Carmelite, Brother Sean Keefe, was awarded the OAM in the Australia Day Honours. He is the first Carmelite in Australia to receive this award.

Br Sean, Chaplain at Whitefriars College, Donvale VIC, said he was ‘surprised and honoured and a bit embarrassed’ to receive the award for his services to the City of Manningham and his long-time involvement with the people of Timor-Leste. “I like to stay in the background,” he said. “My most valuable resource is working with wonderful and generous friends.”

Br Sean has previously been recognised for his services to the City of Manningham, receiving the Australia Day Citizen of the Year award in 2011.

Originally from Kentucky in the US, Br Sean brought his love for education and social justice to Whitefriars College in 2001.

The Carmelite values of prayer, community and service attracted him to join the Order in 1965. His years training in Washington made him a keen advocate for social justice.

In his teaching in various Carmelite schools in the US, Sean involved his students in a variety of local community issues and practical ways of understanding social justice issues.

At Whitefriars College, Sean has been promoting a strong community and social justice ethos among staff and students, fostering the involvement of students with local Manningham City initiatives, especially those aimed at isolated and disadvantaged people.

In 2001 the Australian Carmelites began working in Timor-Leste. They found a people decimated by years of occupation and a fierce battle for independence. From just 4 Timorese Carmelites in 2001 the Order has now grown to 45.

When Sean first visited Timor-Leste in 2004 he was struck by the poverty of the people, especially in the rural Carmelite parish of Zumalai. “Most people don’t have electricity or running water in their homes,” he said. “They live in small, simple houses with barely enough to eat.” So the installation of solar panels and a clean water filtration plant for the town have been high on his priorities. Local Carmelites in Zumalai have been helping the people develop better farming practices to ease the food shortage. Many times the Carmelites themselves buy rice rice for the people to eat.

As well, Sean has engaged both the Whitefriars and winder communities in fundraising for a scholarship program which has enabled some 24 young Timorese to complete secondary school or become qualified in teaching, health care, technology and mechanics. “Many families can’t afford to pay for schooling let alone a university education for their children,” he said. “If we can provide an education for these young people, they can get a job and support their families.”

Sean’s fundraising has included organising a series of concerts and an annual walk-a-thon for Timor-Leste which have raised nearly $300,000 since 2010.

Since 2012 Br Sean has been taking groups of Whitefriars College students to Timor to see for themselves the reality of life there. The students also help out in Dili and in Zumalai teaching English and working alongside the local people in farming and building projects.

If you would like to help Br Sean continue his vital work for the people of Timor-Leste please contact Nancy at the Carmelite Fundraising Office (03) 9690 8822 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Photo 1: Br Sean Keefe, OCarm.

Photo 2: Sean working on the clean water project with Zumalai children.

Photo 3: Estavo from Zumalai says, "Parabens, (Congratulations) Br Sean!"

David Hofman, OCarm.
Carmelite Communications