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    No. 1 - JANUARY - FEBRUARY 1999

    English Edition
     

    CONTENTS



    ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF  THE GENERAL COUNCIL

    • Visit to the Province of Rio de Janeiro 
    • Fraternal Visits 
    • Meeting of Superiors General 
    • Audience with John Paul II 
    • Meeting of the O.Carm – OCD General Councils 
    • Formation 
    • General Assembly of the Delegation in France 
    • Liturgical Commission 
    • Mariological Seminar 
    • Executive secretariat of the international commission of Lay Carmelites
    TWO KEY WOMEN IN JOHN PAUL II'S PONTIFICATE

    ANXIETY OVER VIOLENCE IN  THE INDONESIAN CAPITAL THE RULE OF CARMEL

    CARMELITE CLOISTERED NUNS

    • Focene (Italy) 
    • Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
    "CARMEL AND MARY, LIVING THE TRADITION
    TODAY" UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND  TELEPHONE NUMBERS

    NEWS IN BRIEF
    • Docteur en philosophie et lettres 
    • New parish in the Congo 
    • Education at a Distance with The Carmelite Institute of America 
    • 700 Years of Carmelite presence in S. Martino ai Monti
    CARMELITE MILESTONES 

    CARMELITE NUNS IN THE WORLD:
    THE CARMEL "JANUA COELI" 
     


    ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF
    THE GENERAL COUNCIL

    Fr. Joseph Chalmers, Prior General

    On 22 October 1998, Fr. Wilmar Santin, General Councillor, and I left for São Paulo (Brazil) to begin a three-week visit to the communities of the Province of Rio de Janeiro. This Province has communities in five states of Brazil and so a lot of travelling was involved in this visit. We began in São Paulo with a celebration in which I received the solemn vows of three members of the Province and the renewal of simple vows of another. There are two communities in São Paulo. We stayed first in the Convento do Carmo which is a parish and formation centre for those studying philosophy and theology. On Sunday 25 October I visited the Carmelite Third Order Church where I celebrated Mass and gave a short talk. I was accompanied by Frs. Wilmar and Paulo Gollarte, Provincial, who also gave talks together with Gabriel Haamberg and Nuno Alves Correia. Fr. Wilmar and I moved on to the parish community of St. Teresa of Jesus. We had the opportunity of meeting some members of the "Isidore Bakanja Group" who prepare meals for the homeless and take the food to where the people are. They feed over one hundred people each night.

    On Tuesday 27 October we were driven to the community at Mogi das Cruces, about one and a half hours from São Paulo. Here we have a parish and a house for postulants. We interviewed the five members of the community and had a meeting with the six postulants. That evening we celebrated Mass with a group of Third Order members and other parishioners. The following day, after lunch, with several members of the parish, we were taken to Santos (founded in 1589), about two hours by car from Mogi, where we met two friars. In Santos, after we celebrated Mass with the Discalced Carmelite nuns we then visited the bishop.

    We then left by car for Itù, a journey of about three and a half-hours. We met the five members of the community and left the following day for Jaboticabal where we have three friars and a community of five nuns and a postulant. On Sunday, All Saints Day, after Mass in the monastery we were driven to the airport at Riberao Preto for the flight to São Paulo and then on to Brasilia where we have two friars. Because of the heavy rain it was not possible to visit the community at Unai, where there are five Carmelites. On the way to the airport on Tuesday 3 November we paid a short visit to the community of Carmelite Sisters of Divine Providence (ICDP). We then flew to Belo Horizonte where there are two friars. The large old community house is being put to good use at present for various social and religious works. We also paid a brief visit to the General Curia of the Carmelite Sisters (ICDP) where we met and shared with Sr. Marlene, the General Superior, and her Council, about events taking place within the Carmelite Family.

    Our next stop was Salvador, a two-hour flight from Belo Horizonte. In Salvador we have a huge old monastery looked after by one friar while another lives several hours away in the mission territory of Jacobina. Fr. Wilmar and I spoke to both friars in Salvador. We then flew to Rio de Janeiro where we visited the three communities of Lapa, Vicente de Carvalho and Angra dos Reis and spoke with each friar. We ended our visit with a meeting with the Provincial Council in Sao Paulo where we shared some reflections in view of the Provincial Chapter in January 1999.

