We, the formators of the Carmelite Order, living in allegiance to Jesus Christ, gathered from all the five continents at the Dimesse Sisters Spiritual Centre, Karen-Nairobi, from 24 July-5 August, 2006, to address the topic:  Inculturation of the Carmelite Charism Today.

            The course began with a personal introduction and the presentation of the similarities and differences in formation programmes in the provinces and commissariats. 

Fr. Tom Grenham, SPS, gave the first talk: “Global Synthesis:  Who and Whose We are in a World of Flux.”   He addressed the reality of cultural globalization and its influences on our identity as individuals.  Once the group finished deepening the fundamental question, “Who I am and where I am living,” he further invited participants to reconstruct the elements of their Carmelite identity, describing the elements which are essential and therefore non-negotiable, and other elements of the charism which are negotiable.

Fr. Elochukwu Uzukwu, C.S.Sp., addressed the topic of inculturation, beginning with definitions taken from the official documents of the Church, including John Paul II, Paul VI, and Ad Gentes, 22.  He proposed the Bible as a base of inculturation and the reality of being Catholic in a multicultural and multi-religious world.

In light of the two presenters, the participants were asked to identify the real questions, issues, and needs of the people in their respective cultures.  After the experts finished, participants engaged in lectio divina with the RIVC (#23-49) individually and in regional groups.  Participants then focused on words regarding fundamental Carmelite values and expressed them in a prayer form.

The participants were immersed in two experiences of critical issues in Kenya; viz., an orphanage for children infected with HIV (Nyumbani) and the Missionaries of Charity’s work in the largest slum in Africa (Kibera).  We enjoyed an experience of community while viewing the beauty of Kenya on a trip to Nakuru National Park.  We also visited the Nairobi Pentecostal Church-Karen and enjoyed the hospitality of Bustani ya Karmeli in Nkoroi, Kenya.

The participants then presented the three critical issues in their respective regions and the Carmelite response to them in light of the charism.

The following were perceived as the critical issues in the various regions:

• Asian Pacific Region:  globalization & poverty, justice & peace, and ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue.
• Africa (Franco-phone):  war, misery, and political corruption.
• Africa (Anglo-phone):  poverty, justice & peace, and education.
• Latin America:  poverty (fruit of political corruption), the need of the Church to recover its pastoral and prophetic dimension, and urban violence.
• Europe I:  loss of trust in institutions in general and at all levels (church, family, politics, etc.); search for meaning in life; critical, constructive and positive dialogue with secularism.
• Europe II- North America:  polarization (economic, religious, and social); family; relevance of institutional Church.

All regions suggested ways of responding to these realities in light of the Carmelite charism at different levels of formation.  The recommendations that flow from this are:

• Vocations:
  • To acknowledge and appreciate the multi-cultural reality of the Order in all its programs and materials.
  • Evaluate candidates to Carmel in terms of their ability to be formed in a holistic way.
• Initial Formation:
  • Immersion study programs in multi-cultural settings.
  • Develop sensitivity to issues of justice and peace for the formandi (e.g., living with the marginalized).
  • Upgrading our libraries and study materials for students in our formation houses.  Continued cooperation between provinces to make the resources available.
  • Face the challenge of having joint novitiate programmes and consider, where possible, joint philosophical and theological studies.
• Formators:
  • Consider exchange of personnel between provinces/commissariats.
  • Train formators for forming candidates in the multi-cultural reality of the Order and provinces/commissariats.
• Ongoing Formation:
  • Ongoing formation of Carmelites includes the multi-cultural dimension (e.g., inter-cooperation of provinces to form communities).

Specific strategies were developed for regions and local formation programs.  Those strategies are in the full report of the meeting, and communication of them is being done through local and regional participants.

All five continents were represented, and there was a deepening of fraternal bonds and vision for Carmel in a multi-cultural world.  Here we saw the face of Carmel as a “praying and prophetic community in a changing world.”  Finally, our gratitude must go to the community members of Bustani ya Karmeli for their outstanding hospitality. 

Our loving God, source of all goodness and life:  We praise you and glorify your Holy Name.  We thank you for giving us Elijah and Mary as our models and constant inspirations for our lives as Carmelites.  We ask you to move us and open our hearts that, like Elijah and Mary, we encounter and recognize you in the daily events of our lives.  Like them, help us become Carmelites for others, to stand for the poor and serve them better.  Help us to have courage to unmask the idols of our times.  Help us become trusting at all times and remain steadfast in your love.  Make us good servants and proclaimers of the Gospel of life.  Make us living witnesses in building a new world—a world of peace, justice, harmony and love.  Amen.  (Extract from prayer of Asia/East Timor region) 

Nairobi, Kenya
5 August 2006