Among the four women religious canonised by Pope Francis on 17 May was Discalced Carmelite nun, Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified. She is the first Carmelite nun from the Middle East.

Born in Galilee, Mary lived in Egypt, Lebanon, France and India and her short life came to an end in Bethlehem. She is a bridge between the Christians of the East and West.

Miriam Baouardy was born in Galilee on 5 January 1846 to Greek parents of the Melkite Rite.

Adelaide Lay Carmelites met for a one day retreat on St Teresa of Avila on Sunday 17 May. Held at the Passionist Monastery, Glen Osmond, the retreat day was led by Fr Paul Gurr, OCarm, Provincial Delegate for the Lay Carmelites. During Mass Majella Partridge made her first profession as a Lay Carmelite. The 14 members of the community also elected a new Community Council: Keith Belton (Prior), Jim Brewster, Maureen Kerrigan and Angela Zakarias.

Brs. Avelino Dos Santos, Anacleto Guterres da Costa and Abrão De Jesus, 3 student friars from Timor Leste, recently attended the gathering of Carmelite student friars from the Asia-Australia-Oceania region in Manila, Philippines, together with Fr Roque Soares.

The Regional Student Gathering was organised by the Carmelites of the Province of Blessed Titus Brandsma, Phillipines. It took place from 27 April to 2 May 2015.

Fr Noel's family, the Carmelites of Australia and Timor Leste and the Whitefriars College community bid farewell to Fr Vincent Noel Kierce in a number of gatherings following his sudden death on 9 May.

Click on Read More for details and photos of the Memorial Mass and the Guard of Honour at Whitefriars College and Fr Noel's Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, Middle Park. Links to Fr Laurie Timms' homily at the Funeral Mass and to the Whitefriars College tribute page are also there.

The Whitefriars College community will gather at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening 13 May for a Mass of thanksgiving for Fr Noel's life and to celebrate his contribution to the life of the College for more than 40 years.

Fr Noel's Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, cnr Richardson and Wright Streets, Middle Park at 11.00am on Friday 15 May.

You are warmly welcome to attend both these celebrations.

With deep sadness the Carmelites of Australia and East Timor announce the death of Whitefriars College Chaplain, Fr Vincent Noel Kierce.

Fr Noel died peacefully in his sleep today. He was 79 years old and had been a Carmelite for 60 years and a priest for 54.

Born in Melbourne in 1935 Fr Noel joined the Carmelites in 1954 and was ordained a priest on 6 January 1961.