    When I returned to Rome, I visited some of the communities of the Italian Province:

    Macerata - This year the parish community is celebrating the 450th anniversary of the foundation of the church and the 200th anniversary of the parish. Fr. Carlo Cicconetti, Provincial, was also present for this event.

    Rome, San Martino ai Monti - On 17 November, I visited the community together with Fr. Alexander Vella, General Councillor. The community, which is made up of 27 friars, 14 of whom are in initial formation, is preparing to celebrate the seventh centenary since Pope Boniface VIII entrusted the parish church and the adjoining monastery to the Order, on 1 May 1299. The community has the care of about 3500 persons. Among the activities of the parish, stands out the reception centre which has daily meals, showers and clothes for persons from non-European Community countries. The monastery, which in olden days was the seat of the Prior General, now houses the curia of the Italian Province.

    Rome, Santa Maria in Traspontina - The church, which is also a parish, is situated on Via della Conciliazione, which is the main road leading to the Vatican Basilica. The community is made up of seven friars, one of whom, however, died a couple of days after our visit. This was Fr. Michele Lucaferri who was in his nineties and who for the last twenty-five years of his life carried out the task of confessor at St. Peter's Basilica. The community also has in its midst our confrere, Mgr. Telesforo Cioli, emeritus bishop of Arezzo. This monastery too was for a long time the place of the General Curia of the Order.

    Brescia - The local community is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the parish and the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Sisters of Charity by St. Giovanna Antida. In the afternoon, while many of the faithful were in the parish hall enjoying a show put on by young people from Milan, someone came into the church and stole the relics of the saint. These relics were supposed to be taken on pilgrimage around Italy and France.

    Pisa – I visited the noviciate house of the Province together with Fr. Alexander Vella. There are at present eight novices, 3 from the Italian Province (one Italian, one Romanian and one Colombian), 4 from the Maltese Province and one from the Neapolitan Province. The community is made up of five friars.

    Florence - After Pisa, I went to Florence to visit the large community in the Carmine (three friars and five families, including 14 children!) and "The Family" of Castellina. Here I spent two days, participating in various meetings of "The Family". During my stay I had the opportunity to meet the Carmelite nuns of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, five young men who are living with the friars and discerning whether they might have a religious vocation, and the community of eight lay women from "The Family" who have dedicated their lives to praying for vocations as a community.

    Rome, Sassone - On Tuesday, 8 December, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, I went to the Carmelite house at Sassone (Rome) to celebrate Mass at the end of the annual meeting of the Italian Carmelite Youth Association.

    On 25 November I attended the meeting of the Generals at Ariccia, near Rome, along with Fr. Anthony Scerri, General Councillor. The theme of the meeting was "For a Creative Fidelity. Refounding".

    During this meeting we agreed to continue the web site of the Union of Superiors General (http://www.vidimusdominum.org). This web site, which is updated daily, gives news of what is happening in the religious life all over the world in 6 languages.


    Last year the Carmelite Family celebrated the 750th anniversary of the definitive approval of our Rule. The General Council had been hoping to celebrate this event with an audience with the Pope. Our wish came true on 16 and 17 December. During the first occasion I presented a copy of the Carmelite Rule to the Pope. The following morning all members of the General Council were invited to concelebrate Mass with His Holiness in the Pope's private chapel.

    The Carmelite Rule has inspired millions of people throughout the centuries to follow Christ. May it continue to attract many more people and may all of us seek to live ever more deeply the fundamental Carmelite values which are enshrined there.

    On 16 December we visited the Discalced Carmelite Curia for a meeting with their General Council. During our encounter we discussed recent meetings of joint commissions, joint preparations for the jubilee (including a pilgrimage/retreat to the Holy Land by both General Councils in October 1999), the proposal to set up a joint Carmelite NGO (non governmental organisation) at the United Nations and various other matters which affect both Orders.
     

