A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
to all the members
of the Carmelite Family
 

When the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him and everyone who heard it was astonished. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told (Lk 2: 15-20).
 

FROM THE PRIOR GENERAL

In the last edition of Citoc you will have read about the General Chapter. As I write this report I am in the middle of the first plenary meeting with the new General Council. It is a busy time because during these meetings we must make a number of appointments and make plans for the next six years. Of course the most important part of our work is to carry out the mandate of the General Chapter.

You will remember that the theme of the General Chapter was "The Journey Continues" and the idea behind it was to examine ways to translate the theory which is contained in our official documents and make this theory a practical reality. We heard of various efforts in different parts of the Order where a rereading of our charism had brought new projects to life. It showed us all that there was great vitality in the Carmelite tradition.

The General Chapter gave to the new General Council the task of taking steps to initiate a practical process of community renewal. Our Constitutions speak profoundly of community life but it is not always easy to put the ideas contained there into practice so the General Council will seek ways of doing so. Community life in itself is a wonderful apostolate because by our simple and faithful lives in community we bear witness to the world that the love of Christ conquers all. We are usually not aware of how we affect people even before we open our mouths simply by our manner of living together. Community life is a powerful sign of the truth of the Gospel especially in these times where individualism is growing. In the midst of hatred and war, it is our vocation to put love so that we will find love.

The area of communications was another important topic at the General Chapter. We are all aware how quickly ways of communicating have changed. While we do not wish to follow every fad, we need to be present in the new world and make our contribution. Citoc and the Order’s web site (www.ocarm.org) have been important ways to reach many people and hopefully they will continue to connect the Carmelite Family and inform others of our spirituality.

The General Council is working out its programme for the next six years and hopefully soon we will be able to inform the Order of our plans to carry out the mandate and vision of the General Chapter. The journey continues.

My next planned trip is to Brazil in January, to Paranà for the Commissariat Chapter and then to São Paulo and Recife for the provincial chapters.

I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Fr. Joseph Chalmers O.Carm.

THE MEMBERS OF
THE NEW GENERAL COUNCIL

Fr. JOSEPH CHALMERS, Prior General

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 5 April 1952, and a graduate in law, Fr. Joseph Chalmers entered the Carmelite Order in 1975. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) with a licence in spirituality which won the Papal Gold Medal. In 1981, a year before finishing his studies, he was ordained priest in Glasgow by the Cardinal, Archbishop Thomas Winning. Before his election for the first time as Prior General of the Order in 1995, Fr. Joseph was Prior Provincial of the British Province of the Assumption. E-mail: jchalmers@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201833

Fr. CARLO CICCONETTI, Vice Prior General

Fr. Carlo (whose baptismal name is Mario) was born in Pianella (Pescara), Italy, on 6 February 1934. He made his simple vows on 13 October 1951 and his solemn profession on 25 April 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood on 6 July 1958. He graduated in Utroque Jure from the Pontifical University of the Lateran with the doctoral thesis on The Rule of Carmel, Rome 1973. He qualified as Advocate of the Rota in 1973. In 1991 he obtained his Licentiate degree in Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. His thesis was on the symbolism in the Rule of Carmel. He held many offices during his religious life: Provincial of the Roman Province (1973-1979), Procurator General (1979-1983), General Councillor (1983-1989), Master of Professed Students of the Italian Province (1991-1997) and when he was elected to the office of Vice Prior General he held the office of Provincial of the Italian Province (from 1997). E-mail: pcarlo@pcn.net Tel: 0646201834

Fr. ANTHONY SCERRI, General Councillor for Asia, Australia and Africa

Born in Minia (Egypt) on 1 January 1931. In 1951, after going to Australia, he entered the Carmelite Order and was ordained priest in 1958. He graduated at the University of Melbourne. His early pastoral life was dedicated to the Maltese migrants in Sydney and to education. During the 70's he went to Indonesia where he lived and worked in North Sumatra. In the meantime he completed several studies in France, the United States of America and England. Before he assumed the office of General Councillor for the first time in 1995 he was the Vice Rector of a Catholic University in Medan, Indonesia.
E-mail: ascerri@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201835

Fr. CARLOS MESTERS, General Councillor for Latin America

Fr. Carlos was born in the Netherlands on 20 October 1931. In 1949, while he was still a student in the Carmelite minor seminary, he and seven other companions went to Brazil in order to become missionaries. He entered the Carmelite Order in 1952, studied philosophy in São Paulo, Brazil and pursued his theological studies from 1954 to 1963 in Rome at St. Albert’s International College and at the University of St. Thomas (Angelicum). He also did biblical studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and at the École Biblique in Jerusalem. On his return to Brazil in 1963, he was appointed professor of Scripture at the seminary until 1973. From 1973 to 2001 he worked among the Basic Ecclesial Communities, helping the people of God to read and understand the Word of God. Fr. Carlos is one of the founders of the Centro Ecumenico de Estudos Biblícos whose director he was from 1977 to 1989. Since 1987 he has been a member of the team that started the project Tua Palavra é Vida of the Conference of Religious in Brazil. This project assists in the biblical formation of religious. Since 1987 he also takes part in INTERCAB, inter-Carmelite meetings in Brazil. E-mail: cmesters@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201844

Fr. RAFAEL LEIVA SÁNCHEZ, General Councillor for the Mediterranean Area

Fr. Rafael was born in Alcalá de los Gazules (Cádiz), Spain, on 30 November 1942. He entered the Order in 1954 and in 1960 took his simple vows. In 1968 he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Telesforo Cioli, O.Carm., in St. Albert’s International College, Rome. He studied philosophy in Osuna (Spain) and obtained his doctorate in dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. Before he was elected General Councillor, he was Prior Provincial of the Betica Province (Spain).
E-mail: rleiva@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201846


Fr. WILLIAM J. HARRY, General Councillor for N. America and North - Central Europe

Born in Louisville, Kentucky (USA) on 31 August 1954, entered the Carmelite Order in 1976 at Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada), after completing undergraduate studies in history, education and philosophy at Marquette University. He received a baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology with a specialization in Spirituality. In 1996 he received a Doctorate in Ministry with a specialization in communication. After ordination in 1983, Fr. William was a teacher, campus minister at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, AZ (USA) and the principal and then president of Carmel High School in Mundelein, IL (USA) for 10 years. Before being elected to the General Council, he was the Western Commissary Provincial for PCM Province of North America. E-mail: wharry@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201843

