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    No. 4 – JULY – AUGUST 2000

    English Edition 


     

    CONTENTS


    ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL 
    Year 2001: Marian Year
    Provincial Chapters
    Chapter of the North American Province of St. Elias
    Chapter of the Polish Province
    Fraternal visits 
    Formation
    Liturgical Commission 

    THE ASIAN MISSION OF THE AMERICAN PROVINCE OF ST. ELIAS 

    EDITH STEIN MAY BE PROCLAIMED DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

    CARMELITE CLOISTERED NUNS 

    NATIONAL CONVENTIONS OF LAY CARMELITES
    The Philippines
    Italy
    United States

    ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA AND ST. THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX MODELS FOR PRIESTS 

    JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS AT ST. ELIAS COLLEGE, MALTA 

    UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS

    CARMELITE PUBLICATIONS

    CARMELITE MILESTONES

    CARMELITE NUNS AROUND THE WORLD: MONASTERY OF THE PRESENTATION OF MOST HOLY MARY




     
     
     
     

    Happy 
    Feast
    to all 
    members 
    of the 
    Carmelite 
    Family

     


    (Carmelite church, Castellina, Florence, Italy.)


     

     

    		  O God, who have honoured 
    the Order of Carmel
    with the glorious title
    of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
    Mother of your Son,
    grant that we who celebrate 
    her solemn commemoration,
    strengthened by her help, 
    may attain
    the peak of the mountain 
    who is Christ the Lord.   (Collect of the Mass, 16 July)

     

    ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS
    OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

    Fr. Joseph Chalmers, Prior General

    In the middle of May 2000, the General Council held a plenary meeting. On 16 May, feast of St. Simon Stock, I declared a Marian Year for the Order next year to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the traditional date of receiving the Scapular. I wrote to the Provincials about a number of initiatives planned at the level of the General Council and it is my hope that each sector of the Order will also celebrate this event in a fitting manner. Towards the end of the month I attended the Polish Chapter in Krakow with Fr. Míceál O’Neill, and the Chapter of the La Bruna Commissariat in Carmine Maggiore with Fr. Alexander Vella. In between the two Chapters, there was a celebration with the "Donum Dei" Missionary Family on 28 May when 16 members made their first commitment in the Third Order and three received the Scapular.

    I returned to Rome from Naples at the beginning of June and celebrated the Mass for the closing of the academic year at CISA. Then I made the short trip to Sassone, with Fr. Alexander Vella, to attend the Provincial Chapter of the Italian Province. This was quickly followed by the Upper German Chapter held in Springiersbach and the Irish Chapter in Gort Muire. At both of these Chapters I was accompanied by Fr. Míceál O’Neill.

    At the beginning of July, I went to Indonesia for the Provincial Chapter in Malang (Java). Before the Chapter, which began at the end of July, Fr. Anthony Scerri and I visited some of the Carmelite communities in Flores and East Timor.
     

    Fr. Míceál O'Neill, General Councillor

    An average of thirty eight members of the Province gathered each day for this Chapter held during 25 - 28 April at Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus. The Prior General and myself were also present. The Chapter was celebrated in a manner that was joyful, calm and efficient. The participants heard two key-note addresses, one from Fr. John Sullivan, OCD, on the question "Where have we come from?" and a second from Fr. Jack Welch (PCM) on the question "Where are we headed?" The Chapter dealt with the question of "Where are we now?" on the basis of the reports from the various Province Commissions and the report of the out-going Prior Provincial and Council.

    The new commitment to Vietnam and Trinidad was seen to be very positive. Very positive also the work that has been done for vocations and formation, the financial situation of the Province - the result of good investment, the contributions of the individual houses and the success of the Development Office. The relationships between the members of the Province are generally very positive as is the relationship with the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. The most difficult problem is the shortage of personnel to meet the needs of the many and varied apostolates of the Province.

    Among the significant moments in the Chapter the banquet for the jubilarians was a highlight, along with the appreciation shown for the work of the outgoing provincial administration and the Open Forum at the end of the Chapter which brought to light many interesting ideas. The Province is looking to the future with optimism, placing its trust in the new members and recognising its enormous debt to the older members who have served and continue to serve the Province with unstinting generosity.

    Thirty five members of the Province, made up of ex officio and delegate members, along with the Prior General and myself took part in this Chapter held in Krakow, 22-26 May 2000. The preparatory commission did a very commendable job in organising it.

