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    No. 2 – MARCH – APRIL 2000

    English Edition 


    CONTENTS

    ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL Meeting of Superiors General
    Other visits
    Visit to Burkina Faso, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Cameroon THE CAUSES OF CARMELITE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE NEW INDEX

    CARMELITE NUNS 
    Vetralla, Italy
    Rome, Italy
    Caudete (Albacete), Spain
    Saragozza, Spain CARMELITE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS Meeting of the superiors of the Congregation
    123rd Anniversary of the birth of Mother Crocifissa
    Important dates for the Congregation THE MISSIONARY FAMILY "DONUM DEI"
    Fifty years of blessings CARMELITE PUBLICATIONS

    NEWS IN BRIEF
    Newsletter of the Commissariat of the Antilles
    Meeting on the figure of the Prophet Elijah 
    "Zarepta" missionary project
    Seminar about Carmelite Prayer
    New parish centre
    Coming events UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS 

    CARMELITE MILESTONES

    CARMELITE NUNS IN THE WORLD: MONASTERY OF THE MOTHER OF GOD AND OF CARMEL





    God our Father,
    by raising Christ
    your Son,
    you conquered
    the power of death
    and opened for us
    the way to eternal life.
    Let our
    celebration today
    raise us up
    and renew our lives
    by the Spirit
    that is within us.




    Happy Easter to all the members
    of the Carmelite Family


     

    ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS
    OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

    Fr. Joseph Chalmers, Prior General

    At the beginning of February, a meeting with the theme "The Contribution of Carmel in the Third Millennium" was held for the Superiors General of all the Congregations affiliated to the Order. This meeting took place in Focene, at the retreat centre of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse (SCMTBG) near the Fiumicino airport in Rome. There were about thirty participants who represented the Philippines, United States, Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil, Spain, United Kingdom as well as Italy.

    I represented the Curia along with Fr. Gaspar Mondéjar, Vice General, and Fr. Anthony Scerri, Councillor General. To enlighten this week of study, Fr. Bruno Secondin (Ita) gave a talk entitled "The present understanding of the Carmelite Charism - How to place the charism at the service of the Church" and another by Mrs. Donna Orsuto, lecturer at the Gregorian University entitled "The renewal of the consecrated life: evaluation and prospects - New models of participation". We discussed, among other things, how we could work together as members of the Carmel-ite Family, to strengthen the bonds, which already exist among us.

    We all attended the jubilee Mass for con-secrated life celebrated by the Pope in St. Peter’s Square on 2 February. That day we celebrated Evening Prayer at CISA followed by dinner with the community. Later in the week, we visited the two communities in Florence and had the opportunity to meet many members of the Carmelite Family. The last meeting of the Generals of the affiliated Congregations was held in 1989. All the participants agreed that these should be held more often.

    As soon as the meeting with the superiors ended, Fr. Anthony Scerri and I visited the Carmelites in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

    Upon my return from Zimbabwe, I flew to Ireland and met Fr. Míceál O’Neill there. From 1 - 18 March we visited all the communities in Ireland, having a meeting with each community and talking with each friar individually. At the end of the visit, we met the priors of all the communities and finally the Provincial Council.
     

    Fr. Anthony Scerri, General Councillor

    My recent attention has been focussed on Africa where we are spreading and growing and where the Order has a great future. The following is a brief report of these recent activities.

    Frs. Ubaldo Pani (Ita), Rafael Leiva, Provincial of Bética, Eugenio Kaboré, Francisco Daza and Désiré Kouakou

    The reward of years of preparation with our brothers from Burkina Faso in the Betica Province came when on 17 January 2000 our first foundation of friars in that country was officially inaugurated with a Eucharistic celebration and blessing by bishop Anselme Sanon of Bobo Dioulasso. Present at this celebration, in the chapel of a house put at our disposal by the Donum Dei Missionary Family (FMDD), were the four missionaries, Frs. Francisco Daza, Ubaldo Pani (Ita), Eugène Kaboré and Désiré Kouakou, Fr. Rafael Leiva, Provincial of Betica, Fr. Tomàs Léon, his secretary, myself, on behalf of the General Council, and a few Missionary Workers (FMDD).

    The previous day was also a memorable occasion when, in the Cathedral of Bobo Dioulasso, bishop Sanon welcomed and presented the Carmelite missionaries to the people and the clergy of the diocese. The Carmelites were welcomed warmly by all, bishop, clergy and people.

    We are very grateful to the Missionary Workers for their support and preparations for the coming of the friars. Thanks to their zeal and effort, there are already nine young men who wish to enter the Order. We congratulate the missionary friars and wish them well for the future.

