Fifth day of the General Chapter – September 7, 2013 Today, following the request made by Pope Francis for people to fast and pray for peace, the chapter members decided upon forms of fasting and moments of prayer. The chapter members met in the main hall for the first session of the day. The theme of the day was, "Carmel in Mission, Windows of Hope". The session heard four presentations by different members of the Order, representing the four geographical areas. Fr. Boniface Kimondolo (Kenya) talked abo ...Continue Reading

Friday, September 6, 2013: The Fourth Day of the Chapter This day was dedicated to continuing our reflections on the Chapter Theme. In the morning, Michael Plattig, O.Carm., Professor of Spirituality at Münster University and a member of the German Province, presented, Living Charism and Mission for the Carmel: A Word of Hope and Salvation. He considered Carmelite Identity and Charism as the basis from which we can find words of hope and salvation for the world today. He said, “We Carmelites owe the Church the pr ...Continue Reading

Third day of the General Chapter – September 5, 2013 The work of the Chapter on the 5th of September began with the celebration of the Eucharist, led by Fr. Míceál O'Neill, O.Carm.. The Gospel of the day was a call to us to caste our nets out into the deep.  In the morning session, Fr. Miceal O'Neill and Fr. Francisco de Sales Alencar, O.Carm. gave a powerpoint presentation on the Chapter process and a summary of the responses from the provinces, commissariats and delegations to the questions contai ...Continue Reading

Second day of the General Chapter Day 2 of the General Chapter began with Mass led by Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm., the elected President of the Chapter.  During the day, the four General Councilors of the Regions of the Order, discussed their ministry over the past six years. Europe Fr. John Keating, O.Carm., described the reality of Europe where over half of the friars are over 70 years of age.  John identified the problems that include lack of mobility, challenging “comfort zones” and searching for vision ...Continue Reading

First Day of the General Chapter The 213th General Chapter of the Order of Carmelites opened in Il Carmelo in Sassone, Rome, Italy on Tuesday morning, September 3, 2013. 111 Friars from the five continents gathered representing nearly every country where the Carmelite Order has communities and ministers. The Chapter began with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, led by the Prior General, the Most Reverend Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm., and concelebrated by the members of the General Council. The Prior General welcomed a ...Continue Reading

VITAM COELO REDDIDERUNT Ortus P. Temp. P. Soll. Ord. 18-08-13 P. Norbert Heaslip, (Hib) 05-04-32 25-09-51 14-11-54 13-07-58 01-09-13 P. Lluís Bosch i Lloret, (Cat) 18-10-27 15-10-44 08-12-49 19-05-51 R.I.P. www.ocarm.org http://www.facebook.com/ocarm.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...Continue Reading

CAUSA NOSTRAE LETITIAE Augustus 2013 Initium Novitiatus 04-08-13 Adelbertus Zakarias Kasman (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Adelbertus Nenes (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Damianus Mete (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Arnoldus Yansen Le'u (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Fabianus Masi (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Fabianus Gatin Belang (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Gregorius Gajak Molan (Indo), Maumere, Flores, Indonesia 04-08-13 Gustav ...Continue Reading

Web page for the General Chapter has been updated The web page for the General Chapter 2013 has been updated. The address is: http://ocarm.org/capitulumgenerale2013/. On this page, available to all friars and other members of the Carmelite Family, is posted the special prayer for the Chapter along with the Instrumentum Laboris, also the schedule and other information. Updates will follow both before and during the Chapter. Please pray for the coming General Chapter, so that it may be really a time of grace for the wh ...Continue Reading

Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Porlamar, Isla Margarita, Venezuela The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Porlamar, Isla Margarita, Venezuela, was held 21 August 2013. The following were elected: Prioress:  Sr. Norma del Carmen Sánchez Mora, O.Carm. 1st Councilor:   Sr. Rosa Coromoto Pérez Ramírez, O.Carm. 2nd Councilor:  Sr. Mariela del Carmen León León, O.Carm. Director of Novices:  Sr. Ana Violeta Pereira Montilva, O.Carm. Treasurer: ...Continue Reading

Activities of the Prior General On the 17th August last the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm., together with Fr. Désiré Unen Alimange, O. Carm., General Councillor for Africa, participated in the Assembly of the Kenyan General Delegation (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), which was canonically erected on the 16th July 2010. Earlier during session 308 dated 14 June 2013 of the General Council Fr. Boniface Makau Kimondolo, O. Carm., was nominated General Delegate for the next three years. At ...Continue Reading