    The Chapter members heard three talks given by Fr. Jerzy Gogola, OCD. The first was on prayer, the second on community life and the third on apostolate and mission. Each talk was followed by group discussion and a plenary session in which the members came to some conclusions. A further topic which was discussed was that of formation and vocations.

    The preparatory commission put forward a document containing a long list of proposals for new statutes. These were dealt with, a few at time in a manner that was not too tiring for the members.

    The elections were conducted on the second day of the Chapter. The results are as follows: Provincial - Fr. Leszek Pawlak; Councillors - Frs. Bogdan Meger, Dariusz Borek, Tadeusz Popiela, Michal Woynarowski. The new Provincial chose Fr. Piotr Spiller as his assistant and secretary.

    The Chapter read and approved a final document which contains new proposals for the future of the Province in the areas of prayer, community life, apostolate, formation and vocations.

    The evaluation of the Chapter was very positive in relation to the quality of the organisation and the good atmosphere which prevailed throughout. There is a lot of youth and energy in this Province which when fully harnessed will produce a bright future.

      Fr. Alexander Vella, General Councillor

    From 21 to 28 January 2000 I accompanied the Prior General to the Neapolitan Province for a fraternal visit. We visited all the communities and spoke with each of the brothers. At the end of the visit we held a meeting with the Provincial Council and presented our impressions and evaluation of the situation in the Province. We also made some practical suggestions. In recent months I went with the Prior General to three Provincial Chapters. From 8 – 12 May 2000 we took part in the Chapter of the Maltese Province, which was held in "Lunzjata", a house for spiritual exercises run by the Province and next to its most ancient monastery (1418). The Chapter sessions were only in the mornings so that in the evenings we were able to visit the communities.

    From 29 May to 1 June, we took part in the Chapter of the General Commissariat of "S. Maria la Bruna" in the Carmine Maggiore, Naples. Although the Commissariat is small, it has taken responsibility for a mission in Tanzania. For the present, Tanzanian young men are in formation in Naples. Last year the first of the Tanzanians was ordained to the priesthood. At present there are six Tanzanians in the pre-noviciate in Naples and a few others who are still discerning their vocation in Tanzania together with the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (SCMTBG).

    From 5 to 10 June 2000 we attended the Chapter of the Italian Province held in Sassone (Rome). The number of friars present and their places of origin gave witness to the breadth of the Province, which is not only present in several regions of Italy, but also in Africa (a Commissariat in the Congo and one missionary in Burkina Faso) and in Colombia (a community and some vocations) and is in the process of establishing a foundation in Romania. Many young Romanians are in formation in Italy.

    My main work over the last few months has been that of finalising the text of the new RIVC (Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanae) and its preparation for printing in the three official languages of the Order. In this final stage, I was again greatly assisted by Frs. Christian Körner (GerS) and Giovanni Grosso (Ita), the two members of the International Commission for Formation, who together with me compiled the text of the new RIVC. The General Council approved the new RIVC on 25 March 2000.

    In view of the coming international meeting of Carmelites in initial formation, which will be held in the Holy Land from 24 July to 9 August, I asked Frs. Christian Körner (GerS) from the International Commission for Formation, Desiderio Garcia (Arag) and Mario Alfarano (Neap) to help me organise and lead the meeting. For this purpose we met at the General Curia from 4 to 8 January. The aim we wish to attain through this meeting is threefold: first to create the possibility for our men in formation to meet and experience, even if only for a few days, the universality of the Order. Then, in this Jubilee year, our getting together in the Holy Land will signify going back to our roots, walking again with Our Lord in the footsteps of our forebears. We intend to organise this meeting in the form of an itinerant retreat. Finally, this will be an occasion for further formation, deepening and sharing. The text of the new RIVC will be the inspiring element of the conferences, reflections, prayer and visits to the holy places.

    The International Commission for Formation met on 22 and 24 May to outline the programme for the course of formation for formators and vocation animators which will be held on Mount Carmel in Israel from 9 to 31 January 2001. The main aim of this course is to help formators and vocation animators to own the new RIVC and to be able to put it into practice in their Provinces.

    Another meeting of the joint O.Carm - OCD Commission for Formation was held at our General Curia on 23 May. We shared information on formation in both Orders and we discussed the theme of formation for apostolic works in our Orders.