    From Burkina Faso I went to Liberia at the invitation of Bishop B. Dotu Sekey of the diocese of Gbarnga. Before the civil war (1990-1997), the Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters (CCC) had a foundation in the diocese of Cape Palmers, and thanks to them there are some young men interested in the Order. Now that peace has been restored, the sisters hope to return within the next couple of years.

    While in Gbarnga and in Accra (Ghana), I met three young men who are interested in the Order. There may be other interested young men in the diocese of Cape Palmers. The Corpus Christi Carmelites will inform me further of these. At present, together with the British Province, I am exploring the possibility of either a foundation in Liberia or of taking some candidates for formation. Your prayers for this project would be appreciated.

    In February, the Prior General, Fr. Joseph Chalmers, and myself made a fraternal visit of the brothers in Zimbabwe as part of the preparation for the Irish Provincial Chapter. We talked to the students and novices, had meetings with Fr. John McGrath, Provincial Commissary, and his Council, and, together with Fr. Robert Kelly, Irish Provincial, attended their Annual General Meeting held in Mutare on 18 February. The general picture that emerged from these encounters is one of optimism and hope for the future of the Zimbabwean Carmelites. Evident was the desire to further strengthen contemplation and community life in the Commissariat.

    This year there are three novices and twenty-five students. Brother Vitalis Benza is a deacon and will be ordained in August of this year. Vale Zimbabwe!

    From 15 – 17 February Fr. Joseph Chalmers and myself visited our brothers in Gorongosa, Mozambique. The overriding impression was that of the great joy of the three brothers from Pernambuco serving the mission there: Fr. Severino de Freitas, Fr. Telesforo Machado Calvacanti and Bro. Amilton Vidotto.

    Carmelite house in Mozambique

    It is wonderful to see what these brothers have accomplished in the short fifteen months since the beginning of the foundation in Gorongosa. They are solicitous for the needs and welfare of the people who are very poor. They have also restored several of the buildings of the mission which were in utter ruin as a result of the civil war. Much remains to be done and they need every assistance we can give. The brothers especially mentioned their need for publications in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian (their address is: Padres Carmelitas, C.P. 544, Missão de Gorongosa, Beira, Mozambique). The community is expecting a fourth member from Pernambuco who will probably join them in August of this year.

    The brothers are to be commended for their zeal and enthusiasm and congratulated for their achievements.

    Thanks to the good will of the Missionary Workers in M’Balmayo, there is a number of young men interested in the Order in Cameroon. In July 1998, at a meeting with Frs. Carlo Cicconetti, Italian Provincial, Tiberio Scorrano, Procurator of the Italian Province, Jean-Marie D’Undji, Provincial Commissary of the Congo, and myself, it was agreed that formators from the Congo would go to Cameroon to spend some time with these young men and discern with them their vocation. In spite of the war in the Congo and the difficulty that this means for travelling, our formators from the Congo have carried out their promise and now we have three Cameroonese candidates in the Congo. Recently Fr. Francois Alirac (Ita-Con) was in Cameroon for a month to accompany the many candidates still there.

    In August 1999, in Bamberg (Germany), another meeting was held with Frs. Carlo Cicconetti, Jean-Marie D’Undji, Anton Beemsterboer, Provincial of the Lower German Province, and myself. At this meeting it was agreed that the Lower German Province would be co-responsible for the project and provide financial support. Again, I request your prayers for this project.
     

    THE CAUSES OF CARMELITE SAINTS
    ACCORDING TO THE NEW INDEX

    Last December, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints presented a volume, which contains an up-to-date list, up to 1999, of the causes of beatification and canonisation being processed by the department. The Index is the list of the causes of beatification and canonisation: newly introduced, well advanced and already completed. The first edition goes back to 1890; the previous edition of 1988 was sold out long ago. The present volume presents the work done by the Congregation from 1588 (the year of the constitution by Sixtus V) to 1999.

    The preface, which contains important information on the history and procedure of the Causes of Saints, is followed by the first part of the new Index which lists 1,921 Causes, some at a standstill but which may be resumed at any time, and most in process. Here we give a brief account of the situation of the Causes of the Postulation General of our Order as they are noted in the Index of the Congregation. Apart from the Causes of the Servants of God who could be Canonised, there are also the Causes of the Venerables who have already been recognised as possessing heroic virtues and are waiting for a presumed miracle to be processed in order to be beatified. There are also the martyrs who in order to be beatified do not require a miracle. Other Causes are still in the diocesan examination phase.

    1. Servants of God

    a) At the diocesan examination level

    b) Causes at a standstill in the Congregation c) Cause at a standstill but which may be resumed
    Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Cagliari (Sardegna)
    Carmelite Saints, mosaic by Aligi Sassu

    d) Causes in the Congregation, which have completed the "Positio" and ready to be studied by theologians.

