Displaying items by tag: prior general
Fr. Desiderio (ACV) Elected as Prior General
The General Chapter has elected Desiderio García Martínez as Prior General for the next six years. Congratulations to Fr. Desiderio!
More information on the other elections for members of the Council will follow when all the elections have been completed.
Prior General's Schedule for September 2025
Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of September 2025:
September 01 - 03: Indonesia, Maurere, the island of Flores, for the celebration of the erection of the new province of Eastern Indonesia (Indonesia Timor)
September 4 – 7: Bali, Final plenary session of the General council
September 8 – 28: General chapter, Malang, Indonesia
September 29 – 30: Rome.
Prior General's Schedule for August 2025
Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of August 2025:
August 1–4: Brazil, Aparecida, Lay Carmelite Congress
August 7-21: Holidays in Ireland
August 21-25: Rome
August 25-28: Hong Kong
August 29-31: Maumere, Indonesia: Inauguration of the new province of East Indonesia.
Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, 2025
Message Of The Prior General On The Occasion Of The Feast Of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel In The Jubilee Year 2025
"Mary, Mother Of Hope"
Brothers and Sisters,
Once again, we have the great joy of celebrating the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a celebration of the Church and of the whole Carmelite Family throughout the world.
A Video Message for the Celebration of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel – July 16, 2025 from Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm., Prior General of the Order
Sisters and Brothers in Carmel,
Once again, we have the joy of celebrating the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a celebration of the Church and of the whole Carmelite Family throughout the world.
IN SOLLEMNITATE B.V. MARIAE DE MONTE CARMELO
Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera,
splendor caeli, Virgo puerpera singularis.
Mater mitis, sed viri nescia,
Carmelitis esto propitia,
stella maris.
MÍCEÁL PRIOR GENERALIS
DOMUSQUE GENERALIS COMMUNITAS
16.VII.2025
Celebrating the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bobo Dioulassou, Burkina Faso
The celebration of the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Bobo Dioulassou, Burkina Faso began with a procession at 1700hrs and finished with Mass which ended at 2100hrs followed by a meal for all attendees.
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Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Province of Australia & Timor-Leste had made a novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel available on its website for the wider Carmelite Family. The novena is in English.
For nine days before the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, we pray for the following intentions for all those in need throughout the world. The novena can be prayed at any time of the year for these intentions or for your own asking Our Lady of Mount Carmel to intercede and pray with us. You are invited to light a candle each day, reflect with the intention and prayer, and spend a few moments in silence with Our Lady. For more information, go to: https://carmelites.org.au/
- Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Click here to download the prayers and intentions.
Major Events Throughout History That Took Place on July 16th
On the occasion of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we can look back at the major events throughout History that took place on July 16th.
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We would like to hear how others are celebrating the feast in their local communities or ministries. Please send a short writeup and pictures to the Communications Office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
A Video Message Of The Prior General
A Video Message Of The Prior General On The Occasion Of The Feast Of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel In The Jubilee Year 2025
Sisters and Brothers in Carmel,
Once again, we have the joy of celebrating the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a celebration of the Church and of the whole Carmelite Family throughout the world.
We do so this year as part of the Jubilee celebrations and this gives added significance to our novenas, processions and liturgical celebrations because this year the late Pope Francis asked us to look at the hope that is in our lives and at the foundations of that hope, Jesus Christ and Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Because of them and what they represent we are able to live in hope with a hope that cannot disappoint. Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God. Mary is the handmaid of the Lord, ever obedient to his Word. Jesus, hanging on the Cross is the promise of resurrection, the victory over all that could hold us back. Mary stood and understood and without knowing what was happening, remained in hope and did not turn away as she saw her Son dying of crucifixion.
For Carmelites who read John’s account of that moment every year in our celebration, the message is very clear. We are not alone. Our hope is in Jesus Christ and in Mary. Our hope is also in our brothers and sisters. We must not lose hope in one another. While there are many things that are bound to disappoint us in what is happening at this time in the world, our hope in one another can still flourish as we recognise the work of God and the tenderness of Mary in those with whom we live. When we pray for peace we think of the thousands and thousands of people who are praying with us. When Elijah thought that he was alone, he soon discovered that there were seven thousand other prophets who had not bent their knee to Baal. (I Kg 19,18) Heaven’s gates are open, we are flanked by sisters and brothers like us, and we stand on the earth blessed by the feet of Jesus and Mary. We look down at the earth touched by our feet as pilgrims of hope and workers in the vineyard, walking in the direction of hope, moving away from all that speaks of death into a realm of hope through fraternity, prayer and service in the way that Carmel understands these three words. They say to us that a Carmelite life lived well, will always offer reason for hope for those who are willing to accept it.
