1st response to 1 of 4

Group #6 responded:
Impact – wonderful or chaotic –
Vocation identity and properly formed = bright future
If just time passes with candidates moved along on the conveyer belt – the future is less bright.
Growth – there is no formal screening or training for formators or councilors.
We will have growing pains.
We are not a club.
Vocation – union with the Lord – growth in holiness – must keep eyes on what holiness is – at junctures, way to assess how people are doing.
Are person’s to add – are they participating, are they keeping up. Are you keeping up with mental prayer and the liturgy of the hours – daily mass – get to Mass with intentionality?
Hard times may be coming –
Evangelization is tool for future – bring in new life.
We are now breathing with 1 lung, need both, need to bring in Eastern church. Big explosion in seculars – just a spark now but will be bigger as fold expands in church. Secular groups in infancy-
We may “drop the cross” but pick it up again.
We must have prayer to keep it together.
Mass is highlight of the day. Stay close to the Eucharist.
We need closeness to our charism – prayer and to Mary – we are her Order.
Seculars/Laity will sustain the church.
The foundation: support friars and religious – the light of future generations.
What about great growth but then loss of members after promises? It not numbers but souls.
Every member must reach out and be an example to young people – evangelization again. Vocations to the Order from these young people.
Need Discalced group in Spanish – (participant from Tucson)
Was asked to start group in 1985.
That they have opportunity to live in community (6 live together and pray 7 times a day and study/work etc – have apostolate to church)
Mexican community and other cultural communities be drawn into Carmel. Need to get to younger children.
What to do – how we prepare:
- we seculars are more and more being asked to be autonomous and to be “adults” in the order – continue that process.
- Training (more) for formatters (Peggy Wilkerson tools?)
- Succession planning
- Churches need to be more open to Carmelite spirituality – strengthen

Lay deaconate for formatters-
Groups that can’t rely on friars coming in get set of tapes or class for deacons that are in training – they can apply this toward their training.
Have in-depth retreat for group – on Carmelite Spirituality.
How to get parish pastors to support Carmelites spirituality especially in Spanish community.
Need to have mentors – to mediate dropouts and learning for new persons.
Perhaps a definitive member is paired with a “prayer buddy” at the time of transition to novice.
Draw youth into Carmel – through spirituality.