    Fr. Alexander Vella, General Councillor

    >From 28 September to 3 October 1998, I took part in the meeting of formators of the Mediterranean area which, this year, took place in Malta, in our house of prayer "Lunziata", Rabat. There were twelve of us representing the Provinces of Italy, Naples, Betica, Arago-Valentina, Catalonia, Castille, Malta, the General Commissariat of Portugal and the General Delegation of France. Fr. Amadeo Zammit, Provincial of Malta, also attended some of the meetings. Because of the short distances between our houses, the group was able to visit all the communities of the Province as well as a convent of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (SCMTBG). As with other formators in all the regions of the Order, this year, we too, shared our reactions to the draft copy of the first part of the new RIVC which was sent to everyone a few months earlier and we studied the third part of the present RIVC concerning the phases of formation and suggested some changes.

    From 2 to 5 November, the International Commission for Formation met at the Generalate. We listened to and evaluated the reactions of the various regions to the first draft copy of the revised RIVC and the suggestions for the revision of the third part as well as the drawing up of a programme of Carmelite studies. We also drew up a programme for the International Congress of Formators which will be held at our house in San Felice al Benaco (Brescia), Italy, from 28 September to 5 October 1999 and to which all formators and vocation directors of the Order are invited.

    The subcommission which is compiling the text of the RIVC, then met at the Generalate form 4 to 8 December and began to revise the draft of the first part in accordance with the suggestions received. We hope to complete this work in January 1999 and to send the revised text to all Provincials and formators.

    On 7 December, the O.Carm - OCD Joint Commission for Formation met at the OCD Generalate. The initiatives which both Orders are promoting in the field of formation were discussed. In September 1999, our Discalced brothers too will hold an International Congress of Formators to which we are invited to send a representation. They will be represented at our Congress.

    Each year, the brothers of our General Delegation in France celebrate a General Assembly for a few days. This year the assembly was held in our monastery in Nantes from 26 to 28 October. I presided at the Assembly in the name of the Prior General and I also took part in a meeting of the Council of the Delegation on 30 October to discuss and take decision on matters considered during the Assembly.

    At present there are seven solemnly professed brothers and one simply professed in the Delegation. One of these, Fr. Joseph Abad (Aust), joined the group last September at the request of the General Delegate and the General Council to the Provincial of Australia to carry out the task of master of novices. Fr. Joseph is preparing for this task by doing a course in Paris organised for formators by the French major superiors. Meanwhile, the Council of the Delegation has entrusted to Fr. Joseph the formation of the brother in simple vows. It is hoped that within the next month or two some candidates will begin their pre-noviciate. The Delegation feels a great need for more brothers to join them. Whoever feels able to answer this appeal may write directly to the Prior General.

    On 17, 20 November and 3 December, I went with the Prior General for fraternal visits of the communities of the Italian Province of San Martino ai Monti, S. Maria in Traspontina and Pisa. During this last visit I took the opportunity to stay a few days longer in Pisa to give some lessons on the Prophet Elijah to the novices, as I do every year. At its plenary session in October, the General Council chose four Carmelite liturgists in Rome to form a liturgical commission under my direction. These are Frs. Edmond Caruana (Mel), Felip Amenós (Cat), Giuseppe Midili (Ita) and Désiré Unen (Ita-Con). We held our first meeting on 21 November at the Generalate. The first project is that of revising our rites of admission to the noviciate, simple profession, renewal of vows and solemn profession. If anyone has any suggestions concerning these matters please send them to me. Over the last few months I have had several meetings with Fr. Jean Sleiman, OCD General Definitor for Culture, and one meeting with his delegate, in order to draw up a programme for a mariological interdisciplinary seminar for scholars from both Orders. It is foreseen that the seminar will take place in the year 2000.
     

