10th response to 1 of 4

Group # 26 responded:

Have we begun to prepare for it? And what more might we do?

Friars are called upon much – financially support them. With spiritual assistants – more open communication.
Make Carmelite Order more known and draw more Friars and Nuns, because if seculars grow we will need more of them to assist us.
Before we went to the Provincial Delegate if a problem arose, we need to take care of our own problems if we elect people to office carefully. Concentrate in the future – being available to feed the hunger of others spirituality, with Carmelite spirituality.
Noted professional degree people at our Congress and they have carried their Carmelite spirituality out of our communities into the businesses. Have an attitude of prayer to prepare for this ministry.
Break the image of “contemplative prayer” to be self and solitude only or it’s not Carmelite. It cannot be too active or too social.
Good leaders to inform that communities are a prayer in action. Cloisters pray we are their living prayer. It is very Teresian to work, work, work.
Bring in the young people to Carmelite spirituality. There is a need for more vocations.
We need more priests but it will happen in God’s time. Our job is to evangelize.
It is all new but we are preparing and trying especially through our new Constitutions.
As long our changes come from prayer, led by the Spirit it will lead us to good change. Learn to recognize business for business sake – tires us out – be careful, that is the devil dividing us.
Divide large communities so that the apostolate can be “one” and focused. Maintain a “family unity”. A large community tends to have differing interests and apostolate. It works well for small communities (60 or less).
Bring in retired parish priests as spiritual assistants to divide the communities.
Take out the inactive from the rolls.
Do all in charity and for the good of the community.