INTRODUCTION | SERVING THE WORLD IN AN ERA OF CHANGE  |  OVERVIEW  |  FORMATION
A CHANGING ORDER  |  SERVICE OF THE WHOLE ORDER  |  FINANCES  |  QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Introduction

Articles 285 and 287 cited below lay down the structure and content of the General Congregation. This document is to help you prepare for this important meeting in the life of the Order. The information given here will be complemented by the shorter reports from the members of the General Council regarding their particular areas of responsibility, which will be sent later. There will be a possibility of asking questions about these reports during the General Congregation itself.

The articles of the Constitutions dealing with the nature and purpose of the General Congregation are the following:

The major purpose of a General Congregation is to offer a forum where the Major Superiors of the Order can be made aware of the issues facing the General Council and be in a position to help the Council in its work.

SERVING THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD IN AN ERA OF CHANGE

I want now to explain further the choice of the theme for the General Congregation. We want to look towards the future and prepare for it insofar as possible. We of course walk into the future with faith, but we also must be realistic. Along with this report you will find a number of charts and graphics, which are intended to help us judge realistically and prepare well for the General Chapter in 2007.

Overview

My overall impression of the Order is good. This year I have attended 14 Chapters or Assemblies. As far as I can discover, the Superiors General of most Orders and Congregations do not attend Chapters. I believe that it gives me the opportunity to meet most of the brothers at a very important fraternal moment. It also allows me to become aware of the situation of the Province from several different angles. The General Council has so far carried out 10 canonical visitations as part of our desire to visit the whole Order before the General Chapter in 2007.

Because the Order is made up of human beings, naturally we have a number of problems. Fr. Josef Jančář will inform you in the course of the meeting of the cases involving brothers and sisters leaving the Order. However, there seems to be real enthusiasm for Carmelite spirituality. This is apparent in the number of institutes that are being formed, courses being organised, books and pamphlets being written, t-shirts, bags, key rings etc with Carmelite symbols. There does seem to be a real love for the Order and its spirituality. While there are naturally differences among us, we seem to be united on the most important issues, at least at a theoretical level.

Formation

However, on the negative side, I want to mention that those who are responsible for international formation courses have often said to me that there is a lack of basic understanding among us regarding the fundamental elements of the charism. We need to continue to stress the need to have more men and women prepared so that they will become experts in the Order's spirituality. This will make us better able to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ according to our Carmelite vocation, which is the real goal of our endeavours.

Communication can be a real problem within the Order because of language limitations. As you know, the Order has three official languages: Italian, Spanish and English. This means that in all international meetings we provide translation for these languages and all written communications are in these languages. Sometimes communications are delayed because of the difficulty of finding someone to translate. We try to keep the work of translation within the Carmelite Family.

There is an increasing problem regarding the lack of international interaction within the Order. This is connected with the issue of communication. Particularly for these two reasons, some years ago I proposed the idea of a month long language course during the European summer. There was no great enthusiasm for the idea.

The level of formation varies widely according to the situation in the particular area. Sometimes friars just out of initial formation are put in the role of formators. They can be very good, but they lack experience. The level of formation also varies widely in the monasteries of nuns. It greatly helps when monasteries belong to federations because then formation can be organised on a large scale. Otherwise it depends on the level of understanding of the prioress, or novice mistress at the time. Some monasteries are so focused on survival that they have no time or energy for serious formation. I congratulate and thank those Provinces, which have monasteries within their geographical areas, for the care they show to the nuns. I thank the nuns who never cease to pray for us. There are some instances, however, where there is still very little contact between the friars and the nuns. We are one family and we can help one another to understand our charism more deeply from different perspectives. I would encourage you all to do whatever you can to support our cloistered nuns.

To tackle the issues of difficulties in communication and a lack of international experience along with a perceived problem in lack of knowledge of fundamental Carmelite principles, I proposed the concept of a second novitiate in a letter dated 9^th July 2004. I remind you of what I wrote:

"One of the issues that might be discussed during the General Congregation is the possibility of establishing some type of second novitiate. The General Council has discussed this topic and wishes to air it so that the Order can think about it. It could be presented as a proposal at the General Chapter 2007.

