Dear Carmelite Family, On behalf of the Preparatory Commission for the General Chapter 2013, welcome to the official website! Our theme, A Word of Hope and Salvation – Living the Charism and Mission of Carmel Today, is intended to lead all of us further on the journey of transformation. Included in this website are all the important documents and materials needed for those participating from near and far.
After Wednesday’s visit to Rome for the audience of the Holy Father, the General Chapter returned to its work. The entire day was dedicated to the study of and votation on various proposals and recommendations. Some of these items came from different friars and provinces, others from the Commissions of the Order or General Council. The areas treated included adaptations and changes in the Constitutions, Formation, Liturgy, Economics and Identity/Mission. The General Financial Directory of the Order was approved and there was a long discussion regarding the support within the Order and its missions.
The members of the Chapter along with the other invited members of the Carmelite Family, went to St. Peter’s Square in the morning, for the General Audience with Pope Francis. It was a very moving occasion for all who were there. As he was welcoming the people, Pope Francis turned to the members of the General Chapter with a warm and kindly greeting.
This morning, the Chapter, together with representatives of the Carmelite Family, listened to Father Josef Jancar described the situation with the Carmelite Family for the last six years.
In May 2011, there was an International Gathering of the Carmelite Family at Sassone in Rome. Immediately following it was a meeting between the General Council and General Superiors of the congregations affiliated to the Order.
The day began with members of the Carmelite Family joining the Chapter for our presentations, reflections and discussions. The Eucharist was presided by Most Reverend Saverio Cannistrà, OCD, Preposit General of the Discalced Carmelites.
After Mass, Fr. Saverio addressed the assembly by challenging us to experience all of the beauty and richness of the Carmelite Family, by searching for mission in the heart of our identity. We need to always look beyond our frontiers and boundaries and present the Gospel with Carmelite hearts and eyes.
At the General Chapter of the Carmelite Friars this morning, the Most Reverend Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., a member of the Betica Province in Spain, was re-elected to the office of Prior General for a period of six years. After the election, he received the fraternal greetings of all of the brothers present.
The topic of today’s morning session had finances as its theme. Addressing this topic, Fr. Tomas McClain, Bursar General of the Jesuits, was invited to speak at this meeting. The presenter gave some ideas on the meaning of poverty today.The theme presented was entitled " Poverty and the Role of the Bursar Today." In his presentation, he touched on tough issues such as: the role of the Bursar, and the meaning we give today to the terms “poverty” and “simplicity.”
At the end of the report, a discussion was opened on the issue of poverty and how we are
Today, following the request made by Pope Francis for people to fast and pray for peace, the chapter members decided upon forms of fasting and moments of prayer.
The chapter members met in the main hall for the first session of the day. The theme of the day was, "Carmel in Mission, Windows of Hope". The session heard four presentations by different members of the Order, representing the four geographical areas.
Fr. Boniface Kimondolo (Kenya) talked about what is happening in Africa, underlining the aspects in which we Carmelites can offer some contribution to hope. He listed four points, simplicity of life, poverty, communion and peace, especially in relation to tribal conflicts.
This day was dedicated to continuing our reflections on the Chapter Theme. In the morning, Michael Plattig, O.Carm., Professor of Spirituality at Münster University and a member of the German Province, presented, Living Charism and Mission for the Carmel: A Word of Hope and Salvation. He considered Carmelite Identity and Charism as the basis from which we can find words of hope and salvation for the world today. He said, “We Carmelites owe the Church the proclamation of God who redeems and liberates us, who wants to live in a relationship with us, a relationship of love and confidence, of reverence and of respect for the freedom of the other.” The Chapter was invited to ponder deeply on our history and prayer in order to find the hope that is so elusive for so many today.
The work of the Chapter on the 5th of September began with the celebration of the Eucharist, led by Fr. Míceál O'Neill, O.Carm.. The Gospel of the day was a call to us to caste our nets out into the deep.In the morning session, Fr. Miceal O'Neill and Fr. Francisco de Sales Alencar, O.Carm. gave a powerpoint presentation on the Chapter process and a summary of the responses from the provinces, commissariats and delegations to the questions contained in the instrumentum laboris.
Day 2 of the General Chapter began with Mass led by Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm., the elected President of the Chapter. During the day, the four General Councilors of the Regions of the Order, discussed their ministry over the past six years.
Europe
Fr. John Keating, O.Carm., described the reality of Europe where over half of the friars are over 70 years of age. John identified the problems that include lack of mobility, challenging “comfort zones”
Every Carmelite Marian icon recalls the relationship of Mary with her Son and seeks to visualize it. Since the fourth century, the form of these images has tried to reflect the principle aspects of Marian theology, above all the theological aspect of Mary as Theotokos; a title indicating her role in the history of salvation and the spiritual aspect that evokes her role of intercession[1].
The 213th General Chapter of the Order of Carmelites opened in Il Carmelo in Sassone, Rome, Italy on Tuesday morning, September 3, 2013. 111 Friars from the five continents gathered representing nearly every country where the Carmelite Order has communities and ministers.
The Chapter began with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, led by the Prior General, the Most Reverend Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm., and concelebrated by the members of the General Council. The Prior General welcomed all of the capitulars, as well as the guests,
Fr. Carl Markelz, O.Carm, Provincial of the province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (PCM), member of the Preparatory Commission of the General Chapter 2013 explains what General Chapter is about, who will come and what will be discussed in the General Chapter.
we invite you to answer these questions for General Chapter 2013
"A word of hope and salvation" (Const. 24): living the charism and mission of Carmel today”. Some Quotations and Reflections while you are getting ready ....
Please send your prayer and message for the Chapter. We hope to receive input from individual friars and communities, as well as from the wider Carmelite Family, for our coming Chapter, so that it may really be a time of grace for the whole Order.
Loving God, You are the source of everything that is good; You are the living God of history, Ever faithful to the little ones.
You called us to live in communion a life of allegiance to Christ through a commitment to find you and through our fraternal life in the midst of the people.
During session 242 on the 15th of December, the General Council initiated preparations for the next General Chapter based on the suggestions made by the provincials during the General Congregation last September. The Chapter will take place at Sassone (Rome) from the 2nd (arrivals) to 21st (departures) September 2013 with the following theme:
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Please send your prayer and message for the Chapter. We hope to receive input from individual friars and communities, as well as from the wider Carmelite Family, for our coming Chapter, so that it may really be a time of grace for the whole Order.
