No. 10 - JULY 2000
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2001: MARIAN YEAR FOR THE WHOLE CARMELITE ORDER |
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According to a pious tradition, the year 2001 is the 750th anniversary of the giving of the Scapular. This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole Carmelite Order to deepen the Marian aspect of its original tradition. Carmel is a Marian Order and Our Blessed Lady has played a crucial role in the development of its spirituality. She is Carmel’s Patroness, Sister and Mother. The Scapular is a precious symbol of the commitment of Carmelites to Mary and her commitment to them. In view of this anniversary, the General Council of the Carmelite Order has organised a series of events for the whole Order. Among these are:
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From 28 to 30 April 2000, forty-three official delegates representing 23 Third Order Carmelite (TOC) 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, O.Carm., and Sister Avelina Berba. The next Convention was fixed for the first week after Easter 2002, in Sibulan, Negros Oriental. For further information:
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In the second half of May 2000, two Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Sr. Dionisia and Sr. Matilda, together with a postulant, and accompanied by Sr. Emerenziana, of the same Congregation, left from Dar Es Salaam on a two-and-a-half-day journey by car for Musoma (Butiama) in Tanzania to start a new mission. On their arrival, the sisters were welcomed with great joy by the bishop, Mgr. Justin Samba, the parish priest and many people, who, in their simplicity, competed with each other in helping the sisters with useful materials (plates, glasses, flour, rice, sugar and other things). At their first meting, the bishop exclaimed with satisfaction: "At last, after 12 years of praying and petitioning, I see the Carmelite sisters in my diocese!" With this third foundation in Tanzania, the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus will try to serve with love and dedication the needs of the most needy, furthering evangelisation and human promotion by means of catechetics, a kindergarten and a home economics centre. For those who wish to help the new foundation, the address of the sisters is: Carmelite Missionary Sisters, P.O. Box 93, Musoma-Butiama, Tanzania – East Africa. For further information:
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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. For further information:
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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. For further information:
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On 16 May 2000 afternoon, a simple ceremony was held to inaugurate and bless the new building of "Holy Trinity School" in Marikina, Philippines, run by the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The rooms, which were beautifully decked with flowers, writings and other decorations, were opened by the bishop of Antipolo, Mgr. Protacio Gungon, who then presided at the Eucharistic celebration, held in one of the halls of the school and animated by the Sisters. Then followed the blessing of the halls by the bishop and the priests present. Besides the Superior General of the Congregation, Sr. Beatrice Minieri, and the General Councillors, also present were many priests, religious sisters and friends who all helped in bringing this work to completion. The celebration concluded with a happy, fraternal meal. One month later, on 13 June, the scholastic year began in the new classrooms with over 200 students. Beginning this year, there will be the first year of primary school as well as a kindergarten. For further information:
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ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA AND |
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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". For further information:
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