Winter 2007
On a semi-annual basis the Institute of Carmelite Studies meets in plenary session, bringing together as many of our 10 members as can be present. This year we managed to get in one of the two slated convocations, and we met in the Carmelite friary at Brighton, Massachusetts.
It is worth recalling that the parent organization of ICS Publications is the Institute of Carmelite Studies or ICS. In its history (described briefly back in the Fall 2006 issue of these News Notes) the Institute started out on the proverbial “wing and a prayer” and a lot of good will, but without much financial resources. Only after a number of years, when it issued its book The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross in the Kavanaugh/Rodriguez translation, did the publishing story of this Carmelite venture begin in earnest.
At the Brighton meeting the Institute expressed its satisfaction over news of the completion of Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh’s translation work as he published this year the 2nd volume of The Letters of St. Teresa of Avila (see the previous News Notes, Fall 2007). The members also took stock of other writing projects underway by members for ICS Publications: Fr. Steven Payne’s editing of the Plays of St. Thérèse; a new book typescript by Fr. Marc Foley as well as work on a study edition of The Ascent/Dark Night of St. John of the Cross; work on St. Thérèse’s Story of a Soul by the respected Belgian scholar Fr. Conrad de Meester; and an upcoming study edition of The Interior Castle by Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh. Several other contributions lie “in pectore” -- we look forward to their taking shape and eventually appearing with our logo. (In a few months a new inspirational treatment of The Interior Castle by Dr. Susan Muto will be delivered to our warehouse for sale to the public.)
Further reflection by the Institute as Institute will be taking place concerning its function and role among the Carmelites of the Washington Province, our ultimate guiding institution. Many are the hats we all wear as friar members of that Province, and advancing age for us all (who escapes it, anyway?) is exerting an influence on our view of the future. There might well be more reporting in this News Notes feature about developments as they unfold. Assuming your continued interest in us, we ask you to please keep us in your prayers so that any eventual decisions taken will only enhance the service we hope to render a public eager for good literature about Carmel . Our sales figures are reassuring. That means the public’s good will is not lacking; nor have we diminished our desire to keep producing texts capable of assisting and nourishing you in your spiritual quest.
Front Row: Marc Foley, Emmanuel Sullivan, Kieran Kavanaugh
Back Row: John Sullivan, Daniel Chowning, Lawrence Sullivan,
Salvatore Sciurba, Kevin Culligan,
(Away on assignment: George Mangiaracina and Steven Payne)
The following texts ought to acquaint you better with the activities we engage in.
Mission Statement for the Institute of Carmelite Studies
The Institute of Carmelite Studies is an organization of the Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, under the jurisdiction of the same province’s Provincial Council. Our goal is to promote Carmelite studies. To accomplish our goal we commit ourselves to form a nucleus of Carmelite scholars engaged in research and writing; to promote publications, inside or outside our Order, by individuals or groups; to advise persons working on Carmelite topics; and to conduct conferences, seminars, and programs in Carmelite studies.
Mission Statement for ICS Publications
ICS Publications is the publishing house of the Institute of Carmelite Studies, and a not-for-profit ministry of the Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, a Roman Catholic religious community to which the members of the Institute belong. We specialize in works on the history and spirituality of Carmel, sharing the riches of the Carmelite tradition with English-language audiences.
