P h i l i p p i n
e s
First National
Congress
April 16, 17 & 18, 2004
Theme: Carmel Youth… the journey continues!
We are the
young, vibrant, dynamic and committed Christians of today’s generation. We are
called to respond to the invitation of Jesus to love and serve God, our
brothers and sisters, and the whole of creation in our own capacities and
giftedness.
We are
the sons and daughters of the Church attracted to Carmel’s way of life. We are the Youth of Carmel who want to share
Carmel’s charism to the people of God as Contemplatives (to pray, to serve and
to live in community as brothers and sisters) in the midst of the world today.
In the
zeal of Elijah, our Holy Father and Mary, out Patroness, and all the saints of
Carmel, we are resolved:
TO PRAY…
And thank God “for his love is without end.”[1]
For the intentions of the Church and of the Carmelite Order,
For the well-being of peoples and of the whole of creation.
Reflect on the Word of God through Lectio Divina and
Celebrate the Eucharist together in the spirit of sharing
and loving fellowship.
TO SERVE…
In any and various ways and capacities
in the priestly prophetic and kingly mission of Christ.
Respond to the call of the times and manifest Christ’s life
and teachings in us
and in our service to the community where we belong.
Participate in the mission and ministries of the Carmelites
and the Philippine Church.
TO LIVE
IN COMMUNITY…
As brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ
under the maternal care and protection of Mary, the Lady of
Mount Carmel.
Supporting, loving and affirming each other in our own
little way.
Our living as community is our humble gift to the Church and
the world today.
THE STATUTES OF
CARMEL YOUTH
PHILIPPINES
CHAPTER ONE
The Name and Nature of the Carmel Youth Philippines (CYP)
Community
1. The
name of this Community and Federation
is Carmel Youth Philippines. These are young men/boys and
women/girls whose age range from ten (10) to thirty nine (39), who are inspired
by the Charism and Spirituality of the Order of Carmelites.
2.
Carmel Youth Philippines is the official name of the National Federation;
however local communities may adopt the same name or will have different name (e.g.
Children of Carmel, Barkadahan ni Elias, Kapatiran ni Teresita, Young Carmel
Circle, Daughters of Mary, Mother of Carmel, Knights of Elijah, Donum Dei
Youth, etc.)
3. Wherever
a Carmel Youth is situated; (in the parish, in school, in the monastery of
nuns, in the seminary, in a Carmelite community), shall collaborate and
cooperate with the Carmelites in the realization of their common aspirations
and mission. A Carmel Youth being the
youngest member of the Carmelite Family shall be a partner in Carmel’s mission.[2]
4. Every
Carmel Youth Community is distinct from each one. Each Carmel Youth community has its own unique context and
mission. These different and varied Carmel
Youth Communities are organized into a Federation.
5. As
Federation, it means; all Carmel Youth Communities are interrelated and
integrated into one as Carmel Youth Philippines, the National Federation; that
all parts compose and comprise the whole.
The Carmel Youth Philippines as a Federation shall represent the young
Carmelites all over the country in the Carmelite Family group and in Carmelite
Regional Centers.
6. The
focus of the Carmel Youth life is putting into practice, the important saying
of St. Therese of Liseaux, "Our Vocation is Love." This call shall be
lived in the homes, in the schools, in the parishes, among their circle of
friends, in offices and workplaces, and in the communities where they are
involved in.
7. A
Carmel Youth shall take active part in the life of the Carmelite community, of
the Parish, and of the School. They will assist in forming prayer groups,
practice and promote "Lectio Divina", they shall set a regular
meeting adjusted to their time and situation for praying the office and
discussion of their life; as the Rule provided they shall “discuss matters of
discipline and spiritual welfare, the failings of the members will also be
lovingly corrected during times convenient to the community.”[3]
8. It is
important that wherever the CYP Community is found, a Carmelite Formation will
be provided to the members. In communities where the Carmelite Friars, Nuns,
Tertiaries, Lay Carmelites (e.g. Donum Dei) and the like are present, these
Carmelites should take an active part in guiding this Youth Community. The guidance expected from these communities
will be of spiritual nature, material support and to assist the organization in
expansion. Among these groups, one should be appointed that will serve as
Spiritual Director to the community and federation.
