Author: ocd web master

Fr Agustí Borrell, ocd, the Vicar General, presided at the meeting of the Commission for the rereading of the Constitutions, which was held at the General House from 29th August to 3rd September.

All the members of the Commission were present: Frs Daniel Chowning (Definitor General), Aloysius Deeney, Alzinir Debastiani, Emilio Martínez, Gabriel Castro, Giuseppe Pozzobon, Gregorio Firszt, Joe Tauro and Wieslaw Kiwior.

The purpose of the meeting was to prepare the contents of booklets 6 to 8 for rereading the Constitutions, which will be sent to the circumscriptions and communities at the service of the Order (the General House, CITeS, St John of the Cross International College and the Teresianum). The replies to booklets 1 to 4, which had arrived at the Commission, were also evaluated.

The participation of the religious has been quite satisfactory, and revealed a true interest in this process of discernment on our life, in the light of the Constitutions.

 

The Acts of the Teresian Congresses celebrated in Nairobi in 2012 and 2014 were published in Yaoundé this year 2016 by Fr. Marie-Joseph de l’incarnation -DOL-, o.c.d, (Editor). So far the French edition is available: Thérèse d’Avila en Dialogue avec l’Afrique.

The publication underlines the steps undertaken by the Order in Africa. It shows how, since several consecutive decades, Carmel was stablished in Africa. The contributions to the Congresses reveal two faces: the Carmelite face of Africa and the African face of Carmel. May this publication stimulate Carmelite research work in Africa so that the rich spiritual heritage of the Order and the equally rich cultural heritage of the African continent may enrich each other.  Thus, we will be stimulated to experience fully the heritage of our saints in Africa and to hand it down to the future generations.

ISBN 978 9956 445 02 8 

e-mail: marie-joseph@carmel.asso.fr

At the same time that the new website of the General Curia of the Order was inaugurated, the General Archive also opened up a new site on the Web: www.agocd.com. There, it offers researchers essential tools to access the services of the Archive: regulations, calendar, and forms to request access to and photographic reproduction of documents.

In the section titled, “Publications,” two important sources for historical research on Carmel are already available. Both were prepared by Father Ambrose of Saint Teresa, eminent Archivist General of the Order from 1928 to 1951. They are the “MONASTICON,” a catalog of all the OCD and OCarm foundations (1950), and the “NOMENCLATOR MISSIONARIUM” (1944), a very rich source of bio-bibliographical information about the missionary Carmelites from 1582 to the 20th century. It is also possible to read and download in PDF format the “CONSPECTUS ORDINIS” of 2013 and the “ACTA ORDINIS” issue numbers published between 2012 and 2015. The plan is to digitalize the entire collection, to which other publications will be added.

A section titled, “WikiCarmel” is also under construction. It will be a database of information regarding the history of the Order.

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The Discalced Carmelite foundation in Timor is taking its first steps. On January 6 it launched its first community in Dili, founded by a Timorese priest, Noé Martins, and a Spaniard, Antonio González. This foundation is an initiative of the province of Portugal with the support of the Iberian and Navarre provinces. It has set as its mission in this country that which is most proper to us: the promotion of spirituality, as well as formation.

Our work in the sphere of spirituality is beginning to make way six months after this starting point. Father Antonio González directed a retreat for the priests of the three dioceses of Timor (Dili, Baucau, and Maliana). Father Noé preached the exercises preceding profession to the novices of a Franciscan congregation from August 3 to 11. The topic in both cases was the mercy of God. From early September, these two Carmelite priests are carrying out other activities requested by the diocese of Dili and religious congregations established in the country.

In addition, we have been approached by youths discerning vocations. We have undertaken a journey of formation, discernment, and prayer with them.

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  • On Friday 14 October at 19.00, The heaven on the earth, special event on the occasion of the canonization of Bl. Elisabeth of the Trinity, in the church Santa Maria della Vittoria, Via 20 Settembre 17.

 

  • On Saturday 15 October at 20.30 in preparation of the solemn canonization, Prayer Vigil in the Basilica Sacro Cuore, Via Marsala 42.

 

  • On Sunday 16 October at 10.15 am the Solemn Eucharistic celebration and canonization at St. Peter’s Square, Rome.

 

  • On Monday 17 October at 10.00 am Thanksgiving Mass to the Holy Trinity in the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls (Piazzale San Paolo, 1, 00146 Roma).

 

  • The tickets for the canonization is free and could be requested in this e-mail address: ocdpost@gmail.com

Entre el 7 y el 10 de julio pasados se celebró en Sassone (Ciampino, Roma), el Congreso Nacional del Carmelo Seglar italiano, con el título: “Familia y comunidad. Entrañas de misericordia y fecundidad del amor”.

