Author: ocd web master

The archives of the old St Joseph Province of the Discalced Carmelites of Catalonia – Balearic Islands, now integrated into the Iberian Province, has opened a page on Facebook, for the purpose of making known the history and cultural background of the old Province as well as the Teresian Carmel in general, by means of graphical and textual documents (manuscripts or printed), from their own archives or other sources, such as databases, websites, blogs and literature that relates to this topic. First of all, we try to show photos which shed light on the monasteries and convents of the Province, by organizing them into separate photo albums, since many of them are no longer in existence. We also give links to other news which carry some reference related to the history of the Order. For years, the patient and incessant work of the historian and provincial archivist, Gabriel Beltran Larroya (1928-1998), continued to reconstruct partially the old archives, by consulting all those other archives which kept any type of documentation related to the monasteries and religious of the Order. He published numerous articles about his investigations, which can be consulted on the following link:

https://castellinterior.wordpress.com/bibliografies/gabriel-de-la-creu-beltran-larroya-1928-1998/bibliografia/

https://www.facebook.com/Arxiu-dels-Carmelites-Descal%C3%A7os-de-Catalunya-i-Balears-571421646373995/?fref=ts

On 30th October, we learnt, through social networks, of the damage wrought in some Discalced Carmelite convents by the powerful earthquake, which took place at 7:41 a.m. the same day.

Three communities in particular suffered the consequences of the earthquake: Fano, Pescara and Tolentino. The first two convents, thanks be to God, did not suffer serious structural damage, but unfortunately, the one in Tolentino has been seriously damaged as a result of which the community has had to abandon it temporarily.

While they wait for the technical report which will allow for a decision to be taken with regards to the future of the convent, the sisters have all been welcomed by the community in Fano, in a beautiful gesture, which is both Teresian and evangelical.

The sisters have been appreciative of the offers of welcome by so many Italian communities, but will remain together in the afore-mentioned convent. Let us pray for them and beseech the Lord that they may soon be able to return to their house in Tolentino.

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On 22nd October, a distressing picture spread through social and communication media: a missile had fallen into the kitchen garden of the Discalced Carmelites of Aleppo in Syria, although it did not explode, thanks be to God.

When the Fr. General contacted Mother Anne-Françoise, she communicated that the sisters were absolutely fine despite the impression given and that the missile had not caused any material damage. The Mother Superior promised to send updates, which we will relay through this channel and our own social networks. She also said that they had felt themselves to be protected by St. John Paul II, whose feast day was celebrated that very day.

We will continue to pray for our sisters in Aleppo and for peace in Syria.

 

Marcellino Forcellini (6th December, 1930 – 23rd November, 2016), was born in Paris, but was a citizen of the Republic of San Marino, being the only Carmelite to hail from this tiny independent state. His country awarded him recognition for his missionary work and attentiveness to the destitute.

A religious from the Roman province, he was a missionary in the Congo for nearly fifty years. Kananga, Ntambwe, Kinshasa, Bukavu and Lubumbashi were some of the places in which he carried out work as a parish priest, being in charge and even the founder in the case of the Church’s presence in some instances. His life was more replete with concerns and problems than with earthly glory, but he surrendered himself to tireless work unreservedly.

He was one of the organisers of pastoral work for vocations and formation with those first called to Carmel in the Congo.

He was called, as a faithful servant, to the house of the Father on 23rd October just passed, on the very day on which the Church celebrates the work of the the missions and missionaries. His life will be recounted in the missionary history of Carmel and through the mercy of God, his name will be written in the book of the Life. May he rest in peace.

On the 17th of November 2016, at 3 in the afternoon, precisely when the College completes 90 years of foundation, in the Aula Magna of the Teresianum in Rome, will take place the commemoration for the Servant of God, Fr Anselm of St Andrew Corsini  (Maciej Jósef Gadek), OCD, the first Rector of the International College of the Discalced Carmelites in Rome.

The event has been promoted by the Pontifical Theological Faculty and the Teresianum Pontifical Institute of Spirituality, the St John of the Cross International College, as well as the Postulation for the cause of the Servant of God, Anselm Gadek.

