Displaying items by tag: 2025 General Chapter

Reports from International Commissions and Curia Offices Become the Focus of the General Chapter

The General Chapter turned its attention to the work of the offices in the General Curia and the International Commissions on Friday and Saturday. This includes reports from the Bursar General, the Procurator General, the International Commission for Safeguarding, the International Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Commission, the International Commission for Liturgy and Prayer, the General Secretariat for Carmelite Laity, the International Commission for Youth. Saturday afternoon saw reports from the Office of the Postulator General, and the Order’s Communications Office, the Institutum Carmelitanum, and the International Commission for Communications.

The Chapter then adjourned to the chapel for Evening Prayer, followed by dinner. Sunday was a free day. An optional trip to various parts of Malang in the afternoon and evening was offered. It will be the subject of a future update.

All of these reports will be published in Analecta (2025) #2 by Edizioni Carmelitane.

Bursar General and Finance Commission

Friday began with a report on the financial condition of the Order. The Bursar General, Christian Körner, outlined the work of the General Finance Commission which meets each year and explained the work of his office. He also spoke about the November 2024 bursars meeting in Fatima and the revisions to the Order’s Economic Directory. Issues regarding the former Domus and CISA, the Institutum and Order’s archives were explained. Grants from the General Curia to the Order’s mission areas were also explained. The Society of the Little Flower (UK and Ireland) no longer accepts donations and is in the process of being completely closed. A central fund was established in September 2022 for development and formation using only the interest earned by the fund. The fund for the nuns, created by the General Council in 2008, has allowed the Order to respond to requests of various monasteries around the world. Fr. Christian concluded by outlining what some of the challenges in the months and years ahead. Members of the General Chapter then had the opportunity to react to the report or raise other issues.

Procurator General

The financial presentation was followed by that of the Procurator General, Michael Farrugia. This was done over two sessions. The first presentation referenced the work of the procurator’s office in general. He highlighted that some changes have been made to adapt Canon Law to new challenges and situations arising in the life of the Church. Consequently, the Order’s Constitutions must be updated as well to reflect these changes.

His final area dealt with liturgical texts and the approval of the Order’s own calendar. However, other requests (such as, the elevation of the celebration of St. Titus Brandsma to feast) and liturgical texts remain in process at the appropriate dicastery. The procurator general also participated in several provincial and general Chapters of the Carmelite sisters and helped revise the texts of the Constitutions.

International Commission of Safeguarding

The next session, also led by the Procurator General, was dedicated to the work of the International Commission of Safeguarding. Since its establishment, the Commission worked to prepare a manual, subsequently approved by the General Council, that each province will be expected to implement. The members of the General Chapter expressed thanks for this important work being finalized.

In recent years, the Order, the General Curia, and the International Commission for Safeguarding have made an effective and targeted commitment to ensure that every abuse or mistreatment of minors or vulnerable persons is prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The reform of the Dicasteries by Pope Francis in 2022 simplified the governing structures but is constantly evolving. Michael then reviewed the documents of the Holy See from October 2019 through September 2025 which are closely related to the life and mission of Order. He also reviewed new canons in the 1983 CIC regarding the life of the Order’s members and topics dealt with within the Order.

International Commission of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation

Saturday also held a full day of presentations to the Chapter members. The morning started with a report on the International Commission of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation by Conrad Mutizamhepo, General Councilor for Africa, who heads the commission.

The overarching goals for the six-year period included: promotion fo the personal and communal encounter and relationship with the Lord; promotion of the formation, development, and animation of Carmelite JPIC structures; planning and international Carmelite Family JPIC Conference to share experiences on working in JPIC ministries as well as exploring ways to implement the document From Contemplation to Action. It was hoped that accessibility to the document would help to deepen reflection and discussion of JPIC issues within affiliated congregations, provinces, and regions.

The Commission failed to realize greater collaboration with the Carmelite NGO and setting up a JPIC blog on topical issues as it hoped to do. Technical difficulties stopped an online survey of Carmelites working in JPIC ministry in provinces, commissariats and institutes affiliated to the Order. The JPIC Conference, scheduled to take place in July 2024 in Fatima had to be cancelled because the enrollment fell short of the number necessary for the event to be viable.

However, the Commission was able to offer webinar presentations on four well researched topics with time for questions and discussions.

