Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) and Br Antonio Olavio Exposto have been attending the General Congregation of the Carmelites in Fatima, Portugal. The General Congregation is a meeting of members of the General Council, Prior Provincials, Commissaries General and Provincial, General Delegates and Presidents of the Regions, and one member of each Province to discuss matters of common interest. It is held 2 years before each General Chapter meeting.

The principal speakers are Cardinal Tagle - “Missionaries of God’s tenderness and love”, Fr Claudemir Rozin, OCarm. - “The peripheries of Carmel today” and Fr Míceál O’Neill, OCarm. - “If you knew the gift of God (Jn 4:10) - The Carmelite wisdom of St Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi”.

The meeting began on Monday 19 September with a celebration of the Eucharist presided over by the Prior General, Fr fernando Millan Romeral. Fr Fernando underlined 15 important points for reflection during the the meeting.

The second day was led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila and president of “Caritas Internationalis”. The Cardinal underlined the importance of mercy in religious life and the necessity to welcome all with the same style with which Jesus welcomed others.

On 21September, Fr Claudemir Rozin, OCarm. spoke about “The Peripheries of Carmel today”, beginning from the Carmelite Charism and the ecclesiology of Vatican II.

The following day, Fr Míceál O'Neill, OCarm. spoke about the doctrine of St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi and of her relevance for religious life among Carmelites today.

On the morning of 23 September the four General Councillors gave their reports about their respective geographical areas. In the afternoon the Procurator General, the Bursar General and Postulator General, gave their reports.

The morning of 24 September was taken up by a presentation by the Procurator General, Fr Michael Farrugia and Fr Aureliano Pacciolla on the responsibility of superiors in the area of pastoral and religious ministry. In the afternoon the assembly discussed the report of the ad hoc commission for the study of the restructuring of the Order’s entities in Rome.

On Sunday 25 September the participants enjoyed a free day with a trip to the national monument in Batalha and the town of Nazaré on Portugal’s atlantic coast.

Monday 26 began with an interesting and challenging presentation of the demographic studies of our Order, which was followed by an update report of the Domus Carmelitana in Rome. In the afternoon the Superiors and Delegates of the Americas gathered to discuss projects and challenges of that geographical area.

Tuesday 27 began with Eucharist celebrated Dom Antonio Vitalino, a Carmelite bishop from Beja, Portugal. Then the assembly of friars spent most of the morning discussing details about the revision of the Constitutions of the Order. In the afternoon the Bursar General presented the group some topics on the finances of the Order.

Wednesday began with Eucharist celebrated by former Prior General Joseph Chalmers (1995-2007). The day was dedicated to the meetings of the following geographical areas of the Order: Europe, Asia/Australia, and Africa. These meetings gave the friars ministering in such zones the opportunity to share their challenges and projects.

On Thursday 29 September the various presidents of the Commissions of the Order gave their reports. In the afternoon members of the General Congregation continued to prepare the final message from the Congregation which will be sent to all Carmelites.

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