Carmelite Communications

Sancta Sophia celebrates 21 years

2017SSPWeb200 The Sancta Sophia Meditation Community at Warburton is celebrating 21 years supporting people on their spiritual journey and promoting inter-religious dialogue.

In 1996 Fr Ken Petersen, OCarm and Sr Kathleen Murphy, OP established Sancta Sophia. Over the past 21 years, Sancta Sophia has offered retreats, prayer days, spiritual direction and hosted a variety of events promoting inter-religious dialogue.

You can pdf download this year's program here.

JPIC Newsletter - March 2017

JPICNewsletterWeb200x150 Our focus this month highlights the dignity and value of our elderly citizens, as encouraged by our Australian Catholic Bishops and Pope Francis: The culture of relativism is the same disorder which drives one person to take advantage of another, to treat others as mere objects, imposing forced labour on them or enslaving them to pay their debts. The same kind of thinking leads to the sexual exploitation of children and abandonment of the elderly who no longer serve our interests. Laudato Si #122

Visit our JPIC page | Download this issue

Congratulations, Bishop Greg!

2017BGHWeb200 Fr Greg Homeming, OCD, was ordained Bishop this evening and took up his appointment as 6th Bishop of Lismore. Bishop Greg was serving as Regional Vicar of the Discalced Carmelites when his appointment was announced in December.

The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste warmly congratulate Bishop Greg.

Read the full story of Bishop Greg's Ordination here.

Carmelites

Carmelites work with communities in Australia and Timor-Leste (East Timor) helping people to transform their lives.

Community speaks of trust and relationships with one another, and the Carmelites' commitment to strengthen and support all those who are part of our family within Australia and Timor-Leste.

Prayer speaks to the heart of what is Carmelite: our relationship with God. Through liturgy and prayer Carmelites are committed to supporting and sustaining you on your spiritual journey.

Service speaks to the Carmelite attitude of responding positively to the needs of the people we serve; empowering and accompanying them in their experiences and in their faith.

WHO ARE WE

Carmelites have a tradition spanning eight centuries originating in the 1190's in the Holy Land with the first Carmelites arriving in Australia in 1802.

Since arriving in Australia The Carmelites have been actively involved with Australian communities through parish ministry, schools, spirituality and retreat centres, and library offering pastoral and spiritual companionship to people.

Since 2001 The Carmelites have been supporting the people of Timor-Leste both spiritually and through assisting in the reconstruction of their communities. Through the friendships that have been established we aim to empower the Timorese people to rebuild their own communities and help them recover from the hurt of their painful past.

THE CARMELITES IN TIMOR-LESTE

Timor-Leste is the poorest country in the Asia Pacific region and a very close neighbour to Australia. The Timorese people have lived through traumatic experiences and our help is needed to assist them on the journey from despair to living richer fuller lives.

Our mission in Timor-Leste is to:

Educate young men to become Carmelites and work within their communities

Educate students, through offering scholarships and traineeships

Train young people in skills to gain employment in industries

Refurbish essential buildings eg; schools, youth centres

Provide training and equipment to assist in agricultural programs

Provide safe drinking water

Offer Sacramental Programs for communities

Provide pastoral and spiritual companionship for life's journey

You can help with our mission by becoming involved and helping us to give others the opportunity for a better life.

THE CARMELITES IN AUSTRALIA

In Australia Carmelites work in a variety of areas serving communities and offering their prayer and companionship

Our Ministries involve

Running a Catholic College for boys

Administering parishes around Australia

Supporting lay men and women to live a reflective life

Providing pastoral support to those suffering in our communities

Working as chaplains in hospitals and schools to support people at their most vulnerable

Providing a theological resource in The Carmelite Library for academics and those seeking a deeper meaning in life

Offering courses through The Carmelite Centre which supports people in their life journey

Spirituality and retreat centre for spiritual healing which offer a place for reflection and pastoral care

Offering a reflective place at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel where people can share together through companionship and prayer

HOW THE CARMELITES CAN SUPPORT YOU

At times each one of us is challenged by the pain and hurt that our life journey brings. It is at times like this that The Carmelites offer companionship, hope and a place to share faith which can help give great strength during these difficult times.

The Carmelites offer their prayer and companionship through five special Masses celebrated throughout the year at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Each of these Masses provide opportunities for people to come together in prayer to give thanks, to pray for healing and to remember loved ones.

Carmelite Mass Celebrations

Mothers– for all mothers living and deceased (July)

Remembrance – for deceased relatives and friends (November)

Christmas – for all your needs and intentions (December)

Each of these masses is open to all either by attendance or by responding with personal intentions.

