Updates from the 2025 Carmelite General Chapter in Malang, Indonesia
🌍 A Historic Gathering of Carmelites
The 2025 General Chapter of the Carmelite Order opened on 9 September in Malang, Indonesia, marking the first time this international gathering has taken place outside Europe. Carmelites from every corner of the world have come together to pray, reflect and discern the mission of the Order for the years ahead. The Chapter continues until 26 September 2025.
Opening Day
The Chapter began with the celebration of the Eucharist, with Fr Míċeál O’Neill, O.Carm., Prior General, as principal celebrant. Afterwards, a letter from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, addressed to the Carmelite Order, was read aloud. In his message, the Holy Father entrusted the Chapter to the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and urged the brothers to let their shared life of prayer inspire their service to the Church and the world.
A procession to the Chapter Hall followed, with the solemn singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus and the calling of the roll of members, before the Prior General delivered his opening report and invited the participants into a time of open discussion.
Representing the Irish Province of Carmelites at the General Chapter are:
✝️ Fr Simon Nolan, O.Carm., Prior Provincial
✝️ Fr Ezevia Murambiwa, O.Carm., Commissary Provincial of Zimbabwe
✝️ Fr Michael Troy, O.Carm., 1st Delegate
✝️ Fr Owen Kudumba, O.Carm., 2nd Delegate
Days 2 & 3 – Listening to the Global Church
The Chapter continued with reports from Fr Richard Byrne, O.Carm., Councillor General for Europe, and Fr Conrad Mutizamhepo, O.Carm., Councillor General for Africa—both from the Irish Province. They shared their reflections on the life of the Order in their regions.
Day 3 brought further insights from Fr Luis Jose Maza Subero, O.Carm., Councillor General for the Americas, and Fr Robert Thomas Puthussery, O.Carm., Councillor General for Asia, Australia and Oceania.
💬 Delegates entered into plenary discussions and small group conversations, discerning together what these reports mean for the Order and identifying priorities for the years ahead. These sessions highlighted the diversity of Carmelite life across continents and the importance of shared discernment.
Day 4 – Finances and Administration
Focus turned to the finances and central administration of the Order at the General Curia in Rome.
✝️ Fr Simon Nolan, Prior Provincial of the Irish Province, was the celebrant at the morning Mass, concelebrated by Fr Ezevia Murambiwa, Commissary Provincial of Zimbabwe, and Fr Rinson Varghese Manjay, Second Delegate for the St Thomas Province of India. Br Robert Chiulli, Prior Provincial of the North American Province of Saint Elias, gave the lesson, with young Carmelites from Indonesia serving at the altar.
In his homily, Fr Simon reflected:
“Saint Paul’s witness reminds us that mission is never our own achievement… Christ’s mercy transformed him. That same mercy and grace, abundant beyond measure, is what strengthens us and makes us trustworthy for ministry. The Carmelite vocation is not about proving ourselves worthy, but about receiving mercy, and out of that mercy, offering service.”
He continued:
“The General Chapter is precisely the space where we seek to remove the beam from our own eyes—not to condemn one another, but to discern together what God asks of us today… Even our discussions, our debates, our decisions become a form of contemplative work—listening deeply to God, to one another, and to the cry of those most in need in our world.”
Days 6 & 7 – A Time of Prayer and Reflection
🕍 On Day 6, delegates stepped away from the Chapter Hall to visit key Carmelite sites in Malang. They began at the Church of the Sacred Heart, the first church in Indonesia entrusted to the Carmelites in 1923, before visiting the School of Philosophy and Theology, which welcomes Carmelites, lay students, and members of other religious traditions.
The day concluded in the Carmelite prayer garden, a serene space featuring beautiful statutes, columbarium, and areas for quiet reflection.
📖 On Day 7, the Chapter resumed with presentations on formation, on new foundations and the affiliation of new groups, and on the Carmelite nuns and sisters.
The afternoon session was moderated by Fr Owen Kudumba, O.Carm., from Zimbabwe and a member of the Irish Province.
💬 Delegates broke into small language groups to discern the major emerging issues for the Order and to help set priorities for the next six years.
Day 8 – General Chapter in Malang
🕊️ At this afternoon’s session, moderated by Fr Franciscus Xavier Hariawan Adji, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Province of Indonesia, the Chapter welcomed Sister Patricia Murray, IBVM.