CHAPTER TWO
The Charism of the CYP Community
9. The Charism of the CYP Community is based on
the Carmelite Order's charism of
Prayer, Service and Community. The Charism are interpreted and lived-out
in the context of the Youth's life wherever they are.
10. The Brotherhood/Sisterhood
of the CYP Community is lived in the expressions of cooperation, respect and
mutual care for one another. Like in the family, the members of the Carmel
Youth take care of each other's needs as one would be showing concern to
his/her very own brothers and sisters in their homes.
11. The
Service of the CYP Community is shown in living out their apostolate, whether
in participation of the Eucharist, active involvement for the Parish, in the works
of mercy, in the JPIC activities,
support for Carmelite vocations, and the like. All these are geared towards
serving other people, for we see in them the image of God and we believe that
“to love another person is to see the face of God.”[4]
12. Prayer
is realized in the active participation of prayer gatherings and Lectio Divina
and prayer meetings. Each member is expected to attend regularly to scheduled
prayers, where on such occasions the Hours/Office is prayed with reverence.
Whenever it is possible, the Carmel Youth must live the prayerful atmosphere
wherever they are.
13. The
Eucharist is central to the Carmel Youth's life. When celebrating the
Eucharist, they should try their best to be attentive to the Gospel and lessons
of the day. The attendance of the Eucharist must be done in deep meditation and
contemplation.
CHAPTER THREE
The Stages of Formation
14. ASPIRANCY. The candidate must submit his/her Letter of Intention, a Baptismal Certificate and
Bio-Data to the President. Once accepted
by the officers, the candidate will undergo a Six (6)-month to One (1) Year
Formation Program where he/she is expected to attend all the set formation
courses. Also, the candidate is asked
to take an active role in the community’s activities as planned by the officers
of the community. He/she is expected to
be present in community activities like prayer meetings, fraternal corrections,
visitations to the sick and prisoners, recollections, retreats, meetings,
project-making, recreations and others.
15. The
Aspirant must be introduced to the basics of the History of the Carmelite
Order, Carmel Charism and Spirituality, History of the Carmel Youth,
Introduction to the Carmelite Rule, the Carmelite Saints, Cum Nulla, , A Study
on the Carmel Youth Statutes, The Brown Scapular, and other Carmelite Writings.
16. TEMPORARY
MEMBER. After the 6-month to 1 year
of Aspirancy, the candidate will now be accepted as temporary member of Carmel
Youth with the imposition of the Brown Scapular, the pinning of a Carmelite
Seal, and the giving of the certificate of recognition. It will be done in a solemn ceremony within
the Eucharistic celebration. The
temporary member will pronounce his/her Act of Commitment before an Authority
duly delegated by the Carmel Youth Philippine Federation. This will be done after the Community’s
council has reached a consensus that the candidate is ready and has been judged
suited despite the age and condition in life.
17. As Temporary Member, he/she
will be asked to take responsibilities and tasks for the betterment of the
community. It is also encourage that
the Temporary Member will know himself/herself better and to discover deeper
the vocational motives in joining the community. The temporary member is
expected to understand deeper the Carmelite Tradition and Charism.
18.
Temporary Membership will be a maximum of two (2) years.
19. Twenty (20) unexplained or
unexcused absences, whether consecutive or interrupted, will invalidate the
acceptance of the temporary member to full-pledge membership. The President
will then advice the candidate to repeat the whole temporary membership period.
20. The
Community may design its own habit/uniform for their members.
21. FULL-PLEDGE
MEMBER. For a full-pledge
membership, the candidate must be examined mature enough by the officers of the
Local Community.
22.
Through an Act of Commitment in a Eucharistic celebration, the temporary member
will be accepted and confirmed and will
be fully integrated as full-pledge Carmel Youth Member.
23.
