The Prior General, Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm., and the Superior General OCD, Fr. Camilo Maccise, invite all the members of Carmel: friars, cloistered nuns, sisters, tertiaries, members of the Confraternities of the Scapular and devotees of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to take part in the gathering of the Carmelite Family in St. Peter’s Square on 12 September 2001, to manifest joy and gratitude to Mary for the gift of the Scapular and to the Holy Father for his recent Letter on devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The programme will begin on 11 September at 5.00 p.m. with a catechesis and a prayer meeting in linguistic groups. A Marian Vigil will then follow at 8.00 p.m. On Wednesday 12 September, at 8.00 a.m. the Carmelite Confraternities and the faithful will enter St. Peter’s Square for the audience with the Holy Father, John Paul II, the coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Papal blessing.

For information, bookings and registration for this international gathering, please contact "Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi" Piazza Pio XII, 9 – 00193 Città del Vaticano, Tel: 06.69885800, Fax: 06.69885673, E-mail: <info@orpnet.org>. Firm registration together with the registration fee, which includes some other services, must be in before 9 July 2001.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Lucio Zappatore, O.Carm.
Web site: Mater Decor Carmeli

From 5 – 10 March 2001, Fr. Anton Beemsterboer (Provincial of Lower Germany), Fr. Carlo Cicconetti (Provincial of Italy), Fr. Jean Marie Dundji (Commissary of Congo) and myself met at the diocesan Centre in the diocese of Mbalmayo in Cameroon. This Centre is run by the Carmelite Missionary Family "Donum Dei". Fr. Francisco Daza, prior of the Carmelite community at Burkina Faso, was also invited, but due to difficulties of visa and travel arrangements, was not able to come in time.

Because of the political difficulties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we felt it necessary to make foundation in Cameroon as soon as possible:

1. for the three Cameroonese brothers now doing their noviciate in the Congo,
2. for three Cameroonese pre-novices who were not able to enter the Congo and who are ready to start their noviciate, and
3. for three Congolese pre-novices from Kinshasa who are not able to go to the eastern part of the Congo to start their noviciate.

Consequently we accepted a parish offered to us by Bishop Adalbert of Mbalmayo and we bought a piece of land in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, near the Catholic University and the theological and philosophical colleges for religious. The Carmelites of the Lower German Province has generously taken responsibility for this project, while the Carmelites of the Italian Province and the Commissariat of the Congo have no less generously accepted to provide personnel for the parish and for formation. Please keep this our latest foundation in Africa in your prayers and generosity.

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

His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Fr. Filippo Iannone, a Carmelite member of the General Commissariat La Vergine Bruna, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdioceses of Naples. The news of the appointment was announced personally by the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Michele Giordano, during the morning Mass of Holy Thursday.

Fr. Filippo Iannone, 43, was born in Naples and after completing high school, entered the Carmelite Order and took simple vows in 1977. In 1982 he was ordained to the priesthood. He took his Bachelor's degree in Theology and then went to Rome where he graduated in Utroque Iure at the Pontifical University of the Lateran. He also attended specialization courses run by the Congregations for the Sacraments and for Religious. In 1987 he obtained the diploma of Advocate of the Rota at the Apostolic Tribunal of the Holy Roman Rota. Fr. Iannone has held several positions in the Archdiocese of Naples and in the Carmelite Order, among others, lecturer in Canon Law at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, Judicial Vicar at the Diocesan Tribunal of Naples, Episcopal Pro-Vicar General, legal representative, Provincial bursar and Councillor of La Vergine Bruna Commissariat and member of the Commission for the revision of the Constitutions of our Order.

The episcopal ordination of Mgr. Filippo Iannone, titular bishop of Nebbi, was presided by Cardinal Giordano in the cathedral church of Naples on Saturday 26 May 2001.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Beniamino Resta, O.Carm.

Carmelite librarians from many parts of the world gathered together recently in Whitefriars Hall, Washington, DC, U.S.A., to discuss common projects and the provision of Carmelite resources in the different Provinces of the Order. The meeting was called by the General Delegate for Culture, Fr. Richard Copsey, O.Carm., and took place from 4 to 6 April 2001. There were representatives from Italy, USA, England, Holland, Australia, India and Zimbabwe, and among the fourteen participants, there were two lay librarians who care for our Carmelite Collections in Aylesford (England) and Washington (USA).

