Carmel Preran: For
Daily Reflections on the Word of God and Daily
Prayers
Living Flame: For
Carmelite Spirituality & Catholic Theology
THE PRECAUTIONS
(St. John of the Cross)
Dear
Friends,
The Precautions of St. John of the Cross are a precious
treasure for those who wish to live an authentic
Christian life and attain perfection of Christian
charity within a short period of time. When reading the
Precautions, we may feel they are hard and too tough to
practice, but the intention of St. John of the Cross was
to help the aspirants to experience God in their daily
life and be united with Him on a daily basis regardless
of the difficulties involved. These are very practical
recommendations and are helpful for spiritual direction
and discernment. Here I have prepared a short commentary
on these precautions, which I presume will be useful for
spiritual reading and spiritual growth. These
reflections will be uploaded on the Carmelite Website of
our Province shortly.
Farewell
to Frs. Ivan D’Souza & Patrick Lobo @ Bajjodi On
Sunday, May 28th 2023, the parishioners of Infant
Mary Church, Bajjodi carried out a farewell
programme in honour of Parish Priest Fr. Ivan
D'Souza and Asst. Parish Priest Fr. Patrick Lobo.
Fr. Ivan D'Souza, Parish Priest, presided over the 8
a.m. mass, which was assisted by Fr. Patrick Lobo
and Fr. Rayan Pinto. Following the mass, a formal
felicitation and farewell ceremony was performed in
the Parish Hall. The programme commenced with a
prayer song performed by Altar Servers followed by a
short stage programme by the youth. St. Joseph
Monastery Superior Fr. Charles Serrao, Fr. Ivan
D'Souza, Fr. Patrick Lobo, Vice President Mr.
Prakash Saldanha, and Secretary Mrs. Elizabeth
Pereira were all present on the dais. Mrs. Elizabeth
Pereira, the Secretary, welcomed everyone. Following
Mrs. Stella Dsouza's felicitation message, Asst.
Priest Fr. Patrick Lobo was honoured. He received
appreciation with a shawl, a garland, fruits, a
flower bouquet, a Maan Patr, and a gift. In his
saying goodbye, Fr. Patrick Lobo thanked everyone
for the love and affection he had received from the
parishioners and assured them of his prayers. Fr.
Rayan Pinto presented his feelings and sentiments
about Fr. Ivan and Fr. Patrick, having lived in the
Parish with them. The Parish Choir team sang a
farewell song that suited both the priests'
personality and their good work. Mrs. Irene Pinto
read the message of felicitation to Parish Priest
Fr. Ivan D'Souza. He received recognition with a
shawl, a garland, fruits, a flower bouquet, a Maan
Patr, and a gift.
Five
Brothers say “YES” to JESUS for LIFE “Trust God that you are exactly where you are
meant to be.” – St. Teresa of Avila. After
years of formation and growth in spirit and maturity
in the garden of Carmel, five brothers of our
province stepped forward to commit themselves to the
religious way of life in the ancient Order of
Carmel. Bros. Movin Desmond Pereira of Mary, Help of
Christians, Br. Jesvin Tom Benoy of the Eternal
Word, Br. Prithesh Steeve Crasta of St. Elizabeth of
the Trinity, Br. Stany Listan Pinto of Sts. Louis
Martin and Zelie Guerin and Br. Avith Pais of Infant
Jesus were approved by the community as worthy
candidates for this way of life and therefore on May
22nd, 2023 at Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte
professed their evangelical counsels in the presence
of the Provincial Rev Fr Silvestre D’Souza. The mass
commenced at 3:30 PM in the presence of family,
relatives, and friends of the brothers. Several
priests from our communities along with several
guest priests joined the celebration. The mass was
celebrated in English with the theme being “My
Vocation is love”. The brothers were presented to
the Provincial by the Master of Students, Fr. Lancy
Lovis after which the Provincial sought the purpose
from the brothers for their commitment to religious
life. During the homily, Fr Silvestre citing several
Carmelite Saints along with our Holy Parents and
especially emphasizing St. Therese of Child Jesus
exhorted the brothers to be holy and genuine
Carmelites. After the homily, the entire
congregation prayed for the brothers as the latter
surrendered themselves to the Will of God. The
brothers then proceeded to profess their vows
publicly after which with a lot of affection and
warmth, they were received into the Carmelite Order.
Ah!
The Sheer Grace On
Monday, May 1, 2023, six of our Novices, Bros. Calon
Ujwal Coelho, Flostan D'Souza, Glawin Lester D'Souza,
Jaden Dias, Premraj Monteiro, and Sharon M. D'Souza,
made their first religious profession in the garden
of Carmel at Tapovana, Kushalnagar. Rev. Fr
Silvestre Joseph D'Souza, Provincial Superior,
presided over the thanksgiving Eucharist, which was
attended by 43 concelebrants, religious nuns, family
members and well-wishers of Tapovana. In his homily,
the Provincial encouraged them to follow St Therese
of Child Jesus' example of faithfulness to the Lord.
Following the homily, the Novices professed in the
hands of the Provincial. Fr Aaron Babush Rodrigues
led the profession rite ceremony. Following the
mass, a small felicitation programme was held in
which the Novices were introduced by Fr Jeevan Tauro
and the Superior proposed the vote of thanks. Bros.
Flostan and Sharon extended their appreciation to
everyone on behalf of the Professed Brothers. The
Provincial initiated the seven postulants into the
novices the day before, on April 30, 2023. While
admitting them to the novitiate, he urged them to
have a come-and-see experience with the Lord and
wished them God's blessings as they began their
canonical novitiate. The KG Province congratulates
the professed Brothers and novices and continues to
pray for them.