    On 18 March I presided at another meeting of the Liturgical Commission which is revising the liturgical texts of our ritual for admission to the noviciate and for profession. The members of the Commission had each taken one section of the work and at the meetings each presented his work for discussion and evaluation in order to write the first draft of a new ritual which will eventually be submitted to experts in the Order.
     

    THE ASIAN MISSION OF
    THE AMERICAN PROVINCE OF ST. ELIAS

    From 15 February to 2 March 2000, before completing his term as Prior Provincial, Fr. Mario Esposito made his annual visit to the Carmelite mission in Vietnam where he met all the students at St. Thérèse House and many members of the "Donum Dei" Missionary Family that live and minister in Saigon.

    In St. Thérèse House there are ten candidates who attend various universities. All are at various stages studying English. In September, five of these candidates will begin their study of philosophy. In addition to these candidates there are eight others, aspirants, who have been preparing and studying about the Carmelites from their homes. This two year process familiarises them with the Order and acts as a period of mutual discernment before they might be invited to enter St. Thérèse House. Under the direction of Marie Lys, a Missionary Worker of "Donum Dei", and Fr. Bô, Spiritual Director, the aspirants meet monthly. Fr. Mario presented classes to the aspirants and candidates separately. Through translators, the groups were instructed about: types of prayer, the Carmelite charism of prayer, fraternity and ministry, Mary, and community life. Each day there was Mass together with the celebration of Evening Prayer.

    The candidates at St. Thérèse House pray together four times a day, principally with the use of the Liturgy of the Hours and meditation on the gospel of the day. There are also vocal prayers and the rosary and, of course, daily Mass usually in the Redemptorist church. Twice a month, they meet with the Spiritual Director of the community to try and deepen their lives of prayer. The group strives to live a balanced life, and to grow as a fraternity under difficult circumstances, given the Communist reality. Each is engaged in some apostolic work and they were exhorted to continue in their service. Each Sunday, and after Lectio Divina, they have a house meeting to discuss plans, difficulties and any other topics. The atmosphere seemed quite good. They are diligent in their studies and despite the small space, maintain a quiet feeling conducive to that study and reflection. Gradually, the house library is being built up and some Carmelite works have now been translated into Vietnamese. The food is excellent, all cooked by the students and eaten with gusto! All the candidates seem to relate well with one another and they strive to incorporate the two newest members into their community.

    While in Ho Chi Minh City, Fr. Mario had an opportunity to visit the members of "Donum Dei" at the local L'Eau Vive. There are about eighty Missionary Workers in Vietnam and quite a few in formation in France and Italy as well. Eight young women entered the second stage of their formation while Fr. Mario was there; twelve new ones began, and one made temporary profession (fiancé). At the same ceremony that these women participated in, two students from St. Thérèse House were also enrolled in the scapular. The Mass took place in the parish church which was nearly full. Six priests concelebrated. A banquet followed at L'Eau Vive.
     

    EDITH STEIN MAY BE PROCLAIMED
    DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

    St. Edith Stein, Jew, Carmelite and Christian martyr, proclaimed by John Paul II co-patroness of Europe together with St. Brigid of Sweden and St. Catherine of Siena, may be proclaimed Doctor of the Church. This was announced by Fr. Abelardo Lobato, Rector of the Faculty of Theology in Lugano (Italy) during an international congress "A New Feminism for a new millennium" organised by the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum on 19 May 2000.

    Fr. Lobato affirms that "together with Simone de Beauvoir and Simone Weil, Edith Stein was among the most illustrious women of the twentieth century, noted for their creative thinking, their philosophical talent and their focus on the question of women. Gradually, these three women saw their intellectual prestige grow. Edith Stein was declared martyr and blessed, then canonised and proclaimed patroness of Europe. Now we are working towards having her declared Doctor of the Church, a title borne by only three women: St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. It will take time. It all depends on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, but Pope Wojtyla is enthusiastic and has asked for work to be done to verify if this philosopher and theologian may be declared Doctor of the Church".

    In his talk, Fr. Lobato pointed out that the spirituality of the Saints is a qualifying element of "new feminism" as mentioned by John Paul II in Mulieris Dignitatem.
     

