Communicationes N 64
1st July 2006
CONTENTS
- Fr. Jesus Castellano Cervera OCD
- New OCD Carmelite Bishop: Fr. Anibal Nieto Guerra
- A telegram from the Pope for the Elizabeth of the Trinity celebrations
- A gift from the Pope to the Teresianum
- Communicationes holiday break
Fr. Jesús Castellano Cervera
+ 15.06.2006
The sudden death of Fr. Jesús Castellano Cervera, professor at the Teresianum, shocked the Order. On June 15th he went out for a walk in the afternoon but never returned. It was presumed he had gone to the John Lateran Basilica to see the Pope leading a blessed sacrament procession. The next day he was not seen in the Teresianum and then did not turn up for an important meeting. In the afternoon he was reported mission to the police. .
The following day several of the community from the Teresianum checked the hospitals in Rome, to see if by chance he were in hospital, and this is how his body was found, in St. Camilo hospital. The hospital administration had not informed anyone. It turns out that he felt ill while out on his walk. He asked someone for help and a ambulance was called. The ambulance came straight away but he died of a massive stroke on the way to the hospital.
He was born on July 30, 1941 near Valencia, Spain. He made his profession with the Teresian carmelites on August 4,1957, for the Aragón and Valencia Province. He was ordained April 25, 1965 in Rome. Later he studied for and obtained a doctorate in theology. He spent all his academic life in the Teresianum, and other Roman colleges, such as the Marianum University, Regina Mundi, and Regina Apostolorum.
This popular Carmelite was a consulter for various bodies in Rome: the Congregation of Doctrine and Faith, the Congregation for the causes of Saints, for Propaganda Fidei, for the Congregation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, and for Catholic Education. He was an official member of the Vatican liturgical team, also the Pontifical Council for the Laity, as well as the Pontifical Commission for International Eucharistic Conferences. He was also a member of the Pastoral Commission for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000.
He was well known for his availability and his theologico-spiritual giftedness, his competence as a Teresian scholar and other Carmelite themes, as well as his ecumenical sensitivity, his knowledge of Oriental themes, his familiarity with the new lay movements in the Church, and not least for his preparation; for all these reasons he was much sought after as a professor and a adviser within the ecclesiastical world; and finally he was an advisor to many religious families. He visited Russia on at least two occasions where he made many important contacts. He had preached many retreats in Europe and South America, to Bishops, Priests and laity alike.
His funeral took place on June 19, in the Teresianum chapel. There were about 1000 people present. Mgr Marini, the Papal MC, presided at the concelebration, together with more than 350 priests. As Fr. General was away Fr. Zdenko Krizic, the Vicar General, gave the panygeric. At the end Mgr. Marini, addressing the deceased, thanked Fr. Jesus for all the help he had given him over the years. He told us that he had met him just two days before he died, and had even spoken to him by phone the morning of the day he died. Jesús was buried in our Carmelite cemetry in Rome. The Osservatore Romano dedicated a lot of space to the funeral.
After his death the Order received innumerable messages of condolences from all over the world: from the Vatican Secretary of State, the various Roman Congregations, the President of the South American Bishops, from numerous Bishops, the Spanish Ambassador, and many General Superiors. He was remembered by one and all for the many services he rendered, for his willingness to listen, for his tact and respect for others. We commend his Carmelite soul to God.
NEW OCD BISHOP OCD
FR. ANIBAL NIETO GUERRA
Aníbal Nieto Guerra was born in 1949 in Zamora, Spain. He received the Carmelite habit in 1965, for the Burgos Province, and made his solemn vows in 1975. Shortly afterwards he volunteerd to serve as a missionary in Latin America. While working for the poor in Ecuador and other tasks he studied for the priesthood. He returned to Spain in 1982 and was ordained a priest.
After ordination he immediately returned to Ecuador where he worked in the Archdiocese of Guayaquil, in the parishes run by the Carmelites.
In Guayaquil he was made Superior. He also had many other responsibilities including spiritual director and professor of the seminary.