    2. Venerables 3. Blesseds

    The second part of the volume contains the list of the old blesseds or saints who obtained the confirmation of their cult before 1534. The total of these blesseds is 1430. A distinction is made between blesseds, whether martyrs or not, through normal procedure, and blesseds with approval of cult. Among these last a further distinction is made between those who are included in the liturgical calendar and those who were eliminated from the liturgical calendar.

    With approval of cult

    a) Those listed in the Calendar of the Order:

    b) Excluded from the Calendar: The third part lists the actual blesseds which number 1712, beginning from 1609 to 1999. Those proclaimed from the beginning of the Congregation to Paul VI number 808, those proclaimed by John Paul II number 904 (groups of martyrs contributed to this high number of blesseds). 4. Saints

    The final section of the Index deals with canonised saints from the foundation of the Congregation until today. There are 591 saints: 296 were canonised from the time of Clement VIII (1594) to Paul VI, and 295 were canonised by John Paul II, among whom are 103 Korean martyrs.


    CARMELITE NUNS

    This year again the Carmel of Vetralla promoted the eleventh Day of Hebrew-Christian Dialogue. On the morning of 17 January, the nuns experienced the strong ties, which join us to Hebraism when they invited Fr. Giuseppe Sorani of the Orioniti Fathers, Hebrew, priest and exegete, for a colloquy with the community. As soon as he met the community, Fr. Giuseppe said: "Do you know what my impression is when I enter a Carmel? I find myself in the land of Israel… hence at home".

    During his colloquy, Fr. Sorani associated the vocation of the Hebrew people with that of Carmel: "Is it not true that your Order is bound to the prophet Elijah, who on Carmel defended the covenant with and the holiness of the living God? Is it not from Elijah that you have inherited the burning zeal to love the Lord and to proclaim the one only God? This too is the vocation of Israel. Think of the great gift that God has allowed you to share in – and he has only given it to you – of the unique and unrepeatable call to his people. From that moment on Israel and Carmel are united in one vocation". Fr. Sorani continued to develop the theme by a careful reading of the documents of the Magisterium and of the Carmelite Rule, which, in paragraph 19, recalls Lev 10,27 and Deut 6,5, that is the Shemà Israel.

    In the afternoon, before going to the conference in Viterbo, Rabbi Prof. Vittorio Della Rocca visited the community.

    The first meeting of chaplains and delegates to the Carmelite nuns took place from 17 to 21 January 2000 at the General Curia. According the Prior General’s letter of last February sent to the nuns, the aim of the meeting was "to examine our role in the Carmelite Family and to begin with you a process of greater and more open collaboration".

    One of the points discussed during these days was the experience of the federation of monasteries in Spain. The Prior General affirmed that "the monasteries which have joined in a federation seem to have had a very good experience and this is something which the other monasteries could consider very carefully. There seem to be many advantages from federations because they provide a broader opportunity for initial and on-going formation, and greater flexibility because monasteries can help each other especially in moments of major difficulties. All these and other advantages can accrue without diminishing the autonomy of the individual monasteries".

    The meeting provided a very rich experience for all the participants who came from Italy, Spain, Holland, the United States, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Peru, Indonesia and the Philippines, together with several members of the General Council.

    On 14-15 February 2000, the Elective Chapter of the community was held in the monastery Sagrado Corazon de Jesùs y Virgen de Gracia in Caudete (Albacete). The diocesan Delegate for Religious, Fr. Vidal Martínez, presided at the Chapter. The results of the voting were as follows:
    Prioress – Sr. Mª Llanos Rodríguez Callejas
    First Councillor – Sr. Mª Estela Santos Torres
    Second Councillor – Sr. Mª Patrocinio Marco Fernández
    Third Councillor and Mistress of Novices – Sr. Mª Gloria Iborra Lledó
    Fourth Councillor – Sr. Mª Elena Ballester Ballester
    Bursar – Sr. Mª Pilar Cotanda Álvaro
    Sacristan – Sr. Mª Josefina Marco Navarro
    The Mater Unitatis Federation of Carmelite nuns of the Provinces of Arago-Valentina and Castille, organised a Course of Initial Formation for the year 2000. The programme will take place in the monastery of Saragozza from 1 to 19 May.

    The programme of formation in the new RATIO envisages three areas:

    A Course of On-going formation has also been organised and will take place from 11 to 29 September 2000.
    First week: "Community animation"
    Second week: "The Prophets"
    Third week: "Elijah in the Order" led by Fr. Antonio Ruiz (Baet).
    Also every trimester Fr. Alberto Yubero (Arag), Assistant for the Carmelite nuns of the Federation, will visit each community to give a course on the history, doctrine and spirituality of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi. The course will be based on a book entitled "Extasis, amor y renovación" of the same Fr. Yubero, published by BAC (Biblioteca Autori Cristiani).
     