    Fr. Lucio Renna, Delegate for Lay Carmelites

    >From 6 to 16 August 1998, in Martina Franca (Italy), I led the interesting experience of a school of prayer. During the school, through daily listening, prayer, debate, celebrations, etc., I suggested reflections on the theme: "Prayer as a journey to the heart. To pray is to become a person to whom one turns". About 70 Tertiaries took part, living in our centre of spirituality "Oasi carmelitana". However, the school was open to others interested in the topic. Many took part in the school with great interest. On 29 - 31 October I animated a course of spiritual exercises for the TOC of Caivano (Italy) on the theme of the Meeting in Fatima: "The TOC: What is it and what does it want to be?". This theme was examined in the light of the reports from the international meeting and especially of the TOC Rule. Other church groups from the town were also invited. On 19 November 1998, the executive secretariat of the international commission of Lay Carmelites met in Rome, at the General Curia, with the following agenda:

    a) Evaluation of the international meeting celebrated in Fatima (31 August - 5 September 1998). On the basis of the evaluation made by the participants at the meeting, we were able to conclude that the meeting was a success. Two problems arose: 1) to be clearer in the future as to who should be invited to such meetings; 2) to find suitable ways of involving all the Provinces. Some suggestions were made which will be considered at the next meeting of the commission (Rome, 4 - 6 February 1999).

    b) The Rule and ritual of the TOC: the revision as well as the translation of these has already been completed by experts. This will be sent out by January 1999 to our Provinces and Commissariats, so that those responsible for local areas may be able to read them, make suggestions and amendments in view of the final draft to be submitted (hopefully in May) to the General Council and, then, to the approval of the Holy See.

    c) International Congress on the occasion of the Jubilee 2000: The date (Holy Week 2000) and place (Sassone, Rome) were confirmed. Various suggestions made at the meeting in Fatima were accepted. The detailed programme will be drawn up by the International Commission at its February meeting.

    d) The "Isidore Bakanja" Bulletin retains its aim as an information sheet and is entrusted to the care of Renée Prieur and Piero Sommonte, members of the international commission.
     
     

    TWO KEY WOMEN
    IN JOHN PAUL II'S PONTIFICATE

    "As is true of all Jesus' disciples, the Pope has lived through much suffering, but this disciple seems to have learnt better than others the language of the suffering that saves". These were Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's words at the celebration held at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas to mark the fifty years since Karol Wojtyla received his doctorate in theology. The meeting, which took place on 5 November 1998, was organised by the Congregation for Catholic Education and by the Pontifical Universities and Athenaeums in Rome.

    Cardinal Ratzinger, who is prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke on "Sapiential Theology: John Paul II's Concern for the Third Millennium". In his talk, the Cardinal said that "two women from the Carmelite Order can help us understand the sapiential dimension which supports the theological reflection of this pontificate". In a play on words, the Cardinal said he was referring to "a saint whom He declared a Doctor and a doctor whom he declared a Saint. The first, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, is a girl who made sanctity transparent by the simplicity of her young love and, thanks to John Paul II, has been revealed as so wise that she has been proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. The second, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, better known as Edith Stein, is a young philosopher who learned through the cross even unto martyrdom knowingly accepted, that mysterious wisdom which is born of a lived sanctity. One is Patroness of the Missions, sign of the universal call to salvation; the other is a Jew converted to Catholicism, a sign of that reunion of fathers and children. In the life of both, we are faced with sanctity which becomes wisdom and with wisdom which becomes holy, in a single design of love and salvation for men in the inseparable unity of life and thought. Both experience that wisdom which is only revealed to those who have found in the cross the key to the whole of their existence".

    Reflecting deeply on the thought of these two modern mystics, Cardinal Ratzinger explained that "in the sublime union between wisdom of the heart and the Cross, we find the genuine origin of the hope that inspires John Paul II". This man, "through the suffering lived in his own flesh, has re-evaluated the wisdom of the cross. It is not possible to think of him without seeing his face, in which are imprinted, in an indelible manner, the marks of suffering, a suffering he offers to introduce the Church into the third millennium". Cardinal Ratzinger revealed that on one occasion these words escaped from the Pope: "'It is necessary to introduce the Church through the suffering...' This is precisely the wisdom that was needed in a world which hides suffering as though it were a disgrace," the Cardinal said.