    CARMELITE CLOISTERED NUNS

    On 20 – 25 February 2000, in the Monastery of the Sacred Family and in the presence of all the delegates and of Fr. Peter Kramer (Neer-Phi), Religious Assistant to the Federation, the Stella Maris Federation, which includes all the monasteries of nuns in the Philippines, the Second Elective General Assembly was celebrated. The result of the elections was as follows:
    Co-ordinator: Sr. Ma. de los Angeles de Jesús Pérez (CAB)
    Councillor: Sr. Ma. Inmaculada Rodríguez (GUI)
    Councillor: Sr. Ma. Corazón de María Sardiña (GUI)
    Councillor: Sr. Ma. Angélica Verdugo (DUM)
    Councillor: Sr. Ma. Elena Tolentino (BUR)
    The new Federal Council, during its first meeting, nominated:
    Bursar: Sr. Ma. Inmaculada Rodríguez (GUI)
    Secretary: Sr. Ma. Esperanza Cecilio (CAB)
     

    NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
    OF LAY CARMELITES

    From 28 to 30 April 2000, forty-three official delegates representing 23 Third Order Carmelite Chapters in the Philippines with a total membership of 1900, attended the 7th Third Order of Carmel National Convention held at the Titus Brandsma Center, Quezon City.

    During these days eight papers were presented and discussed in small groups: Guidelines on Leaves, TOC Formation Program, Brown Scapular and TOC Habit, TOC Rules and Tasks, TOC Structures, Carmel Youth, Devotion to Mary, Carmelite Spirituality. The most important results of this Convention were: (1) the election of a National TOC Council which replaces the National Secretariat with the following positions: National Prioress, National Formation Directress, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor and four Council members; (2) the formation of three TOC regions (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) with their own Regional Prioress; (3) the separation of the Carmel Youth group from the TOC to establish its own organisation.

    It was a lively convention which brought for the new millennium a renewed Carmel Spirit among the Lay Carmel. The Convention ended with a short evaluation and the giving of an award to two people who have done so much for the TOC in the Philippines: Fr. Peter Kramer (Neer-Phi) and Sister Avelina Berba. The next Convention was fixed for the first week after Easter 2002, in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

    The Carmelite Family in Sicily held its 10th Feast on 14 May 2000 at the Salesian Institute in Pedara, a small town on the slopes of Mount Etna.

    The meeting began with a moment of prayer led by young Carmelites of the Lentini community. They invited the assembly to listen to readings and reflections interspersed with excellent hymns. The theme of the meeting was presented during a talk given by Sr. Donatella Cappello, Provincial of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus in Italy and Malta. After setting the biblical meaning of the Jubilee, Sr. Donatella stressed the significance of its signs and, particularly, those relevant to the present day: forgiveness, conversion, purification of the memory, reconciliation, cancellation of the debt of poor countries, pilgrimage, etc. She also touched on the contribution made by Carmel throughout the centuries to Jubilees, beginning with the Jubilee of Boniface VIII, the Pope who guaranteed the continuation of the Order in the West. An important moment of the meeting was that of the Eucharist, at which, during the offertory, besides the usual bread and wine, various groups brought to the altar other original offerings.

    After a picnic lunch, the feast ended with a variety of presentations.

    The National Lay Carmelite Convocation of the North American Provinces will be held at New Orleans Airport Hilton in Louisiana from 4 to 6 August 2000. In this Millennium Year the American Lay Carmelites will celebrate the theme "Breeze and Whirlwind: Carmel in the Heart of the Church". Four Carmelite speakers will enrich the participants about the energies stirred from the days of Elijah and the Old Testament to the 21st century in our Church. Frs. Michael Driscoll (SEL) and David Simpson (PCM) will speak to the assembly about "Carmel and the Prayer of the Church", Sr. Barbara Breaud about "Carmel and the Mission of the Church" and Fr. Christopher O'Donnell (Hib) about "Carmel and the Mother of the Church". The programme includes time for prayer and reflection in community and individually, discussion groups and entertainment. For further information please contact: Lay Carmelite Center, 8501 Bailey Rd., Darien, IL 60561. Tel. 630-969-5050, Fax 630-969-7519.
     

    ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA AND ST. THÉRÈSE
    OF LISIEUX MODELS FOR PRIESTS

    On 18 May 2000, in the Vatican Basilica and on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Clergy, in the presence of three thousand priests from all over the world, Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, OP, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Fr. Antonio Sicari, OCD, and professor Maria Antonietta Falchi Pellegrini of the University of Genoa, proposed St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Catherine of Siena, two religious women, as models for priests.