    CARMELITE MISSIONARY SISTERS
    OF ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS

    The General Council of the SCMTBG Congregation held a meeting of the Councils of the Provinces and the Delegations at Santa Marinella (Rome) from 13 to 18 February 2000. The theme of the meeting was "Meaningful relations to bring about communion". Those present were the superiors of the Province of "Mary Mother of Carmel" (Italy-Malta), of the Province of "St. Thérèse of Lisieux" (Brazil), of the Delegation "St. Joseph" (Canada), of the Delegation "St. Teresina" (Tanzania) and of the Delegation "Father Lorenzo" (Philippines).

    Some significant moments of the meeting were:

    During these days, the sisters called to the service of authority in the SCMTBG Congregation were able to reflect and dialogue in order to known better their call and to consolidate a common commitment to the service of the sisters of the Congregation. This commitment was communicated to those present at the end of the meeting in a message sent to all the communities. On Sunday 30 January 2000, on the occasion of the 123rd Anniversary of the birth of Mother Crocifissa, the little town of Ispica (Italy) commemorated the foundress of the Congregation with many activities. Beside the group of Third Order Carmelites of the city who promoted the celebration, there were also representatives of the city administration and many citizens of Ispica. Present also were two Councillors representing the Superior General and almost all of the Carmelite sisters of the community in Sicily.


    THE MISSIONARY FAMILY
    "DONUM DEI"

    Fifty years ago, on 11 February 1950, Fr. Marcel Roussel Galle started the Missionary Workers with 8 young Parisian girls. Full of missionary zeal, through virgins wholly dedicated to God, Fr. Marcel wanted to evangelise the crowds who were far from the divine love. Heeding the call of Pius XII in the Encyclical Fidei Donum, the family founded by him soon became missionary and went out to the five continents (in 1958 in Africa, in 1960 in Asia and Latin America, in 1965 in Oceania).

    They started their apostolic endeavours in rather difficult environments: factories, bars, hospitals, schools, with prostitutes. Fr. Marcel was greatly moved by the fourth chapter of St. John’s Gospel and thus he started restaurants called l’Eau Vive, as places of evangelisation. In 1981, because of the crisis which hit families hard, the Founder understood that evangelisation had to begin with the family: a mother must become the apostle of her family, must seek to involve her husband, her children, and so her whole family becomes missionary in the environment where they live and work. Soon these and other families formed the second branch of the Missionary Family, which then definitively acquired the name of Missionary Family "Donum Dei" (FMDD).

    On the night of 15-16 February 1984, the Founder received the inspiration of affiliating his spiritual Family to the Order of Carmel and to base its whole mission on the spirit of Little Thérèse and Carmel. Three years later, on 22 February 1987, Fr. John Malley, the then Prior General, signed the decree recognising the Missionary Family "Donum Dei" as member of the Carmelite Lay Third Order.


    Members of the Missionary Family "Donum Dei" together with the bishop from Burkina Faso

    To celebrate these fifty years of blessings, on 13 February 2000, Fr. Redemptus Valabek, O.Carm., celebrated a solemn Mass at St. Albert’s International Centre (Rome). A bishop from Burkina Faso as well as many priests concelebrated the Mass. Those present were Miss. Marie-Joseph Perriot Comte, the General Responsible, the General Councillors, many members and sympathisers of the Missionary Family "Donum Dei". To conclude the celebration, refreshments were served accompanied by songs, dances and performances.
     

    CARMELITE PUBLICATIONS

    Books:

    50 Años de fundación - Familia Misionera Donum Dei, L'Eau Vive del Peru, Lima, 2000, pp. 16.

    ALBERTAZZI, Alessandro, Il cominciare ed il finire sarà tutto suo, Suore carmelitane delle Grazie, Bologna, 1999, pp. 128.

    Directory of the British Province - January 2000, The Province of Our Lady of the Assumption, 2000, pp. 20.

    GROSSO, Giovanni, Il Carmelo, un cammino . . . una meta, Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2000, pp. 32

    Il Carmelo in Italia - 2000 Anno Santo, Centro Sampa Carmelitana, Roma, 2000, pp. 192.

    LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael Maria, carmelita, ¡Madre, María! Así fue tu vida, AMACAR, Onda, [2000], pp. 238.

    OCD 2000: Direcciones-Addresses-Adresses-Indirizzi, Casa Generalizia dei Carmelitani Scalzi, Roma, [2000], pp. 229.

    Una Iglesia en marcha con el pueblo - Prelatura de Sicuani: 40 años 1959-1999, (Coordinador: Franz Riedel), Centro de Estudios y Publicaciones (CEP), Lima, 1999, pp. 314.

