O.Carm
The Prior General's Schedule for October 2024
Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of October 2024:
October 1-4: General Council, plenary session
October 6-11: Canonical Visitation in Tanzania
October 11: Lecture via zoom to the Ongoing Formation Course on Titus Brandsma
October 11-19: Canonical Visitation in Kenya
October 17: Conference via zoom with the Assembly of the Italian Federation of Carmelite Nuns
October 21-November 1: Canonical Visitation in Germany
World Communications Day 2025
World Communications Day 2025: Create the Condition for Dialogue
The Vatican Press Office released the theme of the Catholic Church’s 59th World Communications Day, celebrated on the Sunday before Pentecost. In 2025 the day will be celebrated on June 1. Pope Francis chose the theme Share with Gentleness the Hope that is in Your Hearts, communication that creates the condition for dialogue. The theme comes from the First Letter of Peter (3:15-16).
The theme aims to bring attention to the fact that in today's world, "too often communication is violent, aimed at striking and not at establishing the conditions for dialogue." This theme calls for efforts "to disarm communication, to cleanse it of aggression."
According to reports in Vatican News, the notes describing the theme holds that the prevailing standard seems to be that of competition, opposition, and domination as can be seen in television talk shows to verbal wars on social media. It adds that for Christians, "hope is a person, and He is Christ." This hope is tied to community, since "when we speak of Christian hope, we cannot disregard a community that lives the message of Jesus in such a credible way as to give a glimpse of the hope that it brings, and is capable of communicating the hope of Christ with deeds and words even today."
World Communications Day was established by Pope St. Paul VI in 1967 following the Second Vatican Council as an annual celebration that encourages reflection on the opportunities and challenges that the media offer and how the Church can better communicate the Gospel message.
Lectio Divina October 2024
Opening Prayer
Father, You show Your almighty power in Your mercy and forgiveness. Continue to fill us with Your gifts of love. Help us to hurry towards the eternal life You promise and come to share in the joys of Your kingdom. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Communications Directors to Meet in Rome
The directors of communications programs in each of the Carmelite Order’s provinces, delegations, and commissaries have been invited to participate in six days of presentations and discussions in Rome from January 22 through 27.
The group will first participate in a biennial conference at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce. Entitled Communication and Evangelization: Context, Attitudes, and Experiences, the conference is focused on questions raised about the link between evangelization and communication. It will also be an opportunity for the Carmelites to network with communications experts from around the world.
The group will then participate in the Vatican Dicastery for Communications’ celebration of the Jubilee Year. Several events are planned in various parts of Rome.
The final part of the meeting will be a meeting of the participants in a discussion about the next steps to develop a world-wide communications program for the Order and the sharing of skills and resources. This meeting will also be available online to those not able to attend.
The meeting is being organized by the Order’s communication office and its International Communications Commission. Further information can be obtained from the office: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
Celebrating At Home - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Doing Good in the Name of Jesus
(Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)
The disciples are on a steep learning curve as Jesus instructs them about what true discipleship is all about.
Last week, using a little child, Jesus tried to show them that real leadership is about putting aside our own needs for social status, self-importance, power and wealth and to give ourselves fully to the service of others.
But the disciples are slow learners. In this Sunday’s Gospel, when they report that they tried to stop someone casting out devils in Jesus’ name just because ‘he was not one of us’, they probably expected praise from Jesus. Instead, they got a rebuke.
True discipleship is not about holding the mystery of the Kingdom to our self, to dispense as we see fit, deciding who merits our love, concern and service, and who does not.
Both principal readings this weekend remind us that the mystery belongs to God who chooses and uses whomever God wills in the service of human beings and the kingdom. The true disciple needs to have the humility to see that he or she is simply one among many whom God has chosen. In the leadership of service there is no place for those who exult themselves or believe themselves to be holders of some privileged position with the power to control the mystery. And jealousy of others distorts God’s intentions and compromises our efforts.
In the second part of the Gospel Jesus redirects the disciples’ attention to the evil that may be found inside the Christian community. Bad example or exploitative behaviour can be a stumbling block to more vulnerable members of the community.