Walking in Love: The Vision of Fr Silvestre
D'Souza, Provincial of KG Province
V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Silvestre D’Souza has been
elected as the Provincial Superior of the Discalced
Carmelites of Karnataka-Goa Province in the 15th
Provincial Chapter being held at Pushpashrama,
Mysuru on April 21, 2023. He succeeds Fr George
Santhumayor, OCD. V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Silvestre
D’Souza hails from Nagoa, in the archdiocese of Goa
and Daman. Born on April 22, 1971 to devout parents,
he did his high school education at St. Joseph's
High School in Arpora, Goa and his pre-university
studies at St. Xavier's College in Mapusa, Goa. On
June 14, 1988, he joined the Carmelite Order and was
admitted to the aspirants' house at Xellim, Goa. On
October 15, 1990, he made his first religious
commitment at the Carmelite Monastery in Margao. He
obtained BA in psychology from Madras University
while completing his philosophical studies at
Pushpashrama, Institute of Philosophy and Religion,
in Mysuru. And after a year of regency, he attended
St. Joseph's Inter-diocesan Seminary in Jeppu,
Mangaluru, to complete his theological formation in
view of the priesthood. On May 26, 1996, he made his
solemn profession at St. Joseph's Monastery in
Carmel Hill, Mangaluru. On October 16, 1997, at St.
Joseph's Inter Diocesan Seminary in Mangaluru, Most
Rev. Bernard Moras, Bishop of Belgaum, ordained him
a deacon. The Most Rev. Filipe Nerri Ferrao, the
then Auxiliary Bishop of Goa and Daman, elevated him
to the order of the priesthood on April 22, 1998 at
Holy Trinity Church, Nagoa, Bardez, Goa.
A
New Priest in the Order of Melchizedek The
Shrine of Infant Jesus, Pushpashrama, took immense
joy in the celebration of the Sacrament of Priestly
Ordination of Deacon Naveen Lobo OCD, on 12 April
2023 at 10 - 00 am from the hands of His Grace, Most
Rev. Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop Emeritus of
Bangalore and Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese
of Mysore. Fr. Naveen Lobo is the second son of Mr.
Lawrence Lobo and Mrs. Dora Lobo and hails from St.
Antony’s Church Gopalapura, Shanivarasanthe, North
Coorg, Karnataka. Fr. Naveen completed his
Philosophical studies at Pushpashrama Institute of
Philosophy, at Mysore and Theological studies at St.
Joseph’s Inter-Diocesan Seminary at Mangalore. What
made the Priestly Ordination a moment of immense
celebration was that it was the first time in the
Annals of Pushpashrama a Deacon was ordained to the
status of the priesthood. Hence there was excitement
everywhere. It was heartening to see a huge
gathering of priests, both religious and diocesan
marching out for the ordination. There was a huge
gathering of laity too which added a festive mood to
the celebrations.
REGIONAL
GATHERING AT XELLIM Friars
from five communities of our Province, namely:
Xellim, Mapusa, Margao, Matadakeri and Londa,
converged at Divine Springs, Xellim, on the 28th of
March 2023 for the last regional gathering of this
triennium. The first half was a Lenten recollection
preached by Fr. Estevão Rodrigues OFM Cap. The
Eucharist that followed, was presided over by the
newly ordained priest, Fr. Rakesh Parmar, while Fr.
Jeevan Tauro broke the Word of God. After a dainty
meal, around one and a half hours were spent in
fellowship and fraternal sharing. 15 friars were
present and happy to spend this time together.
Thanks to the host community. Though Fr. Alvito
Fernandes was away due to prior commitments, he had
made all arrangements along with the other members
of his community. Long live our Carmelite
fraternity!
26th
Convocation Day at Dhyanavana Dhyanavana
celebrated its 26th convocation day on March 19,
2023, making it a special day. At 11:00 am, Rev. Fr.
George Santhumayor, the Provincial Superior, Fr.
John Sequeira, the Rector of Pushpashrama, Fr Vinod
Lobo and the community friars celebrated the
thanksgiving Holy Eucharist. Fr. John stressed in
his homily the importance of divinity in a person's
life, which finally culminates in one’s
spirituality. The convocation ceremony started at
6:00 p.m. in the evening. Mrs. Clara Fernandes'
convocation address on the role of women in
decision-making is also very timely and relevant.
Women's perspectives and voices are important in all
aspects of life, including spirituality and
religious leadership. The President, Rev. Fr George
Santhumayor, OCD, Provincial Superior, released the
Dhyanavana Souvenir and congratulated the graduates.
The Chief guest was Archbishop Emeritus Bernard
Moras, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of
Mysore, who presented the diploma certificates to
the sisters. Fr Dominic Vas, the Director, welcomed
everyone, and Fr Rathan Almeida, Dean of Studies,
gave a detailed report on the life and activities of
Dhyanavana.
Convocation
Ceremony at Ryshivana The
15th Convocation ceremony took place at Ryshivana,
Mangalore on March 13, 2023 at 6-00 pm. Rev. Fr.
Charles Serrao, Superior of St Joseph’s Monastery,
Carmel Hill, Mangalore officiated the Holy Eucharist
and preached a meaningful homily. The day's chief
guest, Fr. Deep Fernandes, released the souvenir of
the institute. The certificates were given to 25
Sisters. The convocation discourse was delivered by
Rev. Fr. Archibald Gonsalves, Director of Ryshivana.
Sr. Sugandhi proposed the vote of thanks. Several
priests and nuns witnessed the convocation ceremony.
Ordination
of a Fourth Priest from Gujarati soil On
February 19, 2023, Fr Rakesh Parmar was ordained as
a priest by His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Most Rev.
Stanislaus Fernandes, Apostolic Administrator,
Diocese of Baroda. The ordination ceremony was held
at Gorwa's Infant Jesus Church. It was a spiritual
celebration, with many Carmelites, diocesan priests,
family, friends, and well-wishers in attendance to
witness this significant milestone in Fr Rakesh's
life. The archbishop presided over the entire
ceremony and delivered a homily on the importance of
the priesthood and the role of priests in serving
God and the community. Concelebrants included Rev.
Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior, and
other Carmelite priests from the Province's various
communities, as well as religious and diocesan
priests from the Diocese. The archbishop anointed Fr
Rakesh with holy oil as a symbol of his anointment
as God's servant. He was dressed in the stole and
chasuble by Fr Rudolph Pinto, two important symbols
of the priestly office, as part of the ceremony. The
Ordination liturgy was animated by Fr Jignesh
Solanki. Fr Rakesh proposed the vote of thanks at
the end of the mass and commended the Carmelite
family, benefactors, family members, and everyone
who had played a significant role in his priestly
formation. The Priestly Ordination was an emotional
and memorable day for everyone who attended, as it
marked the beginning of a new chapter in Rakesh's
life as a priest. The KG Province congratulates Fr
Rakesh on being the fourth priest from Gujarat and
wishes him God's richest blessings as he continues
Christ's mission as a Carmelite.
The
Last Journey of Mother Marie Gemma All
roads led to Carmel Ashram, Makarpura, Vadodara,
Gujarat on January 21 at 4.00 pm when the soul of
Mother Gemma, the Pioneer-Prioress of the Cloistered
Carmel of Prem Jyot Carmel Ashram who served three
consecutive terms and more and the first Coordinator
of the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
South West India who served here too for three
consecutive terms was laid to rest. It was a solemn
Eucharistic celebration – a fitting honour to a
saintly religious who lived a spirit-filled life to
the full, offering herself entirely to her Beloved
JESUS and to all those He sent into her life, like a
candle utterly spent. Her last words in her
agonizing pain were JESUS, JESUS, JESUS! The funeral
Mass was officiated by two Bishops, the Apostolic
Administrator of Baroda Abp. Stanny Fernandes and
the Abp. of Gandhi Nagar Thomas Macwan accompanied
by 21 priests some of whom had her as their
spiritual director and some had made their retreat
under her guidance. The Holy Eucharist began at 4.00
pm. At the Chapel of Our Lady Cause of Our Joy and
St. Joseph – the Chapel of Carmel Ashram. The
readings chosen were that Mother Gemma was fond of,
beginning with the first reading from the Song of
Songs, Chapter 2 which says, ‘Come my beloved…for
see the winter has past…that I may see your face,
and hear your voice for your voice is sweet and your
face is beautiful.’ Those words seemed so true about
her.
THREE
CARMELITES ASCEND GOD'S ALTAR “Whatever
God prefers and chooses for me – that is what I like
best. It is what he does that I love.” This
quote is true in the life of all of us. Everyone
receives a call and occasionally some he also calls
to be vicars on earth – He calls them Priest of his
own heart! The Carmelite Order, specifically the
Karnataka-Goa Province was blessed this year to
receive three priests into its field! These chosen
ones are Fr. Melwin Lasrado, Fr. Nikesh D’Souza and
Fr. Kiran Lobo. Having undergone a demanding yet
sincere formation of 13 years, the elders of the
Province with the due approval of the local Bishop
saw them fit candidates for Priesthood. And thus
they were ordained! On the 1st of February, they
were ordained as priests at the Infant Jesus Shrine,
Mangalore by His Excellency Rev. Dr. Peter Paul
Saldanha, the Bishop of Mangalore during the mass at
10 AM. The shrine was filled with the family,
friends, and well-wishers of the ordinandi. In the
presence of 78 priests from the province, diocese,
and other congregations, the Bishop anointed them
with the Holy Oil. During the Homily, the Bishop
underscored the specific role of the priest and how
his life is modelled after the Supreme High Priest,
Jesus Christ! After being ordained priests, the new
priests blessed the congregation and brought immense
joy to the entire Church of God! General Definitor
of the Carmelite Order Fr. Pius James D’Souza and
Provincial Superior Fr. George Santhumayor along
with Fr. Charles Serrao, the Superior of St.
Joseph’s Monastery greeted the priests with the Kiss
of Peace. The Carmel Choir lent their melodious
voices with the congregation in praise to the Lord
and the commentary for the mass was done by Fr.
Rudolph Pinto. After the mass, Fr. Melwin on behalf
of the ordained priests thanked all of those
responsible for their ascent to the Altar. Fr.
George Santhumayor thanked the Bishop for accepting
to ordain these shepherds and also the parents for
gifting their sons to the Order. The Bishop also
spoke words of praise and wished blessings and grace
on the new priests. Thus, the solemn mass came to a
conclusion at 12:15 PM after which the people were
escorted to lunch!
Parish
Annual Day at Bajjodi The
Annual Feast of Infant Mary Parish, Bajjodi was
celebrated with great pomp and fervour on Sunday the
29th of January 2023. The celebration began with the
honouring of Infant Mary in a procession to the
Church that was held at 9.45am. The Benefactors and
Sponsors of the Feast were honoured with blessed
candles by the Rev. Fr. Patrick Lobo at 9.50am
followed by The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at
10am. Rev. Fr. Santhosh Rodrigues, (Director –
Pastoral Institute, Bajjodi) was the main Celebrant.
Eight priests con-celebrated the Eucharist. Rev. Fr.
Santhosh Rodrigues in his message requested the
parishioners to focus on Family. He said that Our
Lady should be honoured in every family by reciting
the Holy Rosary every day and invited them to follow
in the footsteps of the Holy Family. As this year
has been declared as the 'Year of The Family, the
Parish Pastoral Council took the opportunity to
conduct the Liturgy. The Church Choir lifted the
spirits of the gathering with their singing. After
the Holy Eucharistic Celebration, a Fancy Fete was
organised by the PPC & ICYM from 11.30 am to 2 pm.
There was a big crowd at the fete - relishing the
delicacies at the food counters and enthusiastically
participating at the games counters.
Infant
Jesus Feast and Silver Jubilee of Carmel Ashram,
Katkere, Koteshwar The
solemn feast of Infant Jesus and the silver jubilee
of the monastery were celebrated at Carmel Ashram
Katkere, Koteshwar on 21st Saturday, 2023. Most Rev.
Jerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi presided over the
Eucharist. Rev. Fr. Joseph D Souza, Superior of Asha
Deepa, Madantyar preached the homily. Along with Fr.
George Santhumayor around thirty priests were
concelebrated in the Eucharist. Fr. Alwyn Sequeira
thanked all former Provincials, Superiors, and
members who toiled tirelessly to build Carmel Ashram
over the course of time. He also thanked the Bishop
and deanery priests for the opportunities they gave
to render pastoral services in the diocese thus far.