💡 In her morning address, drawing on her rich experience as General Counsellor of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters), Executive Director of Solidarity with South Sudan, and over eleven years as Executive Secretary of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), Sister Patricia challenged the Carmelite delegates to see mission in today’s fractured world: amid war, migration, inequality, and environmental crisis, we are called to be “missionaries of mercy” — building bridges, widening our tents, and weaving webs of hope.
🙏 Inspired by the late Holy Father, Pope Francis, she urged religious and lay people alike to step out of their “safe houses,” listen deeply, and witness through acts of tenderness that transform lives.
🗣️ Following her presentation, the delegates spent the remainder of the day in synodal “conversations in the Spirit,”observing moments of silence, sharing, listening, and responding, discerning where the Holy Spirit is calling the Carmelite Order today.
🌹 Nearby stood a Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Malang, Indonesia — Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix — “We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God.”
Day 9 – General Chapter in Malang
✝️ Today’s gathering began with Mass celebrated by Carmelite Bishop Wilmar Santin, O.Carm., Prelate of Itaituba, Brazil.
🗺️ Throughout the day, Bishop Wilmar delivered a series of conferences on ‘Carmelite Missions ad gentes’ — drawing both on his study of the history of Carmelite missionary work around the world and on his vast pastoral experience as a bishop serving among the people of the Amazon in Brazil.
💭 Following his inspiring presentation, the Chapter delegates entered a time of reflection and prayer, discerning together how the insights from Bishop Wilmar’s words can help guide the future of the Carmelite Order.
🙏 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day 10 – General Chapter in Malang: Retreat Day
✝️ Today’s gathering began with Mass celebrated by Carmelite Bishop Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan, O.Carm., Bishop of the local Diocese of Malang, Indonesia.
🕊️ The Chapter is spending this day in retreat and personal reflection, led by Bishop Henricus, as we prepare for the election of the Prior General and the new leadership of the Carmelite Order on Friday and Saturday. His retreat theme: “Carmelites: A Gift for the Church and the World.”
💡 Drawing inspiration from the recent conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Henricus invited the Chapter to reflect deeply on the present and future of the Order, especially its leadership choices. He reminded us that the Carmelite charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit—not for personal enrichment, but for the mission of the Church and the world.
🌿 To be a true gift, he said, the Order must live:
• Contemplatively – balancing prayer and work, safeguarding silence.
• Fraternally – building strong community and resisting individualism.
• Prophetically – defending justice, serving the poor, and discerning ministries with Gospel fidelity.
📖 This afternoon, Bishop Henricus turned to the theme “Religious Leadership according to the Bible.” Reflecting on biblical principles in light of the General Chapter, he stressed that all leadership—civil or spiritual—comes from God and must serve the common goal. True Christian leadership, he said, blends natural gifts with spiritual dependence, rooted in humility, prayer, service, and sacrifice. Leaders must nurture and empower, keep a clear vision of the Kingdom, and embody participative, unifying, and servant leadership.
🕊️ Scriptural figures such as Moses, Jesus, Paul, and Nehemiah were presented as models of this God-centred leadership. Bishop Henricus concluded by urging the Chapter to discern carefully in electing new leaders, guided by the Holy Spirit to preserve the Carmelite charism and mission.
🙏 May this day of prayer and discernment prepare the Carmelite family to remain a precious gift to the Church and the world.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
New Leadership for the Carmelite Order
Day 12 – General Chapter in Malang
🤝 A Morning of Interfaith Dialogue
This morning our General Chapter experienced a powerful session of interfaith dialogue with Alissa Wahid and Fr FX Hariawan Adji, O.Carm., Vice General of the Carmelite Order.
After introducing themselves and sharing their backgrounds in Islam and Christianity, both speakers reflected on the need to overcome radicalism and fear by reaching deeply within ourselves—to know ourselves and to know God. Our religious and spiritual traditions give us the tools to do this.
➡️ We are called, she said, to move beyond mere tolerance to a real human fraternity, quoting Pope Francis: “real respect, real fraternity, real solidarity.” And for this to happen, encounters are essential—without them, we cannot truly know one another.
⛪ Afternoon at St Albert Dempo Carmelite High School
After lunch we travelled to Saint Albert Dempo Carmelite High School in Malang for Mass with the students, the school choir, and members of the wider Carmelite Family.
✝️ Vice General, Fr FX Hariawan Adji, O.Carm. proclaimed the Gospel.
📜 Prior General, Fr Desiderio García Martínez, O.Carm. delivered the homily.
