In the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38 we see Mary disturbed at the greeting of the angel, but then she welcomes the announcement of light. God has chosen her to be the Mother of the Saviour. The most famous singers of the world have, throughout the centuries, put to music touching melodies on this event and millions of lips every day pronounce the same words in the Ave Maria. Let us not grow tired of hearing and repeating in our thoughts and hearts the annunciation of salvation.

Sometimes it is difficult for us to believe that a project of love on the part of God is hidden in our events. Sometimes we feel so involved in the problems of life, wrapped by the darkness of doubt that it is difficult to believe in light. In moments like these, let us not forget that Mary, before being Mother, is our Sister in faith. When we read: "And the angel departed from her", let us think that Mary remained alone with her faith like everyone else. A brilliant faith that enlightened her life, the same faith that can and must enable us to live our days in this world full of enormous burdens but also of incomparable joys.

When we cast our gaze around us and lack of confidence assails us, when it seems unlikely that Love can have the last word on indifference and lies, when the hope that the Lord will finally wipe the tears off every face fails…let us repeat in our hearts the words of the angel: "With God nothing is impossible". God calls us to co-operate with Him, even if He has no need of us. It is up to us to decide whether to collaborate with Love or, in order to further strengthen our selfishness, to fight with Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. After all, what is it that is asked of us? The secret is hidden in the little things of every day. If we look at them with the eyes of faith, they acquire eternal value. The poor words of our prayers that try to remind the world that God is among us and the loving care with which we approach others are the "stones" which the Lord uses to build the heavenly Temple.

If we could but see that which God is working in our life’s story through the daily sufferings and the silent signs of love that we experience, we would exult! Mary, the wise Virgin of Nazareth, is the true disciple of Jesus. She replied in the fullness of faith to the events of her life without wishing to examine the reasons of the Almighty. She trusted and gave her all for the realisation of the great things prepared by God. May the words of Mary be the musical rhythm of our life: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word".

Then at last we shall listen to the Word of our God as the echo of a new life and the throb of eternal light that breaks into the greyness of our busy days devoid of interior impulses. We shall hear the words of the prophet as addressed to us: "Divest yourself of the garments of affliction, put on the splendour of glory that comes to you from God forever". When we are capable of wrapping ourselves in the divine garments, then we shall live in the light a boundless peace and in our homes together with our loved ones we shall be the people of God on the way to the fullness of love.

The ways you walked, Mary, were inaccessible but you knew where to step: you had Jesus as an interior guide, the will of God as light in the darkest times. Love guided you. Teach us to rediscover the beauty of a life given, the taste of a sacrifice offered in secret, the joy of the "fiat" of faith. Mary, you knew how to obtain from the Word of the living God the strength to live your days in peace. May we today succeed in filling the void of love with our fragile love, to heal the wounds of wars with our feeble peace, to rekindle hope in hearts with our small prayer. For us everything is small, but in the Spirit of your Son we become as powerful as you are, house of God! Amen."

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm.

The Carmelite Order has long desired to make a foundation for friars in Kenya for various reasons:

• Nairobi is an important centre of religious studies for English speaking Africa. While some of our African brothers are able to study in Europe or North America, this is very costly and limited to just a few. For their future development, our African foundations need to have formators, lecturers and experts in various fields of theology and philosophy. By having a foundation in Nairobi we can offer to more of our brothers in Africa the opportunity to go on with further studies.
• In Kenya we have a significant presence of the Carmelite Family. We have one monastery of Carmelite nuns in the diocese of Machakos, a community of the Missionary Family "Donum Dei" and some 400 Third Order members under the direction of a Consolata Father, Fr. De Marie.
• We have Kenyan students in the Carmelite Provinces of Catalonia and Arago-Valentina.

At its last Chapter, the Provincial Commissariat of India undertook the responsibility of providing personnel for the mission in Kenya.