During the three days, apart from the sharing of information on the various Carmelite Collections and Institutes, there were short presentations by invited experts on computer systems for the provision of library catalogues, the care and preservation of our collections and some guidelines on networking our existing computer systems. The morning of the second day was spent visiting the National Gallery in Washington where there was presentations on their extensive slide collection and rare books collection.

Among the projects discussed during the three days were:

1. The computerisation of the catalogues of our Carmelite Collections throughout the world. The catalogue of the Carmelite Collection in Washington has now been keyed-in and will be in operation shortly. The next stage will be to enter the catalogue of our major Carmelite Collection in Rome into a compatible system and a small group has been established to study the appropriate system to be adopted.
2. Fr. Patrick McMahon, O.Carm., and Ms. Patricia O’Callaghan, who care for the Washington Collection, have started a project to digitally photograph a number of their older Carmelite books and record them on CD-Rom. The four volumes of the Speculum Carmelitanum (1680) and an early 17^th century edition of the life of St. Teresa of Avila are now available on CD-Rom. The intention is that by transferring such works onto CD-Rom they can be made available to our newer Carmelite libraries and also sold commercially to the major academic libraries throughout the world. Even our longer established Carmelite libraries will benefit as they will be able to restrict access to the older and rarer volumes in their collections as visiting researchers will be able consult the works using a CD-Rom copy.
3. A group of Carmelites in Washington is currently looking at the best way to transfer the annual Carmelite bibliography into a computer database for distribution on CD-Rom. The annual bibliography has been published for over 50 years and having the accumulated results available in a easily searchable form would be a great advantage. It is hoped that the work of transferring the contents of past volumes into the computer will go ahead soon.

The first of various celebrations to commemorate the first centenary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria in 1903, was a Holy Mass celebrated on 25 March 2001. The inspiration of the Congregation came from Mother Candelaria of St. Joseph and Mgr. Sixto Sosa. They imprinted on their followers the Carmelite charism, that is, to live in the presence of God in an attitude of prayer, to give witness to fraternal charity, to faith and hope and to be open to the service of the most needy. At present the Congregation has about eighty religious in thirteen houses in Venezuela and one house in Puerto Rico.

The celebrations, which will be spread over three years, will involve both the sisters and people outside the Congregation. The plan for the sisters is to have meetings, study days and courses on the charism of the founders together with a renewed commitment to the spiritual, pastoral and vocational life. For the faithful among whom the sisters of Mother Candelaria work, the plan is for these to propagate publications, talks and presentations on the life and virtues of the founders.

For further information:
E-mail: Carmelite Sisters of Mother Candelaria

On 9 May 2001, John Paul II, before a crowd of 150 thousand (almost half the population of Malta), raised to the honours of the altar three witnesses to the faith. These are the Carmelite tertiary, George Preca, great apostle of the laity, the Benedictine religious, Maria Adeodata Pisani, model of prayer and contemplation, and the cleric Ignazio Falzon, catechist and pioneer of ecumenical dialogue. At first, there was to be only one beatification, but on 24 April the Pope signed the decrees of the heroic virtues of 52 Servants of God and Blessed, among whom were the two Maltese, Sr. Adeodata and the cleric Ignazio Falzon.

"There is no member of the Church who does not owe something to Carmel" says the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This is true not only of Blessed George Preca but in some way also Blessed Adeodata and Blessed Ignazio.

Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani was born in Naples (Italy) on 29 December 1806. Her father was the Maltese Baron Pisani. She was brought up and educated by her paternal grandmother and, when she was 10, the time her grandmother died, she was placed in a college where she received a good Christian education. At the age of 19 she went to Malta, where, after three years, on 16 July, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, she entered the monastery of the Benedictine nuns in Mdina. She dedicated her religious life to Mary. One year after her noviciate, on 8 March 1830, she took her solemn vows. As a permanent member of the community, she continued to lead a life of humility and sacrifice. Even though she never sought positions of authority, during the next 25 years she held the offices of sacristan, nurse, mistress of novices and abbess. She suffered bad health and on 25 February 1855 she died.