The program can be consulted on the Teresianum web page (www.teresianum.net). The day will finish with a Eucharist at which will preside Fr Lucas Kanszy, second Definitor General. Prayers will be offered to the Lord for the gift of the beatification of Fr Anselm.

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The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith organised a symposium in Rome on this subject, which took place from 26-28th September in the International Centre for Missionary Animation, situated on the campus of the Pontifical Urban University.

According to the Press Office of the Holy See, nearly fifty theologians took part in the meeting, among whom was the Discalced Carmelite, Cristina Dobner. There were also historians, religious canonists and lay people from five continents, as well as consultants and officials from the Dicastery.

The symposium had been organised by an international committee which included, Mary Melone, Lucetta Scaraffia, Ana Cristina Villa Betancourt and José Granados. The session was opened by Cardinal Gerhard Müller, whilst the Spanish Archbishop, Luis Ladaria, Secretary of the Congregation, brought the proceedings to a close, with the announcement that the papers would be published, so that the result of the debates during the sessions would be available to everyone.

Dear brothers and sisters!

Thanks to the generosity of some monasteries of Carmelites nuns, some provinces of the Order and of some individual members of the OCDS, the centre of the Order, through the Missionary Cooperation Office (Mission Office) has provided for many needs from our missions and supported some of their concrete projects. A big thank you to all who have contributed.

The OCD General Chapter held in Avila in May 2015 invited all the circumscriptions of the Order to contribute to the common fund for the missions. The total funds collected so far for this year is 61,000 euros. From the beginning of the current year, the Mission Cooperation Office has allocated more than 88,000 euros to different urgent projects from the missions. As a result of this shortfall, many others are left out.

Hence, the General Definitory renews the appeal for contributions and donations from all the provinces, Carmelite nuns’ monasteries, OCDS communities and people of good will. The goal is to raise funds to concretely assist missionary territories.

We trust in God’s providence, which passes through the generosity of each one of you, dear brothers and sisters.  Your contribution or donation to the fund for the missions can be sent to the following bank account:

IBAN                         : IT17J0570403214000000674700

BIC/SWIFT CODE   : BPSPITS

BANK                                    : Banca Popolare di Spoleto S.P.A.

ACCOUNT HOLDER          : CASA GEN. PP. CARMELITANI SCALZI, CONTO MISSIONI

 

You can also do it through a bank check payable to:

  • CASA GEN. PP. CARMELITANI SCALZI, CONTO MISSIONI or to
  • CASA GEN. PP. CARMELITANI SCALZI, PROCURA MISSIONI.

All of you who bear our missionaries and their daily pains in your prayers, those who promote missionary needs to their families, friends and relations and those who make financial contributions to support the missions’ projects, we are exceedingly grateful.

 

Contacts:

The Missionary Cooperation Office

Corso d’Italia 38   –   00198 Roma

Tel. : +39 0685443213

Email: ocdmis@gmail.com

Twice he has visited already this year Fr. Romano Gambalunga, General Postulator of the Order, the Monastery of Stella Maris and the Delegation of Israel, among other things to set the basis of an eventual opening for the cause of beatification of the Fr. Mauricio Vigani, ocd.

Within these frame, we made him some questions:

  1. Father Romano, you have known a bit Fr. Mauricio: which are your first impresions in the context of the opening of his cause at the Holy Land? And, what message does his presence offers to us?

 The impressions are good. Speaking with the persons who have known him, I feel that there is joy on having stated an official interest for the possible opening of the cause of beatification. In addition, I can say that within speaking to these persons, it is evident that Fr. Mauricio has left a fingerprint, that his life has not been a common testimony, but that he has touched the people and the memory is fondly. In fact, when they speak about him, in a certain way their eyes start to shine.

