Fifty members of the Carmelite Family in Australia will gather this week in Melbourne. Friars, Lay Carmelites, and representatives from The Carmelite Centre, Melbourne, the Carmelite Library, Whitefriars College, Port Melbourne/Middle Park Parish, Coorparoo Parish, Sancta Sophia Meditation Community, the Carmelite Development Office and the Provincial Office will gather at St Joseph's Hall, Port Melbourne, for the 2015 Provincial Assembly.
Over the first 2 days (2 & 3 June) we will listen to 5 people share their experience of Carmelite Life and Spirituality - Friar, Januario Pinto, Lay Carmelite, Chris Wade, former Whitefriars College student, Nicholas Soraghan, Port Melbourne/Middle Park parishioner Margaret Fagan and Carmelite Centre associate Nancy De Losa.
"We will have the opportunity to listen to these stories and what they may be saying to us in terms of the strength and vitality of various experiences of Carmelite life and what challenges they may hold for the future. We have also invited Ken Petersen to share with us the Order’s story of its vision for Carmelite life, spirituality and ministry and Denis Andrew to reflect on Carmelite life in our Province as he has observed and experienced it over the last five years as Prior Provincial," said Fr Hugh Brown, Chair of the Commission for Ongoing Formation and the Promotion of Carmelite Life & Spirituality. "Holding all these various stories together in creative dialogue, we hope to map a way forward for the further promotion of our life and spirituality," he said.
The Friars will gather on the final day of the Assembly (4 June) to consider how what emerges from the previous 2 days may be carried forward in the preparation for the 2016 Provincial Chapter. There will also be an opportunity to raise other Provincial Chapter issues.
Continuing the themes we have used for previous Chapters and Assemblies taken form the Emmaus story, the Assembly's theme is, "The recognised him in the breaking of the bread" (Lk 24:35).
Over the days of the Assembly the bread of story and fraternity will be broken and shared among participants, as well as the bread of the Word of God and the Eucharist. In our gathering and in the breaking and sharing we recognise the presence of Jesus among us.