Concebido como oportunidad fecunda en el que compartir la riqueza de la diversidad del Carmelo italiano, el Congreso ofreció un espacio de reflexión en el que pensar juntos el momento actual de la vida en familia y en las comunidades OCDS, a la luz del carisma teresiano, estimulados por las sugerencias del papa Francisco en Amoris Laetitia.  Además de las aportaciones de carmelitas seglares de distintas provincias, se contó con la presencia del asistente nacional, P. Aldo Formentin, el Delegado General, P. Alzinir Debastiani y el Prepósito General de la Orden, P. Saverio Cannistrà.

Igualmente, del 30 de julio al 1 de agosto se desarrolló el Congreso Ibérico OCDS, con presencia de miembros de fraternidades de España y Portugal. Tuvo lugar en el CITeS de Ávila y en él se trataron diversos temas acerca de la identidad y la formación del carmelita seglar, la relación entre las tres ramas de la Orden y el llamado a ser una única familia, así como otros de actualidad para el laicado teresiano. La clausura corrió a cargo del P. Miguel Márquez, ocd, Provincial de la Ibérica y en el congreso participó también el P. Alzinir Debastiani, Delegado General para la OCDS

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“Help us! We are being bombed, but we will not abandon the people who are suffering”. With this striking title, the English edition of ZENIT on 4th August gave us an interview with our Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Aleppo.

Six nuns reside in the monastery, two French and four Syrian, who are victims and witnesses to a most difficult situation of war: to confused and contradictory news is added the reality of the suffering and death of thousands of innocent civilians.

“How can we abandon people who are suffering?” This moving comment explains the commitment of the nuns to continue praying for the end of the war. They also ask us for our prayers and concrete help that the General Curia will seek to provide and channel.

The complete report can be found on this link: https://zenitenglish.cmail20.com

 

On July 11th, Bishop Nándor Takács, Bishop Emeritus of Székesfehérvár (Hungary) and Discalced Carmelite, was born to eternal life.

Born in the heart of a peasant family in the small Hungarian village of Rábacsanak, he completed his novitiate under the tutelage of Father Marcell of the Virgin of Carmel. In the Order, he took the name of Jusztin of the Virgin of Carmel and made his solemn profession on July 20, 1943. He was ordained to the priesthood on February 28, 1951.

When the communist persecution began with its resulting dissolution of religious orders in Hungary, he was sheltered by the bishop of Györ. At various times in his life he was prohibited from exercising his priestly ministry and had to work as a music and voice teacher.

He was appointed bishop of the diocese of Székesfehérvár on December 30, 1988, by Pope Saint John Paul II. He remained in that office until his retirement. His consecration took place on February 11, 1989.

May this faithful son of the Church and the Teresian Carmel in Hungary rest in peace.

As planned, youth of the Carmelite family from all over the world who arrived in Krakow to participate in WYD with Pope Francis, gathered in our convent in Czerna on July 27th, the eve of the event, to celebrate the third Carmelite Youth Day.

Mary, Mother of the Church and of Carmel, and Saint Raphael Kalinowski were the luminaries of the encounter.

The homily of our Father Saverio Cannistrà, who was present , can be found at this link (in Italian and Spanish):

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwJEzzuh4mb7cjducXU5bEtSVTg&usp=sharing

Pope Francis appointed Father Oswaldo Escobar, ocd, as the new Bishop of Chalatenango (El Salvador).

Born on May 20, 1968, near the diocese of which he is now bishop, he entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites and made his solemn profession in December 1995. His priestly ordination took place on St. Joseph’s feast day in 1996. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology in Guatemala and went on to study in the CITeS in Ávila, Spain. He completed a licentiate in Spiritual Theology in the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum (Rome) in 2008.

In his province of Central America, he has been formator of postulants and students, pastor, prior, and is currently provincial. Until his appointment, he was also president of the Conference of Religious of El Salvador.

The diocese of Chalatenango was created on December 30, 1987, by Pope Saint John Paul II. It includes the department of the same name located to the north of San Salvador, the country’s capital.

Teresian Carmelites from seven provinces of India met together in the Kothagiri House of Prayer in Tamil Nadu. The meeting was called by Fr Johannes Gorantla, Definitor General, to reflect upon our Constitutions, within the process of rereading them that was begun by the whole Order after the Avila General Chapter in 2015.

Each Chapter of the Constitutions was studied by the assembly in the following manner: first of all the texts were read and studied in common; this was followed by two conferences given by experts in each of the materials; in the evening there was dialogue in common starting with questions prepared by the spokespersons, upon which proposals were made. Each day Mass and liturgical prayer were celebrated as part of the spiritual animation of the meeting.

The full program and a comprehensive description of it can be found, in English, on the following link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwJEzzuh4mb7QXczWnBDbUF3VjA

As well, the now traditional permanent formation week of the German province took place in our Spirituality house in Birkenwerder, in the week after Pentecost. Two principal topics were discussed: the work on the Constitutions according to the directions of the General Chapter, as well as a reflection on Martin Luther on the occasion of the 5th centenary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation (31st October 1517).