A weakness is that JPIC ministries in geographical regions are generally not networked or well-coordinated. JPIC ministerial activities are often erroneously associated with political party activism. Conrad concluded, “The ball is in our court as an Order to revive this prophetic dimension (of Elijah) of our charismatic identity by incorporating justice, peace, and integrity of creation according to the ecclesiastical and Carmelite traditions in the formation program.

The Commission’s report ends with four recommendations and the statement that JPIC ministry is not a peripheral ministry for Carmelites. The values of JPIC are constitutive values of the Kingdom of God as well as part and parcel of the Carmelite prophetic heritage and charismatic heritage.

The time following the report was short, but a number of observations were made by the members regarding the work of JPIC throughout the Order.

International Commission of Liturgy and Prayer

The report of the International Commission of Liturgy and Prayer followed, presented by its chair, Richard Byrne. The General Council approved to continue updating the liturgical rites and books of the Order. The Council also approved preparing additional materials from Carmelite authors for the Carmelite Office of Readings for the BVM on Saturday and other days with particular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. There was also to be a collaborative project with the Formation Commission regarding the liturgical preparation of students in formation, liturgical studies as part of ongoing formation, and the promotion of good preaching. There was to be promotion of ways of celebrating the liturgy from a Carmelite perspective, to foster the shrines of the Order at an Order level, and congresses and meetings organized that foster the liturgical and prayer life of the members of the Carmelite Family.

Noting low numbers of young Carmelites studying liturgy, it was decided one scholar from each of the four geographical areas would be selected to earn a doctorate in liturgy. Liturgy is now one of four areas of postgraduate study the Curia will fund.

A document on the ministry of Carmelite shrines was developed. The document offered some ideas as a way of giving guidance to the renewal of shrines within the Order.

A liturgical conference was held in May 2025 with an emphasis on the pastoral and lived dimension of our liturgical and prayer lives. The overall theme was Encountering the Risen Lord: Liturgy and Prayer in Carmel Today. Eighty people attended the Congress.

Richard then reviewed the status of the various liturgical texts, including the Rite of Profession, the Third Order Ritual, the Office of Readings/Saturday Memoria of Our Lady, and the texts for the Spanish martyrs, Blesseds Angelus and Luke, and the celebration of St. Titus Brandsma being raised to a Memorial for the whole Order. It will be a Feast in those provinces where Titus is the patron. There continue to be difficulties in getting the Proprium Missarum and Liturgia Horarum to completion.

International Secretariat for Carmelite Laity

Following a break, Luis Maza, a member of the General Council, presented on the work of the General Secretariat for Carmelite Laity. At the beginning of the six-year period, an International Secretariat for the Laity was set up. All meetings were held online. Two training meetings were organized over zoom in Spanish and Portuguese for the TOC leaders.

The Secretariat prepared the 4th International Congress of the Carmelite Laity in September 2024. The Congress was based on four fundamental areas: formation, service, fraternity, and prayer. These themes were developed in lectures and workshops that encourages reflection and dialogue. Two hundred Carmelites from 30 countries participated.

A General Assembly of Carmelite Tertiaries was held in Fatima from February 25-March 2, 2025. The assembly aimed to enhance the identity and unity of the Carmelite Family through better communications, collaboration, and formation. The Assembly recognized the vital role of lay people witnessing as inspiring the transformation of secular society.

Because of references in the TOC rule to parts of the Constitutions that no longer exist, the rule needs to be revised. Among the areas suggested for further regulation are tertiary priests, use of the traditional habit or scapular, formation, admission, discernment time, and profession.

A key outcome of the Assembly was the creation of a provisional (2025-2027) International Council (Task Force) charged with drafting rules of procedures for governance of the TOC and preparing future assemblies.

Partial statistics indicate that there are 16,482 Solemn Tertiaries; 3,003 Temporary Tertiaries; 1463 in formation; and 542 communities.

International Commission for Youth

General Councilor Robert Puthussery reviewed the work of the Carmelite Youth during the last six-year period. Recognizing the significance of youth engagement, the 2019 General Chapter mandated the creation of an International Commission for Youth to explore new methods and contemporary approaches for involving young people in the life of the Church and the Order. Seven key action areas were identified by the Commission to be worked on: an in-depth study of Christus vivat; assistance with organizing Carmelite events at World Youth Day; strengthening geographical area youth ministry through regional commissions; developing and delivering online formation content; organizing Carmelite Youth Days within geographical areas; promoting communication between regional youth commissions; and establishing and supporting a network of Carmelite schools.