Blessed Ignazio Falzon was born in Valletta on 1 July 1813. At the age of 15 he took the clerical habit and at 20 he became Doctor of civil and canon law. He felt himself unworthy and never exercised his legal profession nor would he accept priestly ordination. His spiritual food and the support for his apostolate were adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and meditation. Blessed Ignazio Falzon is well known for the special area in which he carried out his apostolate and gave witness, namely, among the large British garrison stationed in Valletta (during the years of the Crimean War, 1853-1856, there were about 20.000 British soldiers in Malta). He started organising prayer meetings and lessons in catechism for the Catholics. He also became friend with their non-Catholic and even non-Christian fellow soldiers and drew many of these to the Catholic faith. The documents speak of more than 600 conversions. It is for this reason that he is considered the pioneer and champion of ecumenical dialogue. He died at the age of 52, on his birthday, 1 July 1865.

Because of the late insertion in the programme of beatification, the devotion of these two new Blessed to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has not yet been well defined. However, some documents show that Blessed Ignazio Falzon associated many of the converted with Carmel through the Scapular. We still do not know where and when Blessed Ignazio Falzon was enrolled in the Scapular, but the fact that he wore the Scapular and urged others to do the same and that he greatly loved the Mother of Carmel, is beyond doubt. According to Mgr. Philip Calleja, postulator of the cause, one of the relics of the Blessed through which many faithful obtain inexplicable wonders is precisely the Carmelite Scapular that Blessed Ignazio Falzon held in his hands after his death. It seems that this relic is now among Maltese migrants in the United States and is passed from family to family with great faith and veneration.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Michael Farrugia, O.Carm.

From 1 to 5 May 2001, an International Congress of the Carmelite Third Order was held at Il Carmelo centre in Sassone (Rome). About 100 tertiaries gathered to get to know each other to exchange ideas on their way of life and apostolic activities. Those present represented tens of thousands of tertiary brothers and sisters and an even greater number of lay people associated in various ways with the Carmelite Family. A few chaplains, friars and sisters were also present.

Dr. Pinharanda Gomes (Portugal) began the reflection with a talk on "Laity and Secularity". He reviewed what has been affirmed recently by the documents of the magisterium and by ecclesial experience. Mr. Tom Zeitvogel (United States) followed with a presentation of the main challenges to be met by the Carmelite Third Order in the years ahead. The assembly then listened to a presentation by Fr. Felip Amenós, Postulator General, on the example of many Carmelites, including lay Carmelites, who stand out for the sanctity of their lives. Finally, Fr. Tarsicio M. Gotay, Delegate General for the Laity, explained the process undergone for the revision of the Rule of the Carmelite Third Order

Lay Carmelites came from a wide geographic area. The five continents were represented and it was interesting to see that the areas which, from the ecclesial point of view, are developing, are maturing through very rich experiences and have great potentiality. The meeting gave the participants an increased sense of belonging to the great Family of Carmel and of confidence that they participate actively in shaping its spiritual wealth.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Tarsicio Gotay, O.Carm.

On 23 March 2001, the Neapolitan Province, which operates the Carmelite Hermitage in the town of Capaccio (Salerno), recalled the 10^th anniversary of the hermitage’s foundation. The hermitage is built near the monastery on the side of Mount Calpazio, adjacent to the ancient Cathedral of the 10^th century and at present known as the Diocesan Marian Sanctuary with the title of Our Lady of Granato.

The anniversary was celebrated with a day of prayer together with many religious, priests and lay people. Those who took part in the celebrations were: Fr. Nicola M. Barbarello, Provincial, about ten other Carmelites and some parish priests from the surrounding area. After the Eucharistic celebration a meal was served in the refectory. In the afternoon, a large group of faithful and devotees of Our Lady of Granato joined the Carmelite hermit, Fr. Domenico Fiore, O.Carm., in fervent prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for all the graces and blessings received throughout this period.

