There is wide use of the internet among those responding—although there is generally not diffusion of the web addresses or email addresses with its placement on stationary, in directories, or on publications.

The web is used widely for vocation promotion.

Email is not widely used in some provinces. Others report that 50% or more of the members have email and use it.

Only one Province reported considering the use of ‘chat rooms’ for communications among its members. There is a bulletin board in English. There was some interest in establishing such a device for Carmelites in the other languages.

There is some linking between sites but often webmasters will duplicate a page so that it is according to their taste.

Although some monasteries saw no use for the internet, others reported seeing as a part of their ministry or as a way of deepening their own commitment to the Carmelite vocations.

Most often ‘use of the internet’ means a website for the monastery ("a visiting parlor for the monastery without having the person actually be present") and email.

The trend seems to be that the monasteries are increasingly seeing the Internet as a useful tool.

The is reportedly minimal use of the internet. However, most used it at least for vocation promotion and maintain a website.

There is a notable higher comfort level with the traditional use of paper to communicate. Almost all Provinces reports at least one publications. However it was noted that little publishing beyond ‘magazines’ is done in most Provinces.

It was interesting that although a couple of Provinces reported ‘no scientific publications’ the members of the Commission were familiar with their scientific publications. It could have been a misunderstanding of the term ‘scientific’ or it could be that Provinces are unfamiliar with their own publication?

The quality of the publications runs the spectrum.

Magazines tend to be for internal consumption.

Little is done in the way of publishing via tapes and with CD’s. Here again the members of the Commission were familiar with a few instances of publications that the responder to the questionnaire did not report.

As with publications, we noted journalism efforts that Carmelites are involved in but were not listed on the questionnaire: regular columns in newspapers and books that people have published. Can it be assumed that there were not seen as part of the Province’s works but of the individual? Or was the question not clear?

Other Provinces which are known to be quite involved in publishing did not respond.

The general trend seemed to be that we are more into the traditional means of publishing and often don’t acknowledge the other publishing media that are available.

Very little publishing of any sort is done by the monasteries.

The is some publishing of magazines, newsletters, and music. There is not much publishing beyond the more traditional forms however.

There appears to be a serious attempt in some Provinces to incorporate communication into the formation programs; however there was some question about what is meant by ‘communication’ (is it speech or public speaking? Or is it the technology of communication—publishing, internet, etc).

There is little integration of formal communications into the daily ministry—but where there is some communications, it is almost always the result of an individual’s interest and rarely driven by the Province’s need or desire.

Other Province’s have no strategy at all with regards to promoting communications.

Seems to be possible to have on-going formation program—even a program that is ‘one on one’—which trains Carmelites in the use of the internet, web, email.

With regards to the Constitutional provision for a second language, there does not appear to be much of a commitment on the part of Province’s and formation programs to insure that this is occurring.

The most frequent response was that there is not formation in the use of communications or ‘that is only for the friars’ even though a member or members of the monastery make use of the internet for vocations and information about the Carmelites. Some professional preparation for this is not seen as necessary.

Each of the respondents acknowledged that there is much work to be done in this area of preparing people for working in the area of communications and is being done in this area.

Four Provinces reported having a designated ‘public relations’ person or communications director. On the whole however, there is little attempt to utilize the media for evangelization.

Some individuals in the Order are using radio. One is known to be in television. As was true with publications, most Provinces are more comfortable with the written press.

The Philippines appears to have the most developed approach to the media. It is seen as a part of the mission to offer to the press something of Carmel.

In general the monasteries do not see the need to develop a relationship with the media.

There is use of communications to receive prayer requests—although it was interesting that most monasteries did not identify this as a use of the media.

Two congregations reported contacts had been established, including a 30 minute program each week on youth ministry, the Bible, and Base Communities.

There was a particularly heavy response from Provinces located in the 1^st World. There are a variety of programs available for advanced degrees in communications. However, it was interesting the few, if any, Carmelites had taken advantage of these.

There are media experts in the various geographical area who could assist Provinces in developing their use of the media.

There is a variety of media present in the various geographical areas but there is very limited access to production facilities.

It would be to the Order’s advantage if some Provinces with many of these resources available would host Carmelites from other Provinces, located in area without these same resources.

Not seen as something of benefit to the monasteries.

There are a wide variety of resources available but there is little to no integration of them by the congregations and institutes.

The questionnaire asked if there were areas of communication where the responding group would like assistance. The number of requests for help from the three groups is as follow (P = Provinces; CM = Monasteries; AG= Affiliated Congregations and Institutes):

Website Development P = 8; CM = 2; AG = 1

Radio Programs P = 3; CM = 0: AG = 1

Film and Spirituality P = 5; CM = 0; AG = 1

Expandng Distribution of Communications P = 9; CM = 0; AG = 1

Media Awareness P = 6; CM = 0; AG = 2

Using Email P = 4; CM = 0; AG = 1

Consequently, we will be suggesting various solutions.

For web development, there are local courses available. These can be taken in local schools or via the internet. We would also like to propose the development of a ‘hands on’ course as part of the on-going formation offered by the Order.

For radio programming, we are going to suggest local resources be used. We are also going to propose developing some learning modules for placement on the internet as part of a distance learning project.

For Film and Spirituality, one of the USA Carmelites who is into this will be asked to write up his methodology and how he would suggest other go about developing this using films in their own language.

For expanding the distribution of communications, we are going to propose the development of a ‘hands on’ course as part of the on-going formation offered by the Order.

For media awareness, we are suggesting the use of local resources. We are also going to propose developing some learning modules for placement on the internet as part of a distance learning project.

Some of the Carmelite monasteries have secured outside help, sometimes relatives to assist, particularly with learning the internet.