one! For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3: 28).

With the presence of the Prior General, Friar Desiderio Garcia Martinez, and the Councilor for the Americas, Friar Rolf Nepomuk Willemsen, in a prayerful and fraternal atmosphere, the journey of the 2023-2025 triennium was evaluated, and the 2026-2028 triennium was planned. Also present were the bishops: Dom Frei Paulo Cardoso, O. Carm., Dom Antônio Fernando Muniz, O. Carm., and Dom Frei Francisco de Sales de Alencar Batista, O. Carm.

On Wednesday, the 21st, the new provincial government was elected. Friar José Roberval Mendes Pereira was reelected as Provincial, and the Council was formed with the following friars: Friar Luiz Nunes Pereira, O. Carm. (First Councilor); Friar Rogério Severino de Lima, O. Carm. (Second Councilor); Friar José Adriano Gomes da Silva, O. Carm. (Third Councilor); and Friar Robson José da Silva, O. Carm. (Fourth Councilor).

On Friday, the 23rd, the Chapter ended with a Eucharistic celebration attended by representatives of the Carmelite family.

The Carmelite community of Janua Coeli Monastery in Cerreto di Sorano (GR), Italy, celebrated its Elective Chapter on January 17, 2026.

The monastery was established on May 19, 1992, by nuns from the Carpineto Romano community.  Its canonical erection was on September 8, 2000. It is part of the Federation of Santa Maria Magdalena de' Pazzi. More can be learned about the monastery by visiting its website: www.monasterocarmelitane.it

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Sr Miriam del Dio Vivente, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Daniela del Buon Pastore, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sr M. Benedetta di Gesù, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera  | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Irene della Trinità, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera  | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Giuseppina dell'Immacolata, O. Carm.

Formator | Formadora  | Formatrice:
Sr M. Daniela del Buon Pastore, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma  | Economa: 
Sr M. Benedetta di Gesù, O. Carm.

Sacristan| Sacristana | Sacrestana: 
Sr M. Alessandra del Cuore di Gesù, O. Carm.

The Light Shines
(Matthew 4:12-23)

Last Sunday’s Gospel served as an introduction to Jesus, the Lamb of God.
The Sunday Gospels between now and the beginning of Lent will use the Sermon on the Mount to help us explore and reflect upon who this Lamb of God is and how we, as disciples, should respond to him. They will unfold for us how Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the source of true peace and how we can find our way to him and to one another – that is, how we can live faithful to the tradition of Jesus.
This Sunday Jesus begins his ministry in an unexpected place – Capernaum in the countryside, not in the holy city, Jerusalem. The familiar Gospel demand: Repent for the kingdom is close at hand, is sounded for the first time by Jesus, echoing John the Baptist.
To the ministry of proclaimers of the Kingdom Jesus adds four intimates who will be with him throughout the journey into the light.
The Gospel begs many questions: just what is this Kingdom all about? Who is this Jesus who seems to have the power to compel prosperous, ordinary men to follow him? What does it mean to be ‘fishers of men’? Why does Jesus begin his ministry in an unexpected place? What is this Good News of the Kingdom that Jesus offers?
In all, the Gospel serves not just to tell us about Jesus and what he did, but also to help us reflect on our own experience of Jesus: what does it mean for us also to be called (not just as followers but also as ‘fishers’)? How immediate and life-changing is our response to him? Can we follow him all the way to the cross? How do we proclaim the Good News of the kingdom? How are we healers of people and situations which are part of our lives?

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The Solemnly Professed in Australia-Timor Leste Province. In a ceremony the evening before the professions, the families brought their sons, in traditional dress, to the front door of the community and formally entrusted them to the Carmelites for the rest of their lives. The brothers were welcomed by Fr Bruce Clark, prior provincial, and other members of the community at Hera.

Los profesos solemnes de la Provincia de Australia-Timor Oriental. En una ceremonia celebrada la víspera de las profesiones, las familias llevaron a sus hijos, vestidos con trajes tradicionales, a la puerta principal de la comunidad y los confiaron formalmente a los carmelitas para el resto de sus vidas. Los hermanos fueron recibidos por el padre Bruce Clark, prior provincial, y otros miembros de la comunidad de Hera.

I professi solenni nella Provincia Australia-Timor Est. La sera prima della professione, durante una cerimonia, le famiglie hanno portato i loro figli, vestiti con abiti tradizionali, davanti alla porta della comunità e li hanno affidati ufficialmente ai Carmelitani per il resto della loro vita. I fratelli sono stati accolti da padre Bruce Clark, priore provinciale, e da altri membri della comunità di Hera.

PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
10-09-25  Nzakumu Levi Précieuz (Ital-Congo) Bunia, RDC
10-09-25  Aling'Aka Jean-Claude (Ital-Congo) Bunia, RDC
10-09-25  Kambale Molo Barthelemy (Ital-Congo) Bunia, RDC
04-01-26  Arthur Paiva Gonzaga de Almeida (Flum) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  João Marcos Marques Arruda (Flum) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  Carlos Eduardo da Silva Barros (Pern) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  José Carlos Bezerra de Lima (Pern) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  Germán Luis de Santa Maria (Par) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  Andrés Felipe Gomes Salamanca (Par) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  José Henrique Couto (Par) Graciosa, Brasil
04-01-26  Mateus Fernandes Bezerra (Par) Graciosa, Brasil

PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
14-09-25  Silvi Michele (Ital) Albano Laziale, Italia
14-09-25  Francu Laruentiu (Ital) Albano Laziale, Italia
20-11-25  Paulo Martins De Araújo (Aust-TL) Hera, Timor-Leste 
20-11-25  Celesino Soares (Aust-TL) Hera, Timor-Leste 
20-11-25  Elias Soares Sin (Aust-TL) Hera, Timor-Leste 
20-11-25  João Fernando Cabal (Aust-TL) Hera, Timor-Leste 
20-11-25  Fernando Gusmão (Aust-TL) Hera, Timor-Leste 
20-11-25  Samuel Lopes (Aust-TL) Hera, Timor-Leste 

ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
02-08-25  Kombi Kalihi Elysée (Ital-Congo) Butembo, RDC
02-08-25  Kasereka Kayilanda Elisée (Ital-Congo) Butembo, RDC
08-11-25  Juan Gabriel Arrieta Zambrano (Ital-Col)  Colombia
15-11-25  Agostinho dos Santos (Aust-TL). Emera, Timor-Leste

Meeting of the Leadership of the European Area in Rome in January 2026

The annual meeting of the priors provincial, commissaries general, delegates general and the regional presidents from the European Area took place in Rome over two days in January 2026. In addition, Joshy George Pottackal – the regional superior of the Carmelites from the St Thomas Province (India) who ministry in Germany – also attended. Joshy will be ordained auxiliary bishop of Mainz in a few months’ time and those present expressed their prayers and congratulations to him.

On the first day, Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., prior general, presided at the Eucharist in Traspontina and Gian Domenico Meloni, prior provincial of the Italian Province, presided at the Eucharist on the second day.

The meeting began with a short presentation of the history of Traspontina and of the envisaged project for Traspontina. After sharing with each other the current situation of each reality in Europe, the participants reflected on the recent General Chapter (2025) that was held in Malang, Indonesia last September. In particular, time was spent reflecting on the Final Message of the General Chapter and how it was being implemented in each reality. Much of the meeting was spent in proposing the key objectives for the European Area to be working on over the next six years. Finally, it was agreed that next year’s meeting would be in Salamanca in January 2026.

Most of the participants stayed in Saint Albert’s International College (CISA). The meeting itself was held in the residence of the nearby Carmelite community of Santa Maria in Traspontina. The participants were extremely grateful for the great hospitality and welcome offered by both of these Carmelite communities and by their priors, Tadeusz Popiela (CISA) and Giuseppe Midili (Traspontina).

During January 2026, two Carmelite hermits (Father John Mary, prior and Brother Chrisopher) from the Carmelite Hermitage of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lake Elmo, Minnesota in the USA, spent some time at the General Curia of the Order in Rome on their way to Venice, Italy. 

Their hermitage, founded on May 14, 2003, has run out of room and cannot accept any new vocations. As a result, they are building more hermitages and a larger chapel. For this purpose, the two hermits travelled to Italy in order to go to Venice and procure tesserae (glass tiles) which will be used to create the mosaics for the new chapel.

Photo: Desiderio García Martínez O. Carm., (prior general) with Fr John Mary (prior of Lake Elmo) and Brother Christopher.

The Gentleness of the Lamb
(John 1:29-34)

Ordinary Time in the church’s year begins with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which celebrates his identity as the ‘beloved Son’. On this second Sunday in Ordinary Time we move from the baptism to the mission of the one baptised.
John the Baptist names Jesus as, ‘the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.’ In doing so, he links Jesus with a number of Old Testament passages about the lamb of sacrifice and the suffering servant of God. As the first reading this Sunday says, this servant has a universal mission to gather and restore God’s people, to be the ‘light of the nations’ and to proclaim God’s salvation ‘to the ends of the earth’.
In speaking about Jesus, John also tells us about his own mission: to proclaim that someone greater than he is was coming, one who would baptise with the Holy Spirit - the Chosen One of God.
Perhaps our reflection on the identity and mission of Jesus also tells us something about who we are meant to become as his disciples.
There is a gentleness we associate with lambs. They are not regarded as aggressive creatures. They do not kill, even to eat. In a world which often praises and rewards violence and aggression, the Lamb calls us to a different way of life.

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