The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Encarnación, Huesca, Spain, was held 16-17 February 2017. The following were elected:

• Prioress:  Sr. M. Blanca Barril Vicente, O.Carm.
• 1st Councilor:   Sr. M. Luisa Sanagustín Esperanza, O.Carm.
• 2nd Councilor:  Sr. M. Pilar Borau Alpín, O.Carm.
• 3rd Councilor:   Sr. Pilar M. Andrade Ortega, O.Carm.
• 4th Couniclor:   Sr. Inmaculada M. Avellana Gilabert, O.Carm.
• Director of Novices:  Sr. M. Gloria Caballero Vallejo, O.Carm.
• Treasurer:  Sr. M. Luisa Sanagustín Esperanza, O.Carm.
• Sacristan:   Sr. M. Pilar Borau Alpín, O.Carm.

From the 15th of the 20th of February, just gone by, in the “Bãi Dâu”, diocesan retreat centre in Vung Tau (Vietnam) the 3rd International Meeting of the Asia-Australia-Oceania Carmelite Laity took place. The theme of the meeting was: “From Community to Family. How Lay Carmelites live their Charism in their daily life” The three principal speakers were, the Prior General of the Order, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., who spoke about “Carmel and Family – a relationship with a long history”, Fr.Benny Phang Khong Wing, O.Carm., Councillor General for this geographical area, who spoke on the theme, “Building “Theotokos” Families”, and Fr. Michael Kissane, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the North American Province of St. Elias, who, taking a lead from the Apostolic Exhortatiion, “Amoris Laetitia”- focused on St. Therese of Lisieux and Blessed Titus Brandsma, as Carmelite examples of a family based spirituality. In addition, various lay Carmelites from different communities shared their experiences in a way that was very enriching. Each input was followed by work in groups and reflection in common.

Some 170 people took part in the event, mainly from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand). The very impressive preparation and organisation by the Vietnamese friars and the Donum Dei missionaries made this a very important time of reflection and fraternity for the growth of the Carmelite Family in this part of the world.

During the Provincial Chapter of the Province of India held on 6-10 February 2017 were elected:

• Prior Provincial:  Fr. Mathew Neendoor, O.Carm.
• First Councilor:   Fr. Paul Poovan, O.Carm.
• Second Councilor: Fr. Martin Pulickal, O.Carm.
• Third Councilor:  Fr. Thankachan Njaliath, O.Carm.
• Fourth Councilor:  Fr. John Mariadas Neerolickal, O.Carm.

1. It is with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation that the General Commission for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) writes to announce the results of the recent 2015 questionnaire project. 
2. After receiving and analyzing the responses from a broad representation of the Carmelite Family, common themes emerged with regard to JPIC work.  There is a clear motivation on the part of individuals and communities to participate in social and environmental ministries and a concrete desire to raise awareness of and to respond to the social and environment issues of our time.
3. On a practical level many Carmelite communities and individual report preservation and sustainability of our common home to be fundamental dimensions of their ministries in education, communication, advocacy, liturgy and prayer. Common projects relate to recycling, simplicity of life, and financial support. 
4. Respondents find that the sources of their motivation for our participation in social and environmental ministries are Sacred Scripture, Carmelite Spirituality, Social Teachings of the Church, our concerns for human needs and the care for creation. 
5. The three pillars of our Carmelite charism – prayer, community, service – bear the fruits of contemplation, a unifying force that inspires our prophetic stance in response to contemporary social and environmental concerns.
6. The majority of respondents acknowledge the existence of the Carmelite NGOs both local and international, showing various levels of involvement.
7. While there is a high level of participation in social and environmental ministries within the Carmelite Family, a clear desire was expressed to learn and do more, specifically in the areas of ongoing formation, education through multiple platforms, networking, advocacy, growing in corporate discernment and witness.
8. The respondents express desire to enrich those already doing this work, as well as introduce those who are beginning, by a series of activities which would involve animation, formation, coordination, communication, and collaboration.
9. Based on this analysis, the JPIC Commission will develop a working document which will serve as the basis for the all Carmelite Family JPIC Congress in Fatima, Portugal on July 22 – 29, 2017.

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Conference Theme:

CARMEL ENGAGES WITH LAUDATO SI’:
Hearing both the cry of the Poor and of the Earth (cf. LS 49)
CARMELITE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JPIC
22-29 JULY 2017

EL COMPROMISO DEL CARMELO CON LAUDATO SI’:

Escuchando el clamor del pobre y de la tierra (cf. LS 49)
 CONFERENCIA INTERNACIONAL CARMELITA EN JPIC

22-29 de Julio de 2017

L’IMPEGNO DEL CARMELO CON LAUDATO SI’:

Ascoltando tanto il grido dei poveri e della terra (cf. LS 49)

CONVEGNO INTERNAZIONALE CARMELITANO IN GPIC

22-20 luglio 2017

We, the members drawn from the various branches of the Carmelite Family to constitute the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Carmelite Order, met for our inaugural meeting at the Curia Generalizia, Roma, from 11-15 September 2014.

