“Camilo was a beacon of radiant light”

Mexico (18-03-2012).- Funeral rites for Father Camilo Maccise were celebrated yesterday at the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, La Sabatina, Mexico City. Father Enrique Castro, Provincial Superior of Mexico, presided over the Eucharist. Those present included the family of Father Camilo; members of the Carmelite family; and many representatives of other religious orders, congregations, and laity.

In his homily, Enrique Castro referred to Father Camilo as a great traveler who took the Gospel message to all the corners of the earth and who on this occasion began the definitive journey to the Father’s bosom. The Mexican Provincial noted that “Camilo was a beacon of radiant light that illuminated many persons – friars, nuns, religious from numerous congregations, and laity – with his wisdom, mental clarity, and intelligence, always inspired by the teachings of Christ.”

A teacher to many generations of religious, “Camilo Maccise always placed great importance on helping each person follow his or her vocation; he left many writings to help religious renew fidelity to their calling, but he also always valued in a significant way the vocation of the laity,” affirmed Castro.

In his address Father Enrique remembered the pleasant manner, disposition for dialogue, and conciliatory and simple character that adorned the life of Father Camilo. “All our dear Father Camilo’s life was gift to Carmel and the Church,” he remarked.

On ending the homily, the Father Provincial noted that words could not adequately express the greatness of the life of Father Camilo Maccise, and he invited those present to approach his abundant written works as a legacy for all Christians of today.

Source:

Communicationes - Information Service of the Discalced Carmelite Curia

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“The death of Father Camilo is a great loss for all the Carmelite family”

Rome-Italy (17-03-2012).- The Prior General of the Order of Mount Carmel, Father Fernando Millán, expressed his condolences yesterday on the death of who for 12 years was the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites, Father Camilo Maccise.

In a heartfelt message addressed to Father Saverio Cannistrà, the Superior General of the Carmelites made known his “most heartfelt condolences” and “our fraternal affection in these sorrowful moments.”

Fernando Millán underscored the great loss for all the Carmelite family that Father Camilo’s demise represents. He emphasized Father Camilo’s “powerful sense of evangelism, of prophetic valor and true spirituality.”

“I have always greatly enjoyed his optimism and sense of humor, his sensitivity for the poor, and his love for Carmelite spirituality,” said Father Fernando Millán.

“It is best to let ourselves be guided by the Lord”

“The Lord has called me to an order of fraternity, love, communion, and peace,” as Camilo Maccise himself recognized in one of his last public appearances before his death in a video published on the website of the Mexican Carmelite province.

Visibly fatigued and in declining health because of the progression of the disease, Maccise emotionally shared the teachings with which the Word of God and the saints of Carmel guided and maintained his life as religious and priest.

In the manner of a public confession he stated that, “when, a little over a year ago, they discovered my cancer, the first thing I did was thank God for the 73 years of health he had given me, and then I placed myself in his hands.” Father Camilo stated, “It is best to let ourselves be guided by the Lord.”

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Father Camilo Maccise dies at age 75