Regarding to his message I would say that -because he decided to pass the last nine years of his life in the Holy Land and his express desire to die there, when the treatment against the cancer proved to be ineffective in Italy, he returned- Fr. Maurizio understood very well the roots of our Order and experienced the message of the Carmel as the place of the prophets, the place of profound hearing the Word of God on intimacy with the Lord, who acts in the history and manifests in the loneliness of a sutil but effective way. I think that his experience is also very important for the Delegation.

  1. Regarding the imminent beatification of the Father Maria-Eugenio of the Baby Jesus and Elisabeth of the Trinity’s canonization, what tools do we have to prepare ourselves better to receive these graces so expected by the Carmelite Order and by the whole Church?

 On the occasion of Elizabeth’s canonization, Fr. General is preparing a letter and that will be published in several languages, surely it will be a tool to be aware and receive the actuality of her message. In addition we can find a great quantity of material in the web page of the nuns of Flavignerot and also very soon in the one from the General Postulation, which will start very soon.

In regards to the P. Maria-Eugenio, in the web page of «Notre Dame de Vie» they have placed a dossier of press, where they offer news as well as the circular letter of the Institute.

Concerning the celebrations of the canonization of Elisabeth, on Friday night (Oct. 14th.) there will be a reading of texts, followed by the dialog with a Cardinal and a laic representative of the culture, to extend her message outside our own environments. The following day (Oct. 15th.) in the Parish of Holy Teresa, a moment of prayer will take place. Finally the Mass of gratitude on Monday (Oct. 17th.) in Saint Paul Basilique outside the walls.

  1. It seems that the website of the general postulation will be ready in the near future. Might you anticipate which will be the innovations and the advantages of this new page?

Bearing in mind that many of our servants of God, venerables, beatified and saints have awaken interest upon our monasteries, provinces and delegations, I have thought about a page of the postulation that allows to follow the path of every saint, which offers also the informative material and the works that the postulation makes. Not immediately, but a video channel is foreseen also, with interviews, celebrations, etc., that on one hand reports, but also offers paths of formation, explains the meaning of a cause of beatification in the Church, the procedure to follow, the steps required and the difficulties that are necessary to confront.

The new website will offer an important documentation (for example the Positio, the liturgical texts of the saints, etc.), in order that, deepening into the message of the different figures, it will become also an authentic service to the evangelization.

Hereby, I think that simply we are in comunion with the last Popes, who often have repeated that the saints are the best witnesses of the mercy of God and –each one on his own way– they always are instruments to evangelize.

On the first of October, feast of St Therese of the Child Jesus, in the presence of Fr. General, Saverio Cannistrà, the monastery was opened in Nënshat, Albania, which forms part of the Province of Central Italy.

In the morning, Mass was celebrated with the Carmelite nuns in their monastery church. Later on the friars’ monastery was inaugurated, once more in the presence of Fr General, together with the three missionary friars at present in Albania, the Administrator of the diocese and the Archbishop of Scutari, Mons. Massafra. Also present was a good number of priests, religious and secular order members from the country, together with a representation of Discalced Carmelite friars from Italy.

The grand finale of this joyful day ended with refreshments accompanied by dance and songs of the region. But before things came truly to an end we had to taste an exquisite tart in the form of the new monastery, prepared by the Carmelite nuns, together with images of Our Lady, St Joseph and the Holy Face which the nuns wished to give to the community on this occasion.

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At nine in the morning of the first of October, feast of St Therese of the Child Jesus, began the ceremony of consecration of the new Bishop of Chalatenango in El Salvador, Mons. Oswaldo Estéfano Escobar, a Discalced Carmelite who, until his appointment, had been Provincial of the Central American Carmel.

Presiding at the celebration, which took place in the central park of the city, was Mons. Luis Morao Andreazza, ofm, former Bishop of the diocese. Also present among the ordaining Bishops was Mons. Silvio Báez, first Teresian Carmelite Bishop in Central America, as well as the Apostolic Nuncio, León Kalenga. He presided at the consecration of Chalatenango.

Most notable was the support of the public, who occupied not only the park but spilled out into many of the adjacent streets. Accompanying them was the Carmelite family and the clergy. Some fifteen Bishops were present at the celebration, among them was Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of the archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.