Fr. JOSEF JANCÁR, Procurator General

Fr. Josef was born in Tesov, archdiocese of Olomouc (Moravia), Czech Republic, on 22 May 1951. He entered the Carmelite Order in secret during the Communist regime while he was pursuing his studies at the interdiocesan seminary in Litomerice. He did his Masters in theology at the Charles University, Prague. He was ordained to the priesthood on 25 June 1977 in Olomouc. Because at that time religious Orders were suppressed and functioned in secret only, Fr. Josef ministered officially as a diocesan priest in various parishes in the archdiocese of Olomouc. When the Communist regime fell (1989) and religious life experienced a renewal, Fr. Josef was appointed General Delegate of the Delegation of Bohemia and Moravia. He held this office for six years and in 1997 went to Rome to specialise in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of the Lateran where in 1999 he obtained his Licentiate degree and a diploma in Iurisprudentia et Praxis I.V.C.S.V.A. from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life as well as in Praxis Administrativa Canonica from the Congregation for the Clergy. He is now preparing his doctoral thesis on the theme "Parishes entrusted to Religious". Before his recent election as Procurator General, Fr. Josef completed the six-year period in the same office of Fr. Lucio Renna who, in 1999, was consecrated bishop of Avezzano. E-mail: jjancar@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201840

Fr. JAMES DES LAURIERS, Bursar General

Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Los Angeles, California (USA) where he attended St. Raphael's Carmelite Parish and Mount Carmel High School. A member of the North American Province of St. Elias, he was professed in 1954 and ordained in 1960. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and Iona College in New York and Whitefriars Hall, Washington, DC. His ministry began in Zimbabwe, Africa. He later served in the St. Elias Province as Formation Director, Prior Provincial, Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Director of Development. For the past two years he has ministered in the Australian Province. E-mail: jdelaurier@ocarm.org Tel: 0646201838
 

A GROUP OF CARMELITES
VISIT LITHUANIA

On 9 July 2001, five Carmelite friars from the North European Region joined Fr. Míceál O'Neill (Hib) in celebrating the triduum of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the former Carmelite house in Linkuva, in the diocese of Siauliai on the Lithuanian-Latvian border.

There were many memorable moments during the visit. The Lithuanian people love to sing and their beautiful melodies filled the church and the friary with great joy when they gathered to pray. During the first week the friars set off in twos with a translator to visit the people of the parish. This was for them a most humbling experience. They met people who had been imprisoned during the Soviet regime for their faith and their desire to be Lithuanian not a Soviet clone of a good citizen. They were so glad that the friars had returned to their home. The Carmelites are part of their history and they want the friars to be part of their future. Many of the homes visited were poor in the extreme. Some had no furniture and earthen floors, but the friars were received with a gentle and proud dignity and the householders were generous in sharing what they had.

The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was celebrated on 15 July. In Linkuva it is always a great celebration with many homes welcoming their extended family from throughout the land. The bishop of Siauliai presided over the celebration of Mass and Blessed Sacrament procession. The Carmelites introduced the people to the scapular - 500 were enrolled in the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The day ended with a pilgrimage to the 'Hill of Crosses' just outside Siauliai. This was the focus of Catholic resistance to the Soviet regime. A small hill outside the city is festooned with crosses. During the Soviet occupation people would leave a cross on the hillside. It was a sign that faith cannot be imprisoned. The Soviets tried everything to eradicate the hill, but the people always returned no matter how difficult it was made for them to do so. John Paul II placed his own cross on the hill when he visited Lithuania in 1993. From Linkuva the Carmelite friars went to Pastova to celebrate the Solemnity of Elijah with Discalced Carmelite sisters there. During the week they also visited Vilnius and Kaunas two cities with a proud history.

The Carmelites who were part of this pilgrimage felt that the people are calling us to share in their life and to minister amongst them. It would be a good idea if a team of Carmelites were to return to Lithuania for another visit next year and share the Carmelite story with others throughout Lithuania. There seems to be a ready audience of young people who wish to hear about Carmel. One young man will be spending some time in the Upper German Province to learn more about the Carmelite life.
 

O.CARM - OCD CELEBRATIONS
IN CATALONIA

The O.Carm-OCD Carmelites in Catalonia celebrated together the 750^th anniversary of the gift of the Scapular. Together they prepared posters, triptychs on the history and spirituality of Carmel and commemorative pictures as well as the publication in Catalan of the letter of the Pope to Carmelites. In a joint letter of the two Provincials, religious and faithful from all the dioceses and the Carmelite Family in Catalonia were invited to the centenary celebrations, which culminated in the solemnity of 16 July.

About 40 O.Carm-OCD friars met on Easter Monday in the convents of Terrassa and Matadepera, two small towns near Barcelona, to celebrate the Eucharist and share a festive and fraternal meal under the loving care of the Mother of Carmel who gave the meeting a deep sense of communion.

On two other occasions many religious and faithful of the Carmelite Family met to thank Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the gift of the Scapular. On these occasions the Eucharist was presided by the two Provincials, Fr. Manuel Bonilla and Fr. Josep Castellà and concelebrated by many religious. The first celebration, on the feast of the Prophet Elijah, took place in the parish church of Santa Joaquima de Vedruna in Barcelona. The second commemoration on the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, was celebrated in the Discalced Carmelite church also in Barcelona. Those present on both occasions were several Congregations of Carmelite sisters, tertiaries and members of confraternities as well as a large number of devotees of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
 

MASACCIO
THE PISA ALTARPIECE

During 12 September - 11 November 2001 an exhibition was held in the National Gallery of London about "Masaccio - The Pisa Altarpiece". Masaccio is better remembered for his work in the Brancacci Chapel in our Carmelite church in Florence which he did in 1426. Though this work was not finished as he left to work in Hungry, it appears that the Carmelite community of Florence recommended him to their community in Santa Maria del Carmine in Pisa.

The Florentine painter Tommaso di Giovanni, known as Masaccio (1401 - 1428), was one of the most important painters of the fifteenth century. He was influenced by Giotto (1266/7 - 1337) and he in turn influenced Michelangelo (1475 - 1565). Masaccio is regarded as one of the early figures of what became known as the Italian Renaissance. The exhibition was part of the National Gallery's tribute to Masaccio marking the 6th centenary of his birth.

The National Gallery's Virgin and Child formed the central panel of the main tier of the Pisa Altarpiece, which was made for the family burial chapel of Giuliano degli Scarsi. The painting shows the Virgin and Child seated on a monumental throne of grey stone incorporating classical columns. In the main panel the Child sucks the fingers of his right hand while taking grapes from the Virgin with his left. Two angels are seated at the foot of the throne playing lutes, while two more kneel on either side.

The altarpiece was dismembered, perhaps around 1590 when the church of Santa Maria del Carmine was being re-modelled and the rest of the main tier has now been lost. There are eleven different panels that have survived and are now in different galleries around the world. This was the first time they have been together since 1590. Two of the panels show Carmelite saints who are perhaps St. Peter Thomas and St. Albert of Sicily.
 