Mexico (16-03-2012).- Father Camilo Maccise, Superior General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites from 1991 through 1997 and 1997 through 2003, died today, March 16, at 75 years of age in the provincial house of the Mexican province of Saint Albert. The cause of death was colon cancer, which he endured for over a year. Camilo Maccise was born in Toluca, Mexico, in 1937. He attended the Discalced Carmelite preparatory school in Toluca for several years and in 1954 entered the Novitiate of the Order in Queretaro. In 1958, on the eve of the Second Vatican Council, he was sent to Rome to study philosophy and theology in the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum. His priestly ordination was on April 29, 1962, in the Eternal City. From 1963 to 1965 he was professor of dogmatic theology and spirituality in the philosophical-theological college of the Carmelite province of Mexico. He obtained a degree in Sacred Scripture after completing studies in Jerusalem and in the Biblical Institute of Rome from 1968 to 1971. In 1988 he earned the degree of Doctor of Theology from the Javeriana University in Bogota, Colombia. His thesis was titled, “Word and Community in Saint Paul and in the ecclesial communities based in Latin America.” Father Camilo was professor of Sacred Scripture and Spirituality in several centers of study in Mexico, Latin America, and Europe, such as the Ibero-American University in Mexico City, the Latin American Episcopal Council in Medellin, Colombia, and the Faculty of Theology of the Teresianum in Rome. He particularly explored the theology of consecrated life in depth, becoming Vice President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious of Mexico (CIRM), and from 1975 was a member of the theological team of the Latin American and Caribbean Conference of Religious (CLAR) as a biblical scholar. Superior General Father Camilo Maccise held several offices of responsibility and jurisdiction in the Order. He was elected Provincial Superior of Mexico in January 1978. He had held this office for only one and a half years when he was named Counselor General for the 1979 to 1985 term during the first generalate of Father Felipe Sainz de Baranda. In 1991 he was elected Superior General of the Order during the General Chapter of Ariccia, a town near Castelgandolfo. He was reelected in the General Chapter celebrated in Lisieux, France. He was at the forefront of the Order during an especially sensitive period. During this time he was a member of the Union of Superiors General (USG) and the Council of the Sixteen. He was elected President of the USG from 1994 to 2001. In 1998, Pope John Paul II named him member of the Pontifical Commission for the celebration of the Jubilee Year of 2000. He participated as a member of the IX Ordinary Assembly General of the Synod on Consecrated Life (October 2-29, 1994). He also participated in the Assembly of Bishops for America (November 16-December 12, 1997) and in the X Ordinary Assembly General of the Synod of Bishops (September 30-October 27, 2001). After finishing his terms as Superior General of the Order in 2003, he returned to the province of Mexico where he was elected Provincial Superior. He held this office from 2005 to 2008. Now heading to the community of Alba de Tormes in Spain, Father Camilo traveled all over the world giving courses and conferences and as an advisor to general and provincial chapters of several orders and congregations. In his last year a tumor was discovered on his colon. Father Camilo returned to Mexico for medical treatment in a respite home near the community and his family. Gestures of affection News of his death has traveled quickly thanks to the Internet. Several Web pages have already been updated with obituary notices on the death of Father Camilo. Likewise, many messages of support and fellowship have been received. Father Saverio Cannistrà, Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites, having received the sad news of Father Camilo’s death this same day, sent affectionate condolences to the Provincial Superior of the Mexican Province of Saint Albert. Father Cannistrà remarked, “I thank the Lord for the gift he has given our family in a man such as Father Camilo, who with his bearing and work has made a mark on the history of Carmel.” The Father General received the news in Cracow, where he is on a canonical visit to that province of the Order. He brought to memory Father Camilo, who was his predecessor in the generalate of the Discalced Carmel and commended him to Divine Mercy in the celebration of the Eucharist. Father Flavio Caloi, one of Father Camilo’s closest collaborators during his terms as Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites, said, “Father Camilo has been a great gift from God to the Order and to the Church.” Caloi underscored the surrender to God, the great capacity for work, clarity of thought, and enormous drive that Father Camilo’s leadership represented in many matters of consequence for the Order. Upon hearing that Father Camilo passed away, Julia Garcia Monje, Secretary General of the Spanish Conference of Religious (CONFER), said, “Religious life has much for which to thank Father Camilo. We are sure that he will continue to encourage us in his dream of a prophetic religious life, impassioned for Jesus Christ and for those least favored. His life’s testimony will always accompany us.” Source: Communicationes - Information Service of the Discalced Carmelite Curia

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Fr. General encourages expansion of Order’s presence on all fronts

Nairobi-Kenya (09-02-2012).- During the week’s celebration of this Congress for Africa and Madagascar in Nairobi, Fr. General spoke of the need to project the Order’s presence throughout Africa.

Provincials, Delegates and Representatives of each of the African regions in which the Order is present took part in this Assembly with Fr. General and Fr. George Tambala, General Definitor for Africa. The focus of the meeting was to discuss the present day reality and the future of the Order in the continent of Africa.

Fr. General, as he outlined the history of the Order in Africa and its gradual expansion, reminded the delegates that they had gathered “in the name of the Lord and for the good of the Church”. He appealed for cooperation among all the circumscriptions in the various enterprises undertaken by the Discalced Carmelites throughout the continent.

On the same note, Fr. George Tambala spoke of “A Possible Shared Project for the XXI century” in which he called for a new collective incentive that would help in sharing challenges.

Source:

Communicatones - Information Service of the Discalced Carmelite Curia

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A website allows virtual access to the manuscripts of Saint Therese

Lisieux-France (23-01-2012).- It is now possible to quickly and comfortably access documents about Saint Therese from the archives of the Carmel of Lisieux.

Thanks to the website http://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr, any researcher, fan, or devotee of the Carmelite saint will be able to consult the Lisieux Carmel’s Theresian treasury without leaving home.

Digital technology provides easy and free access to high quality documents ranging from autobiographical manuscripts of “The Story of a Soul,” the foundation of the monastery of Lisieux, the posthumous history of the writings of the Patroness of the Missions, to letters to relatives, pictures, and all texts written by this young Doctor of the Church.

This site (http://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr) is the product of several years’ work by the Carmelites in collaboration with academicians and Theresian researchers from several countries, to present the texts, documents, images, and other objects relevant to the study of Saint Therese.

The website has four sections. All the writings of the saint along with pictures of their facsimiles and the originals of her poetry and pious recreational works can be found in the first section titled, “Works of Saint Therese.” Also included are reproductions, drawings, and artwork painted by her. The content is enhanced by a powerful search engine that enables quick query results.

An album including photographs of each family member, more than 1,200 letters written by them, as well as the places where they lived, constitutes the second section of the Web portal, which is dedicated to “Family Life.”

“In Carmel” and “After 1897” are the other two sections. They encompass the foundation of the monastery, the community’s way of life, and the development wrought after the death of Saint Therese in 1897.

Source:

Comuncationes - Information Service of the Discalced Carmelite Curia

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Fr Tomás Álvarez: "Saint Teresa is a loud and clear prophet for modern times”

Rome-Italy (15-01-2012).- "Never has Saint Teresa been read with such topicality as today. Saint Teresa is God’s witness, a loud and clear prophet for modern times”, pointed out the Discalced Carmelite, Tomás Álvarez, in referring to present day reception of the work and message of Saint Teresa.

