Author: ocd web master

On April 9, 2025, thousands of faithful gathered at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the “Congress on Prayer II: Confidence in Love”. The event marked the 100th anniversary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s canonization and celebrated her enduring legacy of trust, humility, and love through her “Little Way.”

The congress included three key talks focusing on different aspects of St. Thérèse’s life and spirituality. Sr. Mary Bernard Tescam, OCD, presented the first talk, “Saint Thérèse: Wounded Child,” followed by Ms. Imelda D. Ramos, OCDS, with “Saint Thérèse: Warrior Soul.” The final talk, “Saint Thérèse: Doctor of Love,” was delivered by Rev. Fr. Mariano R. Agruda III, OCD.

The event culminated in a Holy Mass, celebrated by Most Reverend Socrates B. Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The congress was a powerful call for spiritual renewal, urging the faithful, particularly the youth, to respond to God’s love through prayer, service, and possibly embracing a religious vocation. Inspired by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, participants were encouraged to live their faith with confidence in God’s merciful love.

 

January 18, 2025, was a day filled with joy for the Discalced Carmelite Friars of St. Therese of Child Jesus, Vicariate of Tanzania. A multitude of the faithful from Dar Es Salaam, Mbeya, Morogoro, and Dodoma gathered at Carmel Prayer House to be part of its history on the day of its inauguration and blessing. The inauguration of this spirituality centre was led by his Excellency, Beatus Kinyaiya OFM CAP, Archbishop of Dodoma. The Eucharist was offered as thanksgiving to God for the gift of this type of house in the archdiocese of Dodoma.

The Regional Vicariate of St. Therese of Child Jesus remain grateful to God for the gift of this beautiful house of prayer. We extend our gratitude to our benefactors and well-wishers who have made this dream come true.

 

Dear brothers and sisters of the whole family of the Discalced Carmel, friars, nuns, OCDS and all affiliated members: PEACE AND HOPE!

Having learned of the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, we unite wholeheartedly as an Order, the entire Discalced Carmelites, children of Teresa and John of the Cross, children of the Church, in giving thanks to God for his life and service during the twelve years of his Pontificate. We entrust his life to the maternal love of Mary: may she lead him to the heavenly home with all the saints, his predecessors and all his loved ones.

We pray fervently that the Spirit will give the Church the Pope she needs to respond to the needs of our time and of the Church according to the heart of God. We will receive him with a spirit of obedience and fidelity.

In this moment and always, we are one in the following of Jesus and in fidelity to the Church and to the Shepherd who guides us. We have been united with Pope Francis and we will continue to be united with his successor in the spirit of our Holy Mother, St Teresa of Jesus.

I would like to recall two of his phrases to the OCD General Chapter on 11 September 2021:

Dear brothers, the harmony between these three elements: friendship with God, fraternal life and mission, is a fascinating goal, capable of motivating your present and future choices. May the Holy Spirit – it is He who creates harmony – enlighten and guide your steps on this path. May the Blessed Virgin protect and accompany you. I bless you from my heart.

And in the meeting with the Discalced Carmelites, during the revision of the Constitutions, Nemi 18 April 2024:

…you are showing me that the contemplative vocation is not about tending embers, but rather about fanning into flame a fire that can continue to burn and provide warmth to the Church and the world… Look to the future with evangelical hope, with bare feet, that is, with the freedom of abandonment to God. Look to the future with your roots in the past. May your complete immersion in the Lord’s presence always fill you with the joy of sisterhood and mutual love. May Our Lady accompany you.

In communion with the Church, and praying like the disciples on Easter morning, I would like to repeat the words which I addressed to the Pope on behalf of all the Friars during the Audience of our General Chapter on 11 September 2021; if you wish, we could now address them to the next Successor of Peter:

Holy Father, I want with my brothers and sisters to risk our lives, without waiting for tomorrow, without fear of being wounded, as “knights without pay”, as Teresa said, (Life 15:11), helping Jesus to carry the cross, helping the Pope to carry the cross, with our obedience and service, without turning back.

 

HAPPY EASTER OF RESURRECTION!

REST IN PEACE, DEAR POPE FRANCIS!

 Rome, 21 April 2025 Monday of Easter Week

 

P. Miguel Márquez Calle OCD Superior General

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 17 February 2025, the Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the Philippines celebrated its 50th anniversary since being established as a parish in 1975. The concelebrated Eucharistic celebration marking the event was presided over by Most Rev. Elias Ayuban Jr., CMF, Bishop of Cubao, followed by a dinner fellowship held on the parish church grounds.

