Communicationes N 13 15 November 2003 List of Contents FRIARS Meeting of Young People in Varazze, Italy Medal to e Carmelite Friars of Cadiz, Spain. SISTERS Third centenary of e foundation in Moncalieri. SECULAR ORDER Constitutions OCDS Carmelite Day in Savona, Italy. MISSIONS Greetings from e new Missions Secretary for e Order Bukavu, a challenge accepted. FRIARS A MEETING OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CARMELITE HOUSE OF VARAZZE, ITALY The first ever catechetical and formation meeting on e eme of The Fidelity of God and man, a biblical introduction, took place in e Carmelite Priory in Varazze, Norern Italy. A large group of young people stayed from e 25-26 October, listening wi interest to Fr Adrian Gervasio, e Novice Master, who presented e eme. They en shared in smaller groups eir questions and reflections from eir own experiences. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere certainly helped e young people to open up to each oer in trust to e word of God. The silence of e countryside and woods at surrounds is little heaven on ear were very conducive in helping ese young people discover eir interiority as ey were touched by e Spirit. The next meeting will be led by Fr Paolo Calabrese from e 29-30 November on e eme of Marked by e Seal of e Spirit: Man abandoned by God. A MEDAL FOR THE CARMELITE FRIARS OF CADIZ, SPAIN THE GOLD MEDAL OF THE CITY TO THE CARMELITE FRIARS The Nazarene Fraternity unanimously agreed wi e request of e Cadiz City Council to award e Discalced Carmelites e gold medal of e City for having completed e first hundred years since eir restoration (1899-1999). The Council which met in full session put to e vote e proposal on e 4 April 2003, wi 22 votes in favour, none against, wi two abstentions from e left wing section (Izquierda Unida). The presentation of is golden tribute took place on e 6 October 2003, in e great salon of e City Hall, which was full on e evening of e feast of Our Lady of e Rosary, Patron of Cadiz, and anks
to e help of Senora Alcaldesa, Mrs Teofila Martinez, it was solemn and successful. Senora Alcaldesa, before e giving e medal, spoke some words in praise of e Carmelites, at ey were wory of is award and she expressed her pleasure at e Town Council had agreed to is. Fr Prior en spoke fittingly of e honour given. He spoke wi gratitude and acknowledgemed at is honour was not just for e present Carmelite community but also for ose Friars who have gone before, who over e centuries had given generous service to e city of Cadiz. He concluded anking e Mayor for e gift and to Senora Alcaldesa as well as to e city of Cadiz. THE EMILIO L. BARTUS AWARD TO THE DISCALCED CARMELITES The Fraternity of Our Faer Jesus of Peace and e Most Holy Mary of Amparo (popularly known as La Borriquita), Cadiz linked to Carmel since 1976, and at is time e first Holy Week procession was held from is Church. This Fraternity established an award in honour of its founder, Emilio L. Bartus, at every year is granted to people or relevant institutions at have distinguished emselves by eir exceptional qualities in e service of e Holy Week Fraternity of Gaditana (Cadiz). Among oers who have received is award is e Bishop Antonio Dorado and e Town Council of Cadiz. On e 10 April 2003 it was unanimously agreed to confer is honour to e Discalced Carmelite Community in Cadiz. Fr Carlos, besides giving anks for is distinction, read a message of congratulations sent by e Provincial of e Discalced Carmelites in Andalucia, Fr Ismael, who for his part underlined e historical characteristics of is award. N U N S Italy, Moncalieri THIRD CENTENARY OF FOUNDATION On e 12 October 2003, wi a solemn eucharistic celebration presided by Fr General, Luis Arostegui Gamboa, and wi e participation of e Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life, Fr Provincial and several priests, e celebrations for e ird centenary of e monastery s foundation were formerly closed. Many members of e faiful were present, among whom e Mayor as well as oer VIP s of e city. The Moncalieri Carmel was founded on 16 September 1703 by e Blessed Mary of e Angels (Mariana Fontanella, 1661-1717), and has had an extraordinary flowering. At e end of e 18 century, during e French Revolution, e Carmel offered hospitality to several Sisters who fled France and Savoy. In 1954 a group of Sisters left to establish a new foundation in Leini (Turin). The Celebration of e Third Centenary The most striking aspect of is centenary celebration has been at almost all e initiatives have come from e lay friends of e Carmel. Already in 2001 a group of experts got togeer to form a commission to study e possibility of publishing a book on e history of e monastery. The wory book was entitled l Opera e il tempo (Work and time), containing 300 pages, edited by specialists, and entirely financed by e Council of Moncalieri. 16 September 2003, e anniversary day of e foundation, was prepared for by a Triduum, given by Fr Carlo Berardi OCD, on e spirituality of Blessed Mary of e Angels. The day itself was celebrated wi a solemn concelebrated Mass, presided by His Excellency Cardinal Severino Poletto, Archbishop of Turin, in e presence of e various civil auorities and many members of e faiful.
