With great joy the Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste announce that Br Martinho Da Cruz Lemos will make his Solemn Profession of Vows (life commitment) on Saturday 15 July at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park, Vic.

Martinho joined the Carmelites in 2007 in Zumalai, Timor-Leste, making his first profession of vows in 2010. He arrived in Australia in 2013 to further his English language studies and to study Theology at the University of Divinity, Melbourne, Vic. Our congratulations and prayers are with Martinho as he prepares for his Solemn Profession.

Join the Carmelite Family around the world in prayer and reflection for World Environment Day.

Encouraged by Pope Francis, our CarmeliteNGO has developed prayer for personal or group use.

Connecting people to nature is the theme of this year's World Environment Day.

More information about World Environment Day.

Geologist Peter Clarke reflects on the destructive use of fossil fuels for energy, and the challenge of Laudato Si to turn to a more renewable and sustainable future.

We know that technology, based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels - especially coal, but also oil and to a lesser degree, gas, - needs to be progressively replaced without delay.  Laudato Si - Care for Our Common Home -  Para 165.

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Welcome to the latest issue of our newsletter.

Prayer & the gift of new life
Old age is a vocation
The gift of education for children in Timor-Leste
Thank you for giving life
Our young Carmelites bring new life

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In this issue Br Agedo Bento, OCarm reflects on the care of the eldely in the culture of Timor-Leste.

We must reawaken our collective sense of gratitude, appreciation and hospitality, helping the elderly know they are a living part of their communities and source of wisdom for the younger generations.
Pope Francis, March 2015

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The statue of the Prophet Elijah in front of our house in Hera, Timor-Leste, was given a makeover by our Carmelite students during the summer holidays. Fresh coats of paint and a water feature surrounding the statue were added with stunning effect.

The project was the brainchild of Fr Carlito Da Costa Araujo and Br Frangelino Ximenes, who also supervised the work. Fish have since been added to the water feature.

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“In the great traditions of Australian war remembrance we remember all those Australian youngsters who died in the World Wars and since. What is often forgotten, however, is the toll on the Timorese people in World War II on behalf of Australians.”

Sr Susan Connelly reflects on the cost to Timorese people of serving Australian security interests, past and present. Story courtesy of Eureka Street.

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Today Carmelite communities around Australia are celebrating ANZAC Day, commemorating the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915, and in memory of all those Australians who served and died in war and on operational service.

The qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice, so obvious among the Australian soldiers at Gallipoli, continue to inspire and shape our national identity.

The Carmelite Sisters are building a new convent in Hera about 500 metres from our own Carmelite community there.

On Monday 6 March Fr Bruce Clark blessed the land on which the new convent will be built. A ground-breaking ceremony was held and a time capsule with the plans for the building and a Scapular were buried.

Sisters Mai and Remi, together with a number of sisters in formation were present at the ceremony, together with a number of our own student friars. Click here for more photos.

Welcome to the latest issue of The Vine - our newsletter for Lay Carmelites in Australia and New Zealand.

In this issue:
Being a Lay Carmelite
Books for Timor-Leste
Discalced Carmelite Appointed Bishop
The Word of God and Silence

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The Sancta Sophia Meditation Community at Warburton is celebrating 21 years supporting people on their spiritual journey and promoting inter-religious dialogue.

In 1996 Fr Ken Petersen, OCarm and Sr Kathleen Murphy, OP established Sancta Sophia. Over the past 21 years, Sancta Sophia has offered retreats, prayer days, spiritual direction and hosted a variety of events promoting inter-religious dialogue.

You can pdf download this year's program here.

Our focus this month highlights the dignity and value of our elderly citizens, as encouraged by our Australian Catholic Bishops and Pope Francis: The culture of relativism is the same disorder which drives one person to take advantage of another, to treat others as mere objects, imposing forced labour on them or enslaving them to pay their debts. The same kind of thinking leads to the sexual exploitation of children and abandonment of the elderly who no longer serve our interests. Laudato Si #122

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American Carmelite, Fr Quinn Conners, celebrated Mass outside the White House in solidarity with refugees. Also present were young Carmelites from the Carmelite Student House in Washington.

‘All are welcome in this place,’ a crowd of people sang in Lafayette Square outside of the White House this afternoon. More than 550 people gathered to attend a Mass organized by young Catholics and celebrated by (Carmelite) Father Quinn Conners in Washington, D.C., to express their solidarity with refugees and immigrants.

Welcome to this issue of our Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation newsletter.

In this issue:
'Climate Change is not a belief system - it's a science!' A special issue featuring Professor Will Steffan (Australian Climate Council Scientist), Fr Sean McDonagh (eco-theologian), the Carmelite NGO, & Pope Francis.

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The 2017 edition of the Carmelite Liturgical Guide is now available.

The Guide integrates in 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, or you can This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Carmelite Communications for a printed copy.

The Carmelite Centre Melbourne has published its program for 2017.

The Centre offers a variety of readings groups and talks on various topics, courses and practise in Meditation and Lectio Divina, retreat days and Spiritual Direction. As well, there are talks about Carmelite figures like St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi and Edith Stein.

  pdf Download the program here or visit The Carmelite Centre website for full details. Phone (03) 9690 5430 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. the Centre for a printed copy of the program.

Br Marcolino Gomes, a young Carmelite from Timor-Leste, has arrived in Melbourne to begin his English language studies. Marco was born in Taraco, Ermera, Timor-Leste. He worked hard at school so that he could win a scholarship for his secondary education in Los Palos. His family are coffee farmers and he has 2 brothers and 3 sisters.

Marco will study at the English Language School for Pastoral Ministry at Box Hill, Vic. and is a member of the Carmelite community at Middle Park. Welcome, Marco!

Fr Gregory Homeming OCD, Regional Vicar of Discalced Carmelite Friars in Australia, has been appointed the sixth Bishop of Lismore.

Born in Sydney in 1958, Fr Homeming studied Economics and Law at Sydney University and worked as a lawyer in a Sydney law firm until he joined the Discalced Carmelites in 1985.

The Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste send our warm congratulations to Bishop-elect Homeming.

Two young Carmelites, Brs Januario Pinto and Matthew Tonini completed their Bachelor of Theology degrees this year at the University of Divinity, Melbourne. Both will now begin their Masters degrees in Theological Studies. Congratulations, Januario and Matthew!

Thank you to our friends and supporters who have helped Januario and Matthew reach this milestone in their studies. Donate to our formation fund.

The Timor-Leste Carmelite Assembly began on 6 December with an Opening Eucharist presided over by Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial).

Almost all Carmelites in Timor-Leste were present. After Mass and various reports elections were held for 2 councillors to assist Fr Aniceto Maia Da Costa in his ministry as Carmelite Provincial Delegate for Timor-Leste. Frs Bruce Clark and Krisna Aji Nugroho (pictured here with Fr Paul Cahill) were elected to the Council. Full story & photos