    In his homily during the morning celebration of Holy Mass, Cardinal Moreira Neves pointed out that although they lived in different times, the two religious women "spoke to priests in order to stimulate them to live their vocation worthily". For St. Thérèse the centre of life for the priest is the Eucharist and "an unlimited dedication to the salvation of souls". "I know", he added, "that many of our contemporaries think that this expression is old fashioned and we reject that", anyway, "this thought is present in the texts of the Second Vatican Council".

    For Fr. Sicari, the view of St. Thérèse on the tasks of a priest is most relevant: they must know how to love Jesus. "Let them touch him", wrote St. Thérèse in reference to the Eucharist, "with the same delicacy with which Mary touched him in his cradle".

    For professor Falchi Pellegrini, the great teaching of St. Catherine concerns the relationship between contemplation and action, two elements which form a whole "since neither is complete without the other". And today, living "in a constant race against time", St. Catherine reminds us that "no pastoral duty, no labour should be allowed to separate us from intimacy with Him without whom nothing makes sense".
     

    JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
    AT ST. ELIAS COLLEGE, MALTA

    The teachers of Religion at St. Elias College in Malta recently organised several activities to celebrate the Jubilee.


    UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND
    TELEPHONE NUMBERS

    Addresses of new houses

    Provincial Commissariat of Paraná
    Mosteiro Monte Carmelo, Rua La Salle, 1.200, Bairro Pinheirinho, 81880-400, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Tel: (041) 349.1681

    Change in addresses

    Carmelite Cloistered Nuns
    Carmel of Our Lady of Grace, 1 Via Maria, Christoval, Texas 76935, U.S.A.

    New phone / fax numbers

    St. Elias American Province
    As from 5 June 2000 the following Carmelite communities their area code was changed from 914 to 845 on all telephones, fax machines and modems:
    - Office of the Prior Provincial, Middletown, NY
    - Office of the Vocation Director, Middletown, NY
    - Office of the Provincial Procurator, Middletown, NY
    - The Carmelite Development Office, Middletown, NY
    - Saint Albert's Priory, Middletown, NY
    - Brandsma Priory, Middletown, NY
    - Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross House, Goshen, NY
    - John S. Burke Catholic High School, Goshen, NY
    - The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middletown, NY
    - The Carmelite Gift Store, Middletown, NY
    - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory/Church, Middletown, NY
    - Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Middletown, NY
    - Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Bloomingburg NY
    - Saint Paul's Church, Bullville, NY
    - Saint Eliseus Priory, Tappan, NY
    - The Lay Carmelite Office, Tappan, NY
    The area code will remain 914 for the following houses:
    - Transfiguration Priory/Church/Schoo1 in Tarrytown, NY
    - Carmelite Priory in Scarborough, NY

    New e-mail addresses

    Missionary Family "Donum Dei"
    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil <donum_dei_rj@ieg.com.br>

    PCM American Province
    Geaney, Jim 
    Palacios, José Luis 
    Semmens, David 
    Sieracki, Al 
    Smialek, Jeffery     		 <jpgeaney@yahoo.com>
    <zihua04@hotmail.com>
    <dave_semmens@hotmail.com>
    <AlSieracki@msn.com>
    <jeffsmialek@hotmail.com>

    Corpus Christi Carmelites
    Cavaness, Dorothy 
    Chan, Margarita
    Charles, Katrina 
    Comiskey, Mary Ellen 
    Florence, Mary 
    Lange, Paula 
    Noel, Adriana 
    Pairaudeau, Madeleine 
    Paschal Martin, Teresa 
    Petronilla, Joseph 
    Pond, Henrietta 
    Profeiro, Helena 
    Romero, Janice     		 <srdcavaness@aol.com>
    <mags@wow.net>
    <srkatherina@hotmail.com>
    <brownun@yahoo.com>
    <marycarmel@nebi.com> 
    <lhos@wow.net>
    <adrin@tstt.net.tt>
    <mocarm@tstt.net.tt>
    <cc.carmelites@talk21.com>
    <petj@trinidad.net>
    <hennypond@hotmail.com>
    <srhelena@opus.co.tt>
    <srjanice@hotmail.com>

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

    CARMELITE PUBLICATIONS

    Books:

    A Gathering of the Carmelites - Thirty-Seventh Provincial Chapter,
    Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Darien, 2000, pp. 80.