On 1 December 2000 a meeting was held in Barcelona (Spain) at which were present Fr. Manuel Bonilla, Provincial of Catalonia, Fr. Luis Gallardo, Provincial of Arago-Valentina, Fr. Christian Körner, Provincial of Upper Germany, Fr. Piet Wijngaard, Provincial of Britain, Fr. John Adapoor, Provincial Commissary of India and myself. Many important questions were discussed concerning the mission in Kenya and the planning for this mission took another step towards its realisation. There remain some difficulties, but we hope that these can be overcome soon.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Anthony Scerri, O.Carm.

On 14 November 2000, feast of All Carmelite Saints, taking advantage of the General Assembly of Religious Superiors, the annual meeting of Carmelite and Discalced Carmelite Provincials took place in Madrid (Spain) at the seat of CONFER. Four O.Carm Provincials and five OCD Provincials were present.

Some of the points discussed during the meeting were:

• An Iberian Carmelite Directory: containing information on the houses of friars, nuns, sisters and lay people of both Orders for all those who wish to acquaint themselves with Carmel.
• Joint celebrations on the occasion of the 750^th anniversary of the Scapular: meeting of Third Order members or of Fraternities in cities where both Orders are present, taking advantage of the occasion to diffuse Carmelite Marian spirituality through the medium of print (books, magazines, cards); a pilgrimage and a meeting of religious in some sanctuary or important O.Carm-OCD Iberian church with some connection to the giving of the Scapular.
• Various information: The visit of the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux to Spain in 2003; a meeting of OCD Extraordinary Definitors celebrated in India and another to be celebrated this year in Nairobi (Kenya); a course for young O.Carm religious in initial formation on Mount Carmel; meeting with the O.Carm. General Councillor concerning a new foundation in Kenya; the O.Carm foundation in Burkina Faso; the Venezuelan Carmel; meeting of Major Superiors in Lima (Peru); O.Carm and OCD General Chapters; OCD distance Institute of Spirituality.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Rafael Leiva, O.Carm.

Since 1995 the American Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary assumed the responsibility to establish the Carmelite Order in Mexico. That same year the first house was opened in the parish community of Torreon, which at the same time served as a house of formation. Now the Province moved to the next step and opened a second house, completely for formation, in the historic Tlalpan of Mexico City.

The move to Mexico City was precipitated by a number of factors. The first is the educational situation in Torreon. The diocesan school which the Carmelite students attended was not an accredited institution. Secondly, there is no school of theology in Torreon, which meant that the Province had to purchase a house of studies somewhere else to accommodate this level of formation. Casa del Carmen is centrally located, where there are a number of other male religious who commute to the same schools which the Carmelite students attend. The two-building complex recently rented also has a small chapel, which is more than adequate for the seven students and three solemnly professed Carmelites who now live there. Two of the students, with first vows, are studying theology. Five candidates are studying philosophy. The students are well aware of the Province desire to pursue this option, and have enthusiastically embraced the idea that they are founders of a new opportunity for the Carmelite Order.

Br. Rodolfo Aznaran is the Director of Formation. He belongs to the Provincial Commissariat of Peru. The Commissary released him for formation ministry in Mexico City so that they would have a stake in the establishment of the Order in Mexico. Fr. Charlie Countie is the prior of the community and Fr. Tom Jordan is the vocation director.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Tom Jordan, O.Carm.

The Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters had a foundation in the diocese of Cape Palmas in Liberia. Through these good Sisters, some young men became interested in the spirituality of the Order and desired to join us. The Sisters had to leave Liberia in 1990 when the civil war broke out there. The war ended in 1997 and still some young men were interested in the Order. The Sisters hope to go back to Liberia soon.

In January 2000, at the invitation of Bishop B. Dotu Sekey of the diocese of Gbarnga, I visited Liberia and spoke to some of these young men. As a result of my visit, I asked Fr. Piet Wijngaard, Provincial of Britain, if the British Province were willing to take responsibility for the formation of these young men and eventually set up a foundation in Liberia. At a meeting of the Provincial Council, the British Province graciously and generously accepted this challenge.

