The Joy of Carmel relived in Canada
As a climax of the pastoral visitation of Provincial, Fr. Charles Serrao to the friars in Canada, the Annual Gathering of Carmelite friars working in Canada was held at St. Thomas More Parish, Calgary from October 15th to 18, 2018. Fr. John Pinto and Fr. Roshan D’Souza hosted the gathering. This Annual Gathering began with the Evening Prayer in honour of our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila followed by the Inaugural Mass which was attended by the OCDS members of Calgary and a good number of parishioners. Fr. Charles Serrao, Provincial presided over the Mass and Fr. Joachim Pereira, the Episcopal Vicar for Religious of the Diocese of Calgary preached a quite appealing homily based on the life and teachings of St. Teresa of Avila. The Jubilarians Fr. Jerome Mascarenhas and Fr. Ranjan D’Sa were specially remembered in prayer during the Mass. In his felicitation speech after the Mass Fr. Jerald D’Souza, the Regional Superior spoke about the Jubilarians calling to our memories the days lived in the formation years. The rest of the days of the gathering were dedicated for the meeting in common with all the friars under the guidance of Fr. Provincial. Fr. Venil D’Souza, the newly arrived friar to Canada and Fr. Jaison Tellis were chosen to be the secretaries for the meeting. Rev. William McGratten, the Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary was welcomed to the gathering and an evening was spent in his company. In all, the gathering was quite rewarding and an occasion to relive the joyful moments of Carmel together.