World Human Rights Day of Prayer falls within the season of Advent, when Christians enter into the experience of longing: longing for Truth, for Freedom, for Peace, for Love…for the experience of all that gives meaning to human life. We pray with Mary and Joseph and their Child seeking shelter in a violent land during violent times. We pray especially for all child migrants who are most vulnerable and voiceless.
The Carmelite NGO has produced a book of prayers, songs and reflections for you to use for this year's celebration of World Human Rights day.
History will be made in a few days time when our 10 novices in Timor-Leste will make their first vows as Carmelites.
They will form the largest group of novices to make their first vows in the history of the Carmelite Province of Australia and Timor-Leste. The last big group was in 1963 when 8 novices made their frist vows together in Australia.
Last week we held our annual Mass and High Tea to thank our donors for their generosity. Almost 70 people attended. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) celebrated the Mass at St Joseph's, Port Melbourne (VIC). Frs Pat Harney, Maurice Barry, Paul Sireh and Januario Pinto concelebrated and Br Sean Keefe and Fr Michael Brundell joined the group for the presentations and High Tea.
Thank you to all our friends who generously support the life and work of the Carmelites in Australia and Timor-Leste.
Work is proceeding well on the new toilet and shower block for our 27 boarding house students in Zumalai, thanks mainly to the generosity of students, teachers, families and parishioners of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish and School in Coorparoo (QLD). The project is expected to cost around $30,000.00. The boarding house enables children from outlying villages in the huge parish to attend school in Zumalai.
If you would like to contribute to this project please contact our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Carmelites, Passionists and Blessed Sacrament Congregation have joined together to promote vocations at stand 98 during the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney from 7-9 December.
Fr Martinho Da Costa and Br Matthew Tonini are representing the Carmelites. Our new vocations brochure will be available at the Festival or by mail from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can see the brochure here.
Remarkably, another 3,826 people have joined our Facebook family in the last month, bringing the total number of followers to 85,469!
We post stories, photos and videos about the life and work of Carmelites in Australia and Timor-Leste, Carmelite Spirituality, prayers, reflections and contemporary events.
Why not join our family? Find us on Facebook @carmelitesAET and click on ‘follow’ so you can see all our posts in your news feed.
Whitefriars College students are taking a stance in preventing violence against women.
Each year on White Ribbon Day people are encouraged to wear a white ribbon and paint one fingernail white as a symbol of their oath never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
It is sobering to think that, on average, one woman dies each week as the result of male inflicted domestic violence.
How do the people of any nation cope with the aftermath of many years of the brutality of invasion, war, massacre and oppression?
Several countries have worked very hard to bring people to a sense of peace through a community process of healing.
Pat Walsh reflects on the process and spirituality of truth and reconciliation in Timor Leste.
Springs of Carmel, Peter Slattery's straightforward and succinct explanation of the Carmelite tradition, is now available from Amazon as an eBook.
Springs of Carmel is a refreshing account of the Carmelite spiritual tradition and the important people who have shaped its history.
Order from Amazon Australia | Amazon US | Amazon UK, Ireland & Europe
Since 2001 the Carmelites have been committed to serving the people of Timor-Leste. As an integral part of the Carmelite family, Whitefriars is committed to the opportunities to support their work. This Timor-Leste Immersion experience allows students to live in the Carmelite communities of Hera and Zumalai. Here, the students become immersed in and open to the transformative experience of living in another culture.