Carmelite Prayer Cards

When family and friends become ill, lose their job, have a relationship break-down or suddenly find themselves alone, it is comforting to know that they have the support of their family, friends and – people like The Carmelites.

The Carmelites provide beautiful reflective prayer cards which can be sent on these occasions to assure those you care for of The Carmelites' prayers and your love and support for them. Because these cards are exclusive to The Carmelites each person who receives one will receive a beautiful unique gift and card.

We have prayer cards for

Healing and Peace for those who are sick

A gift of Prayer for any occasion

Spiritual support for those going through physical or emotional struggles

Sympathy and Mass for those recently deceased

Special Occasion for birthdays, anniversaries and special days

pdf Carmelite Prayer Card Order Form (952 KB)

GET INVOLVED

The Carmelites undertake many activities which support and serve the community both in Australia and East Timor. We invite you to become involved and help us to raise awareness and funds to support these services.

Become a member of The Carmelites and receive

Our newsletter ‘Carmel Contact' FREE

which features articles of reflection and meditation as well as updates on the life and work of The Carmelites in Australia and East Timor .

Invitations to participate in the Masses at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Mass cards to forward to family and friends

Invitations to attend special gatherings and major events

Purchase goods which help us raise money for Timor-Leste

Timorese organic coffee

Tias [traditional woven cloth]

Recycle bags

Occasional cards

Christmas cards

If you would like to join us, purchase goods or find out more, please contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Carmelite Province Centre
75 Wright Street
Middle Park Vic 3206
Telephone: 03 9690 8822

Lectio Divina

Download Lectio Divina for each day of this month

lectiodivina 350 q5 The Bible is the Word of God which is always alive and active, always new. Lectio Divina is a traditional way of praying the Scriptures so that the Word of God may penetrate our hearts and that we may grow in an intimate relationship with the Lord. It is a very natural way of prayer and was developed and practised by the early monks and thus came to the first Carmelite hermits.

For some centuries reading the Bible in one's own language was rather frowned upon and this led to a lessening of the practice of Lectio Divina. Thankfully in recent years, along with the whole Church, the Carmelite Order has rediscovered the importance of Lectio Divina as a privileged way of growing in the relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the practice of Lectio Divina, as individuals and as community, we leave space for God's Word to transform us so that we may begin to look upon our world as it were with the eyes of God and to love what we see with the heart of God.

"Lectio Divina", a Latin term, means "divine reading" and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us.

In the 12th century, a Carthusian monk called Guigo, described the stages which he saw as essential to the practice of Lectio Divina. There are various ways of practising Lectio Divina either individually or in groups but Guigo's description remains fundamental.

He said that the first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God, slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can be used for this way of prayer but the passage should not be too long.

The second stage is meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate upon it so that we take from it what God wants to give us.

The third stage is oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. This response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of God.

lectiodivina insta01 350 The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us with a still small voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from within. Obviously this transformation will have a profound effect on the way we actually live and the way we live is the test of the authenticity of our prayer. We must take what we read in the Word of God into our daily lives.

These stages of Lectio Divina are not fixed rules of procedure but simply guidelines as to how the prayer normally develops. Its natural movement is towards greater simplicity, with less and less talking and more listening. Gradually the words of Scripture begin to dissolve and the Word is revealed before the eyes of our heart. How much time should be given to each stage depends very much on whether it is used individually or in a group. If Lectio Divina is used for group prayer, obviously more structure is needed than for individual use. In group prayer, much will depend on the type of group. Lectio Divina may involve discussing the implications of the Word of God for daily life but it cannot be reduced to this. The movement of the prayer is towards silence. If the group is comfortable with silence, more time could be spent resting in the Word.

The practice of Lectio Divina as a way of praying the Scriptures has been a fruitful source of growing in relationship with Christ for many centuries and in our own day is being rediscovered by many individuals and groups. The Word of God is alive and active and will transform each of us if we open ourselves to receive what God wants to give us.

Join our Lectio Online group

We meet every Friday at 10am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) [You are welcome to join from other time zones, eg. Perth/Singapore/Philippines: 7am; Timor-Leste/Tokyo: 8am; New Zealand: 12pm; Los Angeles: Thursday 4pm; New York/Toronto: Thursday 7pm] to prayerfully reflect on the Gospel of the coming Sunday. Complete the form below to register.

Download our Lectio Divina images to share on Social Media

Click thumbnail images below to enlarge.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.carmelites.org.au/itemlist/user/718-carmelitecommunications?limit=10&start=870#sigProId061537aa3b