The Apostolic Nuncio spoke on the type of bishop wanted by Pope Francis and proposed the example given by the Salvadorian bishop and martyr, Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero. After words of thanks from Mons. Oswaldo, Fr Francisco Javier Mena, ocd, spoke. He is the Order’s General Councilor for Latin America and conveyed to all words of gratitude in the name of Father General, Saverio Cannistrà. He assured Mons. Oswaldo of continual prayer from Carmel and reminded him that in order to be a good bishop, it was sufficient to be a good Carmelite.

With the final blessing the celebration finished which had filled Carmel and the Church in San Salvador with pleasure.

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Students of the International School Saint John of the Cross in Rome received two 15-hour courses of Teresian-SanJuanist formation. The course about Saint Teresa was directed by Father Giuseppe Pozzobon of the Province of Venice. Father Emilio Martínez of the Iberian Province, professor of the Teresianum in Rome, taught the course on Saint John of the Cross.

OCDS members of the Bolivarian CICLA (Interprovincial Conference of Latin American Carmelites) from Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador met in Quito from September 16th to 20th. A delegation from Argentina also accompanied them. Delegates present were: Fr. Alfredo Amesti (Peru), Fr. Carlos Plata (Colombia), Fr. Juan Berdonces (Ecuador), and the General Delegate for the OCDS, Fr. Alzinir Debastiani.

The OCDS of the Southern CICLA met in Auco, Los Andes, Chile, from September 22nd to 26th, regarding the person of St. Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes. Members in attendance came from both Brazilian provinces of the Teresian Carmel as well as from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, accompanied by Discalced Carmelite religious and the General Delegate for the OCDS, who was also present in this important meeting.

The common denominator of both meetings was intensive work on the revision of the life of the Secular Carmelite and his or her call to embody the charism with joy wherever he or she is present, particularly in the peripheries to which Pope Francis calls us.

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From the 17th of August to the 2nd of September, the second and third year students of our International Theological College in Rome go to Spain to visit the principal places associated with St Teresa and St John of the Cross. In this way our student friars come in contact with the sources of their charism and visit the Discalced Carmelite friars and nuns in Avila, Salamanca, Alba de Tormes, Duruelo, Medina del Campo, Segovia, Toledo, Úbeda, Baeza, Granada, Córdoba and Seville.

The Discalced Carmelites’ spirituality center “Mater Carmeli” in Butare, Rwanda, hosted a retreat directed by Father Christian Muta, ocd, a member of the Saint Joseph General Delegation of the Congo.

In it, 35 consecrated Africans participated: Teresian Carmelite postulants and novices, Carmelite friars having professed simple vows, and Teresian Carmelite Missionary juniors. They were joined by solemnly professed religious of other congregations.

Father Muta, expounding the content of St. John Paul II’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata, encouraged participants to face the challenges of consecrated life, which is called to transform the world.

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At the beginning of September, the traditional course for bishops consecrated and/or elected during last year was celebrated at Rome. Among those taking part in the course were Mons. George Tambala and Mons. Zdenko Križić, Discalced Carmelite bishops, whom we were able to greet as they passed through Rome.

For his part, Mons. Oswaldo Escobar, Bishop of Chalatenango since the first of October, forwarded on to us his episcopal coat of arms, which contains the following elements: a castle which represents his ties to the Teresian Carmel, since it evokes the supreme work of Mother Teresa; the sun, recalling the patron of the diocese, St John Baptist, who was called to point out the sun who was born from on high (cf. Lk 1:78); the dove of peace, in a region so wounded by civil war, is a symbol which is also in the style of the typical artisan art of Chalatenango; finally, there is the shield of the Order.

His episcopal motto is: “Depths of mercy”, which he took on when he was ordained a priest and which, twenty years after, became the plan for his episcopal ministry.

Finally, we inform you that on 4th July the Holy Father, Pope Francis, accepted the resignation of Mons. Amancio Escapa, ocd, the auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo, for reasons of age, and also on 2nd August the resignation of Mons. Dadah from the pastoral government of the Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut (Lebanon).