    PRECA, Dun Gorg,
    Iz-zewg bnedmin, Societas Doctrinae Christianae - M.U.S.E.U.M., 2000, pp. 72. (E-mail: sdc@waldonet.net.mt)

    PRECA, Dun Gorg,
    Tahdit ghat-tfal, Societas Doctrinae Christianae - M.U.S.E.U.M., 2000, pp. 100. (E-mail: sdc@waldonet.net.mt)

    ZAPPATORE, Lucio Maria,
    Catechizzare i genitori per catechizzare i figli . . . . e viceversa, Paoline, Roma, 2000, pp. 88. (E-mail: zaplum@libero.it)

    Posters:

    Carmel - 1251-2001 Anniversarium Scapularis,
    Carmel - Virgo Mater, S. Albertus, S. Angelus,
    Carmel - S. Theresia a Jesu, S. Iohannes a Cruce, S. Theresia a Jesu Infante,
    Carmel - S. Andreas Corsini,
    750 Anniversary of the Scapular / 750 Aniversario del Escapulario / 750 Anniversario dello Scapolario,(Calendar 2001),
    Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2000, dimension 50x70 cm. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

    Compact Disk:

    Jubilum Cordis,
    Canti Gregoriani, Monache del Carmelo di Carpineto Romano, Roma, 2000, 36:05 min. (E-mail: carmelo.s.anna@rtmol.it)

    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.
     

    CARMELITE MILESTONES

    25 Years Simple Profession

    8 September 2000
    José Maldonado Vazquez (Arag)
    Manuel Gracia Villaescusa (Arag)
    José Luis Herreros Carralcazar (Arag)
    Jordi Gil i Costa (Cat)
    Rainer Fielenbach (GerS)
    25 September 2000
    Francesco Campagna (Ita)
    Luigi Nasta (Brun)
    22 October 2000
    Tadeusz Popiela (Pol)
    24 October 2000
    Patrick McGuigan (SEL)

    50 Years Simple Profession

    4 September 2000
    Josephus (Reinald) Knibbeler (GerI)
    Henricus Ambrosius Molenbroek (GerI)
    Franciscus Kutschruiter (Indo)
    Adrianus Tilet (Neer)
    Schwibettus (Wigbertus) Roorda (Neer)
    Gijsbertus Megens (Neer)
    Henricus Lansink (Neer)
    8 September 2000
    Simeon Marro (SEL)
    John Canning (SEL)
    Robert Greco (SEL)
    Luz María Torres Iglesias (MAY)
    15 September 2000
    Gerald (Richard) Anstey (PCM)
    22 September 2000
    Mª Mercedes García Ontiveros (ARA)
    24 September 2000
    Ismael Martinez Carretero (Baet)
    Alphonsus Brennan (Brit)
    John Madden (Hib)
    8 October 2000
    Conall Collier (Hib)
    Marcellino Scicluna (Mel)
    Felicianus Bezzina (Mel)
    12 October 2000
    Mª de la Cruz Rodríguez Rubio (UTR)
    26 October 2000
    Gabriella Miraglia (OST)

    Solemn Professions

    20 March 2000
    Carmelo M. Silvaggio (Neap)

    Priestly Ordinations

    1 June 2000
    Pedro Manilag, Jr. (Neer-Phi)
    Roberto Noel Rosas (Neer-Phi)

    25 Years Priestly Ordination

    28 September 2000
    Domenico Lombardo (Brun)

    50 Years Priestly Ordination

    23 September 2000
    Guerrino (Ireneo) Ciuffi (Ita)
    Victor Schembri (Mel)
    Frangisk Grech (Mel)
    29 October 2000
    B. Soegiartono Djojosoediro (Indo)

    Necrology

    22 April 2000
    Felice Cimini (Ita)
    14 May 2000
    José Miranda (Cat)
    26 May 2000
    Clement Caruana (Mel)
    29 May 2000
    Michael Kenny (Hib)
     

    CARMELITE NUNS AROUND THE WORLD

    MONASTERY OF THE PRESENTATION
    OF MOST HOLY MARY

    Address: Carretera de Gurb, 1
    08500, Vic (Barcelona),
    Spain.

    Diocese: Vic
    History:
    From its foundation up to 1936, the monastery of Carmelites was renowned as the Convent of the "Devalladas", when, because of the revolution, it was reduced to ashes and rubble. Its construction goes back to 1660. On 3 September of that year, Rev. Silvestre Saleta, vicar of the parish church of San Andrés de Tona, in virtue of his office as notary, authorised the execution of the will of Rev. Francisco Luciano de Codina, priest, doctor and canon of the Cathedral of Vicense, which left his goods and property in favour of the erection and foundation of a monastery of Carmelite nuns of the Ancient Observance.