    Quoting a Russian author, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said that "'The idea of a God made man who suffers willingly and partakes of human and cosmic suffering, the idea of a God-man is the only theodicy possible, the only convincing justification of God'. Perhaps this suffering was needed for the heart of man to regain wisdom, that wisdom which springs from a painful and yet joyful, a mystery ever present in history and, yet, increasingly less and less known by the heart of man: the Easter of Jesus".
     
     

    ANXIETY OVER VIOLENCE
    IN THE INDONESIAN CAPITAL

    Cardinal Darmaatmadja, archbishop of Jakarta, expressed great anxiety over the violence which broke out in the capital between 11 and 14 November 1998, when 14 persons were killed and hundreds wounded. Thousands of students who were protesting peacefully against the special session of the highest Assembly of State, clashed with the police and the armed forces.

    In a communiqué of 14 November, the archbishop said: "We are disturbed and saddened. Many people are asking themselves whether there is still any good will among us. We do not seem to be capable of tolerating differences among us without committing violence. We must find a solution so that the situation may not worsen. Let us pray for all the victims from all the groups." The worst clash took place on 13 November in front of the Catholic University of Atmajaya, in the centre of the city and near the Assembly hall. The soldiers brutally opened fire on the students and on large groups of local people. The following day the protest took the form of disorders in some commercial districts where people looted and set fire to some shops. In many provincial cities, students continued to demonstrate in the streets until Monday, 16 November, as a sign of solidarity towards their friends who were killed.

    On 14 November, in Medan, North Sumatra, more than ten thousand students occupied Polonia airport the whole afternoon, thus causing some flights to be cancelled. On the same day, in the Carmelite parish "Flower of Carmel", west of Jakarta, Cardinal Darmaatmadja led the funeral of Bernardine Realino - Irawan, a student of the Catholic University of Atmajaya, killed during the events of 13 November. Those present were greatly moved because the victim was well-known as one of the medical volunteers formed by the Jesuit Fr. Sandyawan Sumardi after the May riots which resulted in Suharto's overthrow as president.
     
     

    THE RULE OF CARMEL

    The centre of studies, Notre Dame de Lumières of Nantes, France, is organising a week of Carmelite spirituality with the theme La Regle du Carmel. This will be held from 19 to 23 April 1999 and is open to all members of the Carmelite Family.

    The main speaker will be Fr. Bruno Secondin (Ita) who will give nine conferences during the first three days and will cover the historical, contextual, literary and spiritual aspects of the Rule. The following two days Sr. Frédérique Oltra (Fraternité du Carmel de Saint Joseph) will give a feminist reading of the Rule, Fr. Romero de Lima Gouvêa (Flum) will present the commentary of John of Saint Samson on the Rule, Fr. Michael Plattig (GerS) will speak on the Rule in the Constitutions of the Reform of Touraine and the orthodox abbot Placide Deseille will give a reading of the Rule from the point of view of oriental monasticism.

    Enrolments will be accepted up to mid-March. The fee for the course is 300FF plus 200FF per day for board and food. For further information or enrolment please write to: Session sur la Règle du Carmel, Centre d'Etudes N.D.D.L., Allée Titus Brandsma, 44200 Nantes, France.
     
     

    CARMELITE CLOISTERED NUNS

    Beginning in 1951, at the express wish of Pius XII, 21 November, the feast of the Presentation of Mary at the Temple, is also kept as the day of cloistered nuns. Today there are about 58,000 nuns in 3,500 monasteries belonging to 72 Orders and Congregations. In the last eight years, since 1990, there has been an increase of more than 200 monasteries and of 1,100 contemplative religious women. As John Paul II underlined during the Angelus of 15 November 1998, this is a day of solidarity, "dedicated to the spiritual and material support of cloistered monasteries, many of which are in need", such as those hit by the earthquake in Italy (64 of them), the monasteries in Eastern Europe and the new foundations in Asia and Latin America.