COURSES IN CARMELITE SPIRITUALITY
AND HISTORY

• Provincial Commissariat of the Philippines

The first three days seminar was about Marian Spirituality. It was organised on the occasion of the 750^th anniversary of the Scapular and it was schedule as follows:

• 30 June: "Mary in the Bible" by Sr. Cathleen Coyle, SSC
• 6 July: "Mary in recent Church documents" by Sr. Erlinda Perlado, CCV, and "Mary in the Carmelite Tradition" by Fr. Anton Hoogland (Neer-Phi)
• 14 July: "Mary and the Scapular" by Fr. Toto Jaranilla (Neer-Phi).

• "St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The Story of a Soul as a story of transformation" by Fr. Michael Plattig (GerS)
• "Spirituality, essence and methods" by Fr. Kees Waaijman (Neer)
• "Christian and Muslim Spirituality" by Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI
• "Christian and Hindu Spirituality" by Fr. Francis Vineeth, CMI.

• Indonesian Province

• "Mary according to Scripture" by Fr. Guido Tisera, SVD,
• "Mary in the Development of the Church" and "Mary and Elijah in Carmelite Liturgical Tradition" by Fr. Bosco da Cunha, O.Carm.,
• "Mary in Carmelite Tradition and according to Carmelite prominent figures" by Fr. Stef Buyung Florianus, O.Carm.,
• "The Carmelite Scapular: a Special Devotion that needs to be Spread" by Fr. Zacharias Dhena, O.Carm.

• Italian Province

The programme for this academic year was as follows:
1^st week from 24 to 28 September 2001:

• Religious from the French Revolution to the present. (G. Grosso)
• Carmel from the French Revolution to the present: suppression and rebirth. (E. Boaga)
• Carmelite identity in the 20^th century. (E. Boaga)
• Titus Brandsma. (B. Secondin)
• Panoramic view of some eminent Carmelites. (E. Boaga)
• The Prophet Elijah: readings. (A. Vella)
• Therese of the Child Jesus, Elisabeth of the Trinity, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. (L. Borriello)

• The Carmelite Family. (G. Grosso)
• Some Italians of the Carmelite Family. (S. Possanzini)
• Holy Mary of Mount Carmel in the 20^th century. (G. Molinari - G. Grosso)
• Bartholomew Xiberta, philosopher and theologian. (F. Millàn Romeral)
• Presentation of an aid to understanding Carmel. (G. Grosso)
• The reform of the Carmelite liturgy after the Second Vatican Council. (S. Possanzini)
• "Carmelite" aspects of the liturgy. (G. Midili)
• Visits to some Roman Carmelite places of interest. (E. Boaga)

• What does the Rule say to Carmelites today? (E. Boaga)
• Carmelite identity in legislative texts of the Carmelite Family. (G. Grosso)
• Our way of life and witness in the present context? (G. Grosso)

FR. BRIAN PITMAN, O.Carm.
(1930-2001)

Fr. Brian was born on 7 February 1930 in Perth, Australia. From his youth his great desire was to be a missionary. With this ideal in mind he went from the diocesan seminary to a missionary congregation. Later, his love for Mary became so important in his life that he decided to embrace the ideal of Carmel. He joined the Carmelite Order in 1949 and the following year, on 1 March 1950, made his simple profession. Two years later he was sent to Rome to continue his studies at St. Albert’s International College. He stayed in Rome until 1959 during which time he completed his theological studies and obtained his doctorate in philosophy. He was ordained priest in Aylesford, England, on 17 July 1955.

In 1959 Fr. Brian returned to Australia to teach at the Carmelite seminary in Donvale. He taught there for the next twenty years until 1979. He then went to Hilton, Perth, and later to Mount Lawley where he combined theological reflection and pastoral ministry as chaplain at the University of Murdoch and at St. Anne’s Hospital. In 1994, Fr. Brian was appointed English-language General Secretary at the General Curia in Rome. In spite of his advanced age, he carried out his duties with great dedication. The following year, he went back to Australia, soon after the 1995 General Chapter.

Fr. Brian was greatly appreciated for his many gifts and as professor at Maranatha and for a short time at Notre Dame and St. Charles Seminary. He spent his last years in Foley Village, a nursing home for the aged at Hamilton Hill. He died on 15 September 2001.
 

CARDINAL MARTINI PRESENT
AT THE "LECTIO" IN TRASPONTINA

On 26 October 2001, the Carmelite church of Santa Maria in Traspontina (Rome) was full of the faithful and welcomed an exceptional master in the person of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Archbishop of Milan, for a lectio divina under the guidance of Fr. Bruno Secondin who has been leading the lectio every second week for the past six years. This was the 50^th meeting of the series.

At the request of Cardinal Martini, the lectio proceeded as usual with the well-tested hymns and rhythm. At the moment of sharing, the Cardinal gave his spiritual reflection. He gave an exegesis and meditation on the text (Sir 35, 9-18) and a strong exhortation to continue with the practice of "a prayerful reading of the Word". Cardinal Martini said that if we are not quite familiar with the Word and do not assimilate its inspiration in our lives, we cannot build a true Christian life. The Cardinal’s own attentive participation, without any distinction, showed that for him too this celebration was a moment of real prayer and of intense communion.

The experience of these years, always under the guidance of Fr. Secondin, has echoed in the hearts of others either through the large poster on the Lectio or through the publication of a book entitled La lettura orante della Parola, Padua 2001. This book is a collection of a number of lectio already practised. Soon a second volume will be published containing about thirty lectio texts. The poster and the books will be translated into other languages. This is a way of consolidating the ability of Carmelites to open new avenues of pastoral and spiritual care according to tradition and in keeping with new spiritual trends.
 

EDITH STEIN INSPIRED PIUS XI
AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM

In an Italian Television Network Sat 2000's program "The Art of Living: The Century of Martyrdom" it was reported that Edith Stein, the philosopher and convert-turned-Carmelite nun, during her life wrote a letter to the Pontiff, Pius XI, when the racial persecutions began by the Nazis.

According to the documentary, in her letter she foresaw with great anticipation all the negative consequences of the Hitlerite fury. The show's producers reported that Pius XI ordered the Vatican State Secretariat to thank Stein's family and sent them his blessing. The producers also mentioned several reasons why the Carmelite's words may have been decisive in the Pope's writing of the 14 March 1937 "Mit brennender Sorge" against the anti-Semitism in Hitler's Germany. It was said that Stein's letter is kept in the Vatican Archives and has never been published.

Edith Stein, in Carmel, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was born into a devout Jewish family in Breslau, Germany (now Broklaw, Poland) in 1891. She died in an Auschwitz gas chamber on 9 August 1942 and was canonized by John Paul II in October 1998.
 