Leading up to the anniversary day itself, a novena of Masses was celebrated, with the first to seventh days presided over by Discalced Carmelite friars who had served as parish priests. On the eighth day, 15 February, the Mass was celebrated by Most Rev. Rolando Tria-Tirona, OCD, Archbishop Emeritus of Caceres and the parish’s first Filipino parish priest. Cubao Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco, who was instrumental in the church’s elevation to the status of a national shrine and minor basilica, celebrated the Eucharist on the ninth day, 16 February.

Activities in connection with the golden jubilee anniversary will continue throughout the year, centered around the theme: Fifty Years Stories: Parish, Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, Pilgrimage.

 

The long-cherished dream of the Federation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was realized on March 1, 2025, with the inauguration of the Juniors’ Course at Kurnool Carmel, the Federal Formation House.

Rev. Bishop Johannes Gorantla OCD presided over the inaugural Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, he encouraged the sisters to cultivate the spirit of little children. Fr. Gilbert, OCD, Chaplain of Kurnool Carmel, Fr. Ronald D’Souza, OCD, and a diocesan priest concelebrated the Eucharist.

Following the Mass, Bishop Johannes, Fr. Gilbert, and Fr. Ronald were invited to inaugurate the course. The Federal President, Sr. Theresita, welcomed them, along with the Federal Formator, Sr. Anna, Mother Grace, the Prioress of the hosting Carmel, and the five junior sisters. The two-month course, scheduled from March 1 to April 30, 2025, was formally inaugurated with the symbolic lighting of the lamps.

The federation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Carmel of Kurnool for their generous support and assistance. Please keep them in your prayers.

 

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In February, Fr. Ramiro Casale, OCD, General Delegate for the OCDS, accompanied by the Provincial Delegate for the OCDS, Fr. Pedro Martínez Nogales, OCD, made a fraternal visitation to the communities of the Secular Order and the Confraternities of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The visitation was organised by region, where people from all over Mexico met to discuss important themes relating to the Carmelite charism. These meetings took place in the cities of Celaya, Mexico, Guadalajara, Puebla and San Luis Potosí. Frs Cándido Celestino, OCD, and German Melgarejo, OCD, Provincial and Vicar Provincial, as well as other Carmelite friars took part in these meetings.

The Secular Order in Mexico continues to flourish. However, among its immediate priorities are the revision of the Provincial Statutes of the OCDS and the development of a formation plan, as well as the continued promotion of unity and fraternity among the communities.

The Confraternities of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mexico, in communion with the Order, have a large and important presence in many cities throughout the country.

 

Dear friends,

Many of you have asked for an update on the situation here, and we are very touched. The massacres that have taken place and continue to take place on the north-west coast of Syria, in the Alawite region where the former President’s family comes from, have absolutely no description. It is an outright crime against humanity, a genocide in the true sense of the word. How are the simple, very poor Alawite people responsible for the decades of Assad family rule? Shock, anger and fear are everywhere in the Latakia region and throughout the country. Where are we headed? Will no one defend these poor people who have no money, no power and no way of defending themselves? We implore you to pray and, insofar as you are able, to take action to stop this massacre, which is unworthy of humanity!

This morning we spoke to Sr Rima, Superior of the Apostolic Carmelites of St Joseph, in Latakia. She was crying on the phone. They have a hostel for students, most of whom are Alawites. The poor girls have gone mad with grief at the news of the massacre of their parents, brothers and sisters, friends, etc. In addition to everything is happening, the city of Latakia has been without electricity and water for five days. Here, too, deprivation is increasing.

This tragedy has provoked reactions and demonstrations in the country itself, but unfortunately these have very quickly degenerated into violence… And the government is not reacting. How much responsibility has the government for this tragedy?

In the Church, patriarchs and bishops have reacted in the strongest possible terms, calling on the government to stop the massacre and to really work towards the good and reconstruction of the whole country. Our Latin bishop, Mgr Jallouf, was particularly firm in his response. He knew the ‘Jehbat el nosra’ in Idlib well… And the different factions in the country (Druze, Kurds, Shiites, etc…) are also demonstrating, often in defence of the Alawites…

As with all disasters and revolutions, the country nevertheless witnessed some beautiful and heroic deeds. Among other examples, Sunni and Shia families have welcomed and protected Alawites.