Our deliberations, sharing and dialogue from our diverse and rich contextual experiences were frank and sincere. We committed ourselves for the duration of this sessennium (2013-2019), to focus on helping Carmelite brothers and sisters in sensitizing, animating and participating in the promotion of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation throughout the Carmelite Family. We drew up our strategic plan which is an instrument for us to help our communities and especially those working in the ministry of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation to deepen their reflection, promote advocacy of pertinent issues and motivate each other to appropriate context-based action.

We recognize that action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world is a constitutive dimension of preaching the Gospel.[1] The whole ministry of Jesus and his return to the Father can be seen as geared towards the building up of the Kingdom of God - through proclamation, attitude and action - which is essentially a reign of justice and truth, holiness and peace, grace, unity and love. Pope Francis has stressed that, ‘Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society’ and that ‘all of us, as Christians, are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live, and all its peoples’[2]

We note that, we, Carmelites from our inception, inspired by Mary in her welcome and contemplative attitude towards the Word, and the Prophet Elijah in his zeal for and living in the presence of the Lord, as people of prayer and community are also people sensitive to the needs of those around us true to our Mendicant roots. In the post-Vatican II era, we recognize that a lot of reflection took place at such fora as the Council of Provinces and General Congregation and General Chapters. One of the most significant development has been an openness to justice and peace issues. For example, the Order has reflected on issues of poverty and our need to identify with the poor: In the Midst of the People[3], A Return to the Sources[4], Called to Account by the Poor[5]. We recognize that our world has become more complex and grave challenges have arisen that threaten the very existence of creation. Some of those challenges include loss of biodiversity, which is currently a thousand times higher than natural extinction rate[6]; energy depletion, which means that we are consuming more than we need and the current possibility for the earth to recover[7]; climate change, which is currently affecting millions of people worldwide through extended droughts in some areas and sea level rise and floods in other areas[8]; and global population growth with a distinctive pattern of unequal affluence, deeply interconnected with the previous issues[9]. We propose that we Carmelites, rooted in our 800 year-old tradition of brotherhood, of intimacy with the Lord God under the contemplative example of Mary and the zealous drive of the Prophet Elijah, renew, rekindle and promote the life-giving values of the Kingdom of God through deeds, advocacy and action.

There are many laudable causes for us to promote but these seem to us to be pressing in the context of our world situation of spiritual apathy, globalization of inequality, injustice, materialist consumerism and growing religious fundamentalism and intolerance. We commit ourselves to promoting, advocating for, and working to change for the better in our localities, the lives of real people in the following areas: human rights from conception to the tomb; community building, understanding and tolerance; promotion of Kingdom values and Carmelite spirituality with special emphasis on right relationship with others and the environment; awareness of environmental change through advocacy and helping communities to respond positively to this.

To help us to have an impression of the work Carmelites are doing in the area of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, we wish to send a questionnaire to all our Provinces, Commissariats and Delegations. The questionnaire is a tool to help us plan for the production of the Carmelite Order’s Handbook on the animation of Justice, Peace and Integrity on Creation. The Carmelite Order has a strong history of meaningful adaptation to changing circumstances so as to be an effective player and contributor to issues. In the face of our contemporary world challenges, may we rise to offer our modest assistance to the world from the Carmelite tradition of respecting all in community, of fostering intimacy with God to be expressed in reaching out in service of the Church and the world. As the 2013 General Chapter Final Statement says: ‘People will be drawn to Christ when they notice our gospel based lives of simplicity, solidarity with the marginalized, celebration of unity in diversity, and the creation of safe environments for the children, teens and adults to whom we minister’[10]. The world needs our faith-based approach to ministry as one avenue of establishing right relationships with God, other human beings and all creation!

-         The Carmelite Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (2013-2019)

[1] Synod of Bishops, Justice in the World, 1971.

[2] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World, Roma: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, nos. 187,  216.

[3] Third Council of Provinces, In the Midst of the People: Small Religious Commuinities and Basic-Communities, Dublin, 1975, in Kevin Mark, O.Carm., ed. Towards Prophetic Brotherhood: Documents of the Carmelite Ordr 1972-1982, Melbourne: The Carmelite Centre, 1984, pp. 43-55

[4] Fifth Council of Provinces, A Return to the Sources: An Examination of the Biblical Significance of Mary and Elijah, 1979, in Kevin Mark, Ibid., pp. 68-81

[5] Order of Carmelites General Congregation, Called to Account by the Poor, 1980, in K.Mark, Ibid.,pp. 81-96

[6] United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Cf. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, Montreal (2010). (http://www.iucn.org).

