The parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville, have been blessed with Carmelite friars since they were appointed by Cardinal Gilroy to care for the parish in 1956.

Today, without even knowing it, the parishioners find they are living the Carmelite charisms of contemplation, community and service.

The parish was established in 1946, originally as St Columba’s, Wentworthville, which included the nearby areas of Westmead, Pendle Hill and Toongabbie.

93-year-old Fr Anthony Scerri OCarm first arrived in the parish two years after his ordination to the priesthood, when the parishioners were mainly Maltese. Today, the parish has over 72 different nationalities who have “brought a new life into the parish,” he said.

“It’s one of the most diverse and colourful parishes I’ve ever been fortunate enough to experience,” Parish Secretary and parishioner of 23 years, Paola Yévenes, shared.

Together, we’ve celebrated countless Masses, assisted each other in improving our parish, grieved together and watched our parish children grow into wonderful leaders.

Frank Zammit, a parishioner of 58 years, explained, “OLMC is a vibrant parishioners’ second home where we meet, work, gather around the Eucharistic table like a family and we do not rush out after Mass, but stop for a while to chat with the priests and amongst ourselves.”

Over the decades, the parishioners feel that the Carmelite charisms have embedded themselves into the parish.

“We know we can find them when we need them. They are always ready to hear us and share with us our sorrows and joys and attend to our spiritual needs,” Frank said of the Carmelite priests who have lived and served in the parish.

Paola added, “I think the parish has embraced the Carmelite spirituality even without knowing it. Our parishioners may not be able to list the charisms, but they are living it in what they do.

“Living in the same place you work has made the Carmelites very accessible to our community. Each one is deeply spiritual and faithful to the Carmelite charisms. They have taught me much about finding God in the silence, in the people and even in the soap bubbles in my kitchen sink,” she said.

Each priest has brought his own style to the altar, parishioner of nearly 40 years, Cyprian (Skip) Fernandes, said, describing some of the former priests in the community as “much-loved”, “sparkling”, “delightful”, “honest” and “full of energy”.

The parish has been very blessed over its history to have been visited by the relics of famous Carmelite St Thérèse of Lisieux in 2003 and again in 2020 alongside relics of her parents Sts Louis and Zélie Martin.

St Thérèse will be amongst the 12 saints whose footsteps our Parramatta pilgrims will be walking during their pilgrimage to World Youth Day. In celebrating Mass to honour the relics in 2020, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, said, “We always carry with us the gift of faith that Thérèse and her parents Zélie and Louis exemplify for us.”

The current parish priest, Fr Januario (Janu) Pinto OCarm, may have only been in the parish for a short time, but parishioners appreciate his joyful, can-do attitude.

“Fr Janu showers his youthful energy on all of us and on anyone he meets,” Skip described.

“That smile of his is completely infectious,” Paola said. “He’s taken on this new role which he’s never done before and leading with example.

“When he puts his mind to anything, he will make it work. His motto in life is ‘just do it’ – just get up and do it.”

As the Diocese of Parramatta prepares for its first-ever Diocesan Synod, where the voices of our parishioners will be crucial in directing our Church into the future, the OLMC team encouraged the community to remember their call as missionary people.

“We need to take little, gentle steps here and there that will lead to huge steps later on,” Fr Anthony said.

Paola added, “What the Carmelites do really well, in their example, is opening up God and not limiting Him or His love and by being open to other views and opinions.”

By Mary Brazell
Catholic Outlook
Photo: Mary Brazell/Diocese of Parramatta

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