Let us pray that the violence will stop and that the government will assume its responsibilities to work towards reconciliation, peace and the well-being of the country. And pray that the Christians, who are very upset, will remain confident and not leave their country… Thank you for your prayers and affection…. And a happy and holy Lent. Our Saviour Jesus is and always will be victorious through his offering and loving death on the Cross.

 

The Committee of Preparation for the visit of the relics of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus held a press conference on Tuesday, 11th February 2025, at the Catholic Media Center, sponsored by Archbishop His Grace Antoine Nabil Al-Andari, and in the presence of several media representatives. Mr. Fadi Fayad (President of the coordinating committee) thanked His Excellency Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi for having asked him and Father Michel Abboud OCD (President of Caritas Lebanon), Father Hadi Daou (Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate) and Father Charles Sawaya, to prepare and organize this visit.

Therese will come to Lebanon from 13th June to 19th July, 2025. This visit occurs in the context of the centenary of her canonization on 17th May, 1925 at Rome. The Committee desires that the relics traverse Lebanon all the way from the ravaged south to the north, and that they pass a large number of parishes, churches and monasteries.

The motto of this visit will be « Voyage to Lebanon for Love and Peace ». Let us pray that this visit, at a time of great changes, will be a visit that brings hope and peace for the Lebanese people, and a blessing for their land.

28th March 2025

510th anniversary of the birth of Saint Teresa of Jesus

 On 28 August 2024, in Alba de Tormes (Spain), the long process of identification and study of the mortal remains of Saint Teresa of Jesus began. It will culminate with the public exhibition from 11 to 25 May and the subsequent closure of the tomb.

On this occasion, numerous and meticulous examinations were conducted under the responsibility of Professors Luigi Capasso, Ruggero D’Anastasio and Dr. Jacopo Cilli of the ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara (Italy). On the basis of the information gathered, the Generalate of the Discalced Carmelites decided to proceed with the scientific reconstruction of the face of Saint Teresa of Avila, using the most modern techniques.

This facial reconstruction (also known as ‘approximation’) was carried out by Forensic Sculptor Jennifer Mann of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (Monash University, Victoria, Australia): it combined the forensic methodologies currently used in the United States and the United Kingdom and was based on the anthropometric data and X-rays provided by the University of Chieti. The photographs are by Jennifer Mann and the videos by Paul Burston.

The artists authorize the publication and printing of these images with the following credits: for the photographs ‘Sculpture and photos by Jennifer Mann’ and for the videos ‘Sculpture by Jennifer Mann/Videos by Paul Burston’, all rights retained. Soon, copies of the bust of Saint Theresa will be available in the original dimensions, in bronze or resin. To order, please contact the Postulation General OCD.

P. Marco Chiesa

Postulator General OCD

 

 

 

The annual meeting of Carmelite Superiors of francophone Africa and Madagascar was held at Bangui from the 20th to the 24th January. For the first time, our meeting took place at the delegation of Central Africa, now blessed with forty brothers. We shared much on formation, which is a major point in our young African circumscriptions. The conference organized some time ago a ‘second novitiate’ for the future solemn professed brothers, and this year it launched online formation courses for formators. It is also appropriate to think now of permanent formation, in several different domains. Alongside our discussions, we were able to visit our brothers’ convent under construction, and have a memorable meeting with Cardinal Dieudonné Nazpalainga, archbishop of Bangui, who has worked productively with a Protestant pastor and an imam to prevent the civil war that has ravaged the country since 2013 from turning into a religious war.

On 13th February, 2005, Sister Lucie of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died at the Carmel of Saint Teresa at Coimbra. She was 97 years old, having spent 57 of them at the Carmel, during her long pilgrimage on this earth.

The event was marked by the brothers of the Portugal Province, with a large gathering at the Carmel of Coimbra. We firstly organized a joyful fraternal meeting of Carmelite brothers, sisters and seculars in the parlour of the Carmel. Then, Sister Angela Coelho, ASM, vice-postulatrice for the cause of Sister Lucie’s canonization, gave a conference in the chapel of the Carmel, entitled: ‘Sister Lucie, a life between the Serra d’Aire and Mount Carmel’. Indeed, Sister Lucie’s earthly pilgrimage – at times happy, at times very painful – took place between her time as a shepherdess at the Serra d’Aire and then her time as a Carmelite, ascending Mount Carmel, at Coimbra.