He also published two books on contemplative prayer, as well as a DVD Canciones y Plegarias, with tunes to accompany prayer.
He was made an Auxiliary Bishop on June 11, 2006 of Guayaquil, Ecuador.
BLESED ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY
Opening of the Centenary Year in Italy
The centenary year for blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity opened on 11th June with a eucharistic celebration in St. Teresas basilica, Rome. This opening coincided with the 100 anniversary of the basilica. The eucharist was presided by Cardinal Paskai László (of Hungry). There were about 30 concelerants, including Fr. General and six Definitors, there were many others from the Carmelite family.
After the eucharistic celebration there was a special dinner for the Cardinal and others.
Telegram from Pope Benedict XVI
ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF BLESSED ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY THE POPE SENDS HIS BLESSINGS TO ALL WHO TAKE PART IN THE COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATIONS HOPING THAT THIS REMEMBRANCE WILL INCREASE IN EACH ONE A RENEWED SENSE OF CHRISTIAN WITNESS AND WHILST YOU GATHER TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE IN GIVING THANKS TO THE LORD FOR GIVING TO THE CHURCH SUCH A GREAT FIGURE AND DISCIPLE OF THE GOSPELS I INVOKE THE LORD TO SEND COPIOUS HEAVENLY BLESSINGS ON THE ENTIRE CARMELITE FAMILY AND IMPLORE AND IMPART FROM MY HEART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING FULL OF COPIOUS HEAVENLY FAVOURS. CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO SECRETARY OF STATE
PAPAL GIFT TO THE TERESIANUM, ROME
Fr. Dario Cumer, Rector of the Teresianum sends us the following news:
At the end of May a lorry, with Vatican registration plates, arrived at our door. Two men got out and gave our Brother a large case, and said: A gift from the Holy Father. They said goodbye and left. The case was addressed to: The Most Reverend Fr. Luis Arostegui Gamboa, Chancellor of the Pontifical Faculty of the Teresianum Institute of Spirituality, Piazza San Pancrazio, 5/A. The sender: The Prefect of the Pontifical House. Inside there was an enveloppe with a card from the Secretary of State with the words: From the Holy Father with his apostolic blessing.
There was great rejoicing. The gift was a framed medallion of St. Therese of Lisieux, sitting on a chair and written on the medallion the words: SS. Teresia a Jesu Infante Doctor Ecclesiae A. D. 1897 1997.[St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus, Doctor of the Church, A. D. 1897 1997 ]. On the bottom there is a small coat of arms of the present Pope. The work in bronze was designed by the artist E. Manfrini.
On the occasion of the proclamation of the Doctorate of St. Therese of Lisieux, the relics of the Saint were brought to our College and solemnly carried into the main hall, where a doctors cap was symbolically placed on top. Now the Saint has returned to us with this gift, and all this thanks to the kindness of the Holy Father.
Meeting of the Commission for the new College (CITES) in Avila, Spain
The commission met on June 7 in Avila to check on the progress of the building work and the financial situation. As you all know, this is an undertaking of the Order, in an effort to develop our spirituality and to give it a higher profile. The initiative was born 20 years ago and originally destined only as on-going formation for our religious; then, following many requests, it was opened up to all: priests, religious, laity, in sum everyone. We have just finished our twentieth course on Teresian studies as well as those on St. John of the Cross, together with further studies on St.Therese of Lisieux and St. Benedict of the Cross - Edith Stein.
Unfortunately the work is a long way behind schedule due to bad weather, the absence of qualified workers ( suffice to say that most of the workers are from Portugal), and other technical problems; for these reasons we are a year in arrears.Now we expect the work to be completed within 12 months and hope to begin courses in the new building for the academic year 2007-2008.
In absence of proper financial means, we are preparing a Fund. We appeal to our priories, convents, secular order throughout the world to help us with this project, which belongs to our religious Family.
Communicationes will close for the summer
During the summer months several of the collaborators (editors, translators, etc.), of Communicationes, will be away from the Generalate, and so the publication of news will be suspended for this period.