This year’s theme for the “2008 All-Student Gathering” focused on “global warming” from a Carmelite perspective. It was an opportunity for each student in initial formation as well as our Whitefriars Hall formators to reflect on how “green” is Carmel. Our presenters were the Carmelite Sisters from the Baltimore Carmel. For almost three years, this community of sisters has been actively working to promote, both individually and with the local outside community, the importance of care for our planet Earth.

Those attending the gathering included the students from the two pre-novitiate houses from Chicago (Most Pure Heart of Mary Province) and Harrison, New Jersey (Saint Elias Province); the novices from Middletown, New York; internship students, and Whitefriars Hall students. Also attending were Brother Jesus Larios (from Casa del Carmen in Mexico City) and Nathaniel Lastra (from our new theologate house in El Salvador).

The gathering opened with Vespers in the Whitefriars Hall chapel on Thursday, January 3. After prayers, we all gathered around for recreation, followed by supper at 6 o’clock. Our first presentation was a video documentary entitled, “An Inconvenient Truth” by former U.S. Vice-President, Al Gore. His approach to global warming is not necessarily from a political standpoint, but a call for each citizen of the world to realize the magnitude of the problem. The documentary prepared us for the next day’s presentation.

Our day on Friday began with holy Eucharist. Next, we watched a forty-five minutes PBS video, “Dimming the Sun” produced by David Sington. Sington offers his personal take on why many people remain skeptical about global warming. Again, this video helped us to share our input in small groups about the topic. After lunch, Sister Fran Horner, OCD, presented a talk, “Input: Theology of Beauty.” Horner’s talk helped us reflect on the connectedness of Carmel spirituality, and how each one of us is called to continue caring for both the world and its people. Our last activity before recreation and supper was a Pilgrimage of Prayer/Lectio Divina. The focus of this exercise was to see where each student was at with this topic, and what can be done in response to global warming. The rest of the evening was free for the students to visit with each other.

On Saturday morning, students and formators had the opportunity to share in a larger setting about their experiences in the different levels of formation. This meeting gave us a sense of caring for each other, be it spiritually, physically and emotionally, which in turn helped us feel part of the larger Carmelite community. After lunch, different groups went on a three-hour tour around the DC area, including the Immaculate Conception National Shrine and the Washington Mall, with its monuments and museums. Meanwhile, a more dynamic group went bowling. The Gathering came to a finish that evening, with the celebration of the Mass on the eve of the Epiphany of the Lord. Our presider, Father Ray Maher, O.Carm., did a wonderful job saying the prayers in Spanish and English. The musicians, the readings and the full participation of all the students from all levels of initial formation made this an excellent celebration of the holy Eucharist.

Sunday was, for most of the students, a day to return to their various houses, which meant airport trips and farewells. For some of us, the students of Whitefriars Hall, this was our last free day before beginning the Spring semester the following morning. All in all, everyone enjoyed coming together once again to reconnect, to share our ministry experiences, and to “go green.” See you all next year in 2009!