CARMELITE CLOISTERED NUNS

• Guiguinto, Philippines

• Dumaguete City, Philippines

• Jaboticabal, Brazil

• Machakos, Kenya

For the last two years and until the new monastery is ready, the nuns are living in a house of the diocese made available to them by the bishop. This house lacks the facilities required for an enclosed community and is far too small for the growing numbers of vocations. At present there are five solemnly professed nuns, two Spanish (Srs. Maragarita and Magdalena) and three Kenyans (Srs. Winifred, Christine and Grace), two postulants and one aspirant. The building of the new monastery will be in phases and will proceed as and when donations permit. Those who would like to contribute to this project may contact Fr. Anthony Scerri or any other General Councillor at the Curia.

• Porlamar (Isla Margarita), Venezuela

• Vic (Barcelona), Spain

• Cabanatuan City, Philippines

• Rizal, Philippines

CARMELITE PUBLICATIONS

Books:

ABELA, Samwel, O.Carm.,
Esperjenza fi Franza, Kunvent tal-Karmnu, Mdina, 2001, pp. 48. (E-mail: carmmlt@mail.global.net.mt)

BOAGA, Emanuele, O.Carm.,
The Lady of the Place - Mary in the history and in the life of Carmel, Edizioni Carmelitane, Roma, 2001, pp. 224. (E-mail: edizioni@ocarm.org)

BOAGA, Emanuele, O.Carm.,
L'Institutum Carmelitanum - Attività scientifica, divulgativa ed editoriale - Dal 1951 al 2001, Edizioni Carmelitane, Roma, 2001, pp. 21. (E-mail: edizioni@ocarm.org). The year 2001 sees the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Institutum Carmelitanum by the Prior General Fr. Kilian Lynch with the purpose of promoting studies in Carmelite history, mariology and spirituality. Turning to the future, the Institutum offers to all the members of the Order this booklet which describes briefly its history and furnishes information on its many activities.

BORG GUSMAN, P. Valentin, O.Carm.,
Is-Serva ta' Alla Madre M. Crocifissa Curcio, Sorijiet Karmelitani, Kercem, 2001, pp. 38. (E-mail: carm.miss.stbg@mclink.it)

CASTORO, Eliseo, O.Carm.,
Esistenza in preghiera sulle orme di Kierkegaard, Piemme, Casale Monferrato (AL), 2001, pp. 206. (E-mail: castelis@libero.it)

CASTRO COTTA, Camélia Augusta de, ICDP,
Il silenzio nella vita carmelitana, (Orizzonti: Approccio dinamico al carisma del Carmelo - N. 13), Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2001, pp. 128. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

INTERNATIONAL CARMELITE INFORMATION CENTRE (CITOC)
I Carmelitani - The Carmelites - Los Carmelitas - Ordo Karmel - Die Karmeliten - Les Carmes - De Karmelorde - Els Carmelites - Il-Karmelitani, Edizioni Carmelitane, Roma, 2001, pp. 40. (E-Mail: edizioni@ocarm.org / citoc@ocarm.org). This is an attractive publication rich in photos and information on the Carmelite Family: its vocation, presence in the world and formation. The principal aim of this book is to present to the readers a general view of the mission and presence of our family. It is available in Italian, English, Spanish, Maltese, Dutch, French, Indonesian, Catalan and German. Polish and Portuguese editions are in preparation.

CERA, Mariano, Carmelitano,
La preghiera nel Carmelo, (Orizzonti: Approccio dinamico al carisma del Carmelo - N. 11), Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2001, pp. 134. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

CILIA, Anthony, O.Carm.,
Iconographia Carmelitana: La Madonna dello Scapolare - La Virgen del Escapolario - Our Lady of the Scapular, Editrice Pisani, Isola del Liri (FR), 2001, pp. 100. (E-mail: acilia@ocarm.org). This volume, published on the occasion of the Marian Year by the Centrum Informationis Totius Ordinis Carmelitarum (CITOC), is a companion to the CD-Rom Carmelite Iconography published a few months ago. It consists of some hundred pictures of artistic statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel throughout the world. It is another aid towards promoting devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, to admire the beauty of Carmelite art and also to render homage to many artists who expressed their genius so well.

DONAIRE, José, O.Carm.,
Constructor de sí mismo, Ediciones Trípode, Caracas, 2000, pp. 232. (E-mail: carmelo@cantv.net)

Fraternità Carmelitana di Pozzo di Gotto,
Crescere come fratelli, (Orizzonti: Approccio dinamico al carisma del Carmelo - N. 9), Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2001, pp. 80. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

Il-Familja Missjunarja Donum Dei,
(Trad: P. Samwel Abela, O.Carm.), [Kunvent tal-Karmnu, Mdina, 2001], pp.22. (E-mail: carmmlt@mail.global.net.mt)

JOANNES PAULUS II,
Lettre de Sa Sainteté Jean-Paul II pour l'Année Mariale Carmélitaine; List ojca Swietego Jana Pawla II na Rok Maryjny Karmelitanki; Vatican, 25 March 2001, pp. 7. (E-mail: edizioni@ocarm.org)

LÓPEZ MELÚS, Rafael M., O.Carm.,
Nuestra Dulcísima Madre - La Virgen María en la vida y escritos de la beata Maravillas de Jesús, Edibesa, Madrid, 2001, pp. 326. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es)

Meditar dia e noite na lei do Senhor,
Centro da Família Carmelita, Lisboa, 2001, pp. 38. (E-mail: pbdsilva@hotmail.com)

MESTERS, Carlos, O.Carm.,
Far ardere il cuore, (Orizzonti: Approccio dinamico al carisma del Carmelo - N. 10), Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2001, pp. 136. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

Monastero Carmelitane Scalze di Concenedo (Italia),
Della stirpe di Aronne - Hermann Cohen - Painista e Carmelitano, Ed. Mimep-Docete - Padri Carmelitani [Scalzi], Milano, 2000, pp. 240. (E-mail: mimep@mailcoop.net)

Monastero Carmelitane Scalze di Concenedo (Italia),
Gli occhi del cuore: la Presenza di Dio, Ed. Mimep-Docete - Padri Carmelitani [Scalzi], Milano, 2000, pp. 192. (E-mail: mimep@mailcoop.net)

Monastero Carmelitane Scalze di Legnano (Italia),
Teresa de Jesús, Ed. Mimep-Docete - Padri Carmelitani [Scalzi], Milano, 2000, pp. 223. (E-mail: mimep@mailcoop.net)