The idea is that there be an international second novitiate based in Rome for a period of one month/six months. This would take the form of an international experience and be aimed at those who are preparing for solemn profession or within a period of five years after solemn vows. Every Carmelite would be expected to attend one of these courses. This course would be held every two years and focus on Carmelite spirituality. Being based in Rome would also give the participants to come into contact with various Rome based Church organisations and institutions of the Order. During the course an opportunity could be given to learn a little of one of the official languages of the Order. The main purpose of this idea is to deepen the Carmelite formation of the participants and give them at least a brief experience of the internationality of the Order."

This was intended to foment discussion in the Provinces in order to enrich the discussion at the General Congregation in view of a possible proposal at the General Chapter.

A Changing Order

It is clear that the Order, like every Congregation and institute in the Church, is going to face some radical changes. According to the most recent Statistics, we have about 2090 friars in 19 Provinces, 3 General Commissariats and 3 General Delegations. We also have approximately 1000 nuns in 76 monasteries, 14 affiliated Congregations of Third Order Regular sisters, one affiliated Secular Institute, the Donum Dei Family, other lay organisations and finally many thousands of Third Order secular professed members.

The face of the Order looked a little different according to the Status Ordinis of 1996. Then we had 2,000 friars in the same number of Provinces with one fewer General Commissariat than we have now. However the main difference is in the number of countries in which Carmelites live and work. In 1996 we were in 32 countries and in 2005, we are in 38 countries. This includes the withdrawal from two countries in Europe and the opening of foundations in 8 countries where the friars had not been before. Another fundamental difference between 1996 and 2005 is the decline in the number of friars in the "north", in the sociological sense (Europe, USA, Canada and Australia) and the increase in the "south" (the rest of the world). This highly important shift does bring with it some particular challenges and this was the impetus for choosing the major theme that we hope to face during the General Congregation.

The number of friars in a particular Province can be misleading. For example the number of friars in the Upper German Province in 2004 was 173. This number, however, includes two Provincial Commissariats (India and Paraná, Brazil) with 56 and 36 friars respectively. The growth is taking place in the Commissariats. The number of German friars has dropped considerably leading to the closure of two houses since 1996, including the only one in Austria.

Unless there is a radical change in the number of vocations entering the Provinces in Europe and USA, we are going to see a considerable drop in the number of friars in these Provinces. Even if the situation were to change today, there would still be a number of years while waiting for new entrants to go through initial formation, when it would be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the level of service we give at present. In several Provinces, the process of closing houses has already begun. Despite the falling numbers and difficulties in staffing present commitments, several Provinces have continued to take responsibility for establishing Carmel in other lands. We seek to bring Carmel to other countries because we believe that the gift we have received (the charism) is not ours but is a gift to the whole Church for the world. St. Paul said, "Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel" (1 Cor. 9,16). We too have a duty to share the charism of which we are the present stewards.

The theme for the General Congregation is not focused on our present problems or chosen out of fear. It is intended to help us look towards the future with faith and be faithful to the mission we have received from God. How can we prepare now so that the Order will continue faithful to its mission of sharing our charism in the future?

Clearly, a major issue for the future will be finances. At present, the work of formation in the "south" is strongly supported or largely paid for by the Provinces of the "north". As the numbers in active ministry fall in these Provinces and as more funds will be required to support more older members, we must prepare now so that in the future problems with finances do not prevent young men from responding to Christ's call to follow him according to the Carmelite way. As I have mentioned before, the General Council is doing what it can to prepare for the future financially. I am sure that each Province is being a good steward with regards to its finances and is preparing sensibly for its own future. However, at the General Congregation we want to look at the issue at the level of the Order as a whole and how we as an Order can prepare for the future so that we can continue faithfully to transmit our charism to future generations.