Father Provincial introduced the topics with a conference on the purpose and importance of the Constitutions; two Carmelite Sisters from Berlin, presented the 1991 Constitutions of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, while the Provincial Delegate for the OCDS spoke on the laborious process of the origin and development of the OCDS Constitutions. During the dialogue in common there was a interesting sharing of opinions; all were in agreement that the Constitutions of the friars and nuns needed a revision of the language, the theology of religious life and Carmelite identity. We would like a common text to be drawn up, for the three branches, presenting the elements common to our vocation.

The University of Mysticism recently signed a framework agreement with the Anaya S.A. Group for the purpose of training teachers and educators in the field of the interior life. For this purpose, beginning with the academic 2016-2017 course there will be initiated a diploma in “Education of the Interior Life”.

Signing the agreement on the part of the Anaya Group was the Director General, Dr Francisco Prior Balibrea, and for CITeS, its Director, Fr Francisco Javier Sancho, ocd.

Through interdisciplinary training, the course aims to give specialization to teachers, educators and professors who wish to obtain the fundamentals of supporting, directing and educating the interior life of their pupils.

The Anaya Group, leader in Spain in the area of educational publishing, consists of 18 publishing houses.

Thanks to this agreement signed with the Anaya Group, 20 scholarships will be offered for those centres or pupils who request them and meet the necessary requirements. (For more information go to: www.mistica.es )

From the 26th April to the 8th of May, Fr Alzinir Debastiani, Delegate General for the OCDS, made a fraternal visit to the eight OCDS communities in Nigeria, as well as to the numerous confraternities of the Child Jesus of Prague existing in the country.

He went to Enugu, Nssuka, Owerri, Benin City, Ibadan, Ekpoma and Abuja, where he received a fraternal welcome from the brothers and sisters, with whom he was able to share, in the various meeting, topics such as the presence of the Secular Order in the world, the spirituality of the Holy Mother Teresa of Jesus, the spirituality of the Childhood of Jesus in the saints of Carmel, etc… In each meeting, the conferences of Fr Alzinir followed a wide and animated dialogue.

On the first of May, feast of St Joseph the worker, he blessed the terrain where the National Sanctuary of the Child Jesus will be built, and where a statue of the Child Jesus of Prague will be enthroned in a tiny chapel situated there. The visit concluded with the celebration of the V Congress of the OCDS of Nigeria, from the 5th to the 8th May, on the topic: Living the contemplative dimension of the secular Carmelite spirituality. As the most obvious fruit of the Congress, we can point to the fact that the representatives elected there (three councillors and the president, Sr Michael Ogunu), will begin in coordination with the Delegate of the Vicariate, Fr Cyrill Udom, ocd, the revision of the statutes and the Ratio Institutionis.

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Paying attention to the petition made by our Carmelite sisters during the 2015 Avila General Chapter, in which they were present on May 19 and 20, the center of the Order is in the process of reflecting on the formation of the Discalced Carmelite nuns, for the purpose of drawing up a concrete plan for it in agreement with them.

Important milestones in the journey already begun, besides the meeting on last February 3, have been the meeting of the group of friars who advise the Definitory, which took place in Rome from the 1st to the 3rd June, as well as the recent meeting of Fr General with more than 135 nuns from Spain – which also included some nuns from Portugal – which took place in Avila from the 14th to the 18th of last June. Fr Saverio attended the meeting accompanied by the Vicar General, Fr Agustí Borrell, Fr Daniel Chowning the Definitor appointed for the nuns, as well as Fr Rafal Willkowski, the Secretary for the Nuns.

In the following link you can find the texts of Fr General’s conferences in Spanish (also available in Italian). Also available for everyone on the page are all the audios and videos of these conferences:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwJEzzuh4mb7M2F0c2pDMzdTQmc

Around the same time, Fr General joined the Lombardy Association in their triennial assembly from the 26th to the 29th June and shared also with them the steps taken in this respect.

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In its June meeting, the Definitory General appointed as Rector (Superior) of the Teresianum Community Fr Albert Wach, ocd, from the Krakow Province. This appointment will come into effect after the Episcopal Ordination of Mons. Zdenko Kricic and during the fraternal visit to be made to the community by Fr Agustí Borrell, the Vicar General.

Fr Albert, who at the moment is in Avila enjoying a sabbatical year of retreat and formation, was the second Definitor General in the last triennium. He has also twice been the Provincial of Krakow.

Born in 1956 in Żarnów in the diocese of Radom, Fr Albert of the Virgin made his first profession in 1976, carried out his studies in Philosophy and theology in Poznan (Poland) and Rome. He received a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Alfonsianum in Rome.