ocd web master, Autore presso DISCALCED CARMELITES

St. Joseph’s Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites is the second oldest Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Kerala, the first one being that of Kottayam. It has a history of around 70 years. They were initially invited by the Syro Malancara Bishop of Thiruvalla, a centre for the Malancara Church in Kerala. Hence the sisters have a strong bond with the Malancara church, which in turn loves them and appreciates their life and mission in the Church. Although the daily masses are celebrated in the Latin rite, the chapel is well frequented by the Syro Malancara, Syro Malabar and Latin rite faithful. Our Monastery chapel is clearly a sign of unity among the Catholic churches of different rites in Kerala.

Recently Thiruvalla Community founded a new Monastery at Kolayad. Hence at present there are only 13 sisters in this one of the most beautiful monasteries of the sub continent.

Fr. Johannes Gorantla ocd, our Definitor General visited this Monastery on 14-15 January 2020 to encourage them in living their vocation.

The First Workshop on the Charismatic Declaration began on 17^th morning at Trivandrum, India. Given the number of young religious in India, two workshops on the Charismatic Declaration have been planned. The first one is being held at the Benziger Memorial Spirituality Centre at Trivandrum. This workshop is for the young religious of Malabar, Manjummel and South Kerala Provinces. 25 religious between the ages of 35-45 were expected from each Province. Helped and guided by the resource persons, the group is working seriously on the document.

On 17^th, Fr. Johannes, the Definitor incharge of the region began the sessions explaining the background of the document, objectives of the workshop, general structure and content of the document etc. Being the resource person of the first day, he expounded the content of the first three sections on Call and Response, Formation and Charismatic Identity and the Teresian Anthropology. He prepared them for a fruitful group discussion with relevant questions. The dynamics of working this way seem to be effective and the members are understanding the text and assimilating it. Following is the schedule for the next two days.

16 Thursday : Arrival for Supper at hrs. 20.00

17 Friday : Fr. Johannes Gorantla ocd, Def. Gen. (3 sessions). Initial Presentation: History, structure and content of the document and the Study of numbers 1-19.

18 Saturday: Fr. Mathew Vekathanam ocd (Mal) (3 sessions) Study of Numbers 20-53

19 Sunday: Fr. Prasad Theruvath ocd (Manj) (3 sessions) Study of Numbers 54-79

20 Monday : Departure

The Second work shop was scheduled from 20-24 January at Mysore for the rest of the 4 provinces.

In order to encourage and assist the Discalced Carmelite communities in reflecting on the Declaration on our Charism, the Order’s Secretariat for Information has prepared a series of audio-visual materials. The project has been approved and coordinated by the General Definitory

Three videos are now available in which Frs Saverio Cannistrà (in Italian), Agustí Borrell (in Spanish) and Daniel Chowning (in English) explain the purpose, structure and contents of this Declaration. In addition, it is possible to have a “Power Point” presentation (in Italian, English, French and Spanish) that summarizes the main points that touch on the Declaration on the Charism. The links to access these contents are as follows:

Videos:

Italian: https://youtu.be/rBN1RMWkYhk

Spanish: https://youtu.be/DNQVQ4gEJxE

English: https://youtu.be/YpBo3fjwlzE

Power Point:

Italian: https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/dichiarazione-carismatica/dichiarazione-carismatica-italiano/

English: https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/en/charismatic-declarationmenu/charismatic-declaration-english/

Spanish: https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/es/declaracion-carismaticamenu/declaracion-carismatica-espanol/

French: https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/fr/declarationcharismatique-menu/declaration-charismatique-francais/

It is also possible to find it on www.carmelitaniscalzi.com or download this PDF document where all the links are:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=11e1phvIM6AVShy6ohotq30nSdTTc9cvH

These days (from January 27 through February 1) the annual gathering of provincial formators takes place during the European Provincial Conference held at the Teresianum of Rome.

The theme chosen for this session is: “Vows: method for human and spiritual growth.” In order to develop this theme, the morning is devoted to master classes while the afternoon provides time for group sharing and debate on the contents presented, with the goal of encouraging fraternal communion among the formators of the diverse Circumscriptions. Fr. Agustí Borrell, Vicar General, accompanies the formators.

Monday and Tuesday, January 13 and 14, 2020, Fr. Jerome Paluku, General Secretary for the Missionary Cooperation of our Order visited the San Sebastian site of the “Obra Máxima.” The objective of his visit was to congratulate and, above all, to encourage the animators of this Carmelite, non-government organization which is deeply involved in the promotion and financing of the developmental works of many of our missions in various countries of the world.

Fr. Jon Korta, General Administrator of “Obra Máxima,” presented to Fr. Jerome the work that he and his team carry out daily: analysis and management of projects, assistance for the needs of the missionaries, and direction of aid to areas of need, etc. In this way, the NGO continues the tradition of providing help to the missions of the Discalced Carmelites of the Navarra Province, who merit our recognition and admiration.

Very good channels of collaboration and communication exist between the Secretary of Missionary Cooperation and the «Obra Máxima.» Both wanted their visit to reinforce this relationship.

