Displaying items by tag: Elections

The Carmelites of the General Commissariat of Paraná celebrated their triennial elective chapter from September 18-22, 2023. The gathering, held in Maringá, had as its theme "We Walk Together Towards God" from the Rule and Constitutions. The motto for the meetings was from Luke's Gospel: "Stay with us, Lord, it is late and night is coming." Míċéal O'Neill, the prior general, accompanied by  José Luis Maza Subero, the Councillor for the Americas, participated.

In 1951, the Province of Upper Germany began missionary work in the city of Paranava, in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Within a few years fifteen missionaries went to the new foundation. They promoted local vocations and two years later, they started a second foundation in the city of Graciosa, where a small seminary house was built. In 1965, the Paranese mission was set up as a provincial commissariat of the Upper German Province.

In 1967, the Carmelites assumed the pastoral care of the parish of Saint Joseph in Cidade Gaúcha and the parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin in the city of Fanny-Curitiba; in this second parish they also erected a novitiate and a minor seminary. In 1968, after the division of the Cidade Gaúcha parish, the Carmelites took over a new parish in the city of Tapira. The following year, in the city of Paranava, the brothers set up a seminary of St. John of the Cross and a middle school. In 1984, the parish of Good Jesus in the city of Dourados, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, was taken over by the Order. In 1994, the Carmelites left the parishes in the city of Gaúcha and in Tapira in order to start a new mission in the northern region. They assumed the pastoral care of the parish of Our Lady of Aparecida in the city of Rolim de Moura, in the State of Rondônia in the Amazon region. In 1996, a house of formation was founded in Barrio Novo, in the city of Curitiba. At the beginning of the third millennium, convents were established in Manaus and Navigentes (2009) and in Florianopolis (2011). On October 20, 2012, the prior general, with the approval of his General Council, canonically erected the General Commissariat of Paraná.

The following members were elected to leadership at the Chapter:

Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Flávio Barbosa dos Santos, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^o Consigliere
Edmilson Borges de Carvalho, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2^o Consigliere
Francisco Manoel de Oliveira, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3^o Consigliere
Vagner Sanagiotto, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4^o Consigliere
João Bernardes Alves, O. Carm.

The Carmelite nuns of the monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption held their triennial elective Chapter on September 1, 2023.

The monastery was founded in 1656 by a Sr. Beatrice the Sheperd who brought nuns from the monastery of St. Michael, also in the town of Huesca. The monastery belongs to the Mater Unitatis Federation.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Hna. Mª Jacinta Nthenya Wambua, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Hna. Mª Anastacia Kavuu Kiswili, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Hna. Mª Inés Nthenya Nzyuko, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera: 
Hna. Mª Carmen Ibarra, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera: 
Hna. Benedictar Mutiwa  Nzuve, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa
Hna. Inés  Nthenya Nzyuko, O. Carm.

Formator | Formadora | Formatrice
Hna. Mª Anastacia Kavuu Kiswili, O. Carm.

Sacristan | Sacristana | Sacrestana
Hna. Mª Regina Mumbua  Musyoka, O. Carm.

The Hermanas de la Virgen María del Monte Carmelo celebrated their XXI General Chapter from July 19 to August 13.

The meetings were held in the congregation's House of Spirituality in Tales (Castellon). The theme of the Chapter was "Be a Transmitter of the Charism: From Our Vulnerability, in the Way of Sinodality".

The final act of the General Chapter was the election of the new general government of the Congregation. This took place on August 12.  

The election results were:

Superior General –
Merry Teresa Sri Rejeki

Vicar General –
María del Carmen Aparicio Personal

2nd General Councilor and General Secretary –
Fabiola Ma Freitas Gusmao

3rd General Councilor and General Treasurer –
M^a Dolores Colon Molina

4th General Councilor –
María del Carmen Sanchez Mesa

The Carmelite monastery of Santa Maria della Vita (SAR) in Sogliano al Rubicone, Italy, celebrated its triennial elective chapter on August 9, 2023. Bishop Nicolò Anselmi of the Diocese of Rimini presided.

The monastery was founded ib June 26, 1992 by five nuns from the Carmelite monastery in Ravenna. It was dedicated to the Our Lady of Life on April 4, 1992. The Congregation for Religious canonically erected the monastery under the local ordinary on June 30, 2017. 

The monastery website is: www.carmelosantamariadellavita.it

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Sr. Maria Vania Spazzoli, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr Marilla Pia Fiumana, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr Maria Simona Nicita, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa
Sr Maria Eleonora Cicero, O. Carm.

Formator | Formadora | Formatrice
Sr Marilla Pia Fiumana, O. Carm.

