In this Sunday’s Gospel we accompany the man who was born blind on his journey into the light. The first thing we read in the full version of this Gospel is that Jesus announces that the man is sinless – he has been born blind so that God’s glory can be seen at work in him. Then Jesus gives the blind man sight. Notice that the man didn’t ask to be healed – this is Jesus’ initiative, taking the first step and reaching out in love. That’s how Jesus approaches us, too.

pdf Celebrating At Home 4th Sunday in Lent [PDF] (1017 KB)
default Celebrating At Home 4th Sunday in Lent [ePub] (3.56 MB)

A conference on Titus Brandsma will take place at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands on October 3-6, 2023. The program brings together scholars from various parts of the world who will present on the multi-faceted life and work of Brandsma. The number of participants is limited to 30, providing an opportunity for all to become involved in the discussions.

On January 8 Carmelites celebrate the Feast of St Peter Thomas.

Congratulations to five of our brothers who graduated from the Institute of Philosophy of Saint Francis de Sales (Salesian Institute), Comoro Dili, Timor Leste, on 16 December.

Fr Wayne Stanhope has taken up a new ministry in Pastoral Supervision in the Diocese of Wollongong. Pastoral Supervision is a service offered to those involved in ministry to reflect on their practice in order to gain a broader perspective and discover possibilities for personal and professional growth. Wayne recently completed a graduate diploma in pastoral supervision and will provide a sacramental presence for the Benedictine nuns and the local people at Jamberoo Abbey, NSW.

During Mass on Sunday 4 December at St Elias Community in Hera, Timor-Leste, 6 young Carmelites received the ministry of Lector (Brs Calisto, Pedro, Zebedeu, Aleixo, Donanciano & Gaudencio) and 4 received the ministry of Acolyte (Brs Samuel, Joao Caunan, Jonias and Lucas).

Fr Bruce Clark was the principal celebrant and the homily was given by Fr Carlito da Costa Araujo. Fr Roque S. Da Cruz also concelebrated and Br Narcizio Vilanova Da Costa was the deacon.

On Sunday 4 November the Carmelite Family gathered at St Elias Community in Hera for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr Bruce Clark. Fr Bruce is returning to Australia to take up his role as newly elected Prior Provincial after living in Timor-Leste for the last 10 years. During that time, he has served as Novice Master, Prior, Director of Formation and the Provincial’s representative in Timor-Leste. A large crowd of Friars, sisters and members of the Carmelite Family gathered to mark the occasion and express their gratitude for Fr Bruce’s presence and ministry in Timor-Leste.

"Thank You Fr. Bruce Clark, may the Lord Bless you always in your task as a Prior Provincial. We Pray always for you!" - Carmelite Community in Timor-Leste

During the recent Chapter meeting the Carmelites established a new ministry in Timor-Leste. The Carmelite Retreat and Youth Training Centre will offer retreats and programs in spirituality as well as training courses in English language, IT, Safeguarding, Care for the Environment, Fraud and Corruption Control, Children’s’ Rights and Press Freedom & Social Justice.

Every three years the Carmelites are called to a Chapter where all positions are relinquished and new or renewed appointments are made. And so it is that the Australia & Timor Leste Province has concluded its Chapter and our Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Commission becomes open to a new team.

After 13 years on this team I will no longer be serving in this ministry acknowledging that it is time for a change, but grateful that the passion is still burning for God’s work in helping to make the world a better place. It has been enlivening and a privilege to bring before you the need for all of us to live out our faith in justice and in peace, as demonstrated with the vision and inspiring words of Pope Francis’, captured so beautifully in ‘Let us Dream’. 

pdf JPIC Newsletter No. 121 December 2022 (1.83 MB)

Dear Carmelites and Friends of Carmel,

With less than a year to go to the World Youth Day, excitement is increasing, and we are beginning to feel that we have to get moving to get organised. There is a great expectation that there will be an enormous attendance at this next World Youth Day.

When we hear the name Portugal we often think of Fatima and of the many beautiful events Carmelites have had there over the years. This time Portugal means Lisbon, a beautiful city in which there have been Carmelite communities since 1387. The Carmelites in Portugal are getting ready to welcome the participants at the Carmelite Day that will take place on the 2nd August 2023, the day before the main event.