In an interview granted to the magazine “Teresa de Jesús”, of which he has been an assiduous collaborator, the Teresian specialist acknowledged that the coming centenary of the birth of saint Teresa would have greater pastoral impact than the one in 1982, since the preparation has been more intense. “Within the Carmelite family, there has been a much closer drawing together around the Saint since the beginning of the continuous reading of Teresa’s works, one after the other”, expressed the prestigious Teresian expert.

The magazine “Teresa de Jesús”, which presents a new image in this year of its three decades of life, afforded Father Tomás Álvarez the opportunity to discuss his life’s work concerning the foundress of the Teresian Carmel. It is a work that goes back to 1938 when there came to hand the book of the Mansions, during the time of his noviciate.

In the interview, Fr Tomás referred to the declaration of Saint Teresa as a Doctor of the Church as “the greatest of the Teresian events”, and stated that the great wealth we possess is to have Teresa’s own hand-written books in which is discovered “the excitement the saint had in writing”.

Source:

Coomunicationes - Information Service of the Discaelced Carmelite Curia

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Novitiate

 Novices

Irma P. Rabanes

Rabanes, San Marcelino, Zambales

August 6, 2011

Richell B. Felarca

San Pablo, Castillejos, Zambales

November, 2007

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Temporary Promise - 1 Members

 

Temporay Promise - 1 Members

Agustina T. Ecleo, OCDS

Mabayuan, Olongapo City

August 6, 2011

Emilia T. Acabado, OCDS

Matain, Subic, Zambales

August 6, 2011

Jov Mark B. Felarca, OCDS

Castillejos, Zambales

August 6, 2011

Mercedes V. Gamez, OCDS

Gordon Heights, Olongapo City

August 6, 2011

Ma. Rosie O. Geronimo, OCDS

East Tapinac, Olongapo City

August 6, 2011

Cridivi P. Melegrito, OCDS

San Marcelino, Zambales

August 6, 2011

Purificacion C. Soriano, OCDS

Executive Village, Subic, Zambales

August 6, 2011

Eufrocina J, Verzosa, OCDS

Mabayuan, Olongapo City

August 6, 2011

Rosa M. Levi, OCDS

Sta. Rita, Olongapo City

August 6, 2011

Edita P. Felarca, OCDS

Mangan Vaca, Subic, Zambales

February 26, 2008

Isabel I. Candelaria, OCDS

West Bajac-bajac, Ologapo City

June 1, 2003

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Definitive Promise Members

Definitive Promise

Elsa R. Pineda

Ilwas, Subic, Zambales

August 6, 2011

Amelia O. Sagun, OCDS

Pamatawan, Subic  Zambales

November 6, 2006

Leticia V. Labrador, OCDS

Ilwas, Subic, Zambales

October 15, 2001

Amparo, Zerudo, OCDS

East Tapinac. Olongapo City

March 3, 2001

Ma. Luvimin F. Afable, OCDS

Baraka, Subic, Zambales

December 9, 1997

Agripina A. Rebusada, OCDS

East Bajac-Bajac, Ologapo City

December 9, 1997

Helen R. Cerezo, OCDS

Gordon Heights, Olongapo City

December 9, 1997

Carolina E. Enciso, OCDS

Olongapo City

December 9, 1997

Julieta R. Garbo, OCDS

Gordon Heights, Olongapo City

December 9, 1997

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“It is necessary to recognize the role of our laity committed to the Order”

Rome-Italy (11-01-2011).- The principal objective of the letter which the Superior General, Saverio Cannistrà, sent to all the friars and members of the Secular Carmel of the Order was to “reflect on the role and importance of the Secular Order in the world in which we live”.

In the letter, dated the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Fr Saverio stated the need to “recognize the role of our laity committed to the Order in the development of our various presences.” Secular Carmel is much more than a group of associated laity, “identified with a monastery, convent or parish”, “the members of Secular Carmel have taken on a commitment to the Order, with their life, with their mission and with their spirituality”.

From this point of view, Fr General stated that “the Secular Order shares their own spirituality with the world surrounding them”, as Fr Luis Aróstegui already expressed in his letter sent in 2006 to the Provincials, on the occasion of the document on the Pastoral Assistant to the members of Secular Carmel.

Fr Saverio also pointed out in his letter that the relationship which exists between the friars and the secular members is a grace and a responsibility. The responsibility consisted of “an adequate formation of mature members of the Church and of the Order” and of the “availability of the secular members in the planning of the mission of the Provinces”, while the grace supposed “the reciprocal enrichment of the vocation which each one lives”.

Fr General concluded by saying, “The spiritual relationship which exists between the friars, the nuns of the cloister and the Secular Carmelites of the Order is a source of great wealth for each one of us as individuals and for the Order. It is also a source of grace and of dynamism for the Church which we serve and for the world, which needs to enter into the knowledge of the presence of God”. 

Source:

Communicationes - Information Service of the Discalced Carmelite Order

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