Host left at home of Lay Carmelite Pioneer
Dozens of Bishops from across Australia gathered to celebrate Mass on 6 May, 2018 at St Patrick’s, Church Hill to mark the 200th anniversary of the preservation of the Blessed Sacrament in the home of Lay Carmelite, James Dempsey. \
Father Jeremiah O’Flynn arrived in Sydney as unofficial chaplain to the Catholic community at the end of 1817. When after six months no official papers for him had arrived, he was deported. Whether by accident or design, he left a consecrated host behind in a pyx in either the home of William Davis or James Dempsey (or possibly both), according to The Catholic Weekly.
Award honours Lay Carmelite Pioneer
A new award from the Archdiocese of Sydney honours Lay Carmelite pioneer James Dempsey. Together with fellow Carmelite Tertiary, John Butler, Dempsey was virtually the centre of Catholic life from 1810-1820 when there were no priests in the fledgling colony.
The medal is awarded to recognise people who have made an outstanding contribution in the context of their local parish. It will be presented for the first time on Sunday 16 July, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney.