    Vida de Unión con María, Por los venerables carmelitas del siglo XVII: Miguel de San Agustín - Maria de Santa Teresa Petyt, AMACAR, Onda, [2000], pp. 231.

    Calendars 2000:

    Calendario Carmelitano 2000: Il Grande Giubileo. Eventi della storia della Chiesa nel secolo XX, Centro Stampa Carmelitana, Roma, Italia.

    Video cassettes:

    Courage to Build Anew - The Return of the Carmelites to Aylesford, Pilgrim Productions Canterbury Ltd., United Kingdom, 2000.
    This thirty-minute-long video celebrates the 50th anniversary of the return of the Carmelites in Aylesford and presents their work today and their hopes for the future. Brothers of the British Province who take part in this documentary are Joseph Chalmers, Wilfrid McGreal, John Berridge and Laurence Frost.

    -------------------------

    N.B. For inclusion of publications and other information in this list, CITOC requests that a copy of the new publication and a short notice about its content be sent to: CITOC, Curia Generalizia dei Carmelitani, Via Giovanni Lanza 138, 00184 - Rome, Italy.

    With regard to the Carmelite Library, another copy should be sent to: The Carmelite Library, Via Sforza Pallavicini 10, 00193 - Rome, Italy. Publications for review in CARMELUS: A copy should be sent to: The Book Review Editor, CARMELUS, Via Sforza Pallavicini 10, 00193 - Rome, Italy.


    "Let 
    your light shine 
    before 
    all people 
    so that 
    they may see 
    your good works
    and glorify 
    your Father 
    who is 
    in heaven." 

    (Matt 5,16)

    		  

    THANKS

    We wish to thank all those who heard the appeal made in CITOC of November-December 1999 to send Carmelite materials concerning our mission and activity (news, photos, cards, pictures, prints, books and brochures of houses, churches, saints, Carmelite coats of arms, audio and video cassettes, CDs, etc.). 

    With your collaboration not only were CITOC and our web site enriched but also all those who come into contact with these means of communication and who are interested in all things Carmelite!

    The Editor of CITOC

     
    NEWS IN BRIEF

    Last February, after some years of silence, a new information bulletin, Carmelitas en las Antillas, of the Provincial Commissariat of the Antilles (Arag) appeared. The format of this number is simple but attractive, and beside news of meetings and events, which took place recently in the Commissariat, it also informs us of a "Meeting of chroniclers of convents"! As far as we know, this type of meeting is a first for our Order. The meeting was held on 11 January 2000 and lays down criteria for each chronicle, that is, it must be objective, sincere, edifying, community oriented, and above all constant. We wish the editors of the bulletin much energy and many years of service to the whole of the Carmelite Family. Saturday and Sunday, 5-6 February 2000, a meeting on the figure of the Prophet Elijah took place in the church of the Sandro Pertini Hospital (Rome), patron of the Hospital. The programme for Saturday included a conference "Elijah Prophet: the man of God, of the people, of dialogue", a painting and art exhibition, the handing of awards of merit to volunteers and a closing cocktail party. The activities continued on Sunday with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by Cardinal Tonin, the blessing of the statue of the Prophet Elijah, the entrusting of the Hospital and all the hospital family to the Prophet Elijah. The programme was organised in collaboration with Fr. Carmelo Vitrugno (Ita), chaplain of the Hospital, Fr. Stanislaus Wisocki and the Volunteers of Elijah. "Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when Yahweh sends rain on the face of the earth." With this biblical citation from the cycle of Elijah, the Delegate for the Missions of the Province of Betica, Fr. Luis Ruano, recently launched the "Zarepta" project, which is meant to help thousands of poor children. The appeal asks those who wish to participate in the project to contribute 3.000 pesetas a month (that is, about 55 cents a day). This contribution will be used for clothing, food and medical assistance for the children. The project has the support of Karit, the Carmelite NGO in Spain. This NGO has, in the past, supported many other projects in the missions where Carmelite religious men and women are working. Those who wish to collaborate in this project may contact Fr. Luis Mª Ruano Ramirez, O.Carm., PP. Carmelitas, Plaza del Buen Suceso 5, 41004 Seville, Spain. The Centre for Spirituality at Saint Mary's College (USA) is organising a seminar on Carmelite Spiritua1ity with the theme "Carmelite Prayer". This year's seminar honours Fr. Ernest E. Larkin (PCM), a pioneer in the study and dissemination of Carmelite Spirituality. On Friday of the seminar Fr. Larkin will lecture, followed by the celebration of Eucharist, a reception and testimonial banquet.

