The Carmelite review, “Carmel in the World” which marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2011, has just put out its most recent issue using a new format. The Editor of the review, Patrick J. Breen, O.Carm., and the new editorial board, in collaboration with Edizioni Carmelitane in Rome, decided to modernise the image of the review to make it new and more attractive. As well as that, the recent issue shows some changes in the presentation and the orientation of the articles. The hope in this is to reach a wider readership among people who are interested in the topic of Carmelite spirituality.

It is noteworthy, and a cause for gratitude, that “Carmel in the World”  (which in the beginning was published in various languages, and now comes out only in English) intends to continue offering this service to the Carmelite Family, at a time when many reviews have been folding up. From Citoc-online, we congratulate the editorial team and express the wish that this new change will add new impulse to the spread of Carmel in the World.

The 86th Assembly of the USG (Union of Superior Generals) took place November 25 to 27, 2015, at the “Salesianum” in Rome. The theme for this meeting was “To embrace the future with hope. The consecrated persons on a journey with the people of God.”

The participants studied a number of themes related to the recent Synod on the Family and they also heard various “voices from the Synod” from some of those who took part in the Synod. The superior generals reflected deeply on the theme of the Synod and on the presence of religious in the Synod. They also considered the “synodal” nature of the Church, a topic very dear to Pope Francis, and one on which he dwelt in his address at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the institution of the Synods of Bishops.

During the Assembly were the elections of P. Mauro Jöhri, OFM Cap., as President and Michael Brehl, CSsR, as Vice-President of the Union, along with other members elected to the various organisms of the Union. There were also reports from the commissions of the USG. The Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., is a member of the Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue, presided by René Stockman, FC.

The Assembly was marked by a spirit of joy and true fraternity along with the desire that the USG will continue to be a source of discernment and support for religious life throughout the world.