Later, at 6 o’clock, the Bishop of Coimbra, Mgr Virgilio Antunes, celebrated a commemorative Eucharist in the chapel of the monastery. Besides the Carmelite brothers and sister, there were other priests, religious brothers and sisters, as well as many of the faithful who participated.

It was a beautiful and joyful day of jubilee pilgrimage and our hearts opened, we decided to walk the long road of Yes, walking in the steps of the Lord.

Friday 31st January, 2025, saw the beginning of the School-Laboratory of online formation for formators, both current and future, organized by the Interprovincial OCDS Coordination of Italy.

During this first online meeting, more than 250 members of the Secular Order from the various Provinces, Semi-Provinces and Commissariats of the OCDS of Italy participated in the session.

In his Letter to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites on 15th August 2023, our Father General wrote: “Formation for the Secular Carmel is an essential and necessary element: «The central objective of the formation process in the Secular Order is to prepare the person to live out the charism and spirituality of the Carmel in his or her way of following Christ and for the service of his or her mission » (Const. 32). (…) The fundamental elements of the formation are the human, Christian and Carmelite dimensions.”

The four sessions of this first phase of the School focus especially on the human dimension of the formation.  Their goal is to offer basic principles, for the purpose of taking responsibility and accompanying the person in formation, so that the formator is enabled to welcome the person being formed with all his or her existential and formational baggage, while helping him or her to acquire a way of thinking, feeling and living that is impregnated by the Carmelite charism.

From the 27th to the 31st January 2025, 38 directors met at Bocca di Magra, at the spiritual centre of the Ligurian Province.  They came from 18 different European circumscriptions. : Austria, Italy, Malta, France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Czech Republic and Belgium, but there were also present formators from Lebanon, Egypt and the International Theological College of Rome.  The work focused on the revision of the projected new Ratio Institutionis.  It was a great and enriching opportunity for everyone to share their own experience of the formation process in an international context.

The formators also had an opportunity to visit the historical centre of Pisa for an afternoon.  This meeting of formators from Europe at Bocca di Magra was intense and fruitful, not only for the contributions to the production of the new Ratio Institutionis, but also through the reinforcement of fraternal connections, and the renewed commitment to the training and spiritual mission.

From the 27th to the 31st January, the Sisters of the Federation of the ‘Virgin of Carmel’ of Andalusia and Badajoz held their 15th Meeting. We held it once again, facing the sea, in the ‘Santa Maria de Regla’ Spiritual Centre of Chipiona (Cadiz), which belongs to the Franciscan Fathers.

We were fortunate to have the presence and fraternal accompaniment of our Father General Miguel Marquez and our Assistant, Father Gabriel Castro.

We were all one – and not just together – and so were able to share our life, our joys, our sorrows and our hopes . . . But above all, we expressed the hopes that help us to move forward in joy, with the luxury of having the Brothers who walk with us on our path. We also sought in sincerity and humility those little lights that God places for us so that we can adhere to what we believe to be His will. This enabled us to then proceed to elect the new federal President and Council.

We are all at your service, if you would do us the charity of praying for us.

 

 

On Friday, 6th February, the Holy Father named as Metropolitan Archbishop of Pisa Father Saverio Cannistra, OCD, former Prepositor General of Discalced Carmelites, and currently Vicar of the parish of Saint Pancras in Rome.

 

Curriculum vitae

 

Msgr. Saverio Cannistra, OCD, was born in Catanzaro on 3rd October 1958. After obtaining a licence in Romance philology at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, he worked as an editor at a publishing house. On 17th September, 1985, he entered the novitiate of the Discalced Carmelites of the Italian Province of Tuscany. He made his perpetual profession on 14th September, 1990, and was ordained as a priest on 24th October, 1992.

 

Among the positions he has occupied and studies he has pursued, we can list the following: Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome (1998); lecturer in Trinitarian Theology at the Pontifical Theology Faculty and Institute of Spirituality “Teresianum” in Rome (1995-2003); Professor of Christology and Theological Anthropology at the Theological Faculty of Central Italy in Florence (2003-2009). In 2007, he was elected member of the Council of the Presidency of the Italian Theological Association.

 

In his Province of Tuscany, he has been a provincial counsellor (1996-2002), master of postulants and students (1999-2008) and provincial (2008). He was Prepositor General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites from 2009 to 2021. He is a member of the presbyteral council of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Florence, and Vicar of the Parish of Saint Pancras in Rome.