New General Delegate Named for Czech Republic
The Prior General, Joseph Chalmers, and William J. Harry, the Councilor
General for Northern Europe, made a canonical visitation to the General Delegation
of Bohemia and Moravia (Czech Republic) March 31-April 4, 2003. Following the
visit Vojtech Kodet, O. Carm., was nominated as the General Delegate. He replaced
Jan Fatka, O. Carm., who completed two 3 year terms.
The new General Delegate will be assisted by two Councilors:
Gorazd Cetkovsky and Serafim Smejkal.
|
During the visitation, a meeting with the Lay Carmelites from around the
country was held (pictured above) at the
Carmelite parish in Prague. The gathering included the celebration of Eucharist, dinner,
and presentations, and a question and answer period.
(CITOC Photo)
|
(Left) Fr. Vojtech Kodet, O. Carm., the new General Delegate for the Czech
Republic. |
|
Colloquium in USA Studies Carmelite Publishing Strategies
A colloquium to examine strategies for developing
a North American market for Carmelitana materials
was held at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC (USA)
on March 12-13, 2003. Thirteen people took part in the
two day event which identified the problems and
opportunities for marketing Carmelitana materials to the North
American audience. It was also an opportunity for those
involved in the production, marketing and sales of Carmelitana materials to network with each other.
Among those attending were Joseph Chalmers,
O. Carm., the Prior General and William J. Harry, O.
Carm., Councilor General with responsibility for the
Order's Culture and Communications, and Patrick
McMahon, Preside of the Institutum
Carmelitanum.
"This is an excellent strengthening of the
connection of Edizioni Carmelitane, our publishing house in
Rome, with the Order's publishing efforts in the USA
and Canada," said Fr. William. "It is to everyone's
advantage that we begin working together to make
Carmelitana available to a much wider audience."
Presenting information during the meeting was
Rev. Lawrence Boadt, C.S.P., Publisher for Paulist Press,
and Sr. Roberta Hummel, F.S.P., Director of Marketing
for Pauline Books and Media. Presentations were also
given by Sr. Roberta McKelvie, O.S.F., Executive Directors
of the Franciscan Institute, NY and Ms. Claudia
Carlsen, Director of the Carmelite Book Store at Mount
Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
The event was sponsored by the Louis Herman
and Susan Hamilton Rogge Fund.
|
|
During a break in the Publishing
Colloquium, Prior General Joseph Chalmers and Sr Roberta Hummel of the Pauline Books
and Media talk over ideas as do Hein Bloomstein of the Dutch
Province and Patricia O'Callaghan of the Washington Carmelite Library.
CITOC - 2003 |
Foundation of Donum Dei in Seville
The Famille Missionnarie `Donum Dei' will found
a house in Seville, Spain at the request of the
archbishop. Their ministry will be to operate the new Diocesan
Priest House. The foundation is scheduled to begin in late
April 2003.
"Our founder always dreamed of making a
foundation in Spain," said Marie Josephe Perriot,
Superior General of the Donum Dei. "What made it so easy to
say `Yes' when this opportunity came up was the presence
of so many Carmelite men and women already in Spain
and their support for us."
The Archbishop of Seville, Mons. Carlos
Amigo Vallejo, OFM, was referred to the Donum Dei by
the Carmelite nuns in Seville in August 2002. Marie
Josephe Perriot, along with Fr. Rafael Leiva Sanchez, O.
Carm., General Councilor for the Mediterranean region,
and Suzanne Zabramba, General Councilor for the
Donum Dei visited Seville.
The Clergy House is new. There is a separate
house for the three Donum Dei who will be working there.
.
|
|
New Titus Brandsma Museum - A museum dedicated to the life
and work of Titus Brandsma, O. Carm., is being developed in
Bolsward, where Brandsma was born. Even though the museum has
not opened, people are donating objects connected to Brandsma's
life. Pictured is the front of the museum which is in a remodeled
family home.
The museum is now accepting donations to be used in
arranging exhibitions, expanding the collections, and promoting activities.
For 20,00 per year, one can become a member of the "Club of
Friends" of the Brandsma Museum. For a one time donation of 200,00,
one can enjoy the lifelong benefits of a "Friend of the Museum."
For more information, contact:
Titus Brandsma Museum
Grote Dijlakker 11,
NL-8701 KV Bolsward
Tel: +31 515 581799
E-mail: titusbrandsmamuseum@hetnet.nl
|
The Maltese Mission of Bolivia Visited
Fr. Rafael Leiva Sanchez, O. Carm., General
Councilor for the Mediterranean Region, visited the
Maltese mission in Bolivia from January 23-30, 2003. He also
met with the Archbishop of La Paz.
