Planning for 5th centenary of St. Teresa's birth
16 May 2012
On 14th May 2012 discussions were held in London and Dublin between the Carmelite (O.Carm.) and Discalced Carmelite (O.C.D.) Orders to discuss ideas for celebrating the life and legacy of St. Teresa of Jesus, in the run-up to the fifth centenary of her birth in 2015.
In three years' time the wider Church in general and the Carmelite Family in particular will celebrate the birth 500 years ago of Saint Teresa of Jesus, the Carmelite nun from Avila in Spain who reformed and renewed the Order, wrote profoundly about prayer, and who was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Initiatives to mark the quincentenary are taking place all around the world.
At the local level, communities of Carmelite religious and laity are reflecting on Teresa, re-reading her writings and reflecting on resources available on the "I Was Born For You" website.
At the national level, the Carmelite Family in Britain and Ireland is keen to organise its celebrations jointly between the 'Ancient Observance' (O.Carm.) of the Order in which Teresa was formed, and the 'Discalced Observance' (O.C.D.) which she inspired.
The idea to plan and host the celebrations collectively was agreed at the November 2011 joint meeting of the Provincials of the Irish and British Provinces of Carmelites, and the the Anglo-Irish Discalced Carmelites.
The joint initiatives will build on the work of the Carmelite Forum of Britain and Ireland, established in 2004 to encourage the sharing of spirituality and friendship between the different branches of the Carmelite Family in these islands.
Meetings to initiate planning took place simultaneously on 14th May at the Discalced Carmelite Church at Kensington in London, and at Avila Discalced Carmelite Priory in Dublin, with video conferencing linking the two meetings over the internet.
The meeting agreed that a number of jointly organised national events will take place in 2015, and in the two years leading to the anniversary year. Planning is still at a very early stage but it was agreed that:
Those taking part in the discussions were:
The next meeting of the planning group will take place in Faversham, Kent, with a video link-up to Dublin, on 30th October.
In three years' time the wider Church in general and the Carmelite Family in particular will celebrate the birth 500 years ago of Saint Teresa of Jesus, the Carmelite nun from Avila in Spain who reformed and renewed the Order, wrote profoundly about prayer, and who was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Initiatives to mark the quincentenary are taking place all around the world.
At the local level, communities of Carmelite religious and laity are reflecting on Teresa, re-reading her writings and reflecting on resources available on the "I Was Born For You" website.
At the national level, the Carmelite Family in Britain and Ireland is keen to organise its celebrations jointly between the 'Ancient Observance' (O.Carm.) of the Order in which Teresa was formed, and the 'Discalced Observance' (O.C.D.) which she inspired.
The idea to plan and host the celebrations collectively was agreed at the November 2011 joint meeting of the Provincials of the Irish and British Provinces of Carmelites, and the the Anglo-Irish Discalced Carmelites.
The joint initiatives will build on the work of the Carmelite Forum of Britain and Ireland, established in 2004 to encourage the sharing of spirituality and friendship between the different branches of the Carmelite Family in these islands.
Meetings to initiate planning took place simultaneously on 14th May at the Discalced Carmelite Church at Kensington in London, and at Avila Discalced Carmelite Priory in Dublin, with video conferencing linking the two meetings over the internet.
The meeting agreed that a number of jointly organised national events will take place in 2015, and in the two years leading to the anniversary year. Planning is still at a very early stage but it was agreed that:
- In 2013 a lecture about St. Teresa will be held in both Britain and Ireland.
- In October 2014 an opening liturgy will be celebrated in Britain (possibly in York) and Ireland to mark the start of the quincentenary, which will also commemorate the 8th centenary of the death of St. Albert of Jerusalem who approved the CarmeliteWay of Life text. In addition a 'Forum' style event combing a lecture with interactive workshops will take place.
- In October 2015 the quincentenary will conclude with a closing liturgy in Britain (possibly in London) and Ireland. In addition an international symposium will be held to allow discussion about Teresa by leading scholars.
A number of other initiatives were discussed, some of which may be developed in the coming months, including:
- A possible joint O.Carm.-O.C.D. pilgrimage to Spain in 2015, visiting places associated with St. Teresa
- Events introducing young people and youth groups connected with the Carmelites to Teresa
- The production of literature (popular leaflets and books), internet resources and a DVD
- Raising awareness of Teresa in the Church more generally, and perhaps specifically in churches named after her
- Circulating resources that can be used in small groups, such asLectio Divina sheets introducing people to Teresa through short extracts from her writings
Those taking part in the discussions were:
- Johan Bergström-Allen, T.O.C. (Carmelite Projects & Publications)
- John Berry, T.O.C. (Provincial's Delegate to the Carmelite Third Order)
- Mary Byrne, O.C.D.S. (Knock Discalced Carmelite Secular Order)
- Fr. Liam Finnerty, O.C.D. (Boars Hill Discalced Carmelite Priory)
- Mary Forrest (Carmelite Explorers group, Dublin)
- Annette Goulden, O.C.D.S., sent apologies
- Fr. John McGowan, O.C.D. (Gerrards Cross Discalced Carmelite Priory)
- Fr. Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm. (Prior Provincial, British Province)
- Br. Noel O'Connor, O.C.D. (Avila Discalced Carmelite Priory)
- Fr. Chris O'Donnell, O.Carm. (Irish Province of Carmelites), sent apologies
The next meeting of the planning group will take place in Faversham, Kent, with a video link-up to Dublin, on 30th October.