O'DONNELL, Christopher, O.Carm.,
L'amore nel cuore della Chiesa - La missione di Teresa di Lisieux (Original title: Love in the heart of the Church), Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano, 2001, pp. 256. (E-mail: bibl.gen.cisa@ocarm.org). Fr. Christopher, a teacher at Milltown Institute in Dublin, engages a theme put forward by current theology especially by Karl Rahner and Hans Urs van Balthasar: the important contribution of spirituality, especially of the lives and writings of the saints, to theology. This book, written for the centenary by an expert in ecclesiology, examines that which Thérèse can offer contemporary theology of the Church. Where perception is often negative, the self-identity of Thérèse as "love in the heart of the Church" can constitute a focal point for a renewed ecclesiology. After a brief review of the many faces of the saint over the last hundred years, Fr. O’Donnell examines various intuitions of Thérèse such as the communion of saints, charisms, the concreteness of charity, intercession, suffering, missions, priests and faith, purgatory, martyrdom, the saints and Mary. The author holds that the way Thérèse developed these and other themes is particularly significant today for a renewed vision of the Church. (The book costs L.30.000 / Euro 15,49. Anyone who wishes to avail him/herself of a 30% discount should contact Fr. Edmond Caruana, O.Carm., Email: bibl.gen.cisa@ocarm.org; Tel: (+39) 06 6810 0899; Fax: (+39) 06 6830 7200.)

O'DONNELL, Christopher, O.Carm.,
Prayer: Insights from St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Veritas, Dublin, 2001, pp. 126. (E-mail: chrisodonnell@terenure.iol.ie). Though all who write or speak about Thérèse are conscious of her prayer, there is as yet no full-length study of the topic. This book seek to present the thought of St. Thérèse on prayer against a double background of Carmelite spirituality and her life as a nun in the Lisieux Carmel. Fr. Christopher, author of the previous well-received publication, deals first with the Carmelite background of her prayer and the prayer-life of her convent, and then addresses her thoughts on the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, mental and vocal prayer, and the prayers that she composed. The book concludes with a consideration of St. Thérèse's role as a guide of prayer for today's Church.

PATRICK, F.,
Talb u Liturgija,(Trad: P. Samwel Abela, O.Carm.), [Kunvent tal-Karmnu, Mdina, 2001], pp. 20. (E-mail: carmmlt@mail.global.net.mt)

PIDYARTO GUNAWAN, H., O.Carm.,
Umat Bertanya, Romo Pid Menjawab, (Rubrik Konsultasi Iman 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Penerbit Kanisius, Yogyakarta, 2000-2001, pp. 110-170. (E-mail: hpurwanto@mailcity.com)

POSSANZINI, Stefano, O.Carm.,
Padre Angiolo Paoli, Carmelitano - Apostolo dei poveri e dei malati, Comitato Venerabile Padre Angelo Paoli, Massa Carrara, 2001, pp. 222. (E-mail: cisa@ocarm.org)

SECONDIN, Bruno, O.Carm.,
La lettura orante della Parola. "Lectio divina" in comunità e in parrocchia, ed. Messaggero, Padova, 2001, pp. 288. (E-mail: bsecondin@tiscalinet.it)

STEGGINK, Otger, O.Carm.,
Jean Soreth: Ritratt ta' Pirjol Generali, (Trad: P. Samwel Abela, O.Carm.), [Kunvent tal-Karmnu, Mdina], 2001, pp. 12. (E-mail: carmmlt@mail.global.net.mt)

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm - Mother Mary Angeline McCrory, O.Carm.,
Servant of God, Foundress, The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, Germantown, 2001. (E-mail: carmsist@ix.netcom.com). This publication is a new biography of Mother M. Angeline Teresa in the form of a photo album. It traces her life from birth in Tyrone, Ireland, through her sojourn in Scotland with the Little Sisters of the Poor, in New York when she founded her own Religious Congregation, up to the present. The photos and the typographical presentation are very attractive and between the covers one finds the story of a woman who had a dream. This dream came true and is still alive in her spiritual daughters in the United States and in Ireland. The publication does not stop at the past and the present, but also points to the future of the Congregation. This work is good as a presentation of Mother Angeline to those who do not know her, as a means of promoting the Cause of her beatification and canonisation, and as an inspiration to any young lady who is looking at religious life.

TRUZZI, P. Claudio, OCD.,
Juanita: una ragazza come tante altre ma . . . , Ed. Mimep-Docete - Padri Carmelitani [Scalzi], Milano, 2001, pp. 128. (E-mail: mimep@mailcoop.net)

VERLICCHI, Giuliana, TOC,
12 Stelle per Maria - raccolta di 12 poesie in omaggio a Maria "Mater Decor Carmeli", Gruppo Terz'Ordine Carmelitano, Lugo, 2001, pp. 32.

VIGANI, P. Maurizio, Carmelitano Scalzo,
I quaderni di padre Maurizio, Ed. Mimep-Docete - Padri Carmelitani [Scalzi], Milano, 2001, pp. 221. (E-mail: mimep@mailcoop.net)

Video-Audio cassettes:

MERICO, Antonio, O.Carm.,
Viaggio nei luogi dell'antica presenza dei Carmelitani, Curia Generalizia dei Carmelitani, Roma, 2001, 28 minutes. (E-mail. Tonycarm@libero.it). This videocassette, published on the occasion of the Carmelite Marian Year and the 750^th anniversary of the Scapular, was the fruit of Fr. Merico’s desire to make known to all our history and spirituality, by walking through, as on a voyage, places and events of special significance for a knowledge of the Carmelites. After a very short introduction, the document presents the following themes: Geography of Carmel, An experience of the origins of Carmel, El Muhraqa (The sacrifice), Stella Maris Basilica and Convent, Wadi 'Ain es-siah (Valley of the pilgrim), Elijah, Mary – the Lady of the Place, Transmigration to the West, The values of the first generations of Carmelites, The Carmelite Scapular, Carmelites today. Each videocassette is accompanied by a booklet containing the text of the commentary.

Audio cassettes:

RUSSELL, John, O.Carm.,
Becoming Spiritually Mature, Alba House Communications, Canfield (Ohio), 2001, 2 cassettes - 160 min. (E-Mail: jrussell@carmelnet.org). In this third audiocassette program for Alba House Communications Fr. J. Russell leads his listeners to a new level of development in the spiritual life. He intends to help the individual to find God more fully in what comes in the ongoing years. To do this, he draws especially on the wealth of material in the saints of Carmel with emphasis on St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Relationships, he says , are at the core of the human living: our basic relationship is with God and with our own self. From that foundation we relate to others, to the world around us, to the changing challenges of our every day. During his talks Fr. Russell replies to the question: What are the characteristics of this whole universe of relationships that should help us to grow in wisdom and holiness?