Sacristan | Sacristana | Sacrestana
Sr Maria Benedetta Benvenuti, O. Carm.

The Carmelite monastery of San José in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, celebrated its triennial elective chapter on June 30, 2023.

In 1642, the noble lady, Anna de Lanzós, donated her palace for a monastery in San Juan. King Philip IV issued royal permission in 1646. Efforts to import Carmelite nuns from Seville were blocked because of the dangers of sea travel. So three Dominican nuns came from Queen of Angels monastery in San Domingo came to initiate Carmelite life according to the Carmelite Rule (1651) and the monastery was canonically erected. Lady Anna, who donated her house to be the monastery, and her sister entered the monastery. After the Dominicans returned to their monastery, Anna took over as prioress. The monastery was later transferred to the cities of San Germán (1903) and Santurce (1910) and currently is in Trujillo Alto.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Madre Carmen Noemí Marrero Marrero, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sor Linda María Pérez González, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera:
Sor Lutgarda María Reyes Maldonado, O. Carm.

Director of Novices | Maestra de Novicias | Maestra delle Novizie:
Sor Linda María Pérez González, O. Carm.

The Chapter of the Province of the Netherlands took place from May 9-12, 2023, at the Franciscushuis retreat center in Denekamp. Both the Prior General Míceál O'Neill and the General Councilor for Europe, Richard Byrne, participated.

Today’s Province of the Netherlands celebrated its 100^th anniversary in 1996. Houses existed in the country centuries before but they formed part of the Lower German Province. However all the houses in what is now the Netherlands ceased to exist in 1581 when the Netherlands declared themselves independent of Spain. In 1652, a foundation was made in Boxmeer by the noted Carmelite, Daniel of the Virgin Mary. That house belonged to the Flemish Province.

Boxmeer survived the suppression of the Flemish Province under Napoleon but was not allowed to accept novices. When this ban was lifted in 1840, only three elderly friars remained. The community was soon reconstituted and in 1855 founded Zenderen. These two houses, along with Straubing, became the Germano-Holland Province in 1879. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1896, the General Council of the Order established the Province of the Netherlands.

Over the years the Province of the Netherlands became the largest and one of the most flourishing in the Carmelite Order. It has distinguished itself especially in promoting the spread of the Order. Members went to work with the Choctaw native people in Tucker, Mississippi (USA) accompanying them on their removal to current day Oklahoma. From 1904 it assisted in the restoration of the Rio de Janeiro Province (Brazil). In 1923 it began a mission in present Indonesia which has since become the largest province in the Order. In 1924 it repossessed the convent of Mainz and revived its mother Province of Lower Germany. In 1958 members founded the Order in the Philippines, which has since become a province.

The following members were elected to leadership:

+         +        +

Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Fr. Huub Welzen, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^o Consigliere
Fr. Ton van der Gulik, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2^o Consigliere
Fr. Tom Buitendijk, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3^o Consigliere
Fr. Ben Wolbers, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4^o Consigliere
Fr. Hein Blommestijn, O. Carm.     

Elected to the Extended Provincial Board
Anne-Marie Bos and Minnie Pasop

The Chapter of the General Commissariat of Portugal was held from April 26-28, 2023 in Hotel Casa São Nuno in Fatima. Both the Prior General Míċeál O'Neill and the General Councilor for Europe, Richard Byrne, participated.

In 1251 Carmelites, coming from Mount Carmel, made a foundation in the town of Moura. In 1397 St. Nuno Álves Pereira, a hero as commander of the Portuguese in their war for independence from Castille in 1383-1385, entrusted the magnificent monastery and church in Lisbon which he had built in honor of the Blessed Virgin, to the Carmelites. He himself then entered the Order.

In 1423 the Province of Lusitania was established in the Order. During the 15th century, the province was completely reorganized with the foundation of several houses, among them the house of studies in Coimbra (1536). In 1580, the first Carmelites established Carmel in Brazil.

The province continued to grow in the 17th and 18th centuries, until the earthquake of 1755, which was devastating. The province was suppressed in 1834 along with other religious orders in Portugal. The work to reestablish Carmel in Lusitania was initiated in 1930 by the Province of Baetica. Beginning in 1949, the daughter province of Rio de Janeiro joined in the efforts, replacing the Baetica Province in 1954. A provincial commissariat was created shortly thereafter. On December 8, 1992, the General Commissariat of the Lusitania was created.

The following members were elected to leadership:

.     .      .

Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Fr. Agostinho Marques Castro, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^o Consigliere
Fr. Ricardo dos Reis Rainho, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2^o Consigliere
Fr. Pedro Bravo Pereira da Silva, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3^o Consigliere
Fr. Manuel Ribeiro de Freitas, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4^o Consigliere
Fr. João Manuel Oliveira Costa, O. Carm.

The Electoral Assembly of the Federation of St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, a federation of the Carmelite monasteries of nuns in Italy, was held April 17-20.

The Federation was created, after years of cooperaton between the monasteries, on July 16, 2010.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

.     .     .

Federation President | Presidente de la Federación | Presidente della Federazione:
Sr Maria Valentina Rossin, O. Carm. (Carpineto)

1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr Maria Martina Simeone, O. Carm. (Sutri)

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sr Maria Rosalia Mangiarotti, O. Carm. (Vetralla)

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera  | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr Marilla Pia Fiumana, O. Carm. (Sogliano)

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera  | 4ª Consigliera: 
Sr Maria Archangela Parisi, O. Carm. (Fisciano)

The Provincial Chapter of the Province of Great Britain was held April 17-21, 2023, in Aylesford, Kent (England).

Carmelites arrived in England about the year 1241 and quickly established a province. Records indicate a certain “W. provincial in England," in the years 1256-1257. At the time when the province was most flourishing, there were about a thousand brothers and about 37 houses. The first division of the province into two, namely, England and Ireland-Scotland, was recorded already in 1291 or 1294; which division, apparently, lasted until the year 1300. The autonomous province of Ireland was established in 1305. The establishment of the province of Scotland, established in 1321, was finally carried out in 1324.

In the course of time the Province of England was greatly reduced and it finally ceased with the suppression of Henry VIII (c. 1538). Some failed attempts were made to restore houses until c. 1926, when the brothers of the Province of Ireland opened the houses of Faversham and Sittingbourne in southeastern England.

Other houses were later added. Among these was ancient monastery in Aylesford which had been founded by 1242 but lost in Henry VIII suppression. On January 1, 1952, the general commissariat was established; and on September 12, 1969, the province of England and Wales was established under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name of the province was changed to 'Great Britain' in May 1999.

The following members were elected to leadership:

.     .      .

Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Fr. Brendan Grady, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^o Consigliere
Fr. Kevin Melody, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2^o Consigliere
Fr. Gerard Walsh, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3^o Consigliere
Fr. Michael Cox, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4^o Consigliere
Br. Paul de Groot, O. Carm.   

The Provincial Chapter of the Province of Aragon, Castile and Valencia was held April 12-14, 2023, at the "St. Ignatius" Spirituality Center in Salamanca, Spain. The theme of the meeting was: "The radical witness of consecrated life. Faithful to our Carmelite charism".

On April 14, 2023, in a festive atmosphere, Bishop José Luis Retana Gozalo, Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca, visited the capitulars, thanking God for the richness that the Carmelite charism brings to the Church and for its presence in the Diocese of Salamanca. Sister Merry Teresa Sri Rejeki, Superior General of the HHCVMMC, and Sister Francisca Rubio, Vicar General of the HHCVMMC, accompanied the capitulars at the closing meal of the Provincial Chapter.

The Province has a long and rich history. Following the suppression in 1835 of religious life in Spain, the “Province of Spain” was restored (circa 1889), then in 1906 was divided into two provinces, Valentine Arago and Baetica. The name recalls the ancient Province of Aragon which was established in 1416 although the name appeared in records as early as 1330.

Beginning in 1894, before the division of the Province of Spain," the members worked in restoring the Provinces of Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco. From 1920, the province carried out missionary work in other countries of Latin America, founding houses in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic. A general commissariat was established in Catalonia in 1932 from houses of the province. Catalonia became a province itself in the 1950s. In 1932 Castile as well was broken off from the Arago Valencia Province and a commissariat general was established in 1948; it became a province in 1984.

A provincial commissariat of the Antilles was set up. Under the patronage of Maria Magdalena de’Pazzi. The commissariat comprises the Republic of Santa Domingo and Puerto Rico.

The new Province of Aragon-Castile-Valencia was born in 2014 from the union of the Provinces of Castille and Aragon-Valencia. The new province is under the patronage of St. John of the Cross.

The following were elected to leadership:

.     .      .

Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
P. Salvador Villota Herrero, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^o Consigliere
P. Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2^o Consigliere
P. Luca Zerneri, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3^o Consigliere
Fra. Manuel García Villaescusa, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4^o Consigliere
P. Vicente Aranda Guillén, O. Carm.       

Commissary Provincial of the Antilles | Comisario Provincial de las Antillas | Commissario Provinciale delle Antille
P. Randy Rudecindo Marte, O. Carm.