16 young Carmelites in Timor-Leste recently renewed their vows to follow the Carmelite Way for another year. Brs Antonio Junias da Gloria, João Batista Caunan, Lucas dos Santos Martins, Samuel Lopes, Bonifacio Bragança Lopes, Caetano Soares da Silva, Celestino Soares, Elias Soares Sin, Fernando Gusmão, Jacob dos Reis de Carvalho, João Fernando Cabal, Paulo Martins de Araújo, Estavão de Deus Gomes, Julião Dos Santos and David Soares made their vows during Mass celebrated by Fr Carlito da Costa Araújo, Provincial Delegate for Timor-Leste. Br Francisco Xavirius Vieira Martins renewed his vows in a separate ceremony in Hatolia parish. Congratulations, Brothers! More photos

The Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste were due to meet in Melbourne last July. Due to COVID lockdowns and travel restrictions it was decided that the Assembly should be held in 2 sessions, one in Timor-Leste and one in Australia. Last week almost 40 Carmelites gathered in Hera, Dili, from 15-17 September. Next week, Carmelites in Australia will gather on Zoom from 28-30 September. More story

On the 9 days before the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July), we pray for the needs of our Carmelite Family in Australia and Timor-Leste. Last year, in the midst of COVID-19, we included the people of the world in our novena of prayer. The novena can be prayed at any time of the year for the intentions below or for your own intentions asking Our Lady of Mount Carmel to intercede and pray with us. The prayers and intentions can be downloaded pdf here (2.32 MB) .

The Gospel this Sunday shows us that the sheep (us) are at the centre of the life of Jesus and the Father! Jesus gives his all for them. He is a true shepherd prepared to lay down his life for his sheep. He is not like the hired man who runs away when danger appears. He knows his sheep and one day will gather them all into one flock. Read more

Celebrating At Home Fourth Sunday of Easter [PDF]
Celebrating At Home Fourth Sunday of Easter [ePub]

The Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste joyfully announce that Br Matthew Tonini will be ordained Priest and Br Agedo Bento will be ordained Deacon on Saturday 17 April at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park (Vic). Archbishop Peter Comensoli will ordain them during Mass at 6.00pm. Br Matthew will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving in the same Church the next day at 10.30am. More story

On the last day of her visit to Melbourne, Timor-Leste Ambassador Inês Maria de Almeida and her delegation met with Carmelites, Timorese Carmelite and Salesian Brothers, students and members of the Timorese community at the Carmelite Community, Middle Park (VIC). The Ambassador also met with a young Timorese seasonal worker who was hospitalised soon after he arrived in March 2019. Fr Hugh Brown, the Carmelites and Timor-Leste Association have been caring for the worker since his discharge from hospital earlier this year. Ambassador Inês expressed her gratitude for the immense generosity of Fr Hugh, the parish of Port Melbourne/Middle Park and the Carmelites in caring for seasonal workers in need of pastoral care. See photos

Fr Fernando Millán Romeral, Carmelite Prior General, has issued a letter and video message to the Carmelite Family for the approaching Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 16 July.

Read the letter from the Prior General

Watch the video message

Fr Fernando Millián (Prior General of the Carmelites) has written a special message to the whole Order as we approach the Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

In his letter, Fr Fernando looks at what 3 great Carmelite figures says about Mary: St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi, Blessed Baptist of Mantua and Blessed Titus Brandsma.

Click here to read & download Fr Fernando's message.

For the third time in recent weeks, Pope Francis has appointed a Carmelite as Bishop. Fr Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan has been appointed Bishop of Malang (Indonesia). Congratulations, Henricus!

Fr Henricus made his profession in the Order on 15 January 1976 and was ordained priest on 7 February 1982. Since 2012 he has been president of the “Philosophical and Theological Higher Institute ‘Widya Sasana’”. A noted theologian and Biblical expert, Fr Henricus succeeds Bishop Herman Joseph Creed Pandoyoputro (also a Carmelite) who has been Bishop of Malang since 1989.

Fifty members of the Carmelite Family in Australia will gather this week in Melbourne. Friars, Lay Carmelites, and representatives from The Carmelite Centre, Melbourne, the Carmelite Library, Whitefriars College, Port Melbourne/Middle Park Parish, Coorparoo Parish, Sancta Sophia Meditation Community, the Carmelite Development Office and the Provincial Office will gather at St Joseph's Hall, Port Melbourne, for the 2015 Provincial Assembly.

Over the first 2 days (2 & 3 June) we will listen to 5 people share their experience of Carmelite Life and Spirituality - Friar, Januario Pinto, Lay Carmelite, Chris Wade, former Whitefriars College student, Nicholas Soraghan, Port Melbourne/Middle Park parishioner Margaret Fagan and Carmelite Centre associate Nancy De Losa.

"We will have the opportunity to listen to these stories and what they may be saying to us in terms of the strength and vitality of various experiences of Carmelite life and what challenges they may hold for the future, said Fr Hugh Brown, Chair of the Commission for Ongoing Formation and the Promotion of Carmelite Life & Spirituality.