2nd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
You are near to us
in Jesus Christ Your Son.
When we go astray,
You look for us until You find us.
Bring us back to You,
show us the way to You
and to one another
through Him who is our way,
Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord,
who lives with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 18: 12-14
Jesus said to his disciples: "What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."
3) Reflection
• A parable is not a teaching to be received in a passive way or just to be kept in the memory. Rather, it is an invitation to participate in the discovery of truth. Jesus begins by asking, “What do you think?” A parable is a question with a response which is not defined. The response depends on the reaction and participation of the listeners. Let us then seek the answer to this parable of the lost sheep.
• Jesus tells a very brief story and in a very simple way: a shepherd had 100 sheep, he lost one, and leaves the 99 on the mountain and goes to look for the lost sheep. And Jesus asks, “What do you think?” that is, “Would you do the same?” What would have been the response of the shepherds and of the other persons who were listening to Jesus tell this story? Would they do the same thing? What is my answer to Jesus’ question? Let us think well before answering.
• If you had 100 sheep and you lost one, what would you do? We should not forget that mountains are places which are very difficult to climb, with deep precipices, where dangerous animals live and where robbers hide. And you cannot forget that you have lost only one sheep, and therefore, you still have 99! You have lost very little. Would you abandon the other 99 on those mountains? Perhaps, would not only a person with little common sense do what the shepherd of the parable of Jesus did? Think about it!
• The shepherds who heard Jesus’ story perhaps thought and commented, “Only a shepherd without judgment would act that way!” Surely, they would have asked Jesus, “Jesus, excuse us, but who is that shepherd whom You are speaking about? To do what he did is foolish!”
• Jesus answers, “This Shepherd is God, our Father, and the lost sheep is you!” In other words, the one who does this action is God moved by great love for the little ones, for the poor, the excluded! Only a very great love is able to do something so foolish. The love with which God loves us exceeds prudence and good human sense. The love of God commits foolish things. Thank God! If it were not like this, we would be lost!
4) Personal questions
• Place yourself in the place of the little lost sheep and enliven your faith and your hope. You are that sheep!
• Take the place of the shepherd and consider whether your love for the little ones is true.
• How can we be instruments in God’s effort to return the lost sheep? In this season of harvest celebrations, thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas, with family all around, do we leave to try to help and welcome those that are lost, poor, and without, as this shepherd would?
5) Concluding Prayer
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless His name;
announce His salvation, day after day. (Ps 96)
On 1st October in Nijmegen (Netherlands), the memorial monument to Blessed Titus Brandsma was inaugurated. Participating in the moving ceremony were (in the following order): Fr. Falco Thuis, O.Carm., former Prior General and the driving force behind this initiative; Mr. Floris Tas, Deputy Mayor of Nijmegen; the architect who developed the project, Mr. Paul Hoeke; the artist who created the monument, Mr. Arie Trum; and the Prior General of the Order, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. In each of their speeches, these presenters underlined the relationship between Fr. Titus and the city and the rich symbology of the monument composed of different elements. Also present were Fr. Giovanni Grosso, O.Carm., Postulator General; the Prior Provincial of the Netherlands, Fr. Ben Wolbers, O.Carm.; and the new auxiliary bishop of the diocese, in addition to numerous other Carmelites, friend s and colleagues. In the days following, the monument was presented to various other groups of people: the district, the city, the Carmelite family, etc.
In the wall that surrounds the monument there are bricks that have the names of the various Carmelite communities throughout the world that contributed to the project. The ceremony concluded with the laying of the last brick, on which one can read:
PHOTOS
Announcement of the Titus Brandsma JPIC Essay Competition 2009-2010 for Carmelite Students
Papal Award for the founder and Prior of Mount Carmel Hermitage in Christoval, USA
Written byPope Benedict XVI has awarded Fr. Fabian M. Rosette, O. Carm., founder and Prior of Mount Carmel Hermitage in Christoval, TX, USA, the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for distinguished service to the Church.
On 15 August 2010, during the Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of his Priestly Ordination, the Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI., bishop of San Angelo, conferred the Papal Award. The medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is the highest award the Pope can bestow upon a Religious.
Fr. Fabian founded Mount Carmel Hermitage as a Diocesan Carmelite Hermitage in 1991, and in 2003 the community was aggregated into the Carmelite Order by former Prior General Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O. Carm. The Mount Carmel Hermitage website is www.carmelitehermits.org.
Meeting of Formators of the Order in Camocim de São Félix, Brazil
Written byThere was an International Course for Carmelite Formators from around the world in Camocim de São Félix, Brazil from 1st to 15th August 2010. The two-week course provided an opportunity for the 69 participants to engage in a common reflection on the Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanae (RIVC) making ten years since its publication.
There were four main areas of discussion: the roles of formator and formandi; the interior spiritual journey; human development and the vows; internationality, inculturation and fraternity. The presentations focused on the existing RIVC text together new material drafted for inclusion in a new edition.
Principal speakers were: Frs. Desiderio García Martinez (Arag), Michael Plattig (GerS), Quinn Conners (PCM) and Carlos Mesters (Flum). A paper from Charlò Camilleri (Mel), who had Visa difficulties, was read for the participants. There were also a number of special topics addressed by Frs. John Keating (Curia), Francisco de Sales Alencar (Pern), Albertus Herwanta (Curia), Giampiero Molinari (Ita) and Raúl Maraví (Curia).
The course, which was organized by the Order's International Formation Commission, experienced the warmth of the hospitality of the Province of Pernambuco and of its Provincial, Fr. Francisco de Sales Alencar, O.Carm. The Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm was present during the first week. In his initial and closing remarks he invited the participants to a balanced and creative approach to formation.
Archbishop Antonio Muniz, O.Carm. visited the meeting for two days. Other Carmelite bishops in Brazil, who were unable to attend, sent greetings to the participants.
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The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Jaboticabal, Brazil, was held 23 July 2010. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Francisca Marlene Rocha, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. Maria do Carmo Silveira Moraes, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Silvana Cristina Gameiro, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. Silvana Cristina Gameiro, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. Maria do Carmo Silveira Moraes, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Silvana Cristina Gameiro , O.Carm.
The Carmelite Order has presented a donation of €10,000 to help alleviate the suffering of those affected by recent floods in Brazil. This donation was made possible by the generosity of the donors to the Society of the Little Flower, the Curia's fundraising charity in Britain and Ireland.
The presentation was made at a Eucharist celebrated as part of the international gathering of Carmelite formators taking place at Camocim de São Félix, Brazil A cheque was given by the Prior General to fellow friar Don Antonio Muniz Fernandes, O.Carm., Metropolitan Archbishop of Maceió.
Some weeks ago Archbishop Antonio wrote to the Carmelite Family to publicize the grave situation that has arisen from the floods in the State of Algoas in the north east of Brazil.