As a reminder, the «Obra Máxima» is the principal organ of the Carmelites of Navarra devoted to the development and evangelization of the towns. It has a history of more than 85 years of service to the neediest, helping many projects in poor and vulnerable communities, thereby sustaining missionary actions, promoting vocations, and helping young people in formation within the Order.

Various Circumscriptions of our Order are holding – or will hold soon – their chapter reunions. As is the tradition, the Latin American presences are the first to hold their chapter reunions. Therefore, the Brazilian Province of San José chose Fr. Emerson Santos as provincial, while the Brazilian chapter of Our Lady of Carmen chose Fr. Everton R. B. Machado. In Mexico, the new provincial is Fr. Leonel J. Ceniceros Castro. One of the first chapters to celebrate was Central America, whose new provincial is Fr. Luis Beltrán Martinez.

The Chapter of the Chilean Commissariat has re-elected Fr. Erwin Montoya. Arriving at the chapters of Columbia and Argentina, as previously elected, are Frs. Carlos Alberto Ospina and Ricardo Prado, respectively. Also, the chapter of the Peruvian Commissariat began recently. The Circumscription had previously re-elected as Superior Fr. Alfredo Amesti.

Soon, the web page will offer a section where we will update these newly elected Provincials and Counselors of the different Circumscriptions.

Since the first part of January, Fr. Saverio Cannistrà, Superior General, is conducting the pastoral visit to the Caribbean Commissariat which will conclude with the celebration of the Commissariat Chapter.

Fr. P. Agustí Borrell, Vicar General, will be present in several preparatory plenary councils of the provincial chapters in Italy. Specifically, those of Naples, Sicily, and Central Italy.

As for the remaining definitors, Fr. Johannes Gorantla is providing encouragement for a variety of youth gatherings in India that are reflecting on the charismatic declaration, while Fr. Daniel Chowning is in the United States.

These weeks, Fr. Javier Mena is accompanying several chapters that are taking place in the Circumscriptions of Latin America: Chile, Peru, and Argentina, among others. Finally, these days Fr. Daniel Ehigie is carrying out a visitation to the Delegation of Occidental Africa, which is under the Iberian Province and comprised of our presences in Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Ivory Coast.

The digital diary www.religiondigital.org, widely spread throughout the Spanish-speaking world, has recently echoed our process of study leading up to the “Declaration on the Charism ” of our Order. With the title “The Discalced Carmel studies and debates a first draft of the Declaration on their Charism”, the journalist Baltasar Bueno reveals that “the General Definitory of the Discalced Carmel, within the context of the process of rereading its laws, initiated after the Chapter Avila (2015) and taking into account what was approved by the Extraordinary Definitory of Goa (2019), has prepared a first draft of the Declaration on their Charism, which largely reflects the proposals made by all the Circumscriptions of the Order during the first phase of the process: the rereading of the Constitutions.”

The religious digital newspaper, after very detailed and complete information about the process, adds an interview given a few months ago by Fr Saverio Cannistrà, ocd, for the newspaper “Levante”, published in la Comunidad Valenciana, Spain.

Here you can check the news (in Spanish):

https://www.religiondigital.org/baltasar_bueno-_corresponsal_en_valencia/Carmelo-Descalzo-borrador-Declaracion-Carismatica_7_2192550727.html

The study of the draft prepared by the General Definitory of the ” Declaration on the Charism ” is being studied, as we already know, in the various geographical areas in which our Order is established. We recently gave a report on the meetings held in Colombia and Italy, which are now joined by those in Africa. To be specific, Nigeria, the Central African Republic and Malawi have welcomed solemnly professed friars, between 30 and 45 years old, from various countries on the African continent, to reflect on the document.

The three meetings were attended and directed by Father Daniel Ehigie, ocd, General Definitor for Africa.

During the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception this year, three young Discalced Carmelites from the General Delegation of Egypt: Friar Pedro, Friar Juan and Friar Zacharías made their solemn profession by the hands of Fr. Abuna Patrik (Patricio) Sciadini, delegate.

It was a moment of great joy for the Carmel in Egypt, with the presence of the families of the newly professed together with a large number of faithful.

The Eucharist was presided by the Bishop of Assiut, Monsignor Kyrillos William. There was also a large number of brothers from the Lebanon

To call the recently concluded General Assembly ordinary would be to downgrade it. For it is anything but ordinary and unexceptional.

As the first General Assembly after the Sacred Congregation gave us Cor Orans last year, it was the most opportune time and occasion to study the significant and radical changes the document made in our lives, in our communities and as an Association.

And as only a loving and merciful Father would design it, we had the Secretary General for the Nuns, Rev. Fr. Rafal Wilkowski, and a Canon Lawyer himself for four days to explain the document and patiently answer our questions.

It was also the first General Assembly for the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Kuching, East Sarawak, Malaysia since their acceptance to the Association last May 16. For us, Filipina Carmelites, it was equally the first General Assembly to try to break the language barrier, forgetting ourselves and our natural inclination to express ourselves in our native tongues.

The first few years of the Association was spent in bridging the gap between the federated Carmels and non-federated Carmels, more popularly known by two points in the compass. The South Federation willingly dissolved itself to give way to the Association on 14 June 1983.