Such people stand in contrast to the ‘man who is not one of us’ but who is doing a good thing by using the name of Jesus to heal people – he is a ‘true’ but unknown disciple of Jesus. Those who claim to be true disciples may very well find themselves to be outsiders and excluded from the kingdom. The graphic sayings are really an invitation for all would-be disciples to search their own hearts and to do the work of pruning away those things which stand in the way of being a true disciple.
Jesus shifts the emphasis from the good deeds of the outsider at the beginning of the reading, to the sinful actions of members of the community towards the end of the reading. Perhaps he is inviting the disciples, and us, to look at our own motivations and behaviour rather than to judge other people.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](3.01 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub](4.08 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - XXVI Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario(250 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - XXVI Domenica del Tempo Ordinario(252 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - XXVI Domingo do Tempo Comum(251 KB)
Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
INITIUM NOVITIATUS
11-08-24 Paulus Bonari Ndundu (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Romanus Stanis Lewar (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Gregorius Dua (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Fransiskus Xaverius Esdu Maghu (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Ewaldus Sudirman (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Yohanes Aristo Gedo (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Kasimirus Nipa (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Pitansius Pei (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Tibertius Oro Ngaba (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Marianus Mario Timu (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Yoseph Rangga (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Theofilus Iyai (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Heribertus Harto Jelahu (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Gerardus Vladimir Ridi Toda (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Yohanes Elton Wero Beo (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Vinsensius Alex Davian (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Arlinus Eky Renyaan (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Ignasius Edwardo Lema Lewogete (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
11-08-24 Emanuel Christian Theovano (Indo-Est) Maumere, Indonesia
25-08-24 Dedy Apriyadi Nainggolan (Indo) Batu-Malang, Indonesia
25-08-24 Evan Orion Siregar (Indo) Batu-Malang, Indonesia
25-08-24 Rafael Gregory Hegon Kumaniren (Indo) Batu-Malang, Indonesia
25-08-24 Febri Elias Makmur Purba (Indo) Batu-Malang, Indonesia
25-08-24 Benediktus Abelard Lumbantoruan (Indo) Batu-Malang, Indonesia
25-08-24 Gregorius Kusuma Dewantara (Indo) Batu-Malang, Indonesia
08-09-24 Adolfo Rafael Rivas Hernández (Bética-Venezuela) Salamanca, España
08-09-24 Renaud Ouedraogo (Bética- Burkina Faso) Salamanca, España
08-09-24 Alex Martín Capote Torres (Cataluña-Venezuela) Salamanca, España
08-09-24 Jesús Manuel Rodríguez Utrera (Cataluña-Venezuela) Salamanca, España
PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
24-08-24 Filiberto Oregel Álvarez (PCM) Washington, DC, USA
07-09-24 Atsu Roger Aziamale (Bética- Burkina Faso) Madrid, España
ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
07-09-24 Atzuu Roger Atsimale (Baet-BF) Madrid, España
ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
17-08-24 Keven Mutsvairo (Hib-Zim) Harare, Zimbabwe
17-08-24 Gift Batsirai Chinyadza (Hib-Zim) Harare, Zimbabwe
31-08-24 Rafael Dorgival Alves Fonsêca Neto (Pern) Cajazeiras, Brasil
Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite Nuns of Carpineto Held
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of St. Ann in Carpineto Romano was held on September 21, 2024, the feast of St. Matthew, Apostle.
The monastery was founded in April 1979 with nuns from the monastery of Aesinati. It was named after St. Ann. It was first located in the rectory of St. John the Evangelist parish. It was officially approved on December 11, 1985 by the Congregations and the bishop made it official on March 19, 1986. In 1992 the new monastery of Cerreto was started and in 2005 the new foundation of Biella was made.
The monastery belongs to the St. M. Magdalen de' Pazzi Federation. More information about the monastery and the nuns' lives can be found at: www.monasterocarpineto.it
The following were elected:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sr M. Valentina Rossin, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Noemi Malagese, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr M Paola Ricci, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr M. Agnese Talano, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr Ana Mihaela Tiba, O. Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa
Sr M. Agnese Talano, O. Carm.
