In the first few months of this year two new monasteries of Carmelite nuns have been founded. On the 19th of February the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA) issued the decree of initiation of the foundation of the second monastery in Venezuela. The community of Porlamar, formed by three nuns from Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic), Camaná (Perú) and Machakos (Kenya), have given birth to this community that is dedicated to St. Mary of Mount Carmel in Caño Grande, in the diocesis of Barinas. On the 6th of May, the CIVCSVA issued the decree of initiation of foundation for the monastery of “St. Therese of the Child Jesus” in Azua in the diocesis of San Juan de la Maguana. This is the fifth monastery in the Dominican Republic and it was founded by the nuns from La Vega.
On Thursday 5th June the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. and all the members of Curia community in Rome were very pleased to welcome six bishops of the Zimbabwean Bishop’s Conference: Rt Rev Michael D. Bhasera (Masvingo and President of the Conference), Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare, Bishop Alexio Muchabaiwa of Mutare in whose dioceses Irish and Zimbabwean Carmelites have been working for many years. The names of the other bishops are: Angelo Floro (Gokwe), Dieter Scholz (Chinhoi) and Xavier Munyongani (Gweru). The bishops were in Rome for their “ad limina Apostolorum” visit with Pope Francis. In welcoming the bishops, who joined the community for lunch, the Prior General spoke about the long association between the Carmelite Order and the Church in Zimbabwe. He also presented each one of them with a copy of the recently published book by Columba Press “A Bishop could not do otherwise: The Life and Witness of Bishop Donal Lamont”. The book contains Bishop Lamont’s famous pastoral letter against apartheid, his “Speech from the Dock” and also includes articles by the Prior General, Prof. Carmen Marquez Beunza together with an introduction by former Irish President, Mary McAleese. The book was compiled and edited for the Irish Province by Fr. Miceal O’Neill, O.Carm.
From 19 to 24 May 2014 in Rome the members of the International Formation Commission met in Rome.Those in attendance were, Onesmus Muthoka (Ken), Krispinus Ginting (Indo), Jose Alex Valavanattu (Ind), Desiderio García (Arag), Wayne Stanhope (Aust), Noel Rosas (Phil), Quinn Conners (PCM), Albeiro Luis Romero (Ita-Col) and Giampiero Molinari (Ita), all under the guidance of Fr. Benny Phang, General Councillor for Formation and Fr. Noel Rosas, Executive Secretary for Formation. The following items made up the agenda: a review of the main issues discussed by the International Formation Commission of the previous six years (2007-2013); a review of the proposals approved at the General Chapter of 2013 in relation to formation (Secretary for formation and protocols for creating safe spaces for children and adults); the general plan of formation for the six years, 2013-19; a presentation of the 2013 RIVC, with a strategy for making known and having it studied throughout the Order; suggestions for the revision of the part of the Constitutions devoted to formation (Nos. 117-173); the organization of courses for the training of formation directors; the organization of regional and international meetings for students, formation directors and ongoing formation; the Ratio Studiorum; the translation of materials for the organization of the month of preparation for solemn profession and the revision of the Rite of Solemn Profession.
Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Burgos, Philippines
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Burgos, Philippines, was held 21 May 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Barbara C. Pulido, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Elena Z. Tolentino, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Ana Maria D. Bernardo, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. Ana Maria D. Bernardo, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Elena Z. Tolentino, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Rowena V. Bumacod, O.Carm.
Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Allentown, USA
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Allentown, USA, was held 6 May 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Gertrude Schrey, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Therese Raubuch, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Joseph M. Schouten, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. M. Gertrude Schrey, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. M. Veronica Korb, O.Carm.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Zaragoza, Spain, was held 16 May 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Elena-María Samper Samper, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. María de la Cinta Sosa, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Esperanza Escolano, O.Carm.
- 3rd Councilor: Sr Elena Marco, O.Carm.
- 4th Couniclor: Sr. M. Pilar Bort, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. Ana Wairimu, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. Esperanza Escolano, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Eva Alina, O.Carm.
On the 13th May, 2014, the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. and the Councillor General for Europe, John Keating, O.Carm. attended the Assembly of the French Delegation which took place at Notre Dame de Lumières, Nantes. The occasion marking 25 years since the re-foundation in France afforded each member of the communities of Nantes and Angers an opportunity to reflect on this experience and to look towards the future. The three young French friars, Fr. Yves de Sainte Marie, Bros. Martin de la Croix and Elie presented the situation of Carmel in France now while the two friars who have served from beginning, Frs. Gianfranco Tuveri (Ita) and Jordi Prunera (Cat), together with the present Delegate, Fr. Klaus Schenkelberger (Ger) and Fr. Terence Cyr (PCM) contributed from their experience of many years in the French Delegation. Other celebrations have marked this 25th anniversary both in Nantes and in Angers. Bro. Martin will be ordained for priestly ministry in Nantes on the 31st May 2014.
The Prior General in closing the Assembly thanked the members for their service to the Order and acknowledged with gratitude the presence of Frs. Pascal Sawadogo (Bet/BF) and Andreas Dedy Purnawan (Indo). Many others have worked in the Delegation over the years and the General Council wishes to also acknowledge their important contribution to the restoration of the Carmelite Order in France.
More...
Announcement at the Dutch Provincial Chapter of a new reality within the Province
The Prior General and his Council are pleased to announce that in response to a formal request made by the Dutch Province on the 14th April 2014, regarding the women associated with the Province over a period of thirty years, and with their unanimous assent of the women themselves, the Prior General and his council agreed to the erection of a sodalitium of the Third Order in the communities of Boxmeer, Zenderen, Nijmegen and Almelo. At the end of the Provincial Chapter held at Denekamp, in The Netherlands, from the 7th to 11th May 2014, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm, announced that the General Council had accepted the request, thus establishing for this group a sodalitum of the Third Order in conformity with the Code of Canon Law 312:3 and the Third Order Rule, n. 56. In doing so, the group becomes formally part of the Carmelite Family.
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Granada, Spain, was held 10 May 2014. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. M. Lourdes Santos Álvarez, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. M. Dolores Montes Márquez, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr Cherrie Marie Vazquez Ramos, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. M. Dolores Montes Márquez, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Cherrie Marie Vazquez Ramos, O.Carm.
During the Provincial Chapter of the Dutch Province held on 7-11 May 2014 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Jan Brouns, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Ben Wolbers, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Tjeu Timmermans, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Cees Bartels, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Fr. Falco Thuis, O.Carm.
During the Provincial Chapter of the British Province held on 25-28 February and 5-9 May 2014 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Antony Lester, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Kevin Melody, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Damian Cassidy, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Francis Kemsley, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Br. Paul Jenkins, O.Carm.