    >From 13 to 24 September 1998, eleven nuns from the monasteries of Cerreto, Jesi, Montegnacco, Sogliano and Vetralla, met in Focene, near Fiumicino (Rome), to continue their on-going formation which was started a year earlier in Nocera Umbra and interrupted by the earthquake.

    The speakers and topics were:
    Sr. Gertrud Stickler, FMA:

    Fr. Alberto Neglia, O.Carm.: Fr. Roberto Toni, O.Carm.: Fr. Mariano Cera (Ita), provincial delegate for the nuns, was also present at the course. On 4 November 1998 the Carmelite nuns of the monastery of St. Teresa of Jesus held their community triennial elections. Those elected were:
    Prioress 
    Councillor and Bursar 
    Councillor 
    Councillor 
    Councillor and Mistress of Novices    		 Myrna de Jesùs Pacheco 
    Maria José Bernal 
    Rosa Maria D'Oleo Pirón 
    Maria Isabel de la Trinidad Ceballos 
    Maria Arelys D'Oleo Pirón

     

    "CARMEL AND MARY,
    LIVING THE TRADITION TODAY"

    From Wednesday to Saturday, 28-31 October 1998, The Carmelite Institute, Washington, D.C., sponsored a Marian symposium and celebration, with speakers and participants both from the United States and internationally. Its setting was John Ascuaga's exquisite Nugget Hotel in Reno, Nevada. More than 165 members of the Carmelite Family participated.

    The Carmelite Institute's stated goal for the symposium was to foster a renewal of true devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Its objectives were to offer a program that would review the 800-year old Carmelite Marian tradition; to examine the post-Vatican II renewal in Marian studies; to explore the ever-deepening understanding of Mary and her "pilgrimage of faith"; to offer a perspective on Mary's relevance today; to invite participants to share their own understanding and experience of Mary; to celebrate the gift that Mary is for every one.

    The symposium opened with a time of prayer, song, shared reflections, introductions, followed by a reception. Daily liturgical worship included celebration of the Hours and of the Eucharist, with time for reflection and relaxation provided. The second evening, participants were delightfully treated to music and song in a Marian concert by composer-musician-performer Fr. Paul Gurr (Aust). The conferences presented during the symposium were: "Carmel and Mary at the Millennium" by Mary Hines, Ph.D.; "The Lady of the Place" by Fr. Christopher O'Donnell (Hib); "The Medieval Flowering" by Fr. Eamon Carroll (PCM); "Bl. Titus Brandsma and Mary" by Fr. Redemptus Valabek (SEL); "St. Thérèse and Mary" by Fr. Jerome Lantry, O.C.D.; "The Virgin Mary in the Medieval Carmelite Liturgy" by Fr. James Boyce (PCM); "Patroness, Mother, Sister, Most Pure Virgin" by Fr. Christopher O'Donnell (Hib); "Edith Stein and Mary's Spiritual Maternity" by Dianne Traflet, S.T.D.; "The Carmelite Scapular as Symbol of God's Covenant: Toward a Cultural Hermeneutic of Carmelite Shrines, Pilgrimage and Marian Devotion" by Fr. David Blanchard (PCM).

    Every general assembly presentation was followed by an adequate segment of time for personal reflection and group discussion which was then opened to the floor by each Presenter. A lavishly sumptuous banquet and musical entertainment on Saturday night brought to a fitting close this first Carmelite Institute Marian Symposium on Carmel and Mary.
     
     

    UPDATE OF ADDRESSES AND
    TELEPHONE NUMBERS

    Provincial Commissariat in India (GerS)
    Provincial Commissary, Carmelnivas, Karukadam 686 691, Kothamangalam – Kerala, India. Il Carmelo Italiano - Provincia Italiana dei Carmelitani: http://www.carmelit.org
    Carmel Bolivia: http://www.stelias.edu.mt/bolivia
     
     