Without delay, Frs. Francis Kemsley and Brendan Grady, of the Carmelite British Province, went to Liberia to evaluate the situation and to discern with the young men their vocation. Early in November 2000, the first two Liberian candidates, Eric Meitor Soclo and Joe Sekou Pah, arrived in London to begin their formation. Other candidates in Liberia are waiting to start their formation too. We congratulate the British Province and the candidates on a fine start, and pray that the good Lord will repay their generosity abundantly.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Anthony Scerri, O.Carm.

On the 5^th to 7^th January a Joint Carmelite Forum took place in the Discalced Carmelite Retreat Centre at Boars Hill, Oxford, England. There were representatives from the Carmelite and Discalced Friars, from Britain and Ireland, the Discalced Carmelite Nuns from Britain and Ireland, the Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters, the Leaven and secular representatives. The Forum reflected upon spirituality today in Britain and Ireland; Where is Carmel in the spirituality of Ireland and Britain today?; Where will Carmelite spirituality be moving in the future? Contributions were given by Fr. Eugene McCaffrey, OCD, Sr. Teresa Clements, DMJ, Sr. Anne, OCD of Ware Carmel, and Fr. Christopher O’Donnell O.Carm.

A message was sent to the participants by Fr. Joseph Chalmers, Prior General of Carmelites, and Fr. Camillo Maccise, Superior General of Discalced Carmelites, underlining the importance of committed contemplation in our life: "Carmelite spirituality has as its aim to emphasise experience of God in openness to the transcendent, while having one’s feet firmly on the ground. It is necessary to live and transmit committed contemplation, since this is the only realistic option. Our saints always attached an apostolic dimension to prayer. This type of prayer embraces the joys and hopes, the sorrows and difficulties of humanity. Without committed contemplation, there is a great risk of falling into a type of spirituality which evades reality and therefore avoids the sacred duty of listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice."

There was a clear desire from the gathering to have a closer co-operation between the Carmelites of the different traditions. The group hopes to reflect upon the best way of setting up a programme for spiritual accompaniment in a Carmelite context. It was felt that more of the Carmelite texts should be published in English. Hopefully there will be another Forum later this year or next year in Ireland.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Francis Kemsley, O.Carm.

Fr. J. Linus Ryan, O.Carm., National co-ordinator, informs that on Easter Sunday, 15 April 2001, the remains of St. Thérèse, will arrive at Rosslare, Ireland, for a visit of 75 days. The organising committee hopes that this visit will be an occasion for a deep renewal of all Christians in Ireland.

According to a detailed programme, the relics of the Saint will visit the cathedral of each of Ireland's 26 dioceses, all Carmelite churches and oratories, as well as Knock Shrine, Holy Trinity Abbey, Kilnacrott, St. Patrick's Purgatory, Lough Derg and Mountjoy Prison. The visit has been deliberately arranged so as to facilitate the minimum amount of travelling, particularly for the poor and the sick. In preparation to the visit several activities are envisioned: talks on the life and teaching of Thérèse; instructions on the Catholic meaning of relics and the power of Thérèse's intercession; explanations on 'The Little Way', 'Spiritual Childhood' and 'Offering to God's Merciful Love' as a vibrant form of holiness open to all; literature on the saint (in parishes, schools, families and groups); liturgical meetings and other celebrations. Besides these activities, all priests and sisters who will host the relics at 75 venues, spread throughout the 32 counties, met with the organising committee at the Carmelite Conference Centre, "Gort Muire" Ballinteer, Dublin on 25 January - Feast of the conversion of St. Paul, for a planning and information day.

Full itinerary of St. Thérèse Relics Visit to Ireland is to be found on internet (www.sttherese.com) and on the booklet St. Thérèse Relics - Irish Visit, published by the national co-ordinator.

St. Lucia, West Indies: The first General Assembly for Lay Carmelites on the island of St. Lucia took place on 20 and 21 October 2000. It was a unique occasion in that both the Lay Carmelite members (established in 1971) and the Confraternity members (established in 1834) were in attendance. Workshops were conducted on Carmelite spirituality. The participants reflected on the Elijan tradition, the difference between Confraternity and Lay Carmelite members, and prayed the Office in Community. Everyone agreed that the weekend workshops gave a wealth of information. The Assembly was co-ordinated by Sr. Adriana of the Corpus Christi Carmelites and directed by Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm.