Robert then reported on the activities of the Asia-Australia-Oceania Youth Commission. He later gave a random overview of youth ministry across the Order. He also spoke about the Carmelite Day during the World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon. He concluded with some thoughts on challenges of the commission including personnel, structural integration, financial, and transitioning from occasional to integrated ministry.

Postulator General

Following lunch and a pause, the Postulator General, Giovanna Brizi, gave updates on the various current and future causes her office is dealing with as well as other activities her office participated in during the last six years. She made her report via zoom from Rome.

She began with the 70-year process that culminated on May 15, 2022, with the canonization of St. Titus Brandsma by Pope Francis. There are currently seven causes for individual Blesseds to be canonized, as well as groups of martyrs of the Spanish Civil War. Four causes, all women, are at the Venerable stage. Fifteen cases are at the Servant of God level. The postulator then reported eight cases in the diocesan phase. There are three cases to be opened soon and eight cases under study. Three cases have been suspended.

Communications Office of the Order

This was followed immediately by a report from William J. Harry, the director of the Order’s Communications Office. He made an appeal that the Order take seriously its responsibility to create the most effective communications program throughout the Order to make the Carmelite charism, its spirituality and history, available not only to the Carmelite Family but to other seekers of ways to holiness. He reminded the Chapter members that the Order has made significant contributions to the life of the Church over the last 800 years in writings, art, and the model lives that many of the members live.

His report included a review of the work of the Task Force which established a single office of communications and redesigned the website. He highlighted the popularity of Lectio divina and the weekly reflection on the Sunday Gospel reading, originating from the Australia-Timor Leste province. Both are emailed to over 20,000 email addresses. CITOC-online emails average 186 messages per year although the CITOC-online Updates include 3-5 news items per mailing. Twitter and Facebook are also utilized for CITOC messages.

A considerable percentage of the work in Communications is actually spent working with the authors and printing houses on publishing new books. Because of the business model for Edizioni Carmelitane established at an earlier Chapter, considerable time and expense is spent mailing the books to the communities. The value in investing this amount of time and expense is that all members of the Order will have these resources available to them in their own communities. Various proposals to improve this model will be proposed to this Chapter by the International Communications Commission.

Since the change from the previous Edizioni Carmelitane website to a Shopify store, book sales have increase significantly. Between July 1, 2024 and January 2025, there was a 183% increase in customers. As of July 1, 2025, the clients increased to 594 or a 225% increase. No longer is a company other than Edizioni receiving 50% of the profit. All profit comes directly to Edizioni. In addition, we now know who our customers are and their purchasing patterns. We can direct market them. In 2015, Edizioni sold €12.799,90 worth of books to non-Carmelite communities. In the year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, gross sales was €50.848,63.

William outlined a number of other initiatives that have been undertaken during the last six years to improve Edizioni’s name recognition and presence in various markets. Some have been sucessful. Some have not.

The director also reported on the three-part meeting held in January 2025 with communications directors from around the Order. This included a professional development component of three days at Santa Croce University in Rome, a celebration of journalism as part of the 2025 Jubilee, and a zoom call with those around the world who could not be present in Rome to discuss steps the Order as a whole should take to make its communications program more effective. A follow-up online meeting was held by request of those attending.

Reform of the Institutum Carmelitanum

In 2019 the General Chapter voted to reform the Institutum Carmelitanum, A committee was appointed and two years later they presented the text of the revised Norms to the General Council for review and approval. As a result, the Carmelite Library and the General Library of CISA were merged to become the Carmelite General Library. The reform makes explicit the type of interdisciplinary research, collaboration with other research bodies and scholars, the link between research and pastoral activity and between research and formation. A dozen areas were emphasized.

During the presentation, the new leadership of the Institutum Carmelitanum, the archives, and the library were introduced, although one is not a member of the Chapter and was absent.