Here briefly is a synesis of e main initiatives: Three conferences on e history of e Monastery given by Professors of e Turin University and by e Faculty of Theology of e Diocese (history, art etc.); from 16 January 2003, a series of monly conferences on e eme of carmelite spirituality, given mainly by our Carmelite Broers; An exhibition on e life of Teresa of Avila, and linked wi a conference by Fr Jesus Castellano Cervera on e teresian charism today. 15 March, anks to e initiative of a group of lay people, a presentation was made of a special commemorative seal, to commemorate e 3r d centenary of e Carmel. Several meetings which focussed on e foundress, Bl. Mary of e Angels. A musical concert; A conference by Professor P. Giampietro Casiraghi on e Princess Maria Clotilde of Savoy and e Carmel of Moncalieri; A Photographic exhibition of e monastery 16 December 2002 a new biography of Bl. Mary of e Angels was made available, entitled You have duped me, my God (Me avete ingannata, mio Dio) edited by e Carmel; st 21 November 2003 e City Council organized a concert in e Santa Maria della Scala Church. The Church has been adorned wi precious 18 century tapestries, embroidered on silk by e Carmelite Nuns of Moncalieri c. 1750. Given eir great historic and artistic value e tapestries attracted a lot of interest from e world of culture and art. A publication is planned by e CIRVI (Centre for Italian Research into Travel in Italy) of a commemorative book on e centenary, in which are to be gaered e most interesting articles by various writers and journalists as well as photos. 12 October a commemorative leaflet was sent out on e Moncalieri Carmel. All e initiatives of e Centenary were covered by e local and diocesan press. Various articles appeared in e newspaper La Stampa and oer religious and cultural reviews. SECULAR ORDER OCDS CONSTITUTIONS Fr Aloysius Deeney, General Delegate for e OCDS, writes: By email I sent to each of e Provinces a complete copy of e new Constitutions wi e Decree of Approval and an introductory letter from Faer General. Apparently not all Provincials or Major Superiors received at email. Below are e links for e Constitutions of e OCDS in four languages. English: http://www.ocd.pcn.net/ocds_aen.htm Italian: http://www.ocd.pcn.net/ocds_ait.htm Spanish: http://www.ocd.pcn.net/ocds_aes.htm French: http://www.ocd.pcn.net/ocds_afr.htm I remind each jurisdiction at it is necessary to review e Provincial Statutes to bring em in accord wi e Constitutions. An important point to remember is at it is possible to specify many particular points in e Provincial Statutes according to e needs of each particular place which may have formerly specified in e Rule of Life. Some individuals and jurisdictions have already sent suggestions for changes which will be kept here in e General House during e five year period. At e end of e five year period ose
changes which are necessary will be submitted to e Holy See for approval. Contact information for e OCDS General Secretariat: Wi e desire to establish a database for communications from e General Secretariat, may I ask at each Province send to e General Secretariat (ocdsec@pcn.net) an email address for e Provincial Delegate and one for e OCDS Council of each jurisdiction. Faer Aloysius, ocd CARMELITE DAY IN SAVONA (Nor Italy) New Constitutions & Formation Programme: ose responsible for e Carmelite Secular Order in Liguria met to discuss is eme on 18 October, at St Pietro Priory, Savona, at e beginning of a new year of activity. Besides all e Presidents and Masters of Formation of e OCDS communities in Liguria, ere were also present e Provincial, Fr Franco Rudasso, e Delegate Provincial, Fr Pierluigi Canobbio as well as e Provincial Councillor OCDS. At e start of e session Fr Provincial wanted to underline how important at is time in its history is e Secular Order wi e introduction of e new Constitutions, recently approved at e General Chapter and, shortly afterwards by e Holy See. Two salient points were stressed: e unity of e entire Carmelite Order (Friars, Nuns and Seculars) rough e sharing of e same charisma, at is strengened by an auentic spiritual life and apostolate belonging to a single Family. The changes and e newness introduced by e new Constitutions, must influence and enrichen e interior life and not be lived only according to every dot and iota of e law. The Provincial Delegate, Fr Pierluigi proposed a eme for Formation in e new year: Love and Communion in relationship wi God and ones neighbour, and made clear e concepts to bear in mind in e Programme, namely Fraternity, Formation, Witness and Prayer. Love, a eological virtue, a gift of God, at is expressed in...communion! The study and reflection on e life of e Carmelite Saints shows us is Communion, which is love for God and