Three Carmelites are in La Paz, the capitol city
which stands at 4, 500 meters. Two of the Carmelites,
Germán Mamani Condori and Milton Murillo Ortíz, are
native Bolivians. The third member of the community,
Valeriano Marcieca, is Maltese. The parish they administer
has almost 90,000 members. Two other parishes were
given to the Carmelites but they are currently administered
by diocesan priests.
The Carmelite Sisters of Madre Candelaria
have recently made a foundation in an area up from the
Parish of Fatima in La Paz. They, along with a Spanish
priest, run a school for children and work with the people of
the area.
Four Carmelites, Eduardus Vella, Albert
Brincat, George Keers, and Garvin Grech, all from Malta,
make up the community in Tarija. Albert Brincat is the
Vicar General of the diocese. A fifth Maltese Carmelite,
Joseph Farrugia, lives and works in La Concepción.
There is some hope to have greater contact with
the other Carmelites in South America. During
their deaconate, the two Bolivian Carmelites lived and
ministered in Peru. They made their novitiate in Brazil.
Titus Brandsma General Delegation in Columbia Holds Second Annual Capitular Meeting
From January 5 to 10, 2003 the Titus
Brandsma General Delegation in Colombia (DTB) celebrated its
2nd Capitular Meeting in the city of Medellín in the
Retreat House, El Tabor, belonging to the Missionary Sisters
of Mother Laura.
The theme chosen for this meeting and for
reflection in the DTB during the year 2003 is: "The power of
God present in the weakness of each Little Carmel that
takes up its mission in the midst of the difficulties
surrounding it."
Some forty Brothers and Sisters of the Little
Carmels that make up the DTB came from different parts of
the country to study in depth aspects of our life in Carmel
in the Delegation and to make group decisions.
Carlos Mesters, General Counselor for Latin
America, accompanied the group and presided the Eucharist
of January 8 when we celebrated a birthday, a baptism
and the formal commitments in Carmel of 30 Brothers
and Sisters of our Titus Brandsma General Delegation.
The Titus Brandsma Delegation celebrates a
"Capitular Meeting" annually and it's Chapter in the
Carmelite Family every three years.
Submitted by Hugo J. Canavan, O.Carm.
Casa Misionera Monte Carmelo
Third Order Rule Approved by General Council and Vatican
Quoting from the Carmelite Rule and the Letter to
the Hebrews, the new Rule of the Lay Carmelites
begins "Many times and in varied ways." Although intended
to describe lives lived in dedication to Christ, the quote
also sums up the lengthy process for developing the
Third Order Rule. With one last review, section by section, the
General Council unanimously approved the document at
their February plenary session. The General Council
was notified in late April that the Vatican Congregation
had approved the document.
The document currently exists only in Italian. It
will be translated and printed in various languages. It
is expected to be promulgated on July 16, 2003 and
comes into force on December 8, 2003.
Joseph Chalmers, the Prior General, said "Like
the Constitutions for the friars, this Rule of the Third
Order translates into practical details the Rule of St. Albert
which is the fundamental inspirational document of
all Carmelites. We are very happy that after years of
study and reflection, the General Council and the Holy
See approved it."
Asked what it will mean to the individual
members, the Prior General said "I am sure that each Lay
Carmelite will find the Rule helpful. Chaplains of the
individual communities will find it of great assistance in helping
the communities develop and mature."
Ceremony to Incorporate
Carmelite Hermits of Monteluro Held On March 30, 2003, the Prior General,
Joseph Chalmers, received the solemn profession of the
prioress, Sr. Maria di Gesù (Rita Faroldi). Two other hermits,
Sr. Giovanni di Maria Immacolata (Dina Mazzi) and
Sr. Teresa Maria del Cuore di Gesù (Maria
Lonardoni) already living for some time in this hermitage, made
their profession in the hands of the prioress. Another
hermit, Sr. Maria Morena della Divina Misericordia
(Morena Ciullo) made her simple profession.
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated
Life, with a decree dated January 1, 2003, incorporated
the Hermits of Monteluro with "full rights" (pleno iure) to
the Carmelite Order. At the same time, the
Congregation approved their Constitutions. The decree was read at
the beginning of the ceremony.
These hermits are in the Diocese of Pesaro (Italy). They profess the
Rule of St. Albert. Anumber of Carmelites from Rome participated in the
ceremony.
Following the Incorporation Ceremony and the Reception
of Vows, the Carmelite Hermit Community of Monteluro, Italy pose
with Joseph Chalmers, the Prior General, Carlo Cicconetti, the
Vice General, Rafael Leiva, Councilor for the Mediterranean Region,
and Josef Jancar, Procurator General.
The contact information for the Hermits is:
Eremite Carmelitane
Via Stroppato, 1
61010 MONTELURO DE TAVULLIA (Pesaro)
Telephone: 0721-476004
|