St. Joseph - Middletown, NY (USA)St. Joseph, Principal Protector of the OrderMarch 19th | SolemnityThe Carmelites' Promotion of Devotion to St. JosephFrom the 17th century to the present day, there have been countless Carmelite churches and monasteries dedicated to St. Joseph. The credit for this widespread devotion is due above all to St. Teresa of Jesus.The teachings of St. Teresa are reflected in the work on St. Joseph by Jerónimo Gracián and, after him, many other authors of the Reform as well. The pre ...Continue Reading

Elective Chapter Held in Carmelite Monastery "San Miguel" in Huesca, Spain On the morning of March 17, 2026, the Carmelite monastery of San Miguel in Huesca, Spain held its triennial elective chapter. The nuns prayed for a renewed leadership and spiritual life through the conversion of their hearts to the love of God. After celebrating the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, the nuns began the elective chapter with the election of the prioress.The monastery was founded by the Carmelite Peter Sobrino in t ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Let Him Go Free5th Sunday of LentThe final of the three great Gospels of Lent is ours today - a Gospel story of life and freedom. Like the Gospels of the last two Sundays, the dramatic story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead is a story of love, faith and belief.In this Gospel Jesus proclaims himself ‘the resurrection and the life’. We see him deeply moved by the death of his friend. We find him in earnest prayer with God. We see him full of strength as he commands Lazarus to come out ...Continue Reading

Elective Chapter Held in Carmelite Monastery "St. Joseph" in Palangkaraya, IndonesiaThe Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph in Palangkaraya, Indonesia, celebrated its elective chapter on March 12, 2026. During the Chapter only the prioress and two councilors were elected. The procurator, novice director, and sacristan will be elected by the prioress and her council (General Directory, no 90) in the near future.The monastery was founded by five nuns from the Carmelite monastery in Batu (Jawa-Timur) on July 16, 19 ...Continue Reading

CAUSA NOSTRAE LAETITIAEPROFESSIO TEMPORANEA*12-12-25  Maria Lorna Joseph Pegenia (BUR) Burgos, PhilippinesORDINATIO DIACONALIS*20-12-25  Francu Laurentiu (Ital-Rom) Jesi, Italia06-02-26  José Ricardo da Silva Oliveira (Pern) Escada, BrasilORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS*04-01-26  Kanyoro Biarukanga Clément (Ital-Cong) Nioka, RDCongo 02-02-26  Candido Augusto Vida (Pern) Petrolina, Brasil 21-02-26  Luiz Otávio Sebastião da Silva (Pern) Escada, BrasilORDINATIO EPISCOPA ...Continue Reading

  OCARM-OCD General Councils Meet in Rome to Discuss a Variety of Mutual InterestsOn March 12, 2026, the two General Councils, OCARM and OCD, met at the General House of the Discalced Carmelites. It was a relaxed occasion marked by fraternal dialogue. After praying the Third Hour, each member of the Council was introduced. The General Secretaries, Fr. Giampiero Molinari, O. Carm., and Angelo Lanfranchi, OCD, prepared the agenda:1. Report on the OCARM General Chapter. (Malang, Indonesia, September 9–26, 2025). ...Continue Reading

  Prior General's Schedule for March 2026Fr. Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of March 2026:*March 5-19, 2026*: General Council Plenary Sessions, Rome*March 10, 2026*: Participation in the Chapter of the /Congregazione Suore Carmelitane Missionarie di S. Teresa del Bambino Gesù /(Santa Marinella)March 12, 2026: Meeting of the General Councils of OCARM and OCD (OCD General Curia)March 14-15, 2026: Episcopal ordinat ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Journey Into the Light4th Sunday of LentIn this Sunday’s Gospel we accompany the man who was born blind on his journey into the light. The first thing we read in the full version of this Gospel is that Jesus announces that the man is sinless – he has been born blind so that God’s glory can be seen at work in him. Then Jesus gives the blind man sight. Notice that the man didn’t ask to be healed – this is Jesus’ initiative, taking the first step and reaching out in love. That’s how Jesus approaches us ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Come and Drink3rd Sunday of LentThe Gospels of the first two Sundays describe what Lent is about and what Christian life is about: a constant journey from temptation and doubt to transfiguration and faith; a journey away from allowing ourselves to be tempted to evil and towards allowing ourselves to be tempted to good by the action of God’s Holy Spirit within us.The Gospels of the next three Sunday make clear that the Way from temptation to transfiguration is in and through Jesus Christ who is Livin ...Continue Reading

*Philippine Province of St. Titus Brandsma Holds 5th Chapter to Elect New Leadership *The 5th Chapter of the Philippine Province of St. Titus Brandsma was held from February 23-27, 2026, at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila. Sixty-four professed members serving in the Philippines, as well as missionaries assigned in Papua New Guinea, Canada, and the Netherlands, participated. Animated by the theme “Vessels of Hope: Listening Hearts and Serving Hands as Contemplatives in the World,” the gatherin ...Continue Reading