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice
Sr M. Noemi Malagese, O. Carm.
Sacristans | Sacristanas | Sacrestane
Sr M. Carla Zinno, O. Carm. e (vice) Anna Luisa Voltazza, O. Carm.
Message of Pope Francis for the 39th World Youth Day
39th World Youth Day | November 23-24, 2025
“Do Not Set Out as Mere Tourists, but as True Pilgrims” Says Pope to Young People
According to the Vatican News Service, Pope Francis has released a message for the 39th World Youth Day which encourages young people to embrace life's challenges with hope and perseverance. As previously announced the next World Youth Day will take place on November 23-24, 2025, the Feast of Christ the King. It is intended as a celebration of youth and young adults in local Catholic communities.
The papal message, entitled Those Who Hope in the Lord Will Run and Not Be Weary, focuses on the themes of hope and endurance. Pope Francis writes “Dear young people, I am inviting you to set out on a journey, to discover life along the path of love, and to seek the face of God. My advice to you is this: do not set out as mere tourists, but as true pilgrims.” While encouraging young people to see life as a pilgrimage, a quest for happiness, the pope admits that such a journey is also tiring. But “it is precisely in this journey that hope must shine brightest,” said the Pope.
Referring to the Jubilee of 2025, the pope expressed his hope that the year’s celebrations would be seen by young people as an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and to experience His mercy and love. But he asked that they come to Rome not “as mere tourists, but as true pilgrims," speaking of the Jubilee preparations as a spiritual journey as well as a physical one.
He concluded by encouraging the young people to “Take courage.” He quotes from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all those who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8). The example of so many saints, men and women, impels and sustains us.
Exclaiming “courage” the pope entrusts the young peoples’ journey to Mary so that they can “persevere in their journey as pilgrims of hope and love.”
Celebrating At Home - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Becoming A Child
(Mk 9:30-37)
Today’s readings continue last Sunday’s themes of Jesus as the ‘suffering servant’ and the nature of authentic discipleship.
On the road through Galilee Jesus continues to instruct the disciples that he will suffer and die and rise again, but the disciples seem very slow to understand and are too afraid to ask him about it. Perhaps it is an awful truth they just don’t want to face. Maybe they want Jesus to be a ‘warrior-king’, a liberator who would restore Israel to greatness and crush the Romans. Perhaps they have begun to think of themselves as princes and rulers in this new Israel.
Among themselves the disciples are not discussing the important things Jesus has told them about who he is and his destiny, but fighting about which of them was the greatest - who will be first in line to receive honour, power and glory in the kingdom of Jesus.
Using a little child as an example Jesus tells the disciples that real leadership is about service and giving without expecting anything in return.
It’s hard for us to grasp the power of what Jesus says and does here. In his time, unlike now, children had no social status or value at all. Until adulthood they were nobodies. To welcome a child would have required a person to put aside all their ideas of self-importance and adult status in order ‘to simply meet the child as an equal, as “child” to child.’ This is what Jesus is telling the disciples to do. Even more astonishing, Jesus goes on to identify both himself and God with the little child!
This is a direct challenge to the disciples’ understanding of Jesus’ messiaship and to their notions about God. ‘Is God to be thought of as a kind of extraterrestial Ruler to whom nothing but fear and service is due? Or is the God revealed by Jesus a God whose primary gesture toward human beings is that of One who serves, One who comes among us in the guise of a child?’ Jesus’ unusual gesture of hugging a child in public expresses powerfully the preciousness of each and every human person in the sight of God, no matter how small, insignificant or young. We, too, are hugged by God in this moment.
Seeking glory is not the calling of the true disciple. Doing things in order to gain rewards is not the calling of the true disciple. Putting aside discrimination, status and power to proclaim God’s love, compassion, care, justice and forgiveness is.