    In fact, on 30 April 1661, the canon of Vic, Rev. Francisco Clará, one of three executors of the will of the above mentioned deceased, was received by the Council of Ciento (Barcelona) to explain to the Councillors how canon Codina had left his goods and property, namely to erect a monastery of Carmelite nuns in the city of Condal. Because the proposal involved grave problems for the projected foundation in the city of Condal, permission and authority were sought to erect the foundation in another city, town or place of the Principality.

    When the permission requested from the Council of Barcelona was granted, on 23 October 1662, a member of the Council of Vicense, Mr. Pablo Reixach, begged the Council of Vic to welcome the wish expressed by canon Codina and to bring the foundation to completion in their city. The Council of Vic appointed for this job four delegates, among whom Mr. Pablo Reixach. They met the three executors of the will: Rev. Francisco Clará, canon, Rev. Antonio Juan Blanco, parish priest of Tona, and Rev. Pedro Verdaguer, parish priest of San Hipólito de Voltregá to discuss the proposal. The cause of the foundation in Vic took a good turn when, on 5 November 1663, at the request of the guardians, the bishop of Vic convoked the chapter of the Cathedral and all the priors and prelates of religious houses of the city, so that they might express their views on the foundation of a monastery of Carmelite nuns in the city. On 26 November 1663, after obtaining the required permissions from the King, the bishop of Vic, Braulio Sunyer, of the Chapter of canons of the Cathedral and of the Prior Provincial of the Carmelites of Catalonia, of the city Council and of ten other delegates of the city, an agreement was struck with the three guardians and the executors of the will appointed by the deceased, on the matter of the necessary specifications in order for the foundation to be made as soon as possible.

    On 28 June 1683, in Tona’s rectory, the Carmelite nuns, Maria de la Cruz (from the monastery in Villafranca del Panadés), María Gracia de la Visitación, Raymunda del Espírito Santo, Teresa de Jesús y María de la Presentación, Isabel de los Angeles, Teodora de San Elías y Clemencia de Jesús y María (from the monastery of Barcelona), gathered for the purpose of founding and establishing in the city of Vic, a monastery named Monastery of the Presentation of Most Holy Mary, according to the explicit wish of canon Codina.

    The first founding Carmelites were women of great spirituality. Mother María de la Cruz, the first prioress, was a person of extraordinary merit, a nun of angelic life who knew how to provide fertile ground for the first blossoms, trustworthy as perfect model of a Carmelite nun. Mother María Engracia de la Visitación, also one of the founding members, was a person of most beautiful qualities, most observant and devoted to the Mother of Carmel.

    The Monastery of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mary later underwent the ravages of the French invasion and the Carlist wars which obliged the nuns to abandon the monastery. But the nuns turned to Jesus Christ and made a vow to pray and make special acts of love if he would help them in this latest trial. Heaven accepted their vow and the monastery and the community remained intact.

    With the passing of the years, the sanctifying energies of the Carmel grew and became very famous in the city of Vic and over the whole region. Colonel José de Avilés and Iturbide was a great devotee of this monastery and donated to the church a sumptuous altar dedicated to Saint Michael Archangel. This altar was burnt in the fire of 21 July 1936 together with the church and monastery.

    The young María de Puigraciós Badía Plaquer, born in Bigas, who was later known as La Azucena di Vic, entered the monastery as a postulant on 9 October 1929 at the age of 26. Sr. María del Patrocinio de San José, her name in Carmel, was a model of virtue for all the nuns. On 13 August 1936 she was killed when she was hit in the stomach 30 times while defending her virginity and purity. In her hand she held a picture of Christ. On 3 March 1943 the mortal remains of Sr. María del Patrocinio were transferred to a modest sepulchre in the choir of the new monastery with the hope that, one day, she would be raised to the honours of the altar. The process for her beatification is now in Rome.

    At the end of the religious persecution, on 21 March 1941, the community settled in a building modified into a monastery, with a vegetable and fruit as well as a flower garden.
     

    CARMELITE MOVEMENTS: Would communities, who wish to contribute to our rubric "Carmelite Movements", please send their news as soon as possible. You are kindly requested not to exceed two A4 pages. Thank you.
     


    (St. Elias - Carmelite church, Mdina, Malta)


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