🎶 Brother Covin, O.Carm. beautifully sang the Responsorial Psalm.
Day 13 – Carmelite Family Day
🤝 A Day of Presentations & Dialogue
Today at the General Chapter we celebrated Carmelite Family Day — a time of presentations, conversations, and dialogue with members of the wider Carmelite Family from around the world.
✝️ The day also included an address by the Praepositus General of the Discalced Carmelite Order, Most Revd Father Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD.
Day 14 – General Chapter in Malang
🗳️ Today at the General Chapter of the Carmelite Order in Malang, Indonesia, delegates are engaged in discussion and voting on proposals that will shape the life of the Order in the years ahead.
💡 These proposals explore:
• How Carmelites live their contemplative identity while carrying out their apostolic mission.
• How new members are formed and supported, and the importance of formation at every stage of life—spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral.
• Building stronger links with young people, encouraging them to share in the Carmelite charism.
• Ensuring safeguarding and creating safe environments across all communities and ministries.
• Strengthening collaboration across the Carmelite family—friars, nuns, sisters, and lay members to respond to the call for justice, peace, care for creation, and cultural diversity in their priorities.
📜 Once the votes are taken, the decisions will be gathered into the Acts of the Chapter, providing direction and focus for the Carmelite Order worldwide.
Day 15 – General Chapter
🕊️ Mass at the General Chapter was celebrated today by Fr Brendan Grady, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the British Province of Carmelites, with Fr Hariawan Adji, O.Carm., Vice General, and Fr Paul Cahill, O.Carm. from the Province of Australia and Timor Leste as concelebrants. Carmelite student brothers faithfully served at the altar.
🇧🇷 Our brothers from Brazil were also present:
• Frei Josué, O.Carm. and Frei Rafael, O.Carm., Brazilian Province of Pernambuco (front)
• Frei Flavio, O.Carm., Brazilian Commissariat of Paraná (behind left)
• Frei Thiago, O.Carm., Brazilian Province of Rio de Janeiro
🙏 Later, at a meeting of the North European Region during the General Chapter of the Carmelite Order, Fr Michael Troy, O.Carm. (Irish Province) was elected President of the North European Region for a one-year term.
✨ Fr Michael takes on this responsibility at a time when key collaborative initiatives in Northern Europe—formation, pilgrimages, youth ministry, and mission—are being developed and strengthened. We extend our heartfelt good wishes and prayers as he begins this important service.
💛 We also express our sincere thanks and recognition to Fr Brendan Grady, O.Carm. (British Province) for his dedicated service in this role over the past several years.
Final Day – General Chapter
📜 Today marked the final day of the General Chapter in Malang, Indonesia. Delegates gathered for the reading, discussion, and voting on the Final Statement — the full text will follow soon.
🙏 In his concluding message, the newly elected Prior General, Fr Desiderio Garcia Martinez, O.Carm., described his acceptance of this service as “a vocation of love to God, the Church, and his brothers.” He recalled the spiritual influences of his youth and stressed that joy and fidelity to Carmelite life remain his foundation.
✨ Four key insights from his address:
• Let God be God – Contemplation lies at the heart of Carmel and is the greatest gift to the Church, demanding renewed attention to formation and interior life.
• Martha and Mary must walk together – Action and prayer must be united; works rooted in contemplation radiate Christ’s love and avoid empty activism.
• Community life as fraternity – True fraternity requires humility, dialogue, forgiveness, and mutual care; no one is superfluous in the Body of Christ.
• Mission as opening hope – Evangelisation flows from love, combining dialogue and compassion, making communities safe havens and spaces of healing.
🕊️ Fr Desiderio highlighted the Eucharist as central to Carmelite identity, urging a six-year period of study and renewal around it. He entrusted evangelisation, especially of young people, to the Virgin Mary, invoking her as the “Virgin of Spring.”
💛 He expressed deep gratitude to the Order, the outgoing leadership, collaborators, benefactors, and the Indonesian Province for hosting the General Chapter.
📖 After his words, Fr Roberto Hasudungan Sianturi, O.Carm., Secretary General of the Carmelite Order, read from the Acts of the Chapter. The signing of the Acts by all participating members will take place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Malang, as part of the concluding Eucharist.
The Journey
🙏 The General Chapter was a sacred time of prayer, discernment and fraternity for the Carmelite family worldwide.
📸 For photos and more behind-the-scenes moments, visit our Instagram page.