International Communications Commission

The report from the International Communications Commission was given by its chair, Richard Byrne. He stated that the objective of the Order’s communications program is to communicate Christ’s Word through our Carmelite charism. It does this through both internal and external aspects. The General Council first established a Communications Task Force which functioned from 2019-2022. Twenty-five meetings were held online.

The Task Force proposed a single office of communication (which was accepted), that the online presence would extend beyond the news of the General Curia, the website would be reconfigured to enable people to learn about Carmelite spirituality and tradition as well as finding out about the Order. A single director was appointed and a lay man, Marco Pellitero was hired as Communications Assistant. Technical assistance for the website is outsourced. Bookkeeping for Edizioni is part of the General Bursar’s office.

A Communications Commission was appointed and has functioned until the current day. It has met 11 times, 7 times online. Primary among its work was the development of a communications plan with professional input from José Maria La Porte from Santa Croce University’s Department of Communications. During the Commission’s final meeting, a meeting was held with the Vatican Dicastery for Communications, including the prefect, Dr. Paolo Ruffini and Dr. Nataša Govekar, director for the Theological-Pastoral Department.

Finally, the Commission made some recommendations to change the current business model for Edizioni Carmelitane. That model, approved of by a previous chapter, calls for each house to receive a copy of each of its publications. This makes the resources available to all members of the Order where they live and helps pay for the expenses of the Communications Office. Four different models for distribution and four financing models were proposed for the Chapter’s consideration.

The report concluded that while much work had been done in the previous six years, challenges remain. Members of the General Chapter were reminded that we hold a precious treasure that is to be passed on, a treasure that brings light and hope.

The chapter members then celebrated Vespers in the chapel, followed by dinner.

On Monday, the Chapter finished listening to the reports of the various offices and commissions.

General Chapter Continues With Reports from General Councilors on the Four Geographical Areas of the Order

There is a strong fraternal part of a General Chapter during the daily celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours as well as during meals and casual gatherings following the evening meal. However, much time during a Chapter is spent in the Chapter Hall updating the members about the situations in each area of the Order, outlining the activities that have taken place during the last six years and highlighting areas of concern. CITOC highlighted the prior general’s talk during its September 10th update. We now turn to other reports.

The four General Councilors gave their reports on Wednesday and Thursday. Each presentation was followed by period for small group discussion and then a plenary session reporting on the small group discussions. The full report of each General Councilor will be published in Analecta (2025) #2 by Edizioni Carmelitane.

General Councilor for Europe

First to report was the General Councilor for Europe with its 15 entities divided into three regions. The Area’s six-year plan was to facilitate meetings of the vocations promoters, to continue the work of the Awakening Project and its ministry to young people, to establish an ad hoc Ongoing Formation Commission, to facilitate a process for preserving faithfully the charism of the Carmel in Europe, to explore and facilitate the unification of provinces, to organize and facilitate an annual meeting of the superiors of the area’s entities, and to research the possibilities for a common European student house for those in simple vows.

The annual meetings took place (two were online because of the covid pandemic), each with a distinct theme or topic. A committee developed an online program of formation, each meeting lasting for 90 minutes. The common student house has been a topic for about ten years. Three potential locations were selected but there was no consensus around any of the three.

A gathering and retreat of “young Carmelites” was held in the summer of 2024 in Nocera Umbra, Italy. Thirty-three Carmelites took part. Participants thought more such gatherings should take place. The Carmelite European Youth Committee (CEYC) held a gathering for the Jubilee of Youth in the summer of 2025. Approximately 240 young people and leaders took part and was in conjunction with Pope Leo’s prayer vigil at Tor Vergate and the Sunday Eucharist.

Several events connected with the canonization of St. Titus Brandsma were coordinated by the General Councilor for Europe and Benny Phang, the Vice General including Eucharistic celebration in churches around Rome before and after the canonization. Leaflets were created examining different aspects of Titus’s life and spirituality as well. For the Jubilee Year a series of leaflets on various Carmelite themes were also developed but can be used beyond the Jubilee Year.

Together with Christian Körner a Jubilee Year celebration for the two General Councils (OCARM and OCD) was organized. Finally, much information was also given about the activities of the various regions within the European area.