He recalled all the Carmelite communities who
generously contributed to the construction of the
new kitchen and renovation of the house. Frs. Dolphy
D’Souza and Felix Moras of happy memory were
especially remembered during the celebration. Fr.
Deep Fernandes read out the names of the donors and
Fr. Boniface D'souza the founder and two times
Superior of Carmel Ashram honoured them. Fr. Aaron
Babush conducted the Choir and Fr. Vishan Vinu Monis
played the keyboard. The members of the Choir
comprised from different parishes of the deanery.
Carmelite
Fraternity at Carmel Hill The
concluding day of the Novena, January 13, 2023, was
remembered with gratitude by all Carmelite friars as
they celebrated their brotherhood as Carmelites and
gave thanks to the Infant Jesus. Rev. Fr. Pius James
D'Souza, Definitor General, officiated the Holy
Eucharist together with all the Carmelite friars of
the KG Province. Using the best illustrations from
the Sacred Scripture, Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor
delivered a poignant homily and urged everyone to be
obedient to the Lord. The day's theme, "May your
hearts be entirely committed to the Lord,"
reinforced the idea that the Lord chooses religious
leaders who would fully obey his laws and act in the
way that Jesus has modelled for us. The religious
are individuals who resist the devil's temptations,
the world's allures, and earthly pleasures. The
entire congregation suffers and departs from the
Lord if religious leaders are not devoted to the
Lord. As a result, one of the community's main goals
is to pray for the religious leaders. On the final
day of the novena to the Infant Jesus, special
prayers were offered to all the religious. At the
same time, all the Carmelites expressed their
gratitude to the Infant Jesus for all His blessings
and prayed for His specific graces as they will
continue on the road that our Lord had outlined for
them.
Christmas
Fraternity at Empoli The
Carmelite friars of the Karnataka-Goa Province
(including the Vicariate of Tanzania) in Italy
stayed faithful to the long-standing tradition of
celebrating their fraternity at Christmas, by
gathering together at Empoli on December 28. A total
of 12 fathers and 4 brothers serving and/or studying
in various parts of Italy were present with some
coming a day earlier to help with the arrangements.
Rev. Fr Pius D’Souza, the Definitor General, also
graced the occasion with his presence. The
celebration formally began with the mass at noon. Fr
Ambrose D’Souza, in honour of his 50 years of life,
presided over it, while Fr Raymond Sangu, the latest
arrival to Italy, shared an inspiring reflection.
The brothers elevated the liturgy with their
singing. A sumptuous lunch followed, prepared under
the guidance of Frs Roshan and Elias, and
accompanied by Frs Ambrose, Ajith and Selva. The
meal table reverberated with the sounds of laughter
and camaraderie characteristic of a vibrant
fraternal communion. All those who celebrated or
were to celebrate birthdays and ordination
anniversaries were felicitated with a cake cut in
their honour. Each one also shared the experience of
their life in Italy and looked forward to the future
with hope. The meal concluded with a word of sincere
gratitude to the community of Empoli for hosting the
gathering. Once again, all the friars put their
hands together to put everything in order, before
some who had to return to their respective
ministries began saying their goodbyes. It was a day
to remember that gave each one a sense of home away
from home. May the Christ Child continue to
strengthen this beautiful bond of fraternity in
Carmel.
Fr
Patrick celebrates 50 years as a priest On
December 23, 2022, Fr Patrick Lobo, celebrated the
golden jubilee of Priesthood and his selfless
service to the Church and Society. Fr. George
Santhumayor, Provincial; Fr. Valerian Lobo, brother
of Fr Patrick Lobo; Fr. James Dsouza, City Deanery
Dean; Fr. Michael Santhumayor, Carmelite Priests and
Brothers from Carmel Hill, Asha Deepa, Carmel
Ashram, Ryshivana, and Sadbhavana were present. At 5
p.m., the jubilarian celebrated the mass along with
28 priests and the faithful. Fr. Santhumayor
delivered an inspiring homily. At the conclusion of
the Mass, Parish Priest Fr. Ivan D'Souza wished Fr.
Patrick Lobo and thanked everyone. Following the
mass, there was a Felicitation Program in the Parish
Hall. The programme began with a prayer song
performed by the Altar Servers, followed by a
welcome dance performed by small children. The
Parish Priest welcomed dignitaries and the crowd.
Following that, there was a Cake Cutting Ceremony.
Fr. Maurice Dsouza OCD proposed a toast, after which
a video of Fr. Patrick Lobo's life was shown. The
jubilarian was then awarded the Shawl, Peta,
garland, fruits, and Maan Patr during the
Felicitation. Mrs Irene Pinto, the PPC Secretary,
read and presented Maan Patr. The Choir sang a
lovely song to Fr. Patrick Lobo.
Shivamogga
MCS Inauguration and Blessing On
December 19, 2022, Mount Carmel School Shivamogga
was officially inaugurated and blessed. Along with
the guest priests, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao,
Bishop of Shimoga, and Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor,
Provincial, were welcomed and led to the dais by the
school band. The plaque was unveiled by Frs.
Lawrence D'Mello and Provincial. Frs. Jerome Moras,
Provincial and the Bishop, cut the ribbon to
officially open the brand-new school building.
Later, the bishop blessed the structure at the
prayer of blessing and Holy Water. The Most
Reverend Francis Serrao, Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor,
Rev. Fr. Stany Dsouza, the Parish Priest of Sacred
Heart Cathedral and Dean of the Carmel Deanery, Rev.
Fr. Deep Fernandes, the Provincial Councillor for
Spirituality, Mr. Basavraj, the ECO of Shimoga, and
Rev. Pastor P D Yesudas were all present on the dais
for the stage programme that followed. Fr. Wilson
D'Costa welcomed the guests with the assistance of
the kids and staff, and Fr. Nelson Pinto officiated
as the master of ceremonies.
Christmas
Celebration with the Differently Abled in Bengaluru Dhyana
Jyothi Trust run by the Carmelite Fathers and Good
Sam Foundation jointly organized a Christmas
celebration for the differently abled and visually
impaired on Dec 18, 2022 at KROSS, Da Costa Layout,
Bengaluru. Speaking at the occasion Kiran PB the
Police Inspector at Pulakeshinagar-Bengaluru said,
"I am very much touched by this program. We the
Police very rarely get invitations to such programs.
