Margao: The year 1619 marked the beginning of the first Carmelite establishment in India. In the year 2019, the Carmelites will complete four centuries of its presence in India and a celebration in this regard is being organised under the banner of the Inter-Provincial Conference of India of the Carmelites by its steering committee formed for the purpose. The committee is headed by Rev. Dr. Archibald Gonsalves OCD and Fr. Mark Furtado OCD, representing Karnataka-Goa province of the Carmelites.
The celebration is scheduled to be held from February 8 to 10 in Goa. This will coincide with the Extra-Ordinary Definitory being held between February 4 and 11 at St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Centre, Old Goa.
In view of this celebration, a facelift has been given to the ruins of Convento do Carmo at Old Goa. Very Rev. Dr. Saverio Cannistra OCD, Superior General of the Carmelites will preside over the Eucharistic Celebrations at the Ruins of the Carmelite Monastery (Convento do Carmo) Old Goa on February 8 at 7.30 AM. Fr. Superior General will bless the renovated Carmelite Monastery Church and the Monastery at Margao in the evening. A Carmelite Scholastic meet will also be held at Pallotti Home, Chicalim on February 9. More than 150 scholastics from the Indian provinces are expected to participate in the meet.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão will preside over the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration on February 10 at 4 PM 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 Light and Sound Presentation of the Carmelite History in India—Solo Dios Basta (God alone suffices) by Rev. Dr. Allan Tavares s.f.x. 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. A seminar on the history and contribution of the Carmelites in India will be held in the morning from 9 AM to 1.30 PM. The inaugural ceremony will be presided over by Very Rev. Dr. Saverio Cannistra, the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites. The event is open to all.
The seminar 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 will 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 Marshal.
In the second session, 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 a paper on Carmelite contributions in the Social Apostolate of the Church in India and Rev. Dr. Prasad Theruvathu OCD will speak on the Challenges of Carmel in India Today, in the third session moderated by the Assistant General of the Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel, Rev. Dr. Mabilia A.C.