The Carmelite hermitage of Capaccio was started after a meeting between the bishop of Vallo della Lucania (SA), Mgr. Giuseppe Rocco Favale, and the then Provincial, Fr. Lucio M. Renna, now bishop of Avezzano (AQ). At this meeting the two superiors agreed to entrust the direction of the Marian Sanctuary and the hermitage to Fr. Domenico. Since then, over the past ten years, the hermit has welcomed for day retreats many parish groups from various parts, and for a few days, priests and seminarians for a "desert" experience, or young people discerning their vocation.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Domenico Fiore, O.Carm.
Web site: Santuario Madonna del Granato

On 6 March 2001, Mgr. Julito B. Cortes, Diocesan Administrator of Dumaguete, sent a letter (#157/22/01) to all priests and religious of the diocese concerning the 750^th anniversary of the Carmelite Scapular. In his letter, Mgr. Cortes recalled the event and expressed the wish of the diocese to unite itself joyfully to the International Carmelite Family in celebrating the Marian Year. Before presenting a brief catechesis on the Scapular, the Diocesan Administrator announced the decision to dedicate the chapel of the Carmelite monastery of "Nuestra Señora de los Maravillas y san José" as a place of pilgrimage for this year and asked that the content of the letter be passed on in homilies and conferences so that the faithful of the diocese may know and obtain the benefits which accrue from devotion to the Scapular of Carmel. On 25 March 2001, the day that John Paul II published his letter on the Scapular, Mgr. Cortes inaugurated the Marian Year with a solemn Mass in the chapel of the Carmelite nuns.

For further information:
E-mail: Carmelite Cloistered Nuns, Dumaguete

In the afternoon of 21 April 2001, the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, together with the parish community of Fregene (Rome), celebrated the blessing of the restored premises of the Casa Famiglia "Maria Andriani Aprosio". The ceremony opened with a Mass in the parish church presided by the parish priest of Fregene and animated by the girls of the Casa Famiglia. The participants then went to the house for the blessing and inauguration of the restructured and renewed premises. The new rooms have two beds and bathroom in order to give more dignified form of accommodation to the girls entrusted to the sisters. The ceremony concluded with a fraternal agape. Many important persons and friends came to the ceremony, including the Mayor, the social workers of the district of Fiumicino and those responsible for "first assistance" of the district of Rome. At present, in the house, there are girls from Italy, Rumania, Albania, China and Moldavia.

For further information:
E-mail: Carmelite Missionary Sisters

Books:

1° Convegno di Studio per Laici,
"Madre Crocifissa e il Carmelo: una proposta per il nuovo millennio", Suore Carmelitane Missionarie di S. Teresa del Bambino Gesù, Santa Marinella, 2001, pp. 70. (E-mail: carm.miss.stbg@mclink.it)

Ausbildung im Karmel - Ein Weg der Umformung,
(Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanae), Deutsche Ausgabe herausgegeben von den Provinzialaten der Oberdeutschen und der Niederdeutschen Provinz der Karmeliten, Bamberg/Essen, 2001, pp. 166. (E-mail: ba3531@bnv-bamberg.de)

BLOMMESTIJN, Hein; HULS, Jos; WAAIJMAN, Kees,
The Footprints of love - John of the Cross as Guide in the Wilderness, (translated by John Vriend), Peeters, 2000, pp. 211. (E-mail: Hein.Blommestijn@tbi.kun.nl / Jos.Huls@tbi.kun.nl / K.Waaijman@theo.kun.nl). Listening to the stories of the struggles of countless people in his day, John of the Cross became an experienced mystical teacher who introduces the Carmelite spirituality as a "school of love". This book contains a set of explorations of the logic of this divine love, a love which transforms us into true lovers. In taking these explorations the authors have followed the four great commentaries of John of the Cross and one of his poems.

GUITERAS VILANOVA, Joan,
María Cristina de la Eucaristía Alonso Alonso, Monasterio de la Encarnación, Barcelona, 2000, pp. 112. (E-mail: mabonillagu@airtel.net)

In preghiera con Maria, madre e bellezza del Carmelo
- Sussidio liturgico-celebrativo in onore della Beata Vergine Maria del Monte Carmelo, Centro Stampa Carmelitana, Roma, 2001, pp. 176. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