It is due to the prejudice and fear that the public
have with regard to the Police. Present day police
department is very public friendly and works 24x7
for the good and safety of the people." Kiran PB is
one of the youngest to get the Chief Minister's Gold
Medal for meritorious service in the year 2012 and
his family runs a NGO where mentally retarded
children are taken care of. Rev Fr Richard Pais, the
Director of KROSS delivering the Christmas message
said, celebration of festivities should help people
to destroy the walls of division and build bridges
among people of different caste and creed. In the
cultural program that followed Christmas carols were
sung in different languages and Santa distributed
Sweets. Fr. Stifan Perera, OCD the Director of
Dhyana Jyothi Trust distributed blankets and other
Christmas gifts and goodies to all those present. He
then thanked all the donors for sponsoring the
blankets to the needy in the society. Dhyana Jyothi
Trust established by the Carmelite Fathers and Good
Sam Foundation by David and Nelly Pichard work for
the well-being of the differently abled especially
the visually impaired. Mrs Nelly Prichard compered
the program.
Triple
Celebrations at Ryshivana On
December 14, 2022 St. John of Cross OCDS community
of Ryshivana, Ranipura, Mangalore had triple
celebrations: Patron's Feast, Annual Day and
Christmas Celebration. Fr. Joe Tauro presided over
the Solemn Holy Eucharist and the community fathers
concelebrated at 6.00 pm, and Fr Taruo delivered a
meaningful homily. The OCDS members animated the
liturgy actively and brought a variety of kusvar for
the offertory procession. After the Mass, all the
OCD Friars and OCDS members gathered in the hall for
a cultural get together marked by cake cutting,
carols singing, a skit scripted by Fr. Nelson Pinto
OCD with a Christmas message, revealing Christmas
friends and exchanging gifts. Fr. Archibald
Gonsalves, the Superior delivered a brief Christmas
message, Mr. Paul D’Souza shared his experience of
being an OCDS, Fr. John Lobo prayed the grace over
the delicious meals that were cooked by the members
in their homes. The entire event was planned and
directed by the Spiritual Assistant Fr. Wilfred
Rodrigues OCD.
CARMEL
DAY 2022 @ CARMEL HILL “Your
talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is
your gift back to God.” – Leo Buscaglia
One of the rich heritages of the Monastery of St.
Joseph, Mangaluru is Carmel Day. Carmel Day - a day
of the brothers, as they earn the spotlight for the
day by presenting their talents to the people of the
vicinity and also those who come from afar. The
stage in front of the talent isn’t just the showcase
of the talents of the brothers but is also the
witness of how rejuvenated and spirited these young
men are to employ their God-given gifts for the
greater benefit of society. After a long gap of two
years due to Covid-19, the community organized
Carmel Day 2022 on 10th December at 5:45 PM. The
president of this auspicious event was Rev. Fr
George Santhumayor, the Provincial of the Carmelite
KG Province and the chief guest was the well-known
and noted dramatist Nellu Permannur. The event which
spanned for a little over two hours was packed with
lots of entertainment. It involved melodious
Acapella Singing, a retro-based dance and musical
piece encompassing a large assortment of musical
instruments. The compeering was also unique and
creative. The event also involved speeches from the
guests of the evening. Mr. Nellu Permannur was
honoured for his contribution to drama and art and
he along with the Provincial released a book
‘Discourses on St. Joseph’ – a compendium of various
themes on St. Joseph presented by the brothers in
the past year. The star event of the evening was the
drama based on the tradition Carmel Hill has
received over the past three decades. The drama this
year was titled “Zalle Bori Zatha” written by Fr.
JoCy Siddakatte and directed by Mr. Manish Derebail.
The drama spanned over an hour and a half and
involved an intricate plot based on the issues of
greed over property, etc.
Infant
Mary Parish Sports Meet held at Padua School Grounds Bajjodi:
The Annual sports meet of Infant Mary Parish was
organized on Sunday, December 4th 2022 at Padua
School Grounds. Fr. Rovel Dsouza, Shrine Director,
Infant Jesus Shrine, the Chief Guest the day,
hoisted the flag which was followed by the March
Past. Teams of ten wards participated and marched to
the tune of the band. They were all dressed in
colourful uniforms adding uniqueness and vibrancy to
the ground. The stage programme began with a prayer
song by the Altar Servers. Vice President Mr.
Prakash Saldanha welcomed everyone. Fr. Rovel Dsouza
inaugurated the Meet by lighting the Sports Torch
which was carried around by 4 Athletes of the
Parish. The Torch Bearers - Leslie Rego, Newman
Mendonca, Shreya D'souza and Verina Pinto ran along
the track with the torch which was then passed on to
ICYM Sports Secretary - Sumeeth Fernandes, who in
turn handed it over to the Guest of Honour. Command
was given by N.C. C. Cadet Erel Cornelio. A bunch of
balloons were released in the air and the Sports
Meet - 2022 was declared Open. In his message, Fr.
Rovel D'souza said that Playing must not only be to
win against the opponent but to bring us together
and thus bring out the unity and team spirit in us.
Participation in games and sports makes the
community active, which in turn, builds up unity.
A
Psycho-Spiritual Course for the Junior Sisters of
the Federation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, India With
a constant emphasis on good formation at all
meetings, Pastoral Visitations etc., the Federation
of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, India organized a
much-needed course on Psycho-Spiritual Integration
for its junior Sisters. The Course was graciously
hosted gratis by the Karnataka-Goa Province at its
Provincial House, Sadbhavana, Bangalore, from
October 19 to November 18, 2022 with three of its
friars as resource persons. 18 Sisters from the
Carmels of Bengaluru, Chicalim, Hassan, Kurnool,
Mangaluru, Mysuru, Pune, and Vadodara participated.