2002 Calendars:

Carmelite Calendar 2002 - Saints of Carmel
Province of Great Britain, 2001. (E-mail: kalban@carmelnet.org)

Calendario Carmelitano 2002 - Il ciclo di Elia nello "Speculum Carmelitanum"
Centro Stampa Carmelitano, Roma, 2001. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)
 

UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND
TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Addresses of new houses

French General Delegation
Frères Carmes, 2 rue Saint Joseph, 49100 Angers, France. Tel: (+33) 02 41 87 65 20, Fax: 02 41 20 30 24.
Carmelite Cloistered Nuns
Carmelite Nuns, Carmel of Mary Star of the Sea, Bgy. Plaza Aldea, Sitio Balimbing, 1909 Tanay, Rizal, Philippines.

Change in addresses

Maltese Province
Comunidad Carmelita, Casilla 9193, La Paz, Bolivia.
Upper German Province
Karmel Johannes Soreth, Hörsterplatz 4, D-48147 Münster, Germany. Tel: (0251) 4833-0; Fax: (0251) 4833227.

New phone / fax numbers

Carmelite Cloistered Nuns
Monastero della Sant.ma Concezione, Via Garibaldi, 1, 01015 Sutri (Viterbo), Italy. Tel: 0761-609082, Fax: 0761-609642.
Baetica Province
Padres Carmelitas, Parroquia Santa Monica, Municipio Jesús E. Losada, 4032 La Concepción, Edo. Zulia, Venezuela. Tel: 0262-2432040.

New Web sites

Paróquia Santa Teresa de Jesus, Sao Paolo, Brasil
http://www.paroquiasantateresa.org/
St. Thérèse Lay Carmelite Community, Washington
http://www.stthereselcc.com/
Província Carmelitana Pernambucana
http://fradescarmelitas.vila.bol.com.br/index.html
Bedlington Chapter Newsletter
http://www.geocities.com/dvmddltn/newsletter.html
Karmel Johannes Soreth, Münster
http://www.muenster.org/karmel
Convento de la Encarnación de Zaragoza
http://www.terra.es/personal5/materunitatis/
Basilica Santuario Maria SS. Annunziata al Carmine, Catania
http://carminecatania.it/

New e-mail addresses

Arago-Valentine Province

Fos, Ismael Parroquia Santa Teresa de Jesus, S. Domingo

<s.isidoro@terra.es> <psantateresa@yahoo.com>

Sister of the Virgen Mary of Mount Carmel

Vicaria Indonesia y Timor Loro Sae

<hcarmmlg@plasa.com>

Carmelite Cloistered Nuns

Camanà, Perù Sutri (Viterbo), Italia Sevilla, Spain Sogliano al Rubicone, Italia: Baldini, M. Chiara

<ocaso45@ec-red.com> <carmelo.s.concezione@libero.it> <UEI0581556600@eurociber.es> <suor.chiara@libero.it>

Indonesian Province

Jokoprasetyo, Lukas Sudharnoto, Yulius  Verbeek, Cyprianus Lay Carmelites, Indonesia

<eljepe@lycos.com> <jiusnoto@yahoo.com> <cyprianus_verbeek@yahoo.com> <toc_indo@yahoo.com>

Irish Province

Hughes, Paul Commissary Provincial, Zimbabwe

<paulhughes12@eircom.net> <comprov@mutare.mweb.co.zw>

Dutch Province

Hoogland, Anton

<antonhoogland@yahoo.com>

Lower Germany Province

Groothuis, Leo

<karmelmainz@t-online.de>

PCM American Province

Leskovar, Diego Rojas, Fabio Traudt, Robert  White, Andy  Wu, Joseph

<leskovar_diego@yahoo.com> <fabiorojas75@hotmail.com> <stjohn2@bellatlantic.net> <waw96a@hotmail.com> <cjosephwu@yahoo.com>

Pernambuco Province

Frades Carmelitas, Mozambique

<fradescarmelitas@teledata.mz>

Upper German Province

Förtsch, Gerhard Pottackal, Joyson Weigand, Klaus Karmelitenkloster, Münster

<p.gerhard@theresianum.de> <stjohnofx@home.com> <P.Klaus.Weigand@t-online.de> <karmel@muenster.org>

Pernambuco Province

Gomes de Oliveira, Dom Eliseo Comunidad, Jaboatao dos Guararapes Pastoral Vocacional

<domelizeu@ada.com.br> <FradesCajueiro@aol.com> <vocacionadocarmelita@hotmail.com>

Italian Province

Bagnai, Giovanni Di Berardino, Emidio Comunità Carmelitana, Romania Novizi carmelitani, Pisa

<gibagnai@tin.it> <oidim@libero.it> <Karmelrom@yahoo.com> <noviziatopisa@interfree.it>

Hermits of the M.Bl.V. Mary of Mt. Carmel (Christoval)

Rosette, Fabian

<fatherfabian@carmelitehermits.org>

St. Elias American Province

Seitzberg, Peter E.

<dj1repete@hotmail.com>

Polish Province

Mikolajczyk, Andrzej Klasztor OO. Karmelitów, Baborów

<przeor@skrzynka.pl> <marinio@interia.pl>

St. Albert's International Centre - Rome

Gomes, Evaldo Xavier (Flum) Munengwa, Thomas More (Hib-Zim)

<evaldox@libero.it> <tmmunengwa@ocarm.org>

Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Superiora General Consejeras Generales Causa de Canonización de M. Asunción

<sgeneral.cscj@planalfa.es> <cgeneral.cscj@planalfa.es> <causamas@planalfa.es>

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

CARMELITE MILESTONES

Novices

5 August 2001
Paskalis Patut (Indo)
Fidelis Moi (Indo)
Severinus Nuwa (Indo)
Dominikus Jebarus (Indo)
Yanto Yohanes Ndona (Indo)
Hermanus Yoseph Sugi (Indo)
Wenseslaus Jehani (Indo)
Fransiskus de Gomez (Indo)
Vinsensius Negar (Indo)
Hendrikus Beren Doni (Indo)
Simon Petrus Taa (Indo)
Damasius Joseph Leko Loda (Indo)
1 September 2001
Rui Miguel Novais (Lus)
Victor Miguel Monteiro (Lus)
15 September 2001
Juan Luis Carrera Castilla (Baet)
José Manuel Granados Rivera (Baet)
Francesco Galiano (Neap)
29 September 2001
Josef Cutajar (Mel)

