Province of Germany Holds Triennial Chapter June 9-13, 2025
The fourth provincial chapter of the German Province was held from June 9 – 13, 2025 in the Carmelite Retreat Center at Springiersbach (Germany).
In his opening address, the prior general, Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm., expressed his wish that the chapter would be “a meeting of minds and hearts that see more clearly who we are, what we have received from God and what is our calling in this country and in Africa today.”
The theme chosen for the chapter was: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9). The chapter participants (gremiales) took this question of God to Elijah as an opportunity to ask themselves what constitutes their religious life today. Arising from this, the gremiales considered their spiritual and community life. They examined how they were to live in the world: how to communicate their lives and what service they wanted to present to people.
Among the normal reports and topics, typical of every provincial chapter, the gremiales considered how they could strengthen their relationship with Cameroon. Time was also spent considering the new leadership of the province and what needed to happen after the provincial chapter was concluded. In addition, the chapter supported the province’s participation in the projects for closer cooperation within the North European Region.
The chapter was facilitated and moderated by Frau Stefanie Kainzbauer. Wilmar Santin, O. Carm., Bishop of Itaituba, Para, Brazil, a member of the province, attended as a guest. In addition, Dr Raoul Kiyangi, OCD, provincial of the Discalced German Province attended for a day as a guest of the province.
The following members were elected to leadership:
Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Peter Schröder, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Theodor Vreeswijk, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Stephan Panzer, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3o Consigliere
Lorenz van Rickelen, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Severin Tyburski, O. Carm.
