By Br John Malvino Alfonso, OCD –
Margao: The year 1619 marks the beginning of the first Carmelite establishment in India. So this year, Carmelites are completing four centuries of its presence in India. The celebration of the 400 years of Carmelite presence in India is organised under the umbrella of Inter-Provincial Conference of India of the Carmelites by its steering committee formed for the purpose which is headed by Rev. Dr. Archibald Gonsalves OCD and Fr. Mark Furtado OCD, representing Karnataka-Goa province of the Carmelites.
Also read:
Goa: Celebrating 400 Years of Carmelite Presence in India
The celebration will be held from February, 8-10, 2019 in Goa. This will coincide with the extra-ordinary definitory from February 4-11 at St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Centre, Old Goa. The steering committee has extended the invitation to all.
Dr Saverio Cannistra OCD, the Superior General of the 55,000-odd members of the Discalced Carmelites, a cardinal and three bishops as well as several Carmelite heads from across the world will participate in the fourth centennial celebrations of the first Carmelite establishment in India, with several major events planned across Goa.
While the celebration will be held from Ferbruary 8-10, the Extra-Ordinary Definitory of the Carmelites will take place from February 4-11 at St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Centre, Old Goa.
The Order of the Discalced Carmelites (OCD) comprises 4,000 friars, 11,000 nuns and 40,000 secular Carmelites all over the world.
In view of the celebration, the ruins of Convento do Carmo at Old Goa have been given a facelift. The Eucharistic Celebrations will be held at the Ruins of the Carmelite Monastery (Convento do Carmo) Old Goa on February 8, 2019 at 7.30 a.m. Fr. Superior General will bless the renovated Carmelite Monastery Church and the Monastery at Margao in the evening. Carmelite Scholastic meet is also be held at Pallotti Home, Chicalim on February 9, 2019. More than 150 scholastics from Indian provinces will participate in the meet.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão will preside over the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration on 10th February, 2019 at 4.00 p.m. at Se Cathedral Church, Old Goa. Most Rev. Dr. Derek Fernandes (Bishop of Karwar Diocese) and Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’souza (Bishop Emeritus of Mangalore Diocese) will concelebrate with Rev. Dr. Saverio Cannistra, Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites and other priests.
This will be followed by a light and sound presentation of the Carmelite History in India—Solo Dios Basta (God Alone Suffices) by Rev. Dr. Allan Tavares SFX. His Eminence George Cardinal Alencherry (Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church) will be the Chief Guest.
Most Rev. Dr. Derek Fernandes (Bishop of Karwar Diocese) and Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’souza (Bishop Emeritus of Mangalore Diocese) will be the Guests of honour. Seminar on the history and contribution of the Carmelites in India will be held in the morning from 9.00 a.m. -1.30 p.m., inaugural ceremony will be presided over by Very Rev. Dr. Saverio Cannistra, the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites.
In addition, a seminar on Carmelite History and Contribution will be in three sessions. The first session will be moderated by Rev. Dr. Chris CSST (Mother General of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Teresa) which include papers on historical background of the arrival of Carmelites in Goa by Dr. Fatima Gracias; Architecture of First OCD Monastery in Goa by Dr. Fernando Velho and Spread of Carmel in Old Goa by John Marsha.
The second session will feature papers on Carmelite Spirituality in the Indian Context and Carmel’s Contributions in the Spiritual Apostolate of the Church in India presented by Rev. Dr. Peter Chakiath OCD and Rev. Dr. Verony CTC, respectively. This session will be moderated by Superior General of the CMI Fathers, Rev. Dr. Paul Achandy. Rev. Dr. Tresa CSST will present on Carmelite contributions in the Social Apostolate of the Church in India and Rev. Dr. Prasad Theruvathu OCD will speak on ‘Challenges of Carmel in India Today’ in the third session which will be moderated by the Assistant General of the Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel, Rev. Dr. Mabilia A.C.