INDEX:

 

- New O.C.D. Bishop: Mons. Oswaldo Azuaje

- Mons. José Manuel Santos Ascarza of the most Holy Conception, ocd

- Transferral of the Mantin monastery

- Master’s degree and specialisation in Mysticism and Human Sciences.

- First world-wide competition in music inspired by the Mystics of Carmel.

 

 

 Mons. Oswaldo Azuaje, ocd, auxiliary Bishop of Maracaibo

 

The first auxiliary Bishop of Maracaibo, a Latin American metropolis, was consecrated on the evening of 31st August in the parish of St Tarcisius, which forms part of the Archdiocese of Maracaibo in Venezuela. With the singing of “Pueblo de reyes, asamblea santa…” began the entrance procession: 21 bishops, more that 300 priests, the full assembly of Venezuelan Carmelite friars with their 12 postulants, a strong representation from the Secular Carmel as well as a numerous gathering of the faithful. When Fr Oswald Azuaje entered the church he was greeted with prolonged welcoming applause. He is the titular Bishop of Vertara. The resident Archbishop was the principal consecrating bishop, who gave a memorable sermon (read it in Spanish on http://www.ocd.pcn.net/news/87HOMILIA.pdf ).

 

After the three hour ceremony, the new Carmelite bishop expressed his thanks and gave his blessing. The following day he presided at a celebration for the Carmelite family in San Juan parish, also in Maracaibo. Mons. Oswaldo Azuaje is the second Carmelite Bishop of the country. The other was Mons. Juan Antonio Viana of the Virgin of Carmel, the last Spanish bishop to occupy the see of Caracas, from 1793 to1799.

 

 Mons. Oswaldo Azuaje: What do you most appreciate about Carmel?

- Its rich mystical spirituality, amassed over time to benefit life, the witness and outstanding writings of Teresa and John, which lie at the root of this, and the luminous star of the other Carmelite saints. This is the spirituality that nourished me and filled me with happiness over my 40 years in the Teresian Carmel. Prayer and life as an experience of God are the characteristic details that give it its identity and also offer me guidance and point out the way to fulfil my Episcopal duties. It is the basis of my spirituality.

 

 What gave you greatest satisfaction in your life as a Carmelite?

 - Through God’s will, having been a seed contributing to the birth, formation and the consolidation of a small Venezuelan Discalced Carmel, with it own identity. History dictated that I was involved in the beginnings of this Carmel. I end my physical journey with the Venezuelan Carmelites at a happy time of profitable vocational work with a new generation of young people who want to become Discalced Carmelites. I ask God that this my family, in his designs, continue to grow and consolidate itself with lasting and solid vocations.

 

 What do you hope for from Carmel in your new position as Bishop?

- a) That they do not abandon me, that they allow me to be part of Carmel’s journey, because I am part of it; that my brothers look to me as a pastor, brother and friend. b) That they allow me to be part of the wealth of formation in Carmelite spirituality, because this continues to be the fundamental purifying air of my life, c) That they count on me also for all that the Order may require from me; d) Let’s hope that perhaps there may be a meeting of Carmelite bishops to share their life and spiritual riches from this particular identity in the Church.

On 6^th October next, Mons. Oswaldo will ordain as priest Br Enrique from the San Cristóbal community in Venezuela. 

 

Mons. José Manuel Santos Ascarza of the Most Holy Conception, ocd

+ 14.09.2007

 

He is the second bishop from the Navarre Province to die this year. His career was exceptional and exemplary. He was born on 2^nd April, 1916, in Llay-Llay (Chile). He was ordained priest in Rome on 7th December, 1938. Three times he was President of the Chilean Episcopal Conference. At the beginning of the 1980s, while he was President of his Nation’s bishops, he revealed his vocation to the regional superior and also to the Superior General in one of his journeys to Rome. When he told Pope John Paul II of his desire to leave everything to enter the Carmelite Order, he received this reply, “I also wanted to be a Carmelite…..” He had thus to wait until his third mandate as President was finished.