Every Christian is called to this ministry of servantleadership - that is, to be leaders in the doing of service.
cf Byrne, Brendan, A Costly Freedom - A Theological Reading of Mark’s Gospel (Sydney, St Paul’s, 2008), pp 152-153
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](2.81 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub](1.73 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - XXV Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario(485 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - XXV Domenica del Tempo Ordinario(293 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - XXV Domingo do Tempo Comum(304 KB)
St. Albert of Jerusalem, bishop and lawgiver
September 17 | Feast
In 1205, Albert was appointed Patriarch of Jerusalem and a little later nominated Papal Legate for the ecclesiastical province of Jerusalem. He arrived in Palestine early in 1206 and lived in Acre because, at that time, Jerusalem was occupied by the Saracens.
At some point between 1206 and 1214, Albert was approached by the hermits gathered on Mount Carmel, "near the font of Elijah," and asked to set down their way of life in the form of a Rule. Albert's formula vitae (way of life), a relatively short document, encouraged the daily practices of the hermits in order to "follow Christ."
During his time in Palestine, Albert was also involved in various peace initiatives, not only among Christians but also between the Christians and non-Christians and he carried out his duties with great energy and dedication. On 14th September 1214, during a relgious procession, he was stabbed to death.
A list of books available from Edizioni Carmelitane on St. Albert and the Carmelite Rule are listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Read more about the life of St. Albert
Read about the Carmelite Rule | Text of the Rule
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Books Published by Edizioni Carmelitane on St. Albert of Jerusalem
Edizioni Carmelitane Webstore
Libros publicados por Edizioni Carmelitane sobre San Alberto
Tienda virtual de Edizioni Carmelitane
Libri pubblicati da Edizioni Carmelitane su Sant'Alberto
Sito Web di Edizioni Carmelitane
The Carmelites and St. Albert of Jerusalem. Origins and Identity
Patrick Mullins, O. Carm.
Celebrating St. Albert and His Rule. Rules, Devotion, Orthodoxy and Dissent
Edited by Michelle Sauer and Kevin Alban, O. Carm.
The Bollandist Dossier on St. Albert of Jerusalem
Daniel Papenbroeck, SJ | Edited and translated by Patrick Mullins, O. Carm.
St. Albert of Jerusalem and the Roots of Carmelite Spirituality
Patrick Mullins, O. Carm.
The Life of St. Albert of Jerusalem. A Documentary Biography. Part 1
Patrick Mullins, O. Carm.
The Life of St. Albert of Jerusalem. A Documentary Biography. Part 2
Patrick Mullins, O. Carm.
Alberto Patriarca di Gerusalemme. Tempo - Vita - Opera
Vincenzo Mosca, O. Carm.
Books Published by Edizioni Carmelitane on the Rule of St. Albert
Edizioni Carmelitane Webstore
Libros publicados por Edizioni Carmelitane sobre la Regla de San Alberto
Tienda virtual de Edizioni Carmelitane
Libri pubblicati da Edizioni Carmelitane sulla Regola di S. Alberto
Sito Web di Edizioni Carmelitane
Albert and His Rule
Michael Mulhall, O. Carm.
A Pattern for Life. The Rule of St. Albert and the Carmelite Laity
Patrick Thomas McMahon, O. Carm.
The Carmelite Rule. Proceedings of the Lisieux Conference. 4-7 July 2005
Various Authors
La Regola del Carmelo: Origine, natura, significato
Carlo Cicconetti, O. Carm.
Expositio paraenetica in regulam carmelitarum: Un commento alla regola del Carmelo
Giovanni Soreth | Tradotto da Giovanna D'Aniello, O. Carm.
Abdicatio Proprietatis. Sens et Défi de la Pauvreté Religieuse selon la Règle du Carmel et son inculturation dans le contexte de l'Afrique
Jean-Maria Dundji Bagave Makanova, O. Carm.
La Regola del Carmelo. Per una nuova interpretazione
Bruno Secondin, O. Carm.
In Ossequio di Gesù Cristo. Programma di studi sulla Regola del Carmelo
Emanuele Boaga, O. Carm. & A. de Castro Cotta, CDP
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