Service of the whole Order

I would say that one of the most difficult issues before the General Council is the encouragement of the growth of new foundations. We often do not lack new candidates for the Order in these areas but we do lack personnel for the work of formation. This will be a familiar problem to all Provincials.

We also lack personnel for the entities that come directly under the care of the General Council. I have stressed to the areas that are experiencing many vocations that they will have to take more and more responsibility in the future for those positions that serve the whole Order. Naturally, the brothers we want are usually much needed in their own Provinces. I take this opportunity to thank the Provinces who provide brothers for the service of the whole Order.

I want to bring to your attention a particular problem that faces the General Council. As you know, it was a decision of the Council of Provinces in 1985, supported by the General Chapter of 1989, that the Order be re-established in France. We began with a community of three in Bourges in 1989 and in 1993, another community was established in Nantes. The Order held a Council of Provinces there in 1994 to celebrate the return to France. The Church and house were built by the diocese specifically for us. An eremitical community was established in France also in 1989 and for several years has consisted of one hermit friar. The French Delegation then decided that it would be better to leave Bourges and to take a parish in another city, Angers. The General Council gave permission and the move was made in the year 2002. The Polish Province took over the house in Bourges. Unfortunately, the French Delegation now can no longer continue in the parish of Angers as it has not been possible to find a suitable parish priest. The local bishop has offered us a smaller conventual church near the university and the General Delegate is in contact with him to make arrangements.

There have been several members of the French Delegation over the years and some have been part of the venture since the beginning. The international aspect of the project has caused a number of problems due to completely opposing views of the way to attain our purpose, which is to re-establish the Order in France. There have also been several vocations but few of these have stayed.

At present, there are seven members of the French Delegation. A priest member recently left who was in simple vows. It is very difficult to establish the Order firmly in France and help it to grow without qualified candidates. Finding new vocations is not easy and finding friars to go to France is very difficult. I ask the General Congregation to help the General Council to find the best way forward for the Order in France.

Finances

An issue that was critical at the Council of Provinces in 2003, was the financial outlook for the Order. Due largely to the generosity of the Provinces, this is no longer such a pressing issue and the future looks far brighter. The Bursar General will give details during the General Congregation. The idea of this General Council, and the previous Council, was to begin to face the future and plan for it. We could see that in the future, the Provinces that traditionally had money would have far less. Our goal was to bring CISA and the Curia house to a decent standard and eventually to reduce the financial burden on the Provinces caused by the Curia's budget. We are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, as the Bursar General will explain later.

I will give two indications only. The income of the Domus has increased by € 212,000 from € 753,000 in 2003 to € 965,000 in 2004 and the surplus has increased by € 140,000 over the same period of time. The proposals made at the Council of Provinces seem to be working.

The other indication is the performance of the Little Flower Society under the control of the Curia. This is a fund raising organisation of the Curia, set up with a substantial grant from the PCM Province. The Little Flower Society seeks funds in the U.K. and Ireland using basically the same material as that of the organisation of the same name in the PCM Province. From its first appeal in April 2002 until the end of 2004, the Little Flower Society raised $ 2,360,000. Having cleared all our expenses and start up costs we were able in this same period to make grants of some $580,000 to support projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We also created an endowment fund for future needs with an initial capital of just over $1,000,000. Part of this fund is designated for the ongoing requirements of the Order in the areas mentioned above. From the projected income in 2005, we plan to disburse at least another $380,000 in 2005 to assist various needs within the Carmelite Family, and to increase the size of the endowment fund.

By the General Chapter, we should have a clearer picture as to how much the Domus and Little Flower Society will contribute to the future needs of the Curia in supporting and promoting the work of the Order around the world.

All the General Commissions seem to be operating reasonably well and each member of the General Council will report on the Commission for which he is responsible. You have, of course, been kept up to date through our central publications: CITOC, CITOC online, through the websites, www.ocarm.org and by means of the index on www.carmelites.info.

To help us prepare for the General Congregation, I propose some questions, which could be discussed by Provincial or Commissary Councils so that the discussions at the meeting in São Paulo may be enriched by other points of view.