The Lay Carmelites in Australia and New Zealand continue to flourish.

On the Gold Coast, a new Lay Carmelite community is forming under the guidance of Norm Harding TOC and has been meeting for more than 12 months. Fr Paul Gurr (Provincial Delegate) and Christine Wade (Moderator) received four new members there on 24 April: Selen Petrovic, Scott Rose and Ravee and his wife Suramya Durwearachchi. Carmel Weston, Oby Emerchete, Rossy Minata and Peter and Mary White  from the Coorparoo Lay Carmelite Community travelled from Brisbane to attend the Reception and to support for the new group.

This was a cause for great rejoicing with people from Pilipino, USA and Sri Lankan cultural origins.

On 5 May Fr Paul travelled to Armidale to receive Anna Terentieva into the Lay Carmelites as a ‘distance member’. Anna is a professional artist and iconographer and has a spiritual background in the Russian Orthodox Church. Later in May, Michael Kelly (Adelaide Community) made his final profession.

In July the 7 Lay Carmelites in Palmerston North (New Zealand) will make their final profession. This community began under the direction of Fr Jim De Laurier, OCarm. some 7 years ago. It’s very pleasing that they have stayed together and now are ready to make their final commitment.

 Last year 18 Lay Carmelites from Wentworthville, Jamberoo and the Central Coast gathered for a retreat together with Fr Paul and Chris Wade.

Over the last 12 months 10 people have been received into the Lay Carmelites, 5 have made their first profession and 3 have made their final profession as Lay Carmelites.

Visit our Lay Carmelite page.