Fr. Ronald D'Souza OCD chalked out the programme
together with Fr. Alwyn Sequeira OCD. Dr. Lavina and
Fr. Regan D’Souza OCD were the other two resource
persons. On October 19th the inaugural Holy
Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr George
Santhumayor, Provincial, who invited the sisters to
renew their lives in accordance with the mind of our
Holy Parents. On October 26th the group was blessed
with the presence of Rev. Fr. General who presided
over the day’s Eucharist and addressed them on how
to be joyful Carmelites within the four walls of
Carmel.
Superior
General’s Fraternal visit to KG Province Very Rev. Fr. Miguel Márquez Calle, Superior General
of the Order landed at Sadbhavana on 10th October
2022 and was warmly welcomed by the community friars
of Sadbhavana along with the Cloistered Carmel
sisters. At 09-00 am he had a meeting with the
Cloistered sisters of our Mount Carmel Federation
and in the afternoon he met them individually. On
the 11th of October, he along with Frs. Pius James
D’Souza our Definitor and George Santhumayor our
Provincial visited Pushpashrama where he had a
meeting with the Fathers and Brothers. Later he paid
a visit to Dhyanavana and at 12-00 pm had the Mass
at the Shrine. After noon, he visited the
Spirituality Institute Dhyana Sadhana and the
Cloistered Carmel. After which, he travelled to
Tapovana, Kushalnagara. On the 12th of October, he
celebrated the mass with the novitiate community
friars and began the journey to Asha Deepa,
Madanthyar where he met the fathers and brothers in
common. Afternoon, he visited the Cloistered Carmel
of Mangalore and later visited St Joseph’s
Monastery, Carmel Hill, Mangalore. He met with the
Carmelite Family of Mangalore from 5-30 pm to 6-30
pm. In the evening, he met both Brothers and Fathers
of the community.
Asha
Deepa Seminary Day The
annual ASHA DEEPA DAY was held on December 4, 2022,
at the seminary grounds. At 6.30 p.m., the Cultural
bonanza began. The President of the day was Rev. Fr.
George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior. Rev. Fr.
Basil Vas, the Parish Priest of Madanthyar, was the
Chief Guest. The prayer song was followed by two
inventive dances and a musical piece performed by
the young brothers. As we commemorate the 100th
anniversary of St Therese of Lisieux's
beatification, the brothers sang a Chorus in her
honour (lyrics and tune by Fr Alwyn Sequeira,
harmonized by Fr Aaron Babusha Rodrigues). The
brothers' performance of Fr Nelson Pinto OCD's drama
'Jillibaiecho Shermanv' was the icing on the cake.
The entire drama kept the audience on their toes,
and the brothers' performance on stage captivated
the entire audience. The gathering was welcomed by
Fr Joseph D'Souza, Superior of Asha Deepa. The vote
of thanks was proposed by Fr Richard Saldanha,
Director of Students. The programme was compeered by
Bros. Aiqwin and Ashwin. The complete program was
well-organized, and the Brothers worked hard to
bring out their hidden talents on stage. The KG
Province congratulates these little brothers for
their outstanding performance and continues to pray
for them as they continue their journey in Carmel.
Inauguration
and Blessing of Divya Sadan November
18, 2022 Friday is a day to be rejoiced and
remembered as the K. G. Province inaugurated and
blessed the new monastery Divya Sadan at the capital
city of Bengaluru. The inauguration was done by Rev.
Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior by
cutting the ribbon and later Fr Charles Serrao, the
former Provincial conducted the prayer of blessing
and blessed the monastery with the Holy Water. The
Eucharist was presided over by Provincial and in his
homily, he invited all to have the experience of
Emmaus as we bless and inaugurate the new monastery.
After the mass a short programme was conducted where
Fr Prakash D’Cunha compeered the event. The
contractor, architect, engineer and the concerned
people were honoured for their toil towards the
construction of the monastery. Fr Provincial and the
councillors felicitated Fr Charles Serrao who was
responsible for building the edifice during his term
as Provincial. Fr Provincial and Prakash thanked the
Cloistered Nuns who generously donated the land to
the Carmelites and in the name of all the Sisters,
Sr Celine was felicitated. Later Fr Provincial
lauded the dedicated and committed work of Fr
Prakash D’Cunha who worked tirelessly in the
completion of the monastery work. The ceremony was
attended by the friars of Bengaluru region and also
Frs. Alwyn Sequeira and Deep Fernandes along with
the chosen invited guests who had supported the
project of Divya Sadan. The monastery is functional
and Frs. Jovel Oliver and Roshan Monteiro are
residing at Divya Sadan and simultaneously they will
continue to pursue their studies. Both the friars
are attached to the Sadbhavana community till the
Provincial Chapter. As we thank God for his
bountiful blessings and graces, we are grateful to
all the friars and benefactors who have contributed
towards the completion of the monastery. May Jesus
be their reward.
Ruby
Jubilee of Tanzania Vicariate Inaugurated A
very great milestone in the history of Carmelite
Vicariate of Tanzania was unveiled on 6th of
November 2022. It was the inauguration of the Ruby
Jubilee (40 years) of Carmelite presence in
Tanzania. Rev. Fr. Praveen Frank, the Regional Vicar
together with V. Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor,
Provincial Superior, presided over the Eucharistic
Celebration. All the Friars were present for this
great event. Beginning of the Eucharist the history
of the Order and Vicariate was read and the Ruby
Jubilee Logo was unveiled by Fr. Provincial and Fr.
Vicar, the Ruby Jubilee Candle was lit by Frs.
Sylvester Msemwa, Aureus Mwinuka, and Reginald
Mworia together with Rev. Fr. Praveen Frank,
Regional Vicar. All the Parishes where our service
is given were represented and brought a lot of
offertory and gifts. It was a great gathering and
joyful celebrations. After the mass there was the
cutting of the Jubilee cake and agape.