for one s neighbour. The Provincial Coordinator OCDS and National Councillor, Carlo Gitto en illustrated to all present e organizational and informative aspects of e Italian Secular Order at various levels, anticipating e study programme for e drafting of new Statues, at every nation must finalize from e Constitutions. The next meetings will be very important for e whole of e Secular Order on e Provincial as well as e National level. The second part of e day was taken up wi a debate on e stated emes, en group work, e sharing of riches from every community, e formulation of suggestions and proposals and en news about new centres of Carmel in e Province. Carlo Gitto ocds. MISSIONS GREETINGS from e new Missions Secretary of e Order I have been named as e new Secretary following e General Chapter. I would like to greet all my broers and sisters in Carmel. I extend is greeting to all e members of e Carmelite Secular Order and to ose Institutions which are affilated to our Order who form e great carmelite family. This is e first time at I have been a permanent member of e Generalate and
my role is not only to e Missions but also e Order s missionaries, bo Friars and Nuns. I lived in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) where I grew in my conviction of e importance of our missions for e life and vitality of our Order. In recent years I have been in charge of e missionary centre La Obra Maxima in San Sebastian, Spain which was a time, once again, to streach my missionary horizon. I have never lost contact wi our missionary world, especially in Africa. Now I have arrived as Secretary for e Missions in Rome wi e conviction at one of e elements at will most revitalize Carmel is e Missions, at one of e most urgent priorities is e Missions, at e Missions present a salutary and stimulating challenge which we must face up to wi much resolve, effort and hope. Wi everyone s help I aim to make is Secretariate a centre of information and communication. I understand at my first task is to ferment grow in missionary awareness in e Order as an integral and never to be given up aspect of our charism. A first help to our Missions can be mass stipends which is Secretary can forward on to e missionaries and to some chaplains of our Cloistered Sisters in missionary countries. Yes, if I ask myself what is e most urgent and important challenge at is present time, I would indicate e Institute of Philosophy at e Association of e Major Religious Superiors of Bukavu have entrusted to our broers in at same city in e Democratic Republic of Congo. This community deserves our anks and our support. In e great poverty of is country st at war e community has resolved to meet a historical challenge. On 1 October e academic courses began wi a good programme and standard of teaching. But e building has not yet been completed and e support structures are still very precarious. We are all invited to collaborate so at e Philosophy centre B. Isidoro Bakanja from Bukavu functions wi dignity and responsibly, which is e wish of e seven Religious Institutes, who wi great confidence, have started to send eir students to is Centre, organized and run by e Carmelites. The Missions Secretary can quickly channel e aid from e Order and e Carmelite Family to is end. I ask to be of service, above all, to our missionary friars and nuns. I will willingly accept whatever task to coordinate or participate in to ferment awareness and help for e missions. The Order is its own Non Governmental Organization, registered wi e Dept. of Public Information at e UN in New York. I will close now and use is time renewing my will to serve. I will let you have more information when I know e present situation better. Wi my prayers and greetings. Damaso Zuazua ocd. Democratic Republic of Congo BUKAVU, A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED It all began wi a natural catastrophe. The rains were eroding e ground around our house, called St John of e Cross. Here we have our philosophy college for Carmelite Postulants. The house is situated on a hillslope, wi an exceptional view over e mountains of Congo and Rwanda, as Bukavu is located on e frontier. The rains at descend from e heights cause considerable erosion. In is way several buildings disappeared, including e Interdiocesan Centre, e noviate of e Carmelite Missionary Sisters,... first appeared splits, like enormous wounds on e mountain; each time ey got bigger until ey became huge crevices. The road also disappeared at took us over e mountain to e city. There is now no direct access to our house. We eier have to take a long detour or climb e steps at Fr Roger Thsimanga has made. They say at our house cannot remain for much longer. Little by little due to e relentless rains, it will slide down e hillside until it reaches e bottom.
