On 12 March 2026, the General Councils of the Carmelites (OCARM and OCD) met at the General House of the Discalced Carmelites in Rome. It was a relaxed occasion marked by fraternal dialogue and mutual interests. The General Secretaries, Giampiero Molinari, O.Carm., and Angelo Lanfranchi, OCD, prepared the agenda for the meeting.
Fr Desiderio García, Prior General, reported on the recent OCarm General Chapter held in Malang, Indonesia in September and Fr Rolf Nepomuk, O.Carm. (General Councillor for the Americas) presented the main points of the Chapter’s final message.
Fr Miguel Márquez, OCD, (Superior General) outlined the themes the Discalced General Council is working on during this six-year term: restructuring of our presences, growth and decline in certain geographic areas, collaboration and internationality, the most urgent challenges, and a review of the Constitutions of the friars.
This year is the centenary of the proclamation of St John of the Cross as a Doctor of the Church (1926) and the tercentenary of his canonization (1726). To mark these occasions, the Teresianum (Rome) and CITES (Ávila) are organizing an International Congress on 22–26 June 2026, titled: “Mysticism: Paradise Lost or Promised Land.” It will be available to follow online. Worksheets have also been prepared, which can be downloaded from www.carmelitaniscalzi.com for reflection and community meetings.
Also this year, we celebrate the anniversary of the bull Ut vivendi normam (January 30, 1226), which allowed the Carmelites to live according to the Rule of St Albert. A series of materials for community reflection is currently being developed. Fr Richard Byrne, O.Carm., (General Councillor for Europe) highlighted some possible initiatives that could be prepared for this celebration.
Fr Marco Chiesa (General Postulator of the OCD) presented the Latin texts of the OCD Missal and Lectionary which have been approved by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The OCARMs will gratefully adopt these common texts to prepare the OCARM versions of the Missal and Lectionary.
Work continues on a historical guide titled “Carmelite Rome.” This is a map (also available in digital format) designed to facilitate a pilgrimage to the most emblematic sites associated with Carmelite history and spirituality (Basilica of San Martino ai Monti, Church of Santa Maria Traspontina, Church of Santa Maria delle Vittorie, International Center of St Albert, etc.).