    Lectures, workshops, common prayer and daily Eucharist will constitute the days of this one-week seminar during which prayer, study, community and solitude serve as a time aside to one's life, prayer and commitments and to discover new directions with the help of the Carmelite Forum's presentations on Carmelite Prayer. The Centre for Spirituality welcomes laity, religious and clergy of all faiths. The seminar begins with Eucharist at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, 18 June and concludes at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, 24 June 2000. For further information and registration please contact: Centre for Spirituality, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5001, USA. Tel. 219/284-4636.

    On 12 March 2000, the Archbishop of Valladolid, José Delicado Baeza, inaugurated the new parish centre and blessed the church in the Parish of Our Lady of Henar. The parish is in the care of the Carmelites of the Castillian Province. According to the information received, the new Parish Centre will be used to celebrate the faith and the sacraments, to express love towards the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Henar, to live the Gospel as a human and Christian project, to share in human and Christian solidarity spiritual and material means. 23 July – 10 August 2000
    International meeting of Carmelites in Initial Formation – Israel.

    14 – 16 September 2000
    Meeting of Provincial Bursars – St. Albert’s International Centre, Rome, Italy.

    22 October – 10 November 2000
    International On-going Formation Course – Sassone, Italy.
    Theme: The two inspirational figures in Carmelite life – Elijah and Mary.

    8 January – 4 February 2001
    International Course for Carmelite Formators – Mount Carmel, Israel.
     

    UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND
    TELEPHONE NUMBERS

    Addresses of new houses

    Betica Province
    Pères Carmes, "Carmel", 01 B.P. 2189, Bobo Dioiasso 01, Burkina Faso. Tel. (+226) 982581.

    Hermanas Carmelitas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
    C/ Vigario, N° 3, Entre Corral Falso y Barreto, Guanabacoa, La Havana 11, Cuba.

    Upper German Province
    Carmel Ashram, Alathur – 678541, Palakkad DT., India. Tel. 0492-222093
    Mt. Carmel Monastery, Vandanmed – 685551, Idukki DT., India. Tel. 0486-870290 (group dialling No. from Ernakulam Dist: 918)

    Change in addresses

    Upper German Province
    Comunidade Carmelitana, Cx. Postal 1251, Rua Omilio M. Soares 847, 80011-970 Curitiba, PR Brazil.

    St. Elias American Province
    Mount Carmel Hermitage, R.R.1, Box 330C, Bolivar, Pennsylvania 15923, U.S.A. Tel. (724) 2380423.

    New phone / fax numbers

    Cloistered Nuns
    Carmelite Cloistered Nuns, Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, P.O. Box 2486, Machakos, Kenya. Tel & Fax: (+254) 145-20725

    Rio de Janeiro Province
    Provincial Bursar, Comunidade Carmelitana, Rua Morais e Vale 111, Lapa, 20021-260 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Fax (021) 2247708

    New e-mail addresses

    Italian Province
    Campagna, Francesco 
    Castoro, Eliseo
    Zappatore, Lucio Maria 
    Santuario Maria SS.ma, Trapani    		 <cmpciccio@libero.it>
    <castelis@libero.it>
    <zaplum@libero.it>
    <trapaniannunziata@libero.it>

    Missionary Family "Donum Dei"
    Travailleuses Missionaires, Domremy, France <t.m.domremy@wanadoo.fr>

    St. Albert's International Centre - Rome
    Waite, David
    Biblioteca carmelitana    		 <dwaite@ocarm.org>
    <biblioteca@ocarm.org>

    Arago-Valentine Province
    Aisa, Fructuoso
    Gómez, Carmelo
    Monreal Pujante, Jesús
    Comunidad Carmelita, Morovis    		 <fructuosoaisa@wanadoo.es>
    <vcaminoz@planalfa.es>
    <monrealocarm@yahoo.com>
    <morovisocarm@prtc.net>

    Indonesian Province
    Agung Wahyudianto, Augustinus 
    Mame, Paskalis 
    Pandiangan, Beslon Hilarius     		 <agungmax@hotmail.com>
    <paschal@catholic.org>
    <beslonp@hotmail.com>

    Irish Province
    Nolan, Simon <simonnolan@webworld.ie>

    Betica Province
    Osuna, Spain <carmelosuna@hotmail.com>

    Cloistered Nuns
    Guiguinto, Philippines
    Seville, Spain    		 <CarmelGUI@digitelone.com>
    <ueio581556600@eurociber.es>

    The General Curia - Rome
    Murciano, Pedro <pmurciano@ocarm.org>

    Domus Carmelitana St. Albert of Jerusalem
    Domus Carmelitana, Rome <casa-s.alberto@libero.it>

    Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria
    Caracas, Venezuela <carmelitasmc@etheron.net>

