A meeting of the General Finance Commission of the Order was held in Rome from 3 to 5 March under the chairmanship of Kevin Alban (Brit.), the Bursar-General. The first day was devoted to a meeting with the Domus Board of Management to exchange ideas about the performance of the Domus in the short term economic crisis and to share views on the long term place of the Domus in the overall scheme of the Order’s finances. On 4 March the Commission reviewed the accounts for the Curia and its works for 2008, which showed a modest surplus in line with the approved budget. The Commission also revisited the budget for 2009 and urged the Bursar General to ensure that it was adhered to as faithfully as possible. Finally, the Commission considered the Triennial Bursars’ Meeting due to be held in October 2009 and whether in the present climate it should be postponed. The Commission decided to go ahead with the meeting, but with a reduced number of participants, in order to alleviate the financial burden on provinces sending delegates.

The construction work on the new square in front of the Titus Brandsma Memorial Church, Nijmegen, began this April. The building work for the Titus Brandsma Monument together with the memorial wall was designed by the artist Arie Trum. It will bear the names of all the Carmelite communities from around the world. Located in front of the Monument will be the World Peace flame. The work on the construction will take two months.
The Dutch Province is happy that after many years of preparation they have now arrived at this point. Although the necessary funds are not fully to hand, a number of good friends have given a low interest loan in order to start the construction now. So help with the funding would be most welcome in order pay off the debt.

For more information see:

• http://www.beatificazioneangelopaoli.it/
• www.ocarm1.org/photo/angelopaoli/
• www.ocarm.org