Before he/she may be admittted, a common consent and evaluation must be reached
among the full-pledged members, spiritual advisers and the Community’s council.
24. The
full-pledge membership is not the end of the Carmel Youth's involvement to the
activities and way of life but rather a beginning for greater commitment to the
Order. Hence, it is expected that the full-pledged members do actively involve
himself/herself to all the activities of the community depending on the
availability of his/her time.
25.
Full-pledged members are expected to give guidance to their younger brother and
sisters during this stage. As mature persons, they shall exercise their
authority in brotherly/sisterly love to all Carmel Youth who are younger to
them.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Governance in Local Community
26. All
the members of the CYP Community are basically equal with respect to rights and
obligations. However, in order to that "those things that need to be done
may be well ordered, “among themselves are officers chosen to guide them in
their works and activities. All the other members must promise them respect.”[5]
27. The
Governance of the Organization shall be composed of the following:
a. President
b. Vice President/Secretary
c. Formation Head
d. Treasurer
e. Spirituality & Liturgy
Chairperson
f. Apostolate Chairperson
g. Socio-Cultural Chairperson
28. PRESIDENT.
He/She is to be chosen by common consent of the membership.
29. The
President leads the whole chapter of the organization, he/she decides for the
best and common good of the group.
30.
He/She shall direct the activities of the members and promote their active and
responsible obedience in a climate of respect and love.
31. The President of the
community shall be designated for two years, after which, his/her term may be
renewed for another two years. One term is two years.
32. Only
Full-Pledged Members can be voted President, he/she must show humility in
his/her duties as Carmel Youth. He/She,
at all times, must exercise fairness and prudence in relating with the members.
33. VICE
PRESIDENT/ SECRETARY. In the absence of the President, the Vice President
will act and function as President. The Vice President is the official Secretary (cum Recorder, Archivist) of the
community. He/ She will be the center
of communication, the data profiles of the Carmel youth and other important
documents will be under his/her care.
34. FORMATION
HEAD. It is a responsibility of the Formation Head for all the studies,
courses and Formation related activities of the community. He/She will make plans to expand formation
trainings to cover other related studies which is basically in the direction of
developing Christian Faith.
35. It
is also the responsibility of the Formation Head to oversee that the members
take active involvement in the said studies. He/She shall check the regularity
of their attendance in their studies. He/She will make reports to the President
concerning the development of the members.
36. TREASURER.
Any community will function well if
there is good financial sourcing and management. The stewardship of the material and financial resources is the responsibility of the
Treasurer. He/she collects the agreed and
approved monthly dues and other contributions for the upkeep of the community.
37. SPIRITUALITY
& LITURGY CHAIRPERSON (SLC) . Prayer is one of the the distinctive
marks of a Carmel Youth. The SLC will
find avenues that the members will develop their prayer lives. The SLC
will also give education concerning liturgy and will design liturgical
activities suitable for the youth.
Eucharistic celebrations, Lectio Divina, Prayer of the Divine Office,
Holy Hour, Retreat and Recollection,
and the like are a few suggested spiritual exercises of the community.
38. APOSTOLATE
CHAIRPERSON. He/She is responsible in the development of apostolate where
all the members can participate. This apostolate will always be at all times be
a form of loving service to the poor. It is the responsibility of the
Apostolate Chairperson to design programs that will help promote advance the
value of life.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Governance in the Federation
39. The Congress will decide on the officers to be elected in the Federation. The Federation Officers of Carmel Youth Philippines will be composed of a National Coordinator and three Regional Coordinators representing the regions of Luzon/NCR, the Visayas Islands and Mindanao.
40. The Federation Officers’ Leadership will be elected by and among the Carmel Youth Delegates in a National Federation Congress held every two years. The Federation Officers have coordinative and directive tasks and functions as assisting, overseeing and monitoring the different Carmel Youth communities and their programs.
41. The Federation Officers has a term of office for two years with one term re-election. One term is two years.
CHAPTER SIX
The Election of Officers
42. Only
qualified members of good standing of Carmel Youth Philippines can be elected
officers of the local community and in the Federation.