    Irish Province
    Kelly, Des <dkelly56@yahoo.com>

    PCM American Province
    Bacigalupo, Miguel
    Bombilla, Miguel Angel
    Crowley, Alan
    Llerena, Juan Carlos
    Ontiveros, Roy 
    Rivero, Eduardo    		 <bacci_lupo@yahoo.com>
    <mbombilla@latinmail.com>
    <alancrowleyocarm@webtv.net>
    <jllerena@latinmail.com>
    <royontiveros@worldnet.att.net>
    <edurivero85@latinmail.com>

    Neapolitan Province
    Pagliara, Cosimo <copagliara@libero.it>

    Lower Germany Province
    Rickelen, Lorenz van <brlorenz@uni-muenster.de>

    St. Elias American Province
    Mount Carmel Retreat Center (Williamstown) <Mount_Carmel@mailcity.com>

    Dutch Province
    Buenafe, Christian
    Exala, Christopher
    Jaranilla, Cerineo T.
    Reforeal, Esmeraldo     		 <O.Carm-toots@mcc.cebu.amanet.net>
    <chex50@hotmail.com>
    <jaranilla@yahoo.com>
    <resmeraldo@yahoo.com>

    Hermanas de la Virgen María del Monte Carmelo
    Hermanas Carmelitas, Malang, Indonesia  <hcarmindo@telkom.net>

    (N.B. For an update list of all Carmelite e-mail addresses see page http://www.ocarm.org/citoc.news/emailadd.htm)

    New Web sites
    Santuario Parrocchia Maria SS.ma Annunziata, Trapani
    http://digilander.iol.it/trapaniannunziata/

    Karmel v Ceské republice
    http://www.karmel.cz

    Therese of Lisieux
    http://indigo.ie/~sttheres/

    Mount Carmel Retreat Center
    http://mount_carmel.tripod.com/index.htm
     

    CARMELITE MILESTONES

    Novices

    11 February 2000
    Michael Mwale (Hib-Zim)
    Christopher Chifamba (Hib-Zim)
    Munyaradzi Tairowodza (Hib-Zim)

    Simple Professions

    22 January 2000
    Amblisio Mapuranga (Hib-Zim)
    Abraham Thomas (Hib-Zim)
    Munashe Njombo (Hib-Zim)
    Dom Tafadzwa Murenjekwa (Hib-Zim)
    Gabriel Farai Mandaza (Hib-Zim)
    Erasmus Masitera (Hib-Zim)

    26 February 2000
    Abel Augusto Galcerano (Cast-Arg)
    Eduardo Andrés Agosta (Cast-Arg)
    José Ernesto Torres (Cast-Arg)
    Atilio Rosales (Cast-Arg)

    25 Years Simple Profession

    11 June 2000
    Thomas Zalewski (SEL)

    29 June 2000
    Rosalía de Jesús Leon García (SEV)

    50 Years Simple Profession

    3 May 2000
    Joseph (Leo.) Lütke Glanemann (GerS)

    16 May 2000
    John (Francis) Hynes (Aust)
    Anne van Deelen (AMS)

    27 May 2000
    M. Paola Basta (VET)

    4 June 2000
    Eufrosina Hernandez Gonzalez (VAL)

    7 June 2000
    M. Maddalena Damia Paciarini (CAE)

    Diaconate Ordinations

    18 December 1999
    Jaison Kuthanapally (Indi)
    George Kattakayath (Indi)
    Philip Nirappel (Indi)
    Thomas Thalachira (Indi)
    Charles Kuzhinjalil (Indi)

    30 January 2000
    Agostinho Marques de Castro (Lus)

    29 February 2000
    Frasiskus Eli Heri Harianto (Indo)
    Agusto Sampaio da Costa (Indo)
    Lukas Jokoprasetyo (Indo)
    Agustinus Sutiono (Indo)
    Yohanes Don Bosco Djawa (Indo)
    Sixtus Leonard Berth Bhary (Indo)
    Raineldis Danrisman Sitanggang (Indo)
    Antonius Manik (Indo)
    Antonius Denny Sulistiono (Indo)
    Yosef Arnoldus Devanto (Indo)

    Priestly Ordinations

    25 March 2000
    Michelangelo Pellegrino (Neap)

    25 Years Priestly Ordination

    4 May 2000
    Helmut (Helmut) Janyga (GerI)

    17 May 2000
    Robert Wolfe (PCM)

    24 May 2000
    Gregory Klein (PCM)

    31 May 2000
    Robert Boley (PCM)
    Michael O'Keefe (PCM)

    6 June 2000
    Adam Rusek (Pol)

    28 June 2000
    Manuel (Elías) Gonzalez Lopez (Arag)
    Ramón Gisbert Conejero (Arag)

    29 June 2000
    Henricus Post (Neer)

    50 Years Priestly Ordination

    18 May 2000
    Vito (Alberto) Frappampina (Neap)

    6 June 2000
    Philip Nessinger (PCM)
    John Fogarty (PCM)
    Gerald Heinen (PCM)
    Thomas Walsh (PCM)
    Stephen (Stanley) Kromer (PCM)
    Thomas Butler (PCM)