Simple Professions

12 August 2001
Hendrikus Dili (Indo)
Robertus Alexio da Cruz (Indo)
Yohanes Yakobus Renggi (Indo)
Donatus Pale Gare (Indo)
19 August 2001
Bonifasius Ferry P. Santoso (Indo)
Antonius James F. Sinaga (Indo)
Robertus Robi Setiawan (Indo)
Markus Buanaraja S. Simanjutak (Indo)
Valentinus Yedi Turdiatmoko (Indo)
Thomas Purwanto (Indo)
Yaohanes Mahmudi Yusuf (Indo)
Emanuel Sonny Wibisono (Indo)
F.x. Bambang Widiatmoko (Indo)
Felix A.Hatta Adi Mas Prihandono (Indo)
1 September 2001
Fernando Barbero García (Baet)
Jorge Fernández Sanchez (Baet)
Antonio Graciá Albero (Arag)
2 September 2001
Felician Farcas (Ita)
Augustin Mihai Folner (Ita)
Viorel Farcas Gherghina (Ita)
Sebastian Benchea (Ita)
Wilson Castilla Acosta (Ita)
Ricardo González Herrera (Ita)
Carlos Rivera Rodríguez (Ita)
Tamba Charles Damian (Brun)

Solemn Professions

12 August 2001
Agustinus Seda (Indo)
Dominikus Dinong (Indo)
15 August 2001
Markus Pantja Anugerah Putera (Indo)
Konrat Sumirat (Indo)
Willibrordus Agustinus Purwanto (Indo)
Petrus Pahala H. Lumban Gaol (Indo)
28 September 2001
Jorge Beltrán López (Baet)
20 September 2001
Maria Lucia Feverati (CAR)
6 October 2001
P.J. Breen (Hib)
20 October 2001
M. Lucia del Dio Vivente Feverati (CAR)

Diaconate Ordinations

1 October 2001
Ricardo Nunes (Pern)

Priestly Ordinations

3 October 2001
Yosef Utus (Indo)
5 August 2001
Ismael Pereira Teixeira (Lus)
18 October 2001
Agustinus Sutiono (Indo)
Albertus Medyanto (Indo)
Agustinus Paryono (Indo)
Christian Han (Indo)
Antonius Wahyu Anggono (Indo)
27 October 2001
Artemio D. Jusayan (Neer-Phi)
14 November 2001
Aniceto Maia da Costa (Indo)
Nelinho Americo (Indo)

Necrology

25 May 2001
Gerard (Arnold) Vaneman (Aust)
26 May 2001
Yoannes B. Mursodo (Indo)
6 June 2001
Angela Cervone (ALL)
19 June 2001
Elisea Vije (ZEN)
21 June 2001
Guillermo Arranz (Cast)
29 June 2001
Henricus Kortink (Indo)
5 July 2001
Domingos Soares (Indo)
7 July 2001
Martinus Sigismund van Gelderen (Neer)
10 July 2001
Robert John Dowd (Aust)
28 July 2001
Michele Alessandri (Ita)
30 July 2001
M. Emanuela Palumbo (ROC)
10 August 2001
M. Madalena Correia (MON)
13 August 2001
Estanislau Twaalfhoven (Flum)
Benedikt Zweier (GerS)
14 August 2001
M. Milagros Ortiz González (SDO)
25 August 2001
Clementino Eijkelkamp (Flum)
1 September 2001
Peter McAlpine (Aust)
10 September 2001
Luis Perea Murillo (Baet)
12 September 2001
Casimiro Vloon (Lus)
15 September 2001
Brian Pitman (Aust)
24 September 2001
Arthur Fitzpatrick (Hib)
4 October 2001
Manuel Bautista Muñoz López (Baet)
13 October 2001
Herman van Langen (Neer)
 

CARMELITE NUNS AROUND THE WORLD

Address: Monges Carmelitas
Panama, 12
08034 Barcelona, Spain

After the monastery of Villafranca, it was the nuns in Barcelona who gained advantage from the enthusiasm of Fr. Martín Román. In 1645, he received the decrees of the Prior General, Fr. Leone Bonfigli, and opened the new monastery on 12 May 1649 with two nuns and three novices from Villafranca. Soon five other young ladies embraced the cloistered life. As in Villafranca, in this new foundation he introduced the Constitutions of the monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Florence (Italy). One year later the plague broke out and some nuns died of it. For many years the community suffered many trials, but without doubt the hardest of them all was in 1663 when Fr. Martín Román, their founder, died.

The politico-military problems of the 18^th and 19^th centuries in Spain left their mark on the cloistered life of the nuns. The French bombing of 1706 hit the monastery hard so that they had to flee to the monastery of the Dominican nuns. A few years later, in 1714, when Philip V occupied Barcelona, the nuns were constrained to leave their monastery once more.

In 1814, the French, Spain’s restless neighbours, caused a further exclaustration. Not only did the nuns flee their monastery but also their city. They soon returned, but in 1823 they were again expelled, and again in 1835! But this time the nuns lost their monastery. In 1885 the community obtained a villa in Corts de Savriá but only for twenty years. The Tragic Week of July 1909 obliged them to look for a new place of refuge. This time providence was most generous because Mr. Agustín Valls i Vicens offered them his house and the bishop of Barcelona the convent of Pedralbes.

Soon they built a monastery in Las Corts. They moved there in 1913 but not for long. This time their trial was much harder. The monastery was sacked completely and turned into a prison. The nuns went back there only in 1939. They practically had to start from nothing with great sacrifices because the community was poor and the monastery was almost in ruins. But the sacrifices of the nuns were rewarded. As years went by the community became stable and grew to the point that in 1954 the nuns founded another monastery in Tárrega and in 1983 another monastery in Porlamar in Venezuela.

During its 350 years of cloistered life, the community of Barcelona saw many nuns who diligently held on to the observance of the Carmelite life. This is the best thing that can be said about the monastery. Moreover, some of these nuns kept some special memories. This is where Sr. Eulalia de la Cruz (1669-1725) lived, one of three daughters of a pious family whose children all embraced the religious life. Three of them became Carmelite nuns. Sr. Eulalia left some writings. The original manuscripts no longer exist but there are copies in the library of the University of Barcelona.

St. Joaquina Vedruna, this holy wife and mother, lived in the same street where the Carmelite nuns had their monastery. For some time it was her intention to join them. But God willed that she be a model for mothers and wives and finally to become the foundress of new Carmelite communities. The Carmelite nuns who lived near by nurtured her spirituality.