We had to find a solution to is fast approaching problem. We bought a piece of land in Muhumba, which is in one of e quietest parts of Bukavu, wi easy access for lecturers and students. The students from e Rogacionistas Faers of Cyangugu (Rwanda) inscribed for our courses, and come every day from e rwandan border a short distance away. In e past oer Religious used to come to our philosophical college. This is how e request, at e Carmelites run a College of Higher Studies in Philosophy, came to bir. The White Faers took an interest in is. After some discussions wi e Association of Major Religious Superiors of e Archdiocese e Carmelite Institute of Higher Studies, Beato Isidoro Bakanja became a reality, bringing togeer students from e Rogacionists, e White Faers, e Palatines, Trappists, e Congregation known as The Bread of life, e Xavierans, and e Caraciolinans. The consortium of ese seven religious families is to extend itself to members of oer Institutes. Wi e modest funds from Fr Miguel Gutierrez in Spain, from Fr Daniel Tailleu, e ex-delegate for e Congo, in Belgium, and wi e contribution of anoer from Belgium who is always generous to e Congo, a part of e academic building has been built. It is hoped to begin st courses on e 1 October 2003 even ough e construction has not finished. We need more equipment, more machinery, as well as basic building material for its completion, and en we need academic equipment. The finished building will have ree halls, four offices, a room for e professors, a room for computers and a auditorium for conferences and celebrations. This construction is urgent because for e time being e students are dispersed in two provisional places. In is Institute of Higher Education e Carmelites are responsible for bo e administration and organization. We also have e majority of teaching staff wi a Doctor and ree professors. The Rector, Vice-Rector and e administrative secretary are also Carmelites. Our community has more an ten years experience working wi our student-postulants. We have made steps to have our College affiliated to e Urbanianum University or e Gregorianum in Rome, so at e Congolese government will recognize our academic degrees. The finishing of e construction work on e Institute of Philosophy will depend on e support of e Order, on e immediate help at we can have. Congo is a country enduring a brutal war. The Carmelite General Delegation lacks e necessary funding to ensure e continued functioning of e College, for e formation of its members during e study years. When e work is finished, when, at is, funds arrive for is, we have oer projects at cannot be put off. These include a place to live in, e Priory wi a chapel and library for our community, as soon we will be forced to leave our house, Saint John of e Cross, before it diappears down into e valley. The Bukavu project is a big challenge for Carmel in Africa.. Fr General considers it to be our number one missionary task, for e good of e Order on is continent. The result of is generous collaboration from e Friars and Nuns of e Order will be to create a secure future for e community, insured by e number of students who will enrol in our college. Wi courage and hope e Order has faced up to is challenge. This is an honour for us, as it shows at e Association of Major Religious Superiors (ASUMA) believes we can take on such a responsibility. Such trust is not shown to everyone. Those communities who would like to help us can do so by sending eir contribution rough e Mission s Secretary for e Order in Rome. Roger Ntabala, ocd,