[7] Cf. World Watch Institute, Green Economy Program, (http://www.worldwatch.org/programs/golbal_economy)

[8] Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), Fifth Assessment Report 2013. (http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1).

[9] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (http://www.fao.org)

[10] ‘A Word of Hope and Salvation (Const. 24)’, in Consilium Generale O.Carm., Global Plan of the General Council 2013-2019, Roma: Edizioni Carmelitane, 20014, pp.8-12, no. 4f.

The Fifth meeting of the Commission for Liturgy and Prayer was held at the Curia on February 2-3, 2017. Present were Frs Michael Farrugia, Procurator General, Giovanni Grosso (Ita), Edmondo Caruana (Mel), Pius Robert Manik (Indo) and Mario Esposito (SEL), Secretary. Fr Giuseppe Midili (Ita) was absent due to illness. As our former Chairman is now Bishop Francisco de Sales Alencar in Brazil, Fr Michael Farrugia was asked by the General Council to continue as the Acting Chairman of the Commission.

During the meeting, a considerable amount of time was dedicated to the planning of an International Congress - The Role and Place of Liturgy in the Carmelite Order now scheduled for Sassone from April 15-21, 2018. This congress is held in keeping with the indications received from the last General Chapter. Within the next month, all the Provincials and Commissaries will receive a questionnaire to help prepare for the Congress.

The Commission also made further progress on the Ritual for the Third Order, the Liturgical Calendar, the Rites for Simple and Solemn Profession, and the Carmelite Office Book. A few texts still remain to be translated and approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship, but good progress has been made.

The next meeting of the Commission will be in the fall of 2017.

The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Cerreto, Italy, was held 2 February 2017. The following were elected:

• Prioress:  Sr. M. Miriam Tamiano, O.Carm.
• 1st Councilor:   Sr. M. Joseph Lumicisi, O.Carm.
• 2nd Councilor:  Sr. M. Alberta Diana, O.Carm.
• Director of Novices:  Sr. M. Joseph Lumicisi, O.Carm.
• Treasurer:  Sr. M. Ludovica Benedetti, O.Carm.
• Sacristan:   Sr. Alberta Diana, O.Carm.

23 – 25 January 2017 scholars gathered at Centro Internazionale Sant’Alberto (CISA) in Rome for the third conference on ‘Contemplation in the Carmelite Tradition’, organised by the Institutum Carmelitanum.

Contemplation is today understood as being at the heart of the Carmelite charism, and since 2010 this series of conferences has explored how the Order’s understanding of contemplation has developed since its medieval origins.

The focus of this third conference was the Early Modern period of the sixteenth century, which included major developments in Church and Society, including the Reformation and Counter Reformation, the Discalced Reform of Carmel, and exploration of the ‘New World’. Some Carmelite writers from this period are very well known, and others hardly at all.

The conference speakers came from a variety of nations, academic disciplines, and branches of the Carmelite Family. They addressed the following topics: Michael Plattig, O.Carm. (Ger), “Spirituality in Modern Times”; Edeltraud Klueting, T.O.C. (Ger), “Eberhard Billick”; Johan Bergström-Allen, T.O.C. (Brit), “Jean Cartigny”; Elisabeth Hense, T.O.C. (Ger), “Adrian Hecquet”; Macario Ofilada (Instituto Cervantes de Manila), “Teresa of Avila”; Jakub Walczak, O.Carm. (Pol), “John of the Cross”; Bruno Secondin, O.Carm. (Ita), “Maria Maddalena de’ Pazzi”; Giovanni Grossi, O.Carm. (Ita), “Christophorus Silvestranus Brenzanus”; Mario Alfarano, O.Carm. (Neap), “Miguel de la Fuente”.

The participants received warm hospitality from the Prior and Community of CISA, joining them for prayer and meals.

In due course the papers from all the conferences will be published.

During the Provincial Chapter of the Province of Rio de Janeiro held on 23-27 January 2017 were elected:

• Prior Provincial:  Fr. Evaldo Xavier Gomes, O.Carm.
• First Councilor:  Fr. Adailson Quintino dos Santos, O.Carm.
• Second Councilor:  Fr. Fernando Bezerra, O.Carm.
• Third Councilor:  Fr. Alberto Souza , O.Carm.
• Fourth Councilor:  Fr. Eduardo Ferreira, O.Carm.