Bicentenary

CELEBRATING THE CENTENNARY IN AMERICA

CARMELITE MISSIONARIES

1919 – CENTENNARY IN AMERICA -2010

THE CONTINENT OF AMERICA IS GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESENCE OF MISSIONARY CARMEL AND ITS FRUITFUL MISSION AMONG OUR PEOPLE.

A DAY TO REMEMBER ...

A special day was held on Saturday 21st August 2010, at the Provincial House of the Carmelite Missionaries, in the Barrio Porteño of Belgrano R - Federal Capital of the Republic of Argentina. The festive atmosphere pervaded the crossing to the threshold. A number of nuns, priests and lay people were loitering in the park enjoying the beautiful day.

The well cared ambience included a typical element such as the national flower, the red “flor de ceibo”, that was present even in the souvenirs. I say it is a day to remember for those who, for years, have shared the life of the Carmelite Missionaries, who received the charism and the ideational system of educational service as part of daily life, such that the celebration of this day becomes part of a personal heritage. Talking about the Saints of Carmel Missionary has been over time, to lead to the halls unexpected biographies, unusual testimonials, hidden lives that never cease to take by surprise.

The events of the day began with the blessing of a commemorative plaque at the foot of the bust of the Founder Blessed Francisco Palau y Quer, in the garden of the beautiful House of the Sisters in Argentina. The plaque was discovered, hidden between the flags of Carmel and Argentina by an older sister and a young postulant, symbolizing the planting and harvesting in these one hundred years of life and mission. Then the Hymn of the Centenary was played, superbly interpreted by Professor Susan Falbo and responded in chorus by the audience. The Holy Mass followed at the welcoming chapel of the place, presided by Monsignor Enrique Eguía Seguí, Episcopal Vicar of Belgrano and concelebrated by Monsignor Ruben Oscar Frassia, Bishop of Avellaneda, together with the Delegate of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers, Father Daniel Luis Meurzrt, and several other priests of the neighbouring parishes, and the family of the sisters of the community. The Carmelite Missionaries, coming from the different geographical areas of the country where the community is present today, gave a magnificent setting complemented by other religious families, secular and families of the sisters.

Sister Ana Maria Rejas, at the end of the Eucharist, sent a greeting on behalf of the General Council. In heartfelt words she described an appropriate message of the Founder, emphasizing the life of sacrifice that the first sisters were exposed – the sacrificial and fruitful years of this history of love and fidelity.

Reliving during these days the work of Missionary Carmel in America and specifically in Argentina, makes one to see again, like a movie of the past, the life and work of each of the Sisters: those who developed the work in schools, those in the apostolic work who reached the remote places, or those with a word eased the lives of children or the elderly.

No doubt the mission today does not have the same challenge as that of one hundred years ago, but today as it was yesterday, to be a Carmelite Missionary is to bring the in the heart the deepest essence of love of “God and neighbour”; a love that speaks and sees, because it shows itself through actions in the everyday life, in favour of children, youth and adults that the Lord places on our way; to develop the wonderful daily task of EDUCATING and accompanying the integral evangelization process.

Congratulations on this first Centenary, Carmelite Missionary Sisters! ... We will continue accompanying them with both hands that support so as to walk together... because we continue to listen to the call. Go... proclaim the Gospel ... Love!