General Councilor for Africa

Conrad Mutizamhepo, General Councilor for Africa, spoke on the situation of the Order in his area, focusing on statistics, realities, challenges, and opportunities for the Carmelites. The Order is now present in six African countries, five being dependent on European provinces and one on a province in South America. Vocation discernment, formation, and ongoing formation are focuses of the area. While formation programs take place in each country, there is a common novitiates in English in Zimbabwe. The Final Message of African Leaders and Formators Conference in 2024 acknowledged some areas to be addressed in the formation program, including the publication of the Constitutions in French.

While there are some challenges to life in common, overall, the general approach to communal life is good. Priors are being trained to take a lead in developing stronger community life. Members are being offered periodic workshops on community dynamics and some practical issues that if dealt with properly could improve community life.

The Carmelites in Africa are serving in a wide variety of ministries, from twenty houses. Carmelites minister in twenty-two parishes. Carmelite houses are centers of prayer and spiritual accompaniment. An increasing number of lay people commence their day participating in Morning Prayer and Eucharist in some Carmelite communities.

Founding provinces have made large financial investments in Africa. These provinces have continued to bear the financial burden. So, along with the absence of missionary Carmelites, two of the major questions for the future concern leadership and the financial viability of entities. Of course, socio-political and economic instability is beyond the control of the individuals or the Order. Unfortunately, a dependency syndrome has developed in some places. It is felt that more reflection by the Carmelites in Africa is needed for healthy development to take place.

Carmel in Africa is young, vibrant, and hopeful. There are many opportunities for Carmel to live on her own resources from the fruits of her labors. But to counteract the dependency syndrome, African Carmel needs capacitation and fraternal accompaniment to enable her to grow the Carmelite charism and values as she grows numerically.

General Councilor for the Americas

The first report on Thursday, September 11, was dedicated to the General Councilor for the Americas, Luis Maza. Communities of Carmelites are present in 12 countries in the Americas. Each of these countries has its own challenges and difficulties. There has been an increase of vocations in Hispanic America and Brazil. While there is concern around the reduced number of vocations in Canada and the United States, there is great dedication to vocation ministry in the area.

There is an online formation program for the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Carmelite Family, sometimes open to English speaking Carmelites. The long-established project of formation for formators of Latin America (FOCAL) has been changed to include the two North American provinces (FOCAM) and to include as well the nuns, religious, and lay people. FOCAM was held twice this six-year period. ALACAR (Latin American Carmelite Association), a joint project with the OCDs, was not held during this six-year period.

Considerable work has been done with the presence of Carmelite youth in the Americas (JUCAR). Many young people participated. Some participated in the World Youth Day in Lisbon and the Youth Jubilee in Rome. Other initiatives have been quite successful: 600 people participated in a July 4, 2021, online youth meeting. They shared their Carmelite experiences in a WhatsApp chat. Local efforts also result in week long missions, camps, retreats, formation presentations, charity work, virtual rosary prayers and discussions with young people which is called “A Coffee with Titus.”

A Mission was carried out for 10 days in the Prelature of Itaituba in March 2024. Carmelite bishop, Wilmar Santin, is the local bishop. The participants learned about the pastoral reality of the region and its many challenges. Besides Bishop Santin, the Sisters of the CDP and the CMSTMJ Congregations are present in the prelature.

Finally, Luis concluded by enumerating the meetings that took place in each of the years of the sexennium and highlighted the scheduled ALACAR meeting in October 2025 and the III FOCAM meeting in Camocin de São Felix, Brazil in September 2026.

General Councilor for Asia/Oceania/Australia (AAO)

The final report from the four geographical areas of the Order was given by Robert Puthussery, the General Councilor for Asia/Oceania/Australia. While it is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of the Order today, it is marked by immense cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity as well as the presence of the world’s major religions and a multitude of indigenous and traditional spiritualities.

There is an ever-growing number of young vocations testifying to a flourishing spiritual thirst and missionary zeal. In March 2025, there were five provinces, one general commissariat, and two provincial commissariats with a total of 793 members— 530 solemnly professed, 192 temporarily professed, and 71 novices.

The global plan for the Area called for canonical visitations; regular meetings of the regional superiors; encouraging members to develop expertise in Asian/Oriental spirituality; foster intra-geographical collaboration; organize area wide programs in initial and ongoing formation; explore and support forming international communities throughout the Order; promote initiatives to support young Carmelites in higher studies; and, collaborate with the JPIC Commission.

