no. 4   july - august 2002
 


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Consecration and Benediction of First Carmelite Church and Monastery in Romania
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O
n August 3, 2002, Bishop Petru Gherghel, Bishop of Iasi (Romania) consecrated the Carmelite church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and to the Prophet Elijah. He also blessed the Center of Carmelite Spirituality. Both are located in Luncani, Romania and were built by the Italian Province of Carmelites under the direction of Italian Carmelite Tiberio Scorrano.

Present for the ceremony were Bishop Aurel Perca, Auxiliary Bishop, the Prior General, Joseph Chalmers, the Councilor General for the Mediterranean Region, Rafael Leiva Sánchez, the Prior Provincial of the Italian Province, Claudio Bellotti, the Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Santa Marinella), Sr. Beatrice Minieri, the Provincial, Sr. Donatella Cappello, Carmelites from the Italian Province including many of the Romanian Carmelites. Also present was the Orthodox pastor of Luncani, the mayor, and numerous men and women religious including two Discalced Carmelites, many priests and faithful. Fr. Petru Mares, a friend of the Order who is responsible for bringing the Carmelites to Romania, also attended.

The whole complex, called ‘The Carmelite Monastery,’ was built with the intention of hosting groups of pilgrims devoted to the Mother of God and the Prophet Elijah. Retreats will be available. The monastery is located 15 km from Bacau, along the road to Moinesti, in the area of Luncani, two kilometers from the forest.

The retreat house has 20 rooms, a conference room, dining room, and smaller rooms for smaller groups to meet. The location, so near the forest, creates an atmosphere of reflection and makes contact with nature and long walks possibile.

 


SCENES FROM THE ROMANIAN FOUNDATION
 

   
 
   
   
   

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THE ROMANIAN CARMELITE ICON
 

This icon, which is unique, presents a Carmelite Marian spirituality in a religious and cultural context which is largely Orthodox. It combines both Byzantine and Carmelite traditions and evokes immediately the images of Carmel and of the Lady of the Place. There are a few particular characteristics: such as the ‘mantle’, a typically oriental sign of protection.

Mary’s right hand holds her mantle which welcomes rather than covers her faithful servants. These are men and women, members of the Carmelite Family of the 20th century, representatives of a new humanity emerging from her Tent, visibly happy and praying. Blessed Titus Brandsma, witness to the struggle for freedom from all forms of absolutism; Blessed Isidore Bakanja, a humble witness of the faith; Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) symbol of the encounter between Christianity and Judaism; Anicka Zelikova, Third Order Carmelite, particularly interested in bioethics. They all stood up to evil, they banished the desperation brought about by the horrors of human violence, because they found refuge in their Mother and with her in her Son the Saviour.

From Mount Carmel the prophet Elijah’s voice also rises in a scroll with the motto zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum. This connects the two inspirational figures of the Carmelite charism. The Carmelite shield is also highly visible recalling the great undertaking of the Carmelite Family in spreading the Marian message.

 

 

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