JOANNES PAULUS II,
Letter of His Holiness Pope John Paul II on the Occasion of the Carmelite Marian Year;
Carta de Su Santidad Juan Pablo II con ocasión del Año Mariano Carmelita;
Lettera di Sua Santità Giovanni Paolo II in occasione dell'Anno Mariano Carmelitano;
Brief des Heiligen Vaters Johannes Paulus II zum Marianischen Jahr des Karmel;
Carta de Sua Santidade João Paulo II por ocasião Ano Mariano Carmelita;
Vatican, 25 Marzo 2001, pp. 7. (E-mail: edizioni@ocarm.org)
Carta del Papa Joan Pau II als Carmelites, amb motiu del 750è Aniversari de l'Escapulari del Carme. (E-mail: mabonillagu@airtel.net)

JOANNES PAULUS II,
. . . con la Vergine Maria dinanzi agli occhi del cuore - Lettera del Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II in occasione dell'Anno Mariano Carmelitano, Centro Stampa Carmelitana, Roma, 2001, pp. 24. (E-mail: carmel@mclink.it)

KOSASIH, Franciscus, O.Carm.,
The Prophetic Dimension of the Carmelite Charism, (Vacare Deo 15), Edizioni Carmelitane, Roma, 2001, pp. 260. (E-mail: edizioni@ocarm.org)

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, carmelita,
El Escapulario del Carmen, Vol. I, AMACAR, Onda, 2001, pp. 248. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es). In 17 chapters the author presents: (a) the theology of the Scapular, that is, the basic doctrine of the Church on which it rests; (b) the story of the Marian gift: origin and evolution even to becoming, in the words of Cardinal Gomá, "the most widespread Marian devotion"; (c) the devotion given by Christians (popes, saints, learned persons, etc.) to the Mother and Beauty of Carmel.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, carmelita,
Santos que amaron a la Virgen del Carmen, Vol. II, AMACAR, Onda, 2001, pp. 304. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es). In four volumes the author deals with the teaching and devotion of many saints and blessed to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Scapular: Vol. II – The life of 30 men; Vol. III – The life of 30 women; Vol. IV – The life of 42 Popes from Innocent III (+1216) to the present Pope (giving importance to the message of the Popes of the twentieth century); Vol. V – In the first part the author presents the life of 8 bishop saints or blessed, and in the second part he presents the teachings of many bishops throughout the world who in 1950-1951 commented on the Apostolic Letter of Pius XII, Neminem profecto latet, on the Carmelite Scapular.

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, carmelita,
Santos que amaron a la Virgen del Carmen, Vol. III, AMACAR, Onda, 2001, pp. 271. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es)

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, carmelita,
Papas que amaron a la Virgen del Carmen, Vol. IV, AMACAR, Onda, 2001, pp. 246. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es)

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, carmelita,
ˇVestid el Escapulario!, dicen los obispos, Vol. V, AMACAR, Onda, 2001, pp. 286. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es)

LÓPEZ-MELÚS, Rafael María, carmelita,
La Virgen del Carmen, la devoción popular, Vol. VI, AMACAR, Onda, 2001, pp. 224. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es). The last volume of the series deals with five points: 1) A panoramic vision, in journalistic style, of the meaning of the devotion to the Scapular for Christians of yesterday and today. 2) The story and explanation of the Flos Carmeli, the prayer traditionally said to have been recited by St. Simon Stock when he received the Scapular from Our Lady in 1251. 3) A panoramic view of the origin and evolution of this devotion until our times. 4) Written testimonies by saints, popes, bishops, learned persons and Christian authors on Mary’s habit. 5) A recollection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as Stella Maris and Patroness of seafarers.

MESTERS, Carlos, carmelita,
Ao Redor da Fonte - Círculos de oração e de meditação em torno da Regra do Carmo, Brasil, 2001, pp. 280. (E-mail: mesters@visualnet.com.br)

PRECA, Dun Gorg,
Is-Sena tas-Sinjur - Riflessjoni ghal kull jum tas-sena, Societas Doctrinae Christianae, Malta, 2001, pp. 144. (E-mail: sdc@waldonet.net.mt)

Semana Santa 2001 - Junto a la Cruz estaba María,
Fraternidad Carmelitana, Medellín, 2001, pp. 63. (E-mail: karmel@epm.net.co)