Some challenges were highlighted for reflection: approaches for accommodating and forming the increasing number of vocations; innovative strategies and methods to engage the younger generation in vocation ministry; cultivating “vocation-friendly communities.”

There are 47 formators in the Asia/Oceania/Australia area. While initial formation and the novitiate are seen as working well, there is growing concern that after first profession, the formation in Carmelite spirituality—both in terms of knowledge and lived experience—tends to become vague and diluted. To foster a deeper sense of internationality within the Order, there should be a concerted effort to encourage the learning of the three official languages of the Order from the earliest stages of formation. There is a recent decision to plan and implement a formators’ training program within this geographical area.

Principal among the major activities that took place during this sexennium is, perhaps, the erection of the Eastern Indonesian Province (Ordo Karmel Provinsi Indonesia Timur) on March 25, 2025. The province has 21 communities with 4 canonically erected houses. There are three formation houses. The province consists of 117 solemnly professed, 65 simply professed, 33 novices, and 60 postulancy candidates. Its territory included the ecclesiastical provinces of Makassar, Ende, Kupang, and Merauke.

To promote inter-geographical collaboration and to coordinate key initiatives, three commissions were established:  the Commission for Formation; the Youth Commission; the Commission for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC). Each commission met 4 times each year. A list of the activities of each commission was outlined.

Robert concluded with a reflection on the Area’s future challenges: collaboration (intra-inter-geographical); financial stability; and development of regional expertise to better serve the Order and society.

Friday and Saturday’s presentations are from the various International Commission and the Curia officials who head up offices within the General Curia.

Malang has provided the members of the General Chapter with some wonderful experiences of the Indonesian culture. The opening ceremony, a traditional Javanese welcoming ceremony for important guests, was just the beginning of inculturation. Many of the Indonesian Carmelites, dressed in traditional garb, handed out kain batik, a dyed fabric with Javanese pattern, to each participant. This cloth was then carried into the Chapel over the shoulders of the members.

The chapel, used for daily mass as well as Morning and Evening Prayer, provides a blending of the traditional Church and Indonesian culture. Perhaps most prominent of many examples is the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Child Jesus.

Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, a former prior general, who has visited Indonesia on many occasions posted this on his Facebook page: The vitality of a charism is manifested in its ability to incarnate itself in different cultures, to manifest itself in different languages, and to express itself in the artistic styles of different peoples.

He was speaking directly about Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the chapel of the chapter.

Chapter Logo Captures Spirit of 2025 General Chapter

On the first day of the Chapter, Christian Buenafe, president of the preparatory commission of the General Chapter, took a few moments to introduce the logo and its significance to the members of the Chapter. We thought is useful to bring to your attention the creative logo for the 2025 Chapter. It seems to have capture well the spirit present in the Chapter as well as our lives together as Carmelites.

Open Hands:  As a Symbol of Prayer, Also Hard-Working Hands

The Carmelite charism is a gift from God to the Church and the world. One of them is Prayer: Prayer is the root and support all working activities in the Carmelite Order including fraternity and service. The colors refer to national flag of Indonesia.

Carmelite Shield: Shows the Uniqueness of the Carmelite Order: Prayer, Fraternity and Service Inspired by the Prophet Elijah and Mother Mary 

The symbol of a brown mountain on a white background area, has the meaning of the majestic name of Carmel as the charisma of the Order which always longs for and fights for unity with God through a life of prayer and contemplation which has begun since the beginning of the Carmelites.

The Cross of Christ: Symbol of Christ, the Source of Life for the Carmelites 

The cross is the source of strength for the Carmelites. They work not because of their abilities or their individual charisma but the Christ’s cross as their power.

Five People Gathered Symbol of Fraternity 

The Carmelite Fraternity is a brotherhood born of contemplative life. This brotherhood is bound by one strength, the cross of Christ. Differences will always exist but they are called to be one in community. Living in community bound by the cross of Christ will bring the spirit of mission to all continents represented by 5 colors:

• white: Europe,
• green: Africa,
• red: America,
• blue: Oceania/Australia,
• yellow: Asia

Five People with Outward Movement as a Symbol of Service

The Carmelite Service is born from brotherhood. There is no personal work. There is only shared work, because it is bound by one power, namely the cross of Christ. Together moving outward, having achieved union of love with Christ.

