The city of Cuenca welcomed the Secular Carmelite Order of Ecuador with open arms from 1 to 3 November for our National Meeting. It was with immense joy that we hosted the 14 OCDS communities of Ecuador and more than 120 brothers and sisters.
The opening Eucharist reminded us that holiness is a daily invitation from Jesus, and that we are called to live it with simplicity and depth every day. We then shared on a powerful theme: ‘Who are you, brother?’, led by Lorena Pabón, OCDS, and Brother José Miguel Chunzho, OCD. On 2 November, we had moments of reflection with our sisters Ana Luisa Lozano, OCDS, and Sandra García, OCDS, national formator of the Secular Carmelite Order. Then, Fr. Ovidio Rendón, OCD, invited us to rediscover the importance of listening and fraternal commitment in community. On the last day of the meeting, Fr. Robin Calle, OCD, gave us a powerful and enlightening message for our journey: he invited us to be Martha and Mary, servants and contemplatives, capable of loving and serving with availability and humility.
These were days of prayer, reflection and fraternity, during which we rediscovered that we are not a group, but an Order, called to live with fidelity and dedication, placing Jesus at the centre of our lives.
