Our Advent journey is nearing its end. Soon we will celebrate the great Christmas Feast. Our journey has called us to: stay awake to the coming of God, prepare to receive the Lord, rejoice for he is coming, and to receive him again with faith and love.

At Christmas we will hear the call to give birth to him in word and action so that the saving power of God may be seen and experienced through our every thought, word and action.

In our parish at Coorparoo (QLD) our Timorese Carmelites have been getting the Church ready for Christmas. They have constructed a Christmas Crib in traditional Timorese style. Fr Janu and Brs Donato, José and Anacleto worked late into the night yesterday assembling the crib and adding a few contemporary features like Christmas lights. Well done, brothers! More photos

On 10 December our 6 Pre-Novices, André da Costa, Antonio Preito da Costa Soares, Honorio Pereira Bobo Lobato, Natasio de Jesus Maia, Ponciano Norberto de Deus and Virgilio de Jesus Brites, were received into the Novitiate at Hera, Timor-Leste. The Novitiate is a special year of spiritual development and learning more about the Carmelite Way under the guidance of Fr Bruce Clark (Novice Director). Our thoughts and prayers accompany these brothers on this next step in their journey. See more photos

The 2020 edition of the Carmelite Liturgical Guide is now available. 

The Guide integrates the Carmelite Liturgical Calendar with the liturgical calendars of Australia and Timor-Leste to provide a guide to the Seasons, Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials and Carmelite celebrations for every day of the year.

  pdf Download the Guide here (774 KB)

On Friday 6 December, Januario Maria Soares, Calisto Pereira Rodriguês, Pedro Rodriguês Ximenes, Zebedeu de Jesus Vidigal, Donanciano Batistuta da Costa Alin, Aleixo Cole de Deus and Gaudênçio do Rosario made their First Vows as Carmelites. A large gathering of Carmelite religious (male and female) and laity, along with other priests and religious, family and friends were present for the morning Mass and Profession ceremony and afterwards enjoyed lunch, music, dancing and other entertainment until late into the afternoon. Many thanks to all who worked extraordinarily hard to ensure the success of the celebrations. Congratulations to Januario, Calisto, Pedro, Zebeseu, Donanciano, Aleixo and Gaudênçio! See more photos

This Sunday marks the turning point in the Advent Season.

Traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday” it is a day of rejoicing that the Saviour is near. The focus shifts from the final coming of Christ at the end of time to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem. The note of joy is symbolised by the inclusion of the colour rose among the purple of the Season.