General Chapter Officially Opens With Cultural Celebration and Mass

The members of the Carmelite General Chapter gathered at the front entrance to the Harris Hotel in Malang, Indonesia to be officially welcomed to Indonesia and the Chapter. The prior provincial, Franciscus Xavier Hariawan Adji and members of his council offered words of welcome.

All the Chapter participants were then given a batik scarf by members of the province. A traditional Javenese Gembyong dance was then performed by students from St. Albert’s College, the Carmelite school in Malang. Music accompanying the dance was provided by students and teachers and Carmelites  from St. Albert’s.

That was followed by a procession into the chapel for the General Chapter. The prior general presided and the members of the outgoing General Council concelebrated. Music at the Mass in Kroncong style (a combination of Javenese and Dutch instruments) was provided by the Carmelite students in formation.

The events were graced with the presence of the local bishop, Carmelite Henricus Pidyarto Gunan. Bishop Pidyarto is well-known to and friends with many of the participants at the Chapter because of his studies at CISA in the 1980’s and his participation in the life of the Order over these many years.

During his homily, the prior general presented 3 questions. Who are we? Why have we come here? And what are we going to do? It is important to see ourselves as we are: having been called and to accept that calling and live in every way in allegiance to Jesus Christ. That is who we are—with our calling and our gifts. And with these gifts we are to celebrate this chapter of brothers, as contemplatives, to discern the will of God for us and what God wants us to do to spread the Gospel.

In the afternoon of Day 1, the prior general, Míċeál O’Neill gave his report to the Chapter. This report on the spiritual and temporal state of the Order is mandated by the Constitutions of the Order. The prior general explained that his original talk was 28 pages long but that he would give a much-shortened version to the Chapter assembly. It is his desire that the report, as well as those in the days to come regarding the various regions, will spark some discussion among the delegates.

Pope Leo Tells Carmelites to Use General Chapter as Time of Spiritual Renewal

Pope Leo XIV wrote the members of the General Chapter being held in Malang, Indonesia. Through the letter, he imparted his Apostolic Blessing on “all in the Order as a pledge of wisdom, joy, and peace in the Lord.”

Fr. Míċeál O’Neill read the letter to those present at the end of the Mass to open the General Chapter.

The pope, himself an Augustinian, sees the work of religious “whether through preaching retreats, spiritual accompaniment, parish work, or education youth” as a way of bearing “witness to the gift of unity, especially in those parts of society fractured by division and polarization.”

“Trust that this time together will be an occasion of spiritual renewal,” wrote the pope, "holding fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful," a quote from the Letter to the Hebrews.

                    Read the entire Letter ...

From the General Chapter | September 9-26, 2025
Livestream of Opening Mass of the General Chapter on Tuesday, September 9 at 8:30AM (GMT +7)

The Opening Mass of the 2025 General Chapter will be livestreamed from Malang, Indonesia courtesy of the Communications Office of the Indonesian Province. A recording will also be posted on the Order’s Youtube channel for the convenience of those who would like to watch it later.

The livestream starts at 8:15AM (GMT +7). The link to the Indonesian province’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/live/mBsVy3BWqn0

The 2025 General Chapter of the Carmelite Order begins on Tuesday, September 9, in Malang, Indonesia. It will be the first General Chapter outside Europe. It will take place at the Harris Convention Center and Hotel. The Chapter is scheduled to run through Friday, September 26.

On Sunday, September 21, the Chapter members will travel to Saint Albert Dempo High School for celebration of Indonesian Day. Monday, September 22, is designated Carmelite Family Day—a time for conversation with cloistered nuns, active sisters, Third Order, and youth. Another highlight will be a retreat day with Bishop Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan, O. Carm., of the Diocese of Malang, on Thursday, September 18, a day prior to the start of the elections.

On the afternoon of September 26, the Chapter will move to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Malang for a closing Mass and the signing of the Acts of the Chapter.

The Communications Office of the Order in conjunction with the Indonesian Province Communications Office plans on bringing periodic updates from the Chapter to subscribers to CITOC and our other social media platforms throughout the Chapter.

In the meantime, we invite you to join with the members of the General Chapter in prayer. You can download the Chapter Prayer in English, Spanish, or Italian from the OCARM website (ocarm.org).