The General Congregation of the Order began on Monday, September 5 at the Villa Aurelia, a retreat/conference center near the Vatican. The theme of this year’s meeting is Gift and Mission: The Radical Witness of Consecrated Carmelites in the World of Today. “By This Everyone Will Know that You Are My Disciples” (Jn 13: 35).
These meetings are held three years before a General Chapter. Forty-three members plus “experts” are participating in the meeting. The priors provincial and those provincial commissaries and general delegates who have at least twenty voting members (solemn vows) in their reality have the right to vote.
In an interview before the start of the meeting, the prior general, Fr. Míceál O’Neill, expressed his hope for the two-week gathering. “My principal interest is for this to be a kind of extended general council in which we get a chance to share leadership, information, and responsibility with those who are leaders in the various provinces.”
The first week is dedicated to the topic of the consecrated life. The former master (superior general) of the Dominican Order, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, will address the group of the topic of consecrated life. Fr. Timothy, a noted speaker and author, had previously addressed the 2007 General Chapter of the Order. These first days will also be facilitated by Mr. Danny Curtin who will help guide the work of the participants.
Topics to be covered in the second week include reports from each geographical area of the Order as well as the various entities that are the responsibility of the general council (there is a commission or a delegate responsible to the general council) including CISA; the Carmelite nuns; the Institutum Carmelitanum; the archives; aggregated congregations; communications; Lay Carmelites; postulation; Carmelite youth; Justice, Peace, and the Integration of Creation; new foundations; and liturgy and prayer.
Other topics to be discussed include the Carmelite NGO, which affiliates the Carmelite Family to the United Nations; synodality; financial self-sustainability; integral ecology; safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults; and formation.
The congregation will conclude with a message to the Carmelite Family, discussed and approved by the gathering in its final days.
The gathering officially opened with a Eucharist on Monday, September 5, celebrated by the prior general of the Order. This was followed by an opening address from Fr. Míceál to set the tone for the meeting. He offered a reflection on leadership and mission. In the second part of his address, the prior general highlighted areas of concern, the issues the general council is dealing with and have been shared with the provinces. The third part was an overview of the four geographical areas (the individual general councilors will give a more in-depth report of each area in the second week). The prior general concluded his remarks with some indications of areas the group might focus on going forward as leadership.
The General Congregation will conclude on Friday, September 16.