Trinidad & Tobago: On 29 October 2000, more than three hundred Lay Carmelites gathered for the General Assembly which took place at the Carmelite Friary in Maracas Valley, St. Joseph. All eight Chapters attended. Highlights of the day were: Presentation of reports from each Chapter and the National Council, Community prayer and reflection, Reception and Profession Ceremonies. Seventeen new candidates were received into the Third Order while another sixteen made their profession. The "Youth Outreach Project" for Jubilee Year 2000 was also a success. Twelve youths between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one were in attendance. This group also submitted a report and agreed to undertake a music ministry so that at the next Assembly they will be able to lead as choir and musicians.

For further information:
E-mail: Sr. Adriana Noel

On 3 December 2000, on the occasion of the first centenary of the Evangelisation of Burkina Faso, Mgr. Jean Marie Untaani Campaoré, Archbishop of Ouagadougou, ordained to the priesthood, together with 93 other candidates, Fr. Alain Dialló, of the Carmelite Province of Betica. The ordination took place in Bobo-Dioulasso, the birthplace of Fr. Alain and the city where the Carmelites from Betica are present since January 2000. Fr. Dialló is the second Carmelite religious from Burkina Faso to be ordained priest.

The ceremony took place in the sport stadium of Bobo. All the dioceses of the country were represented so that no church in the city could accommodate such a large crowd. About 16 bishops (beside all the bishops from Burkina Faso there were bishops from neighbouring countries), six hundred priests, two large choirs (one of lay people and one of seminarians) and a huge crowd of the faithful were present. It was a day of great joy for the Carmelite community of Bobo and for the whole Carmelite Family in Burkina Faso.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Rafael Leiva, O.Carm.

For the sixth centenary of the birth of Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone Cassai, called Massaccio (1401-1428), the artist who is considered to be the founding father of Humanism in painting, two years of exhibitions, congresses and conferences are planned. The centre of these celebrations will be San Giovanni Valdarno (Arezzo), the city where Massaccio was born on 21 December 1401 and where, to this day, the house where the artist took his first steps is still preserved. Of no less importance will be the exhibitions that will be held in Florence, Arezzo and Rome. Among the many activities, an exhibition is foreseen in June 2001 on "Massaccio and the 20^th century", which will confront the alfresco masterpieces of the master found in the Brancacci Chapel of the Carmelite church in Florence, with the painters and sculptors of the 20^th century who were fascinated by the revolutionary painter of the Renaissance.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Anthony Cilia, O.Carm.

Books:

BOYCE, James, O.Carm.,
Carmelite Liturgical Spirituality, (Carmelite Spiritual Directory Project - Horizons 12), Carmelite Communications, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 40. (E-mail: carmcent@netspace.net.au)

COLOMBO, Mariassunta; LABIO, Mario,
Il Vangelo del giorno - Spunti di meditazione e formazione - Tempo di Avvento, Edizioni Carmelitane, Roma, 2000, pp. 108. (E-mail: carm.miss.stbg@mclink.it / edizioni@ocarm.org)

CUCCA, M. Anastasia di Gerusalemme, O.Carm.; DE SIMONE, Marianerina, CMSTBG,
La veste più bella - Lo Scapolare, dono di Maria al Carmelo e alla Chiesa, Centro Stampa Carmelitana, Roma, 2001, pp. 96. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it / carm.miss.stbg@mclink.it). This book written by Sr. M. Anastasia, Carmelite nun from Ravenna (Italy), and Sr. Marianerina of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, was published on the occasion of the 750^th anniversary of the Carmelite Scapular. The text simply presents an anthology of the best scientific research carried out in recent times concerning the Scapular.