OCDS
Regional Gathering The
OCDS Regional Gathering (Konkani) was held from
October 23-24, at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre,
Shanti Kiran, Bajjodi, Mangaluru. St Teresa of Avila
Community, Bikarnakatte, hosted the event. The theme
Moriyechi sasai Carmel oddichi ghotai (Mother Mary
protectress of Carmel) was the golden thread that
sewed the whole gathering. 77 OCDS members from 8
Communities (St Joseph’s – Mira Road, St Teresa of
Avila – Londa, Little Flower – Mysuru, Flos Carmeli
– Honnavar, Infant Jesus – Koteshwar, Infant Mary –
Bajjodi, St John of the Cross – Ryshivana, and St
Teresa of Avila – Bikarnakatte) and 5 Spiritual
Assistants participated in this meet. The gathering
was opened on October 23 at 9:30 a.m. by the
Delegate Provincial Rev. Fr Deep Fernandes. Rev. Fr
Lawrence D'Cunha, spiritual assistant of St. Joseph
Community at Mira Road, was the chief guest. Mrs
Jacintha Lobo (President – St Teresa of Avila,
Bikarnakatte) welcomed the gathering. Mrs. Benedicta
D’Souza (St Teresa of Avila, Bikarnakatte) compered
the program.
“Make
me a servant, humble and meek.” October
5th was a red-letter day for the Carmelites as Br.
Naveen Lobo was ordained deacon at Infant Jesus
Shrine, Bikarnakatte. He was raised to the ranks of
the clergy by Rev Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, the
Bishop of Mangalore. The ceremony was held at 4:00
PM and was attended by many Carmelite priests,
family, and friends of Dn Naveen. His parents and
siblings came all the way from Somarpet, Kodagu –
the place from which Dn Naveen hails. Along with the
Bishop, Fr Deep Fernandes, Councillor for
Spirituality, and Fr Charles Serrao, the Superior of
St. Joseph’s Monastery, celebrated the mass in the
presence of over 15 other priests. Fr Charles
recommended Dn Naveen as an able candidate for the
same and the Bishop duly respected and declared him
the same. Fr Deep clad the deacon with the dalmatic
after which he received the ministry of the
diaconate from the hands of the Bishop to preach the
Gospel. After the mass, the Bishop wished Dn Naveen
strength for his ministry and Dn Naveen in turn
thanked the Bishop and all those who played an
important part in his formation. The Carmel Choir
lent their voices for the melodious singing during
the mass.
Sr
Therese Marie commits herself to JESUS in CARMEL On
October 1, 2022, the Cloistered Carmel of Mangalore
had reason to rejoice and jubilate as Sr Therese
Marie of Divine Mercy made her solemn profession on
the feast day of St Therese of Child Jesus. The
Eucharist was presided over by the Most Rev. Dr.
Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore. Fr. George
Santhumayor, Provincial of KG Province, preached an
inspiring homily inviting the faithful to detach
themselves from the world and attach themselves to
the person of Jesus Christ. He lauded Sr Therese
Marie's boldness in embracing life within the four
walls of Carmel in order to be forever united to
Jesus. There were 14 priests and a large number of
religious and laity attended the profession mass.
Following the homily, Sr Therese Marie made her
solemn profession in the hands of Sr Mary Mabel,
Prioress of Mangalore Carmel.
Carmel
Sannidhi Monastery @ Carmel Giri September
27th, 2022 is a day to be celebrated and cherished
for the Karnataka Goa Province as it inaugurated and
blessed the newly built monastery, Carmel Sanndhi at
Kadaganchi, Kalaburagi. The inauguration and
blessing of the monastery were held at 10-30 am by
Most Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga,
and Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior
of KG Province. There were a large number of
Carmelites representing the various communities of
the Province and the religious and diocesan priests
of the vicinity. After the blessing and
inauguration, the thanksgiving Holy Eucharist was
presided over by the Bishop. Fr Dominic Vas preached
an inspiring homily. Towards the conclusion of the
mass, the Blessed Sacrament was taken in procession
and was installed at the monastery chapel by the
Bishop. The spiritual celebration was followed by a
stage programme where the contractor, engineers,
labourers and donors were honoured and felicitated
for their mighty share in the construction of the
monastery. Fr Provincial in his address recalled the
history and thanked the pioneers and all the friars
who toiled experiencing the hardships of life. The
Bishop congratulated the Carmelite friars for their
contribution to the diocese of Gulbarga. Fr Prakash
D’Cunha compered the stage programme. Fr Ligoury
Crasta, Superior proposed the vote of thanks. After
the programme, lunch was served to all.
Nativity
and Family Feast at Bajjodi The
feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also
called the Monthi Fest, was celebrated with great
devotion at Bajjodi on Thursday, the 8th of
September, 2022. Blessing of the new Corn was held
at Church Grounds at 7.15 am followed by an offering
of flowers. The congregation went in a procession to
the Church singing devotional hymns. Fr. Nelson
Pinto was the main Celebrant. Parish Priest Fr. Ivan
D’Souza, Fr. Patrick Lobo, Fr. Rayan Pinto, Fr.
Antony Shera concelebrated at the Eucharist. In his
homily, Fr Nelson Pinto expounded on the uniqueness
of the feast and stressed the role of the family in
the Church. After mass Fr. Ivan D’Souza thanked
everyone for their wholehearted support for the
success of the feast. Blessed grains and sugarcanes
were distributed to the parishioners after Mass. The
Parish family joined together at 5.30 pm in the
Parish Hall for a celebration as a community that
began with a Prayer song by the Altar Servers. It
was followed by Prayers of the Faithful which was
led by Fr. Ivan D’Souza. The members of the
Spiritual Commission offered prayers in different
languages to show our unity in the parish as
parishioners of various lingual backgrounds were
present.
The
first Canadian Carmelite is ordained The
ripples of September 3, 2022, will appear not only
in the Carmelites of the Canadian Delegation but
also in the Carmelites of the Karnataka Goa
province. It was the day of Deacon Frank Sharma's
priestly ordination as Canada's first Carmelite. The
ordination ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. in
Edmonton's magnificent St. Joseph's Basilica. Deacon
Frank Sharma was ordained by His Eminence Richard
Smith, Archbishop. The concelebrants were Rev. Fr.
