The Carmelite Order is pleased to announce the new Scientific Committee of the Institutum Carmelitanum, an international academic institution headquartered at the Sant'Alberto International Center in Rome, Italy.

Father Boby Sebastian Tharakkunnel, O. Carm. (Province of St. Thomas, India) has been appointed Dean of the Institutum: in this capacity he will direct, coordinate and promote research and scientific activities for the next six years.

Father Boby was born in Kerala (India) and made his first profession as a Carmelite in 1993. He worked as secretary for the Order's Commission for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation and also as a member of the Order's Commission for Interreligious Dialogue. After obtaining his doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome in 2014, he was a professor of Canon Law and Civil Law, as well as a director of spiritual retreats and personality development courses. He is currently the prior and rector of our minor seminary, “Carmel Nivas,” in Kerala.

Speaking of his appointment, Father Boby said: “It is with joy and humility that I accept the role of president of the Institutum Carmelitanum, eager to honor the legacy of the illustrious Carmelites who have preceded me and to help shape a future of renewal and excellence for this great institution.”.

Father Giovanni Grosso, O. Carm. (Italian Province) has been appointed General Archivist. The General Archive of the Order is located at the International College of St. Albert (Rome). The General Archivist is responsible for the entire documentary heritage and is in charge of the custody, organisation, restoration, consultation and enhancement of the material preserved in the Archive.

Father Maximilianus Kolbe Agung Wahyudianto, O. Carm. (Indonesian Province) has been appointed general librarian. In addition to a small general section, the Carmelite General Library has a specifically Carmelite section, which collects all publications by Carmelite authors or those dealing with Carmelite themes. As general librarian, Father Maximilianus will be responsible for the organization, preservation, updating, consultation, and promotion of the library.

Father Mario Loya, O. Carm. (PCM Province) has been appointed secretary of the Institutum Carmelitanum. In this role, Father Mario will help coordinate the Institutum's activities, particularly its publishing activities.

Father Jakub Walczak, O. Carm. (Polish Province) continues his activity as a bibliographer.

Father Michael Plattig, O. Carm. (German province) continues in its role as director of Carmelus, the academic journal of the Institutum Carmelitanum. Carmelus It is a multilingual journal of scientific articles, accompanied by an annual bibliography on Carmelite spirituality, theology, history, and biography, together with other important works for researchers and students in the field of Carmelite studies.

The Institutum Carmelitanum's mission is to promote the spiritual heritage of Carmel throughout the Order and the modern world. It was founded in 1951 by the then Prior General, Kilian Lynch, to promote studies, particularly in the fields of Carmelite history, Mariology, and spirituality, and is now expanding into other fields. Over the years, it has edited several publications, including the aforementioned scholarly journal. Carmelus.