In 1989 the Pope accepted, to this end, his resignation as Archbishop of Concepción (Chile), to allow him to enter Carmel. A member of the Navarre Province, he made his novitiate in Calahorra (Spain), where he was professed on 24^th March 1990. His irresistible attraction to Carmel came from his admiration for our mystics, whom he knew from his repeated reading of their works.

Returning to Chile, he was a member of the communities in Santiago and Viña del Mar, where he died at 9.25pm on 14^th September. He lived community life with the greatest of simplicity and generosity, and with a great sense of humour. He was very handy at manual work. He had a ministry of the confessional and spiritual direction and gave many retreats. He was a person of the deepest culture and training, with a wide human and ecclesial experience. He experienced a vocation to Carmel through perceiving that throughout the Chilean Church there was a need for Carmelite spirituality. Because of this it was a great joy to him that the sanctuary of St Teresa of los Andes had a great effect throughout the nation.

His funeral was celebrated in our church in Viña del Mar and his body rests in the cathedral of Concepción.

 

 Transferral of the Mantin monastery (Malaysia).

 

From 1982, the Mantin Carmel in Kuala Lumpur diocese was the second in the Malakan peninsula in Malaysia. The first was founded in Kuching (1948). After 25 years in operation, the Mantin monastery has felt the need to transfer to a less restricted place in Seremban. The financial help from Secular Carmel and a network of friends of the community made the transfer possible. The inauguration of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph took place on 5^th August with the Archbishop, Mons Murphy Nicholas Pakiam presiding at the concelebrated Mass.

The preparation for this event was truly surprising. First of all there was a most elaborate electronic program, which, on various screens, showed the history and spirituality, the life of Carmel from within, the Carmelite presence in the area. A fair amount of space was given to information on the Secular Carmel, which is large and well-represented. A day before the blessing of the chapel and monastery, there was open house for the friends to visit the monastery before cloister came into effect. For the general public there were days presenting the history and spirituality of Carmel, given by Fr Tom Curran, ocd, as well as periods of prayer in English and Mandarin Chinese, directed by Fr John Chua, Delegate General for the Carmelites of Taiwan and Singapore.

 

Master’s degree and specialisation in Mysticism and Human Sciences

 

El CITES (= Centro Internacional Teresiano Sanjuanista) in Avila, in cooperation with the Catholic university of the same city, announced the interdisciplinary study of mystical experience: Mysticism and Human Sciences. The program for the scholastic year 2007-2008 has already been published. It consists of 75 credits for the title of Master and 60 for the title of Expert. Besides the specific Carmelite content, there is an orientation course in history and linguistics-semantics. The mystical question is studied from various angles: comparative religions, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, the Bible, the study of mysticism, pedagogy, and experience both lived and communicated. The professorial staff of specialists, both Carmelite and non-Carmelite, come from around the world.

The course in its double offering (Master and specialization) is directed towards those who have Licentiates, Doctorates, Diplomas in sacred and human sciences, to pastoral workers, to professors of religion, to formators, priests, religious, catechists etc.

 

First world-wide competition of music inspired by the Mystics of Carmel

 

The Teresian Carmel in Italy is launching a musical competition with a touch of originality. It was organized to “rouse as much interest as possible, particularly in those countries where the writings of Carmel’s mystics form part of their literary patrimony and are not just of religious interest….” Those taking part should take inspiration solely from the texts indicated in the rules of the competition: The ‘Living Flame’, ‘Let nothing disturb you’ passages of St Therese, the poem ‘Who are you, sweet light?’ of Saint Edith Stein.

Anyone throughout the world can take part if they are born before January 1985. The duration of the composition should not exceed 10 minutes per section. The first section consists of a composition for polyphonic choir with organ accompaniment (prize of €700.00). The second is for a choir of four voices a capella (prize €500.00). The third is a hymn for one or many voices with organ, guitar or flute accompaniment (prize €400.00). The fourth section comprises a work of pastoral and evangelising inspiration, of easy execution (prize €300.00). The compositions should be presented before the 31st March and the first public presentation will take place in the following June. “Judging will be made –explains Luca Garbini- taking into account the musicality of the score as well as the content of the texts… More information can be found on the site http://www.ocd.it/ .