El vestido de María,
750 aniversario de la visión y promesa del Escapulario del Carmen 1251-2001, Temas:
- Hna. Ma. Montserrat Xirinachs, Carmelita Contemplativa de Valls (Tarragona, España)
- P. Ortín Lorente, colegio HH. Carmelitas - Elda (Alicante, España)
- Sta. María in Traspontina (siglo XVII, Roma, Italia)
- Monjas Carmelitas (Ravenna, Italia)
AMACAR, Onda, 2001, size 50x70 cm. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es)

Año Mariano Carmelita 2001,
750 Aniversario de la Entrega del Escapulario del Carmen (1251-2001),Sevilla, 2001, size 50x70 cm. (E-mail: vcarmeno@planalfa.es). The poster produced by the two Carmelite Orders of the Iberian Region, represents Our Lady giving the Scapular to St. Simon Stock, based on the work of the sculptor Gregorio Fernández (ski) which was in our ancient convent in Valladolid (Spain) and is at present in the National Museum of Sculpture in the same city.

Compact Disks:

Iconographia Carmelitana - 1,
Centrum Informationis Totius Ordinis Carmeli-tarum (Roma) - Editrice Pisani sas (Isola del Liri), 2001. (E-mail: citoc@ocarm.org). This first CD-Rom published by CITOC for both the Windows and Macintosh systems, offers more than 1600 pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prophet Elijah, Blessed Titus Brandsma, the Carmelite coat of arms and many other Carmelite subjects. This collection is rich in information and pictures gathered from around the globe. The CD-Rom is also an index which is very important, not just for its content, but especially because it reveals how the people of God throughout the centuries has expressed its devotion and love for the Mother of Carmel.

Missa em honra de N. Sra. do Carmo - 750 Anos do Escapulário do Carmo, Monastero Flos Carmeli, Jaboticabal, 2001. (E-mail: convento@netsite.com.br)

• The Province of Baetica

On 28 April 2001, the Fourteenth Meeting of the Carmelite Family took place in Paradas (Seville). These meetings on Carmelite spirituality are held every year in a different place. This year Paradas was chosen. In this town there is a community of the Sisters of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel who look after a hospice and where there is also a group of lay Carmelites. The people of Paradas have long had great devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The parish priest of San Eutropio, Rev. José Maria Guzmán Sánchez de Alva, many religious of the Province, diocesan priests, Carmelite sisters and about 400 lay Carmelites from Andalusia, La Mancha and Madrid, took part in the celebrations. For this event, Fr. Ismael Martínez Carretero, O.Carm., prepared a short historical account of Paradas and of the Carmelite presence there. In this Marian Year on the occasion of the 750^th anniversary of the Scapular, Fr. Jaime Andrade Bermudo, O.Carm., spoke to the participants of "The Marian doctrine in Carmel". The Eucharist was presided by Fr. Rafael Leiva Sánchez, Provincial, and this was followed by a fraternal feast.

• The Province of Arago-Valentina

The 14^th Congress of Lay Carmel will be celebrated from 8 to 10 June 2001 in El Carmen in Onda (Castellón). The programme of the congress will include times of prayer and reflection, fraternity in groups and in general assemblies. The speakers will be Fr. Luis Gallardo, O.Carm., on "Mother and Beauty of Carmel" and Fr. Rafael Ma. López-Melus, O.Carm., on "Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Lives of the Saints". For further information please contact: PP. Carmelitas, "El Carmen", Apartado 53, 12200 Onda (Castellón), Spain. Tel: 964-601394.

A two day National Congress on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will take place on 13 - 14 July 2001 at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien. On the evening of 13 July, a eucharistic celebration, presided by bishop Joseph Imesch of the Diocese of Juliet, will inaugurate the Congress. The following day will be entirely devoted to talks aimed at deepening understanding of the role of the Brown Scapular and increasing relationship of Mary with the Carmelites and the power of the Brown Scapular as symbol of that relationship. Fr. Joseph Chalmers, Prior General, will present "The Future of Our Past: The Scapular for the 3^rd Millennium", Fr. Patrick McMahon, O.Carm., and Fr. Sam Anthony Morello, OCD, will speak on "The History and Heritage of the Scapular", Fr. David Blanchard, O.Carm., will offer "Sacramentals: Keeping the Faith". More information on the Congress is available from the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, IL, USA. Tel: 630-9694141.

For further information:
E-mail: Fr. Tarsicio Gotay, O.Carm.