Secular Carmelites from all the Italian OCDS Provinces gathered in considerable numbers in Ariccia from the 12th to 15th July to celebrate their National Congress. The theme for this year’s meeting was “The search for the meaning of life – What St. Therese of the Child Jesus says to the people of today” and to reflect on, deepen and share together about the Teresian charism in the light of the teaching of “little” Therese and her parents.
The presence of our General, Fr. Miguel, with Fr. Ramiro, the General Delegate for the OCDS and Fr. Aldo, the OCDS Italian National Assistant, all helped us to feel that we were a real and special family. Their reflections and fraternal friendship encouraged us to live our vocations as lay Carmelites with joy and fidelity to our charism with its commitment to our apostolate and mission after the example of our Lisieux saint. The profound and stimulating reflections of Frs.Emilio Martinez and Johannes Gorantla, the life experiences of different members of the OCDS and the theatrical production of ‘A Holy Recreation of Teresina’ by a group of young people from Loano, all contributed to make this Congress a rich and beautiful experience for all those who attended it.