I pray that our celebrations may increase our joy and our hope and lead many others to find that hope and joy in Jesus the Incarnate Word, in Mary the Mother of Jesus ever obedient to his word, and in the people who adorn each day of our lives, as brothers and sisters, pilgrims of hope.
Rome, July 5, 2025
Míċeál O'Neill, O. Carm.
Prior General
Message for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mt Carmel 2025
Mary, Mother Of Hope
Carmel, Pilgrims of Hope, Participate in Jubilee Year 2025
Representatives of the entire Carmelite Family, made up of the two traditions of the Carmelite Order (OCARM and OCD), gathered to celebrate the Jubilee Year in Rome on June 2, 2025.
In the afternoon, the members of both General Councils undertook the pilgrimage way to pass through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica. Starting from the new Piazza Pia, the group moved along Via della Conciliazione chanting the psalms, singing the litany, and listening to Scripture and other reflections until they passed together through the Holy Door.
Inside St Peter’s Basilica, the group was led to the Tomb of St Peter. There, everyone recited the Apostles’ Creed and were blessed by the Preposito General of the Discalced Carmelites, Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD.
After a short break, everyone gathered again for the celebration of the Eucharist in the Church of Our Lady in Traspontina. The church was full to capacity as many members of the Carmelite Family who were present in Rome at that time gathered to celebrate the Jubilee Year together.
The prior general of the Carmelite Order, Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm., presided at the Eucharist and the preposito general, Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD, preached the homily. Giuseppe Midili, O. Carm., and the other members of the community at Traspontina guided the celebration liturgically and musically. Two members of the Carmelite community at Albano also assisted. After Communion, the choir from the Teresianum sang a hymn that they had composed especially for the Jubilee Year.
Afterwards, Tadeusz Popiela, O. Carm., prior of the community, welcomed both General Curial communities (along with some guests) to a supper in Saint Albert’s International College (CISA) with the rest of the community there.
Prior General's Schedule for June 2025
Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of June 2025:
June 2 – 6: General Council plenary session.
June 2: Jubilee pilgrimage and celebration OCARM and OCD together.
June 6: Celebration of the closing of the bicentennial year of the birth of Madre Teresa Scrilli, Montevarchi, Arezzo.
June 9-13: Provincial Chapter in the Province of Germany
June 27 - 30: Convocation of Lay Carmelites in Washington, DC, via zoom.
Prior General's Schedule for May 2025
Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of May 2025:
May 1-4: Completion of Chapter and visit to Australia.
May 5 -10: Congress on Liturgy in Sassone, Italy.
May 7: Address to the Meeting of Formation Directors in Lima, Peru.
May 12 -15: Chapter of the General Commissariat of La Bruna, Naples, Italy.
May 16 - 20: Rome, Italy.
May 21 - 23: Assembly of the USG, Rome, Italy.
May 24 - 26: Canonical Visitation in Romania.
May 27 - 31: General Council, plenary meeting.
Message on the Death of Pope Francis
Message for Carmelite Brothers and Sisters on the Death of Pope Francis
Brothers and sisters in Carmel,
The world mourns the passing from this world of Pope Francis, on the morning of Easter Monday. On Easter Sunday he was fully alive in mind and heart, in a body that could not give any more. It is like a death in our family. He was so close to us.
His vision and his spirituality were very clear. They came from the Gospel. They were inspired by Mary and the holiness of the saints, the great saints and the saints next door. Salvation, mercy and peace are in Jesus Christ and the are given to those who look to Him and see in him the truth that can make us free. Children of the one Father, every one of us, we are sisters and brothers to one another. That is our greatest dignity and everything we need to know about one another, in order to build and live in a world where that dignity is the rule of law and no other. There is a cry in the human heart, and in the created world itself, that the followers of Christ, the pastors and the political leaders needs to hear. There is a way to treat other human beings and it is not the way of devious interests or the recourse to arms of violence but the way of tenderness and mercy for all. When we recognize that the Eucharist is not the reward for holiness but the greatest help we have towards holiness, we recognize the heart of Pope Francis’ ministry and the way he himself celebrated every time he stood at the altar.
Carmelites around the world, let us give thanks to God for the life, witness and teaching of Pope Francis and pray for his eternal happiness, as we treasure our own vocation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and preach his Gospel. Mary, mother of the word incarnate, salus populi, pray for us in our sorrow, and open our hearts in thanksgiving for the wonders of God's mercy shown to us in the life of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.
Míċeál O’Neill
Prior General
24th of April, 2025