    Necrology

    23 December 1999
    Matthias Geurts (Neer)

    27 January 2000
    Alice Cruz (PAR)

    14 February 2000
    Sixtus Scholtens (Neer)

    17 February 2000
    Nicola Marinangeli (Ita)

    28 February 2000
    Cirilo Alleman (Lus)

    10 March 2000
    Giovanni Jascone (Ita)
     

    CARMELITE NUNS IN THE WORLD

    MONASTERY OF
    THE MOTHER OF GOD AND OF CARMEL

    Address: C. Dr. Hysern
    17820 Banyoles (Girona)
    Spain.

    Diocese: Girona
    History:

    The foundation of this monastery is one of those events where the hand of God is clearly evident. It was completed without material means or help from important people, by a simple religious woman who was outside the cloister of another Roman Carmelite monastery sacked by the masons during the papacy of Pius IX.

    The founding Mother, Mª del Carmen de S. Juan de la Cruz, was born in Barcelona (Spain) on 12 October 1819. She was baptised Juana B. in the cathedral. Her parents were Antonio de Garcia, colonel in Spanish army, and Maria Martori. At the age of three Juana lost her mother and her father entrusted her to the care of one of his sisters, a Carmelite religious in one of the monasteries in Rome. The child grew in the shade of those holy walls, without any preoccupation other than that of giving herself entirely to Jesus.

    At the age of fifteen, she asked to take the habit of Carmel and was given the name of Sr. Mª del Carmen de San Juan de la Cruz. Because of the turmoil and troubles in Italy in 1848, the nuns were dispersed. Pope Pius IX gave authority in writing for these nuns to found monasteries of the Order wherever they might happen to be. Sr. Mª del Carmen went to Barcelona (Spain), to the province of Girona. She met and spoke to Joaquín Masmitjá, Capitular Vicar of the diocese asking him to indicate to her a suitable place for a Carmelite foundation. The Vicar, who already intended to found a Congregation by the name of Heart of Virgin Mary, sent her to Olot. There, for a time, she gave herself with great dedication in helping the new Congregation. But, following her strong desire to found a Carmelite monastery, she left the Congregation and accompanied by Sr. Mª Dolores del Sagrado Corazón she went to the bishop of Girona to ask his advice. After some failed attempts in Tordera and then in Besalú, permission was given to the two sisters to found a monastery in Banyoles, on condition that they ran a school for children, because the civil laws at the time forbade the founding of new monasteries unless the religious were engaged in activities of public benefit. With this commitment, the two religious were well received by the authorities and the people of Banyoles.

    In 1860 they established themselves in East Banyoles, in a house called Hospital Vell, where there was a chapel dedicated to St. Roc. The following year the first novice took her vows, Sr. Dolores Mundet, the same religious who accompanied her when she left the Congregation in Olot. Soon other young girls joined them: Sr. Mª Serafina de San Eliseo and Sr. Mª Elias de San Angelo.

    After some years of formation, the Canon of Girona, Luis Puig de la Bellacasa, at the risk of losing the foundation, finally obtained permission for the two novices to be professed. The same Canon offered them a house with a small garden to which they transferred on 8 April 1867.

    In 1872 the community was made up of four religious. Because of this, the Bishop of Girona, Constantino Bonet, accorded them episcopal clausura, giving them special Constitutions, which were approved by Bishop Tomás Sivilla. From then on, supported by Mons. José Ferrer, there were so many vocations that the church and the monastery became too small. They acquired some lands, and on 16 July 1884 the first stone was blessed and the present church was built. It was open to public cult on 14 May 1887. The monastery was built the following years and the nuns transferred there on 15 July 1898.

    In June 1907, after several requests and a great deal of waiting, the community received the letter of aggregation to the Carmelite Order as cloistered Third Order Regular nuns, with the Rule of St. Albert and the Constitutions approved by the Congregation for Religious on 16 July 1935. Then, according to a report of the prioress, Sr. Mª del Pilar de San Miguel, the community numbered 23 professed nuns, 11 novices, 6 lay sisters and 2 aspirants.

    In 1960 the nuns celebrated the first centenary of this holy monastery. In spite of the critical financial situation of the monastery, with the advice of Fr. B. Xiberta (Cat), the nuns did what the apostles did, with faith they threw the net on the side of Jesus. The gem of the centenary was a Holy Mass celebrated by the Prior General, Fr. Kilian Healy.

    At present there are 10 nuns in the community.
     
     

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