The Final Message from the 2019 General Chapter has just been released. Among the points addressed in the message are: The global nature of the Order, passing on the Tradition, living the Carmelite charism today, responding to new situations in the world, the mystical dimension of Carmelite life, tenderness and compassion, the Carmelite Family and continuing the journey in hope.

  pdf Read the Final Message (221 KB)

Recently, 18 current and past students, who have received a scholarship from the Carmelites, gathered together for the first ever Scholarship Student Retreat at our community in Hera.

While some students live with their families in Dili, or the Carmelite communities in Hera or Fatuhada, several past students travelled from their rural villages to participate in the retreat. The day was facilitated by Br Agostinho Dos Santos. More story & photos

In August this year our Community Development Ministry Coordinator, Mayra Walsh, ran a 3-day training with 37 teachers from our two Catholic schools in Zumalai, Timor-Leste. The training introduced the teachers to our new Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults policy and facilitated engaging discussions about how to ensure that these schools are a safe environment for children in Zumalai. More story & photos

Making it real: Genuine human encounter in our digital world. Our October newsletter offers you a summarised version of the Australian Bishops Social Justice Statement. The Bishops invite us to reflect on how the internet has changed the way we communicate, work, learn and do business, and how we can contribute towards a more just and loving digital world.

  pdf Read our Newsletter (695 KB)   |   pdf Read Making it Real (2.57 MB)

1 October is the feast day of St Thérèse of Lisieux famous for her teaching on the 'the little way of confidence and love' found in her autobiography, The Story of a Soul. Thérèse Martin was born in Alencon in France in 1873. Whilst still young she entered the Discalced Carmel of Lisieux. Her writings reveal a very human character. She frequently fell asleep during the long hours of prayer in the monastery chapel. She always had a strong sense of God's love for her and felt her calling was to be love. 'What matters,' she wrote, 'is not great deeds, but great love'. She died on 30 September 1897, just 24 years old. She was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997.

You can download and save the scripture texts, reflections and prayers for Lectio Divina for each day of this month. Lectio Divina is a traditional way of praying the Scriptures. Visit our Lectio Divina page for more information about how to pray using Lectio Divina.

default Lectio Divina October 2019 iPhone iPad (265 KB)

default Lectio Divina October 2019 Kindle (438 KB)

pdf Lectio Divina October 2019 PDF (1.03 MB)