Jerald D'Souza, Delegate Provincial, Fr. Rudolf
D'Souza, Councillor, and other Carmelites and
Diocesan priests. The newly ordained priest was
vested by Fr. Roshan D'Souza, Superior of Mount
Carmel Spirituality Centre in Edmonton. The ceremony
was attended by a large number of priests, 19 of
whom were Carmelites. Besides the family and
relatives of Deacon Frank Sharma, there were around
400 lay faithful who witnessed the occasion. The
spiritual celebration concluded at 11:25 a.m.,
immediately after lunch was served to attendees in
the Basilica's hall, and was followed by cake
cutting. Indeed, the blessing of a new Priest was a
proud moment for Karnataka Goa province and the
Carmelites of the Canadian Delegation. We thank God
for His abundant blessings. We congratulate Fr Frank
Sharma and accompany him through our prayers.
Attempt
to Sustain Tradition “The
sustenance of Konkani culture that was fostered by
generations of Konkans is possible if the new
generation nurtures it for posterity” Infant
Mary Parish organized an Inter ward Voviyo verse
Competition for the parishioners at Infant Mary
Church hall on August 21st 2022, to mark 30 years
since Konkani was included as an official language
in the Indian Constitution. Mr. Joseph Mascarenhas
welcomed the gathering. Parish Priest Fr. Ivan
D'souza invoked God's blessings. Nine of the ten
wards took part in the competition. The competition
was tough with one group better than the other. Mrs.
Irine Rebello and Mrs. James Dsouza judged the
competition. Mr. Joseph Mascarenhas Compered the
programme. Mr. Santhosh Veigas proposed the vote of
thanks. As a token of gratitude, a momento each was
presented to the judges. Mrs. Irine Rebello spoke
words of appreciation and in her message gave the
importance and the ways in which the voviyos and
verse need to be sung. Fr. Ivan D'souza thanked
everyone for their support and enthusiasm.
Konkani
Manyatha Divas celebrated with an Antique Exhibition
at Infant Mary Parish, Bajjodi 'Konkani
Manyatha Divas’ is the inclusion of Konkani as an
official language in the Eighth schedule of Indian
Constitution in 1992. Infant Mary Parish organized
an Exhibition of collection of age old items at
Infant Mary Church hall on August 21st 2022, on the
occasion of Konkani Manyatha Divas. An exhibition of
antiques was inaugurated at Infant Mary Church hall
on Sunday, the 21st of August 2022, at 8am with the
beating of the Gumott instrument wherein children
and parishioners were present. All the catechism
children were given the explanation of all the items
and their uses thereafter. The exhibition included
250 displays of antiques and magazines. Children and
parishioners expressed their views and appreciation
on the display of the collection of antiques used by
our forefathers which brings back childhood
memories.
This website was launched in 2006 during the silver
jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka-Goa Province of
the Discalced Carmelite Order.
The ancient Carmelites founded in the thirteenth century
were reformed in the sixteenth by two great doctors of
the church, Saints Teresa and John of the Cross. These
spiritual geniuses, while re-enforcing the contemplative
dimension of the Carmelites, inserted a decidedly
apostolic thrust into their spirituality, with special
emphasis on the missions.
During the seventeenth century, we find Carmelite
missionaries in several pockets along the west coast of
the Indian sub-continent : Surat, Diu, Goa, Verapoly. In
the eighteenth, Carmelites were appointed vicars
apostolic of "the Great Mogul" and Verapoly. They are
invited to attend to the pastoral needs of the Catholics
in Mumbai. In the nineteenth century, the sees of
Mangalore and Quilon were entrusted to the sons of St.
Teresa.
Finally, in the twentieth century, the Discalced
Carmelites opened their doors to Indian natives, who
would henceforth draw more freely from the rich
spiritual treasures of Sts. Teresa, John of the Cross,
and other Carmelite interreters of the Good News of
Jesus.
As Indian vocations multiplied, more and more
foundations were made, and grouped into "provinces".
Today among more than thirty provinces world-wide, there
are five Indian provinces . One of these is the
Karnataka-Goa province.
The aim of this web-site is, primarily to acquaint
readers with Carmelite history and tradition; to share
the spiritual insights of the great Carmelite saints and
also give glimpses of the life within the province to
all our associates. Articles of topical interest have
also been included.
Dear Friends,
Here I send you the link to my KINDLE BOOKS LIBRARY.
You are welcome download books and read them and
recommend them to your friends who are interested in
Carmelite Spirituality. These books are cheap and
affordable and some of them can be read free of
charge if you are a member in Amazon online Kindle
books. These books uploaded on AMAZON kindle version
can be accessed through smart phones, IPad,
Computers and other electronic devices globally in
all the 5 continents. This is actually the new trend
in publishing books as the hard copy of the books is
practically becoming obsolete especially in Europe
and Americas. Hence, this is a new venture in
publishing books.
click here to read
HOMILIES IN ENGLISH (VIDEO):
The following homilies have been preached by Rev. Fr.
Rudolf V. D'Souza OCD, Parish Priest at Guardian Angels
Church, Vancouver Canada.The first three homilies are of
his Lenten mission reflections in the parish.
The remaining are Sunday homilies which will be
regularly uploaded. All our friends and well-wishers are
most welcome to benefit from these reflections.
Click here to listen :
REFLECTIONS IN KONKANI (Audio)
You are welcome to benefit spiritually from the
reflections of our Carmelite Friar - Rev. (Dr) Rudolf
V. D’Souza, OCD
Retreat preached on the theme “The Kingdom of God is
at hand” at Abu Dhabi, from 26 November to 2 December,
2009.
Day 1: The Kingdom of God
Day 2: The Beatitudes
Day 3: The Seven Sacraments
Day 4: the Ten Commandments
Day 5: Holy Mother, the Church and Mother mary
Day 6A: Family
Day 6B: Love
Click here to Listen
Retreat preached at Ruwi – Muscat (Oman) from 20 to 24 January 2008
THEME: JESUS CAME TO GIVE LIFE, LIFE IN ABUNDANCE (JOHN
10:10)
1. ABUNDANT LIFE - GOD
2. FORGIVENESS
3. LOVE
4. SUFFERINGS
5. 7 WORDS FROM THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION
Click here to Listen