    NEWS IN BRIEF

    At the end of August 1998 Fr. Paul Lennon (Hib) was awarded the degree of Docteur en philosophie et lettres by the Institut Superieur de Philosophie, Louvain, with "la plus grande distinction et les felicitations du jury" for a thesis on "Realism and Idealism: The Genesis of the Wissenschaftelehre in the early writings [1792-97] of Johann Gottlieb Fichte." This citation is the highest grade of doctorate awarded by the University of Louvain. In October-November 1998, the Carmelites of the Provincial Commissariat of the Congo received the official letter from the Archbishop and began their pastoral service in the parish of St. Lawrence in Kinshasa. From the pastoral point of view, although the parish is large, it does not present any great difficulties. The greatest challenge is the development of the area. During the wet season the main road which leads to the parish is hardly practicable. The people, mostly poor, are most willing to help in carrying out the pastoral work of our brothers. The Carmelite Institute of America is offering the opportunity of distance education on the Carmelite tradition. Participants study at home. Contact between the instructor and student is via phone, mail, fax or Internet. A Certificate in Carmelite Studies is awarded to participants who complete the six required courses and the one elective course, which can be chosen from a list of available courses. The requirements for a certificate can be completed in three to four years. Individual courses may be taken without the intent of obtaining a certificate. Additional information on the Carmelite Institute's distance education project can be found at the Institute's web site "http://www.carmeliteinstitute.org". The opening celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the Carmelite presence in S. Martino ai Monti (Rome) of the Italian Province, took place on 11 November 1998 with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by H.E. Mgr. Romano Danylak, titular bishop of Nissa, of the Ukrainian rite. One of the highlights of the programme to be kept in mind is the solemn Eucharist which will be presided by Fr. Joseph Chalmers, Prior General, in May 1999. In fact, it was on 1 May 1299 that Pope Boniface VIII gave the basilica to the Carmelite friars.
     
     

    CARMELITE MILESTONES

    Simple Professions
    5 September 1998
    		 Gabriel Maria Ladislav Chvátal (BM) 
    Marian Petr Masaík "

    25 Years Simple Profession
    19 March 1999
    25 April 1999
    		 Mª Belén Garrido Garrido (COR) 
    Miriam of the Angels Delaney (WAH)

    50 Years Simple Profession
    18 April 1999
    19 April 1999
    21 April 1999
    25 April 1999
    		 Mª Angeles Martin Herguedas (FON) 
    Mª Margarita Pascual Diez " 
    Mª Núria Sabé i Molins (BAR) 
    Mª Purificación Calvo Belda (ONT)

    Solemn Professions
    15 August 1998
     

    9 December 1998
    15 December 1998

    		 Jeroným Josef Ertelt (BM) 
    Antonín Marek Príkaský " 
    Serafim Jan Smejkal " 
    Paulus Innocente Kaigalura (Brun) 
    Evaldo Xavier Gomes (Flum)

    Diaconate Ordinations
    22 August 1998

    19 December 1998


     
    22 December 1998
    		 Václav Broz (BM) 
    Jeroným Josef Ertelt " 
    Antonín Marek Príkaský " 
    Serafim Jan Smejkal " 
    Robson Rossi F. Bueno (Flum) 
    Evaldo Xavier Gomes " 
    Reinaldo das Chagas Rodrigues " 
    João Carlos Dias " 
    George Pottackal (GerS – Indi) 
    Sebastian Vadakeparampil " 
    Felix Pallipatt "

    Priestly Ordinations
    13 September 1998

    26 December 1998
    30 December 1998
    3 January 1999

    		 Beniamino Resta (Brun) 
    Francesco Sorrentino " 
    Dennichan Ponka (GerS – Indi) 
    Thankachan Njaliath (GerS – Indi) 
    Thomas Kunnapally (GerS – Indi)

    25 Years Priestly Ordination
    16 March 1999
    20 April 1999
    25 April 1999
    		 Riccardo Palazzi (Ita) 
    Everardus van Vilsteren (Neer) 
    Alfonso Carlos Grau Grau (Arag)

    Necrology
     
    29 October 1998 
    8 November 1998 
    12 November 1998 
    22 November 1998 
     
     

