Rome, March 16, 2002: The General Council met at the Curia residence in Rome from March 4-15. A number of issues were discussed, including additional planning for the myriad of events that will take place during the six years of this administration. Special attention was given to ideas for the celebration of the 550^th anniversary of the papal bull "Cum Nulla" which established the Carmelite Nuns and the Lay Carmelites.

There were meetings with Mark Attard, prior of CISA, and the members of his council, Vincenzo Mosca, the Director of Domus Carmelitana, and Sandro Vella, who is responsible for the on-going formation courses. There were updates on the trips of the Prior General and the General Councilors to the various Provinces as well as Provincial Chapters. Various financial matters as well as legal issues were also discussed. The Council also met for one day with the ‘Daily Board’ of the Dutch Province during which the situation of the Province was described.

The 50^th Anniversary of Simple Profession for two members of the General Council, Carlos Mesters and Anthony Scerri, took place with a Eucharistic celebration and dinner at the Curia on Saturday, March 9.

The next meeting of the General Council will take place May 14-21 at the Curia in Rome.

March 21, 2002: The results of the elections to the Provincial Council of the Lower German Province are as follows:

Prior Provincial: Pankraz Ribbert, O. Carm.
First Councilor: Wilfred Wanjek, O. Carm.
Second Councilor: Martins Segers, O. Carm.
Third Councilor: Víktor Heger, O. Carm.
Fourth Councilor: Antón Beemsterboer, O. Carm.

The Chapter of the Baetica Province was celebrated from March 25-27, 2002 in the Casa de Cursillos de San Juan de Aznalfarache (Sevilla). It was presided over by the Prior General, Joseph Chalmers, with assistance from the Councilor for the Mediterranean, Rafael Leiva Sanchez.

At 1 PM on March 26, 2002, the Prior General confirmed the newly elected in their responsibilities before the entire Chapter assembly. The following were elected:
Provincial: José Ramírez Román.
Commissary in Venezuela: Manuel Sánchez León.
Councilor for Apostolates: Luis Mª Ruano Ramírez.
Councilor for Vocations: José Ramón Medina Madueño.
Councilor for Formation and Studies: Fernando Millán Romeral.
Councilor for Finance: Francisco Javier Maya Fernández.

Besides the reports given by the preceeding Provincial, Councilors, and Commissary in Venezuela, the Chapter studied the principal points from the General Chapter of 2001, the Project of the General Council, and the current situation in Burkina Faso.

The Archbishop of Sevilla, Carlos Amigo Vallejo, presided at the Eucharist on March 27, 2002.

The Chapter of the Aragovalentina Province was celebrated April 9-11, 2002 at "El Carmen" in Onda. David Oliver Flipo was elected Provincial and Tomás Ciscar Nadal was elected as Commissary Provincial of theAntilles. Also elected as members of the Provincial Council were: Councilor for Religious Life: Luis Gallardo Ganuza; Councilor for Formation: Desiderio García Martínez; Councilor for Ministry and Vocations: Salvador Batalla Villalonga; Coucilor for Finances: Vicente Aranda Guillén.

After hearing the thoughts of the new Council, the new Provincial chose Carmelo Gómez Gálvez as the Assistant Provincial. The theme of the Chapter was "Fraternal Life: A Journey of Transformation".

The first day of the Chapter, Ágel Adiudd Marrero Rosario made his solemn profession into the hands of the Prior General, Joseph Chalmers.

The Provincial chapter of Castile was held from 15^th to 17^th April at the Marian shrine of El Henar in Cuellar, Segovia.

The chapter theme was "Fraternity and Mission – the Journey Continues" and this is to be guiding principle of the plan for the province for the next three years. The chapter also took into account recent documents of the Church, those of the General Chapter of 2001, the plan of the General Council and the guidelines of the Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanae.

The following were elected:
Prior Provincial: Luiz Ortis Serran, O. Carm.
First councillor – Fraternity: Florentino Bocos Priante, O. Carm.
Second councillor – Apostolate: Miguel Angel Pérez Gutiérrez, O. Carm.
Third councillor - Formation and Vocations: Tomás de la Cámera y López, O. Carm.
Fourth councillor – Finance: Marín A. Lozano Moreno, O. Carm.
Provincial Secretary - Miguel Angel Pérez Gutierréz, O. Carm.

April 22-24, 2002: The Chapter of the General Commissariat of Portugal was celebrated April 22-24, 2002 in the Casa Beato Nuno in Fatima, Portugal, with the Prior General, Joseph Chalmers, presiding. He was accompanied by the General Councilor for the Mediterranean Region, Rafael Leiva Sánchez, O. Carm.

Elected to office were:
General Commissary: Enrique Augusto Martins, O. Carm.
1st Councilor: António Monteiro, O. Carm.
2.º Consejero: Ricardo dos Reis Rainho, O. Carm.
3.º Consejero: Domingos Matos Novais, O. Carm.
4.º Consejero: Agostinho Marques de Castro, O. Carm.

The most important themes dealt with the priorities for the fraternal and community life: Ministry, Mission, and proposals that were presented.