43. The
election will be done in secret balloting.
The elected officer need fifty percent plus one vote of the total voting
Congress Delegates.
44. The
elected officers of the Federation and the local community need the
confirmation of the O.Carm. Youth Ministry Commission or the duly authorized
representative (Adviser, In-charge, Spiritual Director).
CHAPTER SEVEN
Finance and Fund Sourcing
45. Every Carmel Youth community is financially independent and autonomous from each other. Every Carmel Youth Community must have a clear financial policy in fund-raising, disbursing, bookkeeping and reporting.
46. Every Carmel Youth Community may decide on
their membership fee, monthly dues and the like. Also, Carmel Youth Communities are encouraged to explore programs
and activities where they can express their talents and initiatives for
fund-raising in the context of their Vision and Mission; like Christmas caroling,
card making for all occasions, candle making, project for a cause, variety
shows, concerts and other programs.
However, big projects (e.g. nationwide solicitations, raffle tickets)
need the approval of the Federation officers.
47. Every Carmel Youth community is encouraged
to remit 50% of the agreed individual membership fee, 20% of the agreed monthly
dues to the Federation treasurer. Carmel Youth communities who are better off
financially are encouraged to help and assist the communities who needed more
financial assistance.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Dismissal and Disciplinary Actions
48. Any youth who acts contrary
to the guiding principles of the Carmel Youth community can only be dismissed
by the Community’s Council headed by its President.
49. A
youth who incurred so many absences as provided by the stages of formation will
be given warning. If such person will not heed the fraternal correction, he/she
will be dismissed by the Community’s
Council headed by the President.
50.
Misbehavior will be given disciplinary action like suspension or dismissal
according to the weight of misconduct. The Community’s Council can give
disciplinary action or in special cases, the Adviser of the Carmel Youth
community.
.
The
Statutes of Carmel Youth Philippines will serve as guidelines. Local Carmel
Youth community may have their own internal rules and policies that would help
their particular community. Let us
always remember, a Carmel Youth is first and foremost the child of the
Christian Family and Community. Therefore, it is his/her duty to support and
build a Christian environment wherever he/she may be at home or in the
community he/she serves.
Carmel Youth Philippines
God,
our Loving Father, in the name of Jesus, Your Son, I come before you today, to
express my great desire to follow You and commit myself to You in the Carmelite
Youth.
I
humbly ask You, dear Lord, to strengthen my will to follow You so that I may be
a faithful witness of Your loving presence in the world today.
May
Mary, our Lady, Patroness, Sister and Mother help me to learn to love and serve
God and the Church in imitation of Saints of Carmel.
Amen.
Accepted
on the ___ day of ____________, 200_, at the _______________________,
______________, ____________.
____________________________
Printed Name
& Signature
Accepted by:
Rev. Fr.
Christian B. Buenafe, O.Carm.
Convener
O.Carm. Youth
Ministry Committee- Philippines
-
The Coordinator (or Leader) of
Carmel Youth- Tanay Community will call the names of the members of the
community, As individual name is called, he/she will say: “ Here I am Lord”. Then, each one will genuflect at the center aisle and go forward towards the altar.
-
The presider will greet them
and will ask them to profess the Act of Commitment.
-
The presider will bless the
Carmelite seal/pin:
Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and love.
People: And grant us your salvation.
Priest: Dearly
beloved brothers and sisters, let us pray to God, the almighty and loving
Father that we may be transformed into Christ’s image through the devout use of
this sign, the Carmelite seal, as symbol of our Carmel community and family.
May the Lord in his love and mercy cherish and reinforce
with his + blessing this Carmelite seal/pin as token of our identity, devotion
and piety. So that we may take up the course of the present life without
offending anybody and we may attain eternal life with joy, through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
- (The
priest will bless the Carmelite pins with the holy water.)
-
The preside will now put on
the Carmelite pin upon the individual member.
-
The presider will now ask the
congregation to affirm and acknowledge the newly accepted members of Carmel
Youth Philippines through a warm applause.
The members will face the congregation and acknowledge the people.