Our oceans are on the rise. In Polar Regions climate change explodes glaciers. In all parts of the earth, as temperatures soar, oceans get hotter and expand. Global sea levels have gone up and up over the last century especially in recent decades. In 2018 global mean sea level was 8.1 centimetres above the 1993 average – the highest annual average on record. This has profound effects all over the world as 8 out of 10 of the world’s largest cities are near a coast. What can be done to fight land loss? This is part 1 of a 2 part series from the Carmelite NGO. Part 1 explores the effects in Louisiana. Part 2 (to be published in June) will look at what is happening in Indonesia. Watch the video

"I would like to invite you to participate in Laudato Si' Week from 16-24 May," Pope Francis said in his video message. We’re living through history-shaping events. Laudato Si’ teaches us how to build a better world–together. People everywhere are crying out for hope, and our faith is urgently needed to light the way. For Laudato Si’ Week, 16-24 May, Catholics are uniting in solidarity for a more just and sustainable future.

Stand united with our brothers and sisters in faith as we grow through the crisis of this moment to build a better tomorrow. Read more about how to participate & watch the video.

This Sunday the Gospel is Luke’s wonderful story about the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. It is a heart-warming story and we can easily identify with the two disciples feeling crushed by the weight of their shattered dreams. They don’t believe the story of the women that Jesus is alive. They don’t recognise the stranger when he walks beside them. Perhaps that’s because they are so involved in their own hurt and disappointment, and doesn’t that sometimes happen to us, too? Read more | Go to our Celebrating At Home page

Celebrating At Home Third Sunday of Easter PDF Format
Celebrating At Home Third Sunday of Easter iPhone & iPad

Like so many other occasions recently, this ANZAC Day will be different for us. We are unable to have all the usual ways in which we would remember, acknowledge and pray for our Armed Forces who served and died in war and on operational service, especially those who died at Gallipoli in 1915. The qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice, so obvious among the Australian soldiers then, continue to inspire us. In our current crisis we have seen that generosity, sense of mateship and great self-sacrifice for the good of the community again and again. We have prepared a short Remembrance prayer you can use either on your own or with your family.

Celebrating At Home on ANZAC Day PDF format   |   Celebrating At Home on ANZAC Day iPhone & iPad

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on 22 April to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. The Carmelite NGO will celebrate Earth Day with a Mass celebrated by Fr Hariawan Adji, OCarm. There is also an introduction by Fr Eduardo Agosta Scarel, OCarm. More story

We thought you might enjoy this video of our students and novices in Hera, Timor-Leste, singing a Portuguese Easter song. The video was recorded in the Chapel at Hera and features Fr Bruce Clark (Prior), 25 professed students (in their white cloaks) and 3 novices (in brown). The words on the wall next to the crucifix are: Jesus has risen from the dead, Alleluia. The traditional Portuguese hymn is called: Hymn to Christ Risen. Thank you, brothers!

Watch the video

In today’s Gospel reading there are two stories of transformation through encounter with the risen Jesus. Firstly, Jesus appears to a group of frightened and bewildered disciples hiding in a room. His first words are, ‘Peace be with you’. Fear and bewilderment turn into joy as the disciples recognise the presence of the Risen Jesus with them. But that’s not all.... Read more

Celebrating At Home for Second Sunday of Easter PDF Format
Celebrating At Home Second Sunday of Easter for iPhone & iPad

Even in these strange and difficult times we want to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Easter. This is an Easter like we have never had before. Without our usual celebrations with family and friends it can feel very empty indeed. For the first time in years many of us will be on our own. So we just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you and we have you in our prayers, not just today, but every day. Resurrection is all about death giving way to life, the impossible becoming possible, absence becoming presence.

Celebrating At Home on Easter Sunday PDF Format   |   Celebrating At Home on Easter Sunday for your iPhone or iPad

The tour of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents may have been suspended during the coronavirus crisis but don't miss this opportunity to learn more about this fascinating woman. Bernadette Micallef, from The Carmelite Centre, has produced two online resources. The first deals with her pdf family background and early life as a Carmelite. (1.45 MB) The second presentation explores pdf the message of Thérèse known as her (470 KB) pdf little way. (470 KB)

You can join a zoom conversation on 15 April to share your reflections. Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 9.00am on 15 April so you can be sent an invitation to join our conversation. More story.