L'EXSULTET di tutta una vita - P. Riccardo Palazzi, O.Carm., (1948-1999), (a cura di Roberto M. Russo & Giuseppe Vidili), Centro Stampa Carmelitana, Roma, 2000, pp. 104. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
La Gloria de Dios - Lema de Madre Asunción Soler Gimeno, Hermanas Carmelitas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Madrid, 2000, pp. 205. (E-mail: CSCJCG@planalfa.es). This book is published on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of the foundation of the Hermanas Carmelitas del Sagrado Corazón. It is a story born of the deep love of Fr. López-Melús for Mother Assunzione and the Congregation founded by her. In these pages the author, who knew the Mother personally, passes on his experience and his witness to the life and virtues of the foundress.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Alabanzas a María, Editorial Apostolado Mariano, Sevilla, [2000], pp. 235.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Caminos de Santidad I - Decálogos que dirigen, Edibesa, Madrid, 2000, pp. 396.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Caminos de Santidad II - Semillas que dan vida, Edibesa, Madrid, 2000, pp. 366.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Caminos de Santidad III - Destellos que iluminan, Edibesa, Madrid, 2000, pp. 336.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Caminos de Santidad IV - Bienaventuranzas que bendicen, Edibesa, Madrid, 2000, pp. 336.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Caminos de Santidad V - Ejemplos que edifican, Edibesa, Madrid, 2000, pp. 384.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, O.Carm.,
Caminos de Santidad VI - El reto de la santidad - Debo, puedo, quiero ser santo, Edibesa, Madrid, 2000, pp. 264.

MERCIECA, Dionisju, OCD,
Edith Stein: Santa Tereza Benedetta tas-Salib, Karmelitana Terezjana – Mill-Ateizmu ghall-Qdusija, Santwarju S. Tereza tal-Bambin Gesù, Birkirkara, 2000, pp. 47. (E-mail: marocd@mail.global.net.mt)

O'DONNELL, Christopher, O.Carm.,
A Loving Presence: Mary and Carmel, (Carmelite Spiritual Directory Project - Horizons 6), Carmelite Communications, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 96. (E-mail: carmcent@netspace.net.au)

PEDOFILIA - una guida alla normativa ed alla consulenza,
(a cura di Italo Ormanni e Aureliano Pacciolla) DueSorgenti, Roma, 2000, pp. 388. (E-mail: pacciolla@pronet.it). This text is the fruit of the collaboration of nineteen experts (magistrates, doctors, psychologists and tutors from different parts of Italy, also the Police Department for Communications) who, in a structured and well co-ordinated index present paedophilia from three points of view: juridical, psychological and that of the paedophiles themselves. This makes the volume one of the most original works published in Italy or elsewhere.

RYAN, J. Linus, O.Carm.,
St. Thérèse Relics - Irish Visit,National Co-Ordinator, St. Thérèse Relics Visit, Dublin, 2000, pp. 24. (E-mail: sttheres@indigo.ie)

SAN GWANN TAS-SALIB,
Kollox ghal Alla wahdu – L-ewwel volum tal-kitba ta’ San Gwann tas-Salib, (traduzzjoni ghall-Malti minn P. Angeliku M. Busuttil, OCD), Pubblikazzjoni Karmelitana Terezjana, Malta, 2000, pp. 496. (E-mail: marocd@mail.global.net.mt)

Compact Disks:

Un . . . . coro solo, un anima sola,
1975 - 10 novembre - 2000: XXV di Fondazione "Associazione Piccoli Cantori di Torrespaccata", Roma. (E-mail: zaplum@libero.it). In two CDs, the Associazione Piccoli Cantori di Torrespaccata (APCT) offers 52 musical excerpts, mostly Christmas and religious songs. Fr. Lucio Zappatore (Ita) established the APCT twenty-five years ago with the aim of promoting culture in all its aspects, but especially in the musical sector. "To teach music in order to educate through music" is the motto that inspires the choir of the APCT. The APCT follows the pedagogical principles of the Choral Method of the Hungarian musician, Zoltan Kodàly. At present the APCT has about 200 members who, precisely for educational reasons, do not take part in any choir competition.

RUSSELL, John, O.Carm.
A Journey with St. Therese of Lisieux: Doctor of the Church, Alba House Communications, Canfield, Ohio. (E-mail: jrussell@carmelnet.org)