    28 November 1998 
    29 November 1998 
    7 December 1998 
    8 December 1998 
    27 December 1998 
    28 December 1998

    		 Teodulf Vrakking (Neer) 
    Elisabeth Damen (BOX) 
    Maria Francesca Cossettini (MNT) 
    Michele Lucaferri (Ita) 
    Mariano Estima dos Santos (Pern) 
    Norbert Hansen (SEL) 
    Antonius Peters (Neer) 
    Judith Rabeling (ZEN) 
    Martin Curtis (PCM) 
    Bosco Hendriks (Neer) 
    Aurora Payán Hurtado (SEV) 
    Ernani Rodrigues Peixoto (Flum) 
    Norbert Stahlhofen (GerS) 

    CARMELITE NUNS IN THE WORLD


    THE CARMEL "JANUA COELI"

    Address: Santuario dell'Addolorata
    58010 Cerreto di Sorano (Grosseto)
    Italy.

    Diocese: Pitigliano

    History:
    To talk or write about the Carmel of Cerreto, in the province of Grosseto, could be just a hypothetical discourse or a deduction, because it is a seed which is in bud; tomorrow it will grow into a plant, as Jesus says in the Gospel about the mustard seed. It is more exact to talk of the Carmel of Cerreto than of a monastery, because the traditional wall of a monastery does not exist. The small canonical house where for more than six years the Carmelite nuns have lived had its origins with the apparition of Our Lady of Sorrows on 19 May 1853. Veronica, a pious lady, was asked to pray and to weep for sinners, to go to the Bishop so that he might build a chapel. And now in that chapel lies her body full of prayerful presence and tears of uninterrupted prayers.

    The place today is still quiet, forgotten, unknown and not easily accessible; and, once reached, it is a place which isolates you. That is Cerreto. A field which welcomes you in its genuineness, which points to something on high, which speaks to you with its silence, with its green, with its inexorable wind.

    On 19 May 1992, three solemnly professed nuns from the Carmel of Carpineto Romano (Italy) went there and now there are seven nuns with the juridical approval as "initial foundation". The small community, however, has a Prioress, a Council, an open noviciate to welcome and accompany new vocations. Several young girls are in contact discerning their vocation. Many of them have already made an exploratory experience in the community.

    What do the nuns do? The journey has been thorny and it has been difficult to establish a proper and true work. The nuns do not have the necessary space. When it will be possible to face the expense, the nuns will acquire the machinery to make hosts. They were initially asked by priests and catechists to provide a service to the people: to explain the Word of God, that of the Sunday liturgy.…….. and thus the leaflets "Briciole" for adults and "Il Vangelo dei piccoli" for children were published. These leaflets go from the Carmel to the parishes in the area (about fifteen) wherever the Christian community wishes to receive them. Some are sent by post. They also do some computer work producing booklets for distribution requested by priests as well as making rosaries. They also make cards and copperplate engravings on request.

    Every last Saturday of the month the nuns meet with young people for an hour of prayer: "Betel" (here the Lord spoke to me). And on the last Sunday they meet with good lay Christians who are sympathisers of Carmel for a meditation with the community and for sung Vespers (Carmelite Lay Order). The nuns have a good relationship with the people. Many come to the house for personal dialogue and spiritual guidance. Many interior conversions have taken place. "It is the Sanctuary of men" - say the nuns because men are often seen in the silence of the church which is open all day praying for long periods, alone with God. The parish priest avers that many locals have returned to the faith during these last six years. People who, for more than 40 years had not stepped into a church, now go to Sunday Eucharist (very well attended) and to the sacraments of confession and communion.

    In the land of Maremma amara (bitter Maremma) the sweetness of a Star has come to shine. The fiery spirit of Elijah will gradually dry the swamp of man's life, and an oasis of messianic peace, which is prayer, will leave ever deeper traces of spiritual rebirth in souls. After years of "dryness", the Sanctuary has once more found its voice.……… the sound of Gregorian chant vibrates with the tears of Mary shed on that rainy day like a biblical cloud on a humble and unknown land: the land of the prophetic event of "Janua Coeli".