CARMELITE NUNS AROUND THE WORLD

GENERAL INDEX OF INFORMATION
PUBLISHED IN CITOC
 

City, Country Amstelveen, Nederland Aracena, España Banyoles, España Barcelona, España Beja, Portugal Boxmeer, Nederland Burgos, Philippines Cabanatuan, Philippines Camanà, Perú Carpineto Romano, Italia Cerreto di Sorano, Italia Cordoba, España Duisburg, Deutschland Dumaguete City, Philippines Guiguinto, Philippines Hudson, USA Huesca (Asunción), España Huesca (San Miguel), España Jaboticabal, Brasil Jesi, Italia Machakos, Kenya Madrid, España Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Montegnacco, Italia Onteniente, España Ostuni, Italia Paranavai, Brasil Porlamar, Venezuela Ravenna, Italia Roccagloriosa, Italia Roxas City, Philippines San Govanni La Punta, Italia Sogliano al Rubicone, Italia Tarrega, España Valencia, España Vetralla, Italia Vic, España Wahpeton, USA Zaragoza, España

Monastery Karmel St. Jozef Monasterio de Sta. Catalina Monestir de la Mare de Déu del Carme Monestir de l'Encarnació Carmelo do S. Corção de Jesus Karmel H. Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Carmel of Our Lady of Nazareth Monasterio de la Sma. Trinidad Carmelo Sant'Anna Carmelo Janua Coeli Carmelo del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Karmelitinnenkloster Mutter vom Guten Rat Mon. de N. Sra. de las Maravillas y S. José Monastery of the Holy Family Carmel of the Sacred Heart Monasterio Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Monasterio de la Encarnación Mosteiro Flos Carmeli Monastero della Santissima Trinità Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monasterio Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas Monasterio S. Maria del Monte Carmelo Carmelo Gesù di Nazareth Monasterio Purísima Sangre de Cristo Monastero Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi Mosteiro Mater Carmeli Monasterio de la Anunciación Monastero di Santo Stefano Monastero S. Croce di Lucca Monastery of the Holy Trinity and O.L.O.M.C. Monastero San Giuseppe al Carmine Carmelo Santa Maria della Vita Monestir de l'Amor Diví Monasterio de la Santissima Encarnación Monastero Monte Carmelo Monestir de la Presentació Carmel of Mary Monasterio de la Encarnación

CITOC 2 (1999) 42 6 (1996) 105 2 (2000) 45 6 (2001) 170 3 (2000) 63 3 (1997) 57 2 (1998) 41 1 (2000) 19 7 (1994) 120 4 (1994) 52 1 (1999) 13 4 (2001) 77 5 (1996) 88 5 (1998) 105 5 (2000) 103 4 (1996) 68 2 (1995) 29 4 (1998) 73 1 (1996) 19 3 (1995) 46 6 (1999) 150 1 (1994) 11 3 (1999) 69 4 (1999) 83 1 (1998) 21 2 (1996) 36 5 (1994) 63 4 (1995) 62 4 (1997) 71 3 (1998) 57 1 (2001) 21 2 (1997) 40 6 (1995) 123 6 (2000) 125 3 (1996) 53 1 (1995) 13 4 (2000) 81 6 (1997) 127 2 (2001) 43

A MESSAGE OF THANKS

Fifteen years ago the General Council, in session no. 147 of 4 March 1987, inducted me into the General Secretariat appointing me as responsible for "Communications" in the Order, with the special task of publishing CITOC. I accepted the appointment with great joy and with the hope that I could, in some way, repay all that I had received from the Carmelite Order. From the moment I entered my office I dedicated myself generously, without once looking back.

When I arrived in Rome, at the beginning of 1987, the publication of CITOC was well organised and also very simple. The news were prepared by three religious and for the most part taken from Carmelite magazines sent in by the Provinces and Commissariats. Fr. Louis Rogge (PCM) prepared the English edition, Fr. Manuel Anguiano (Baet) the Spanish, and I prepared the Italian edition. Each had the task of searching the magazines for news to be published and to translate those items chosen by other members of the team. I did everything else, the typing, paging and coordination of the three editions. In those days CITOC (published more then six times a year), was prepared on an electric typewriter and the copies were photocopied outside. Then I had to put together each magazine (about 600), staple them, fold them, put them into envelopes already stamped and addressed and finally take them to the post office. In a way, for many years, the publication of each number of CITOC was like a game among collaborators! Today the publication follows the same lines with some variations: it is done on computer, reproduced by typography and delivered ready. Moreover, since 1992, when Fr. L. Rogge went back to the United States, he was not replaced except for the work of translation.

The 1980s for the General Curia were marked by the introduction of the first computer. Following the development of modern technology and of the Curia, in May 1988 the first edition of CITOC prepared on computer was published! Since then the computer has become the principal means of conveying news. The internet marked the 1990s. In fact, in 1996 the General Council decided to introduce electronic mail in the Generalate and entrusted this task to me. In January 1998, CITOC was sent not only to the 600 Carmelite houses but also to some 300 religious (today the number has more than doubled) who have an electronic address. The following year, rather than send a copy to each religious, CITOC was put on internet, in an area reserved for the Carmelites, so that those who have access to internet but do not have an electronic address may still read it in any country and at any time. This development has given rise to another version of CITOC, namely that in HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language) form, an innovation that improved the magazine with various pictures.

In January 1998, the Order saw the beginning of its own internet site "www.ocarm.org" in the three official languages (English, Spanish and Italian). In fact, after the introduction of electronic mail, the General Council asked me to coordinate a site for the Order. Today, this site includes more than 400 pages and is visited by about 350 persons each week (about 50 a day). While this is a good number of visitors, the site could be much improved by constant attention. But this, in turn, brings in a greater number of electronic messages to be answered!

Because of the amount of work involved and the lack of time to reply to all the requests, I decided to ask the new General Council to dispense me from the task of publishing CITOC in order to give more space to the introduction of new ideas for publication and to give me the time needed to dedicate myself to the internet site of the Order as "Web Master" and also to do some studies in the field of computer science.

I would like to conclude this message by thanking publicly in a special way the Prior General and his Council for their trust in me and for having granted my request. I thank Fr. Manuel Anguiano (Baet) for his collaboration, Fr. Louis Rogge (PCM) for the five years of service that he gave, Fr. Anthony Scerri (Aust) for his help in translation over the past six years, the many religious men and women of the Order who by their collaboration in various ways and by their prayers have supported me to continue with zeal the task entrusted to me. I feel proud that with your collaboration and the grace of God I have had the chance to serve the Order. I hope to continue serving the Order for many more years. I wanted to repay the Order for so much that the Order has given to me, but today I feel much richer than ever! THANKS!

Fraternally in Carmel,
Anthony Cilia, O.Carm.
acilia@ocarm.org

 

750th Anniversary of the Carmelite Scapular     1251-2001

"Those who imitate Mary, are comforted in all troubles, tribulations and sorrows, and overcome all temptations." – St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi "The Mother of God has clothed us in the robe of salvation: and she wraps about us the mantle of justice." - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross "May the spirit of the Virgin be in us so that we may live for Him." – Ven. Michael of Saint Augustine "Mary protects her creatures under her mantle, defends them with her virtues, but, above all, her maternity invites them to imitate her." St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi "The Blessed Virgin looks solely to doing God’s will." - Ven. Michael of Saint Augustine