The Government of Timor-Leste has moved quickly to close boarders and insist on a 14-day quarantine for all people arriving from overseas. The Archbishop of Dili has cancelled all religious gatherings and all school are now closed. A State of Emergency has been declared and several hundred people are in compulsory quarantine. As of 2 April there is only one confirmed case.

In Zumalai, well ahead of the closure of schools, Brother Antonio was working to strengthen the immune systems of our boarding house students with a plant extract known locally for its medicinal properties. Face masks were also issued to the children and teachers in both the parish primary school and the boarding house. More photos

Dear sisters and brothers,
Thank you to all who are praying with us for our world and its peoples at this challenging time. Here, in our community at Middle Park, we are praying our Prayer in this time of crisis every morning and evening. Please join with us if you can.

See more of today's letter including the video of the Pope's Special Blessing and a reflection for today by Fr Hugh Brown, OCarm.

This issue of our newsletter, Carmel Contact, comes with some good news in this moment of crisis for us all. With what is happening around us it is easy to lose sight of the fact that we are on our journey to Easter - a journey into God's heart. As well as inviting you into a moment of prayer for your loved ones and all who are sick at this time, we share with you our ongoing work for people in Timor-Leste and Australia. Around the country our friends and supporters of many different ages are helping to continue to provide education and support.

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Today Fr Pat Harney turns 99 years young! He has been a Carmelite for nearly 75 years and a priest for 68. Fr Pat is the oldest Carmelite Friars in the world. Over the years, Pat has worked all over Australia and in New Zealand, in Carmelite and Diocesan parishes and hospitals. "I've been everywhere, man!" he loves to quote from the famous song, when asked about his many places of ministry. 

Born in 1921 in Elmore (Victoria), Fr Pat was the second of eight children. He remembers his home life filled with daily rosary, private morning prayer and Sunday Mass. More story & photos

In this time of crisis and uncertainty you might like to join the Carmelites in this prayer for our nation and our world.

Eternal God,
calm the fear in our hearts.
Help us to work together to protect
and look after each other.        Read the whole prayer

Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) has announced the closure of the Carmelite Provincial Centre in Middle Park, together with its associated Fundraising Development, Carmelite Centre and Carmelite Library ministries and that staff will work from home. “We are conscious of supporting our staff as best we can and of helping them to protect their own health and wellbeing and minimising the risks that any of our activities might pose for them or for the people to whom they reach out,” Fr Paul said yesterday. More story & information about Covid-19 from the Australian Government

On this rare occasion I want to address a word of support to all our members who in one way or another are affected by the continuing spread of Covid-19. Here in the Curia we have heard the instructions of the Italian government and we have done our best to follow all the instructions. This has meant saying to our staff that they should not come to work until further instructions. We have organized our life in such a way that none of us will have people coming to the house and no one will leave the house until the ban is lifted, except for emergencies and essential services. We recognize the sacrifice that this entails, but we feel that we have to allow ourselves to be guided by the advice of the experts. Read more

Fr Anthony Scerri represented the Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste at the first Chapter of the General Commissariat of India. Fr Anthony was instrumental in helping to establish the Commissariat during his time as a General Councillor. From a small group of Carmelites, the Commissariat now has 30 Solemnly Professed members and 36 in various stages of formation.

The Commissariat, located in Kerala, is part of our Asia-Australia-Oceania Region of the Order. More photos

“Sainthood doesn’t exist in people doing extraordinary things, but living ordinary lives with extraordinary spirit”, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, said during Mass at the Carmelite parish of Wentworthville (NSW). The mass was celebrated at the end of a day of veneration of the Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents, Sts Louis and Zélie Martin. After Mass the Relics were taken to St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta overnight. More photos

Carmelites must not be afraid to encounter the new and emerging technologies of the millennial age. Rather, they should bring the gift of contemplation into dialogue with the signs of the times so that they can listen together to the Holy Spirit. The final message from the 4th International Congress of Carmelite Laity calls on older Carmelites to accompany young people with confidence and trust. The joy of the Gospel should be evident among those called to live in the presence of the Lord. We need to be optimistic, not afraid. More story & photos | pdf Read the Final Message (292 KB)

When the grief, sadness and anger about where we are today on this earth becomes overwhelming, there is often a felt need to turn to poetry and prayer to remind us of what was, and what could be. To remind us of how we can be - in community - together, with love, justice, and compassion.  In our JPIC March newsletter Peter Thomas of the JPIC team reflects on the many concerns we all are feeling at this time, using poetry and Laudato Si.

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