"Let us walk together, Lord."
The first two weeks of September 2021 saw an important event in our Carmelite Family, the General Chapter of the Order, held in Rome. Archbishop José Carballo OFM, the Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided at the opening Mass, reminding those present, and indeed all of us, of the need to be open to the action of the Holy Spirit and to be prophets of hope and to give mutual support.
Fr. Saverio Canistrá OCD has served the Order as Superior General for two sexenium and we, the Carmelite Nuns of Mary Queen of Carmel Association, are deeply grateful for his guidance particularly in enabling us to understand and appreciate the documents issued by the Holy See for the enrichment and revitalization of contemplative life, Vultuum Dei quaerere and Cor Orans. These documents have not been without their challenges but as daughters of St. Teresa we have strived to make our own, her words written at the end of her book, “The Interior Castle”.
"….I submit in everything to what the Holy Roman Catholic Church holds, and for this Church I live, declare my faith, and promise to live and die.”
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The Carmelite Friars elected to lead the Order as its Superior General, for the next sexenium, a son of Spain, Fr. Miguel Márquez Calle OCD. In their first letter to the Order, the new leadership, Fr. General and the Definitory, gave as their main goals ‘to foster everything that nourishes communion and fraternity within the Order’ and asked the intercession of St. Teresa that we may “be in our time faithful and creative followers of the lifestyle that she began……and be able to say with her, Let us walk together Lord”.
We look forward to continuing our journey forward, seeking always the face of Jesus and pray that we too, may be faithful daughters of the Church.