The Association has grown in age and in spirit and has now spread its wings to include a sister Asian Carmel to face together the challenges of the present times as presented by Vultum Dei Quaerere and Cor Orans.

Aside from the task of revising its Statutes, the Assembly signified its desire to be an authentic “structure of communion” by changing its name.

The road ahead looks challenging, even intimidating but the novelty and radicalness of some of the norms could be exciting. And what makes the 13^th General Assembly momentous is the fact that our efforts today will serve the Carmelites who will come after us. May all our endeavors follow closely the footsteps of Our Holy Mother, who declared, “I am a daughter of the Church.”

Who can make me happier than God? In Him I find everything (S. Teresa de Los Andes).

Merry Christmas!

fr. Saverio Cannistrà, General Superior, with the General Definitors and the Community of the General House O.C.D.

On Wednesday, 11^th December at 10:20 am, presentation of BIS – Bibliographia Internationalis Spiritualitatis online began in Aula 1 of the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum, which continues the paper edition which began in 1966 and was interrupted in 2007.

The new venture of BIS is the fruit of collaboration between the Carmelite Institutum Carmelitanum and our Faculty.

The event began with speeches by Fr. Denis Chardonnens, OCD, who chairs the Teresianum and Giovanni Grosso, Director of the Institutum Carmelitanum. An introduction to the history of the BIS followed, given by Fr. P. Lukasz Styrz-Steinert, OCD, during which those who had worked on the publication of BIS over the years were thanked, particularly Fr. Otilio Rodríguez and Fr. Juan Luis Astigarraga (to whom the Vicar General, Agustí Borrell dedicated some words of appreciation). Following the speech by Fr. Lukasz, Fr. Christof Betschart, OCD, took the floor to explain the current breadth of the BIS online project.

The General, Fr. Saverio Cannistrà, who presided the event, made a speech about research in Carmel, after which those present were invited to talk with the speaker.

To conclude the proceedings, Don Axel Alt, the chief bibliographer of the BIS, gave a practical introduction for the use of this digital tool. The link to access the Bibliographia Internationalis Spiritualitatis online is as follows:

http://cpps.brepolis.net/bis/search.cfm?action=search_advanced&

Fr Saverio Cannistrà, our General, took part in the ordinary meeting of the Union of Superiors General, held at Ariccia, Rome, Italy, between the 27^th and 29^th of November. After participating in the audience that Pope Francis offered to all the members of the meeting, he moved to the Teresianum, where he shared with religious from Europe and the United States a day of reflection and study on the Declaration on our Charism prepared by the General Definitory. These religious, staying in our Theological Faculty of Rome, continued the analysis of the Declaration started in Latin America and which will continue through the other geographical areas in which the Order is present. In total, about 30 religious from various European Provinces and Circumscriptions and the United States of America were gathered, accompanied by the General Definitors, Frs Agustí Borrell, Lukasz Kansy and Daniel Chowning.

Precisely on the day Fr General celebrated his name day ─accompanied by the community of the General House and some members of the Teresianum─ the December meeting of the General Definitory began; this session of the Definitory included a meeting with the General Council of the Carmelites.

On the 11^th of December, together with Fr Agustí Borrell the Vicar General, Fr Saverio presided over the presentation of the digital version of the BIS (Bibliografia Internationalis Spiritualitatis), held at the Theological Faculty of the Teresianum. More detail of this event is reported on this same page, although we have already reported it in posts on our social media.

Finally, on December the 14^th, the feast of Saint John of the Cross, in the chapel of the Teresianum Fr. Saverio presided at the Eucharistic celebration in which six students of the International College made their solemn profession: Br. Immanuel and Br. Sandeep from South Kerala (India), Br. Tolobatosoa of Madagascar, Br. Pradeep and Br. Mariyanna of Andhra Pradesh (India) and Fr. Rajeev from Manjummel (India).

Recently, on the night of December the 5^th, Father Conrad de Meester, a Discalced Carmelite of the Flanders Province, died in hospital. He was a great specialist in St. Therese of the Child Jesus and St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and a remarkable spiritual theologian who had studied at the Teresianum, among other centres.

Father Conrad lost consciousness as a result of a severe stroke. Although he was immediately admitted to hospital, his condition worsened and nothing could be done to save his life. Keeping him company in hospital was the provincial of Flanders, Fr. Paul de Bois, along with other friars. His funeral was held on December the 14^th, the feast of Saint John of the Cross.

Here we present a few words from Father General upon learning of his death: “Truly, Father Conrad worked hard to deepen and make known the riches of our Carmelite Saints. He possessed both a theological competence and an admirable philological and historical precision. The Order owes much to his work as a specialist in spiritual theology and as a competent sharer of it. We pray that the Lord may grant him the reward of a life generously given to the Order and to the Church.”

Among his numerous publications, we simply highlight the “The Power of Confidence “, a classical study on the doctrine of Therese of Lisieux, translated into various languages, or the recent biography of Elizabeth of the Trinity, of whose complete works Fr Conrad made an excellent critical edition. May he rest in peace.