Today the Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste are mourning the loss of Fr Leo (Pat) Harney who died peacefully in the early hours of this morning. He was 99 years old and had been a Carmelite for 73 years and a priest for 68.

Pat served generously in Carmelite parishes in Australia and New Zealand, as a relieving priest in many country diocesan parishes and as long-time Chaplain at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Melbourne (VIC). Read more

Brothers Albino Dos Santos, Marcolino Gomes and Matthew Tonini made their Solemn Profession (life-long commitment) as Carmelites on 16 July during Mass in the Community Chapel at Middle Park (VIC). Due to Coronavirus restrictions we were unable to have a larger, public celebration of this significant milestone for these brothers. Fr Paul Cahill was the celebrant and Brs José Freitas and Anacleto Guterres Da Costa provided the music. The readings were read by Marcolino and Albino and Matthew sang the psalm. Fr Matthew McPhee read the Gospel. Read more & see photos

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our lady of Mount Carmel. From the earliest days of the Order's beginnings, Mary has held a special place in the lives of Carmelites.

Mary embodies everything that we hope for - to enter into an intimate relationship with Christ, being totally open to God's will and having our lives transformed by the Word of God. Like Mary, we too want to listen so deeply to the Word of God that he becomes flesh in us.

Happy feast day to all members of our Carmelite Family!

For those of us in Melbourne, the latest lockdown is heartbreaking. When we emerged from the first lockdown hope began to return. Hope that the virus was beaten, that we had survived the threat, that life would begin to look normal again. That hope has now been lost. We are now unwelcome in almost all other parts of our country. The feeling of exclusion is new, but old fears and anger have emerged again. Read more & download Lectio Divina for this Sunday.

Celebrating At Home for 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time PDF
Celebrating At Home for 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time for iPhone & iPad

Fr Míceál O’Neill, Prior General of the Carmelites, as sent a short video message for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 16 July. Fr Míceál reflects on Mary as one who pondered what was happening in her world and found the will of God – Mary, full of grace, full of God and full of the Gospel. “That’s the type of person who can respond to what is happening in today’s world,” Fr Míceál says. “This year’s feast will be marked by our prayer for the many who suffered the worst effects of the coronavirus.” Watch Fr Míceál’s message.

On this final day of our Novena of Prayer we are praying in thanksgiving for God’s love which we see in the love and care with which people are looking after and supporting each other at this time. Join Avelino in praying today’s prayer here.

You can also join Avelino on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

On this 8^th day of our Novena of Prayer, Br Avelino leads us in our prayer for all those whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19. Join Avelino in praying today’s prayer here.

You can also join Avelino on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

Br Marco leads us in our prayer today for all who are anxious, isolated and alone dur to COVID-19. Join him in praying today’s prayer here. This is the 7^th day of our Novena of Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

You can also join Marco on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

On this 6^th day of our Novena of Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel we are praying for all those helping others during social isolation. Join Br Anacleto is paying our prayer.

You can also join him on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

Today Br Joseph leads us in our prayer on this 5th day of our Novena for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Each day we are praying for different groups of people around the world who are experiencing or are affected by COVID-19. Today we are praying for all healthcare workers and for all researchers.

You can also join Joseph on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

Today we are praying for all those experiencing hardship, discrimination and fear in our Novena of Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Join Br Matthew in praying our prayer.

You can also join him on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

On this 3rd Day of our Novena of Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we are praying for all who have died as a result of COVID-19 and all who are mourning them. Join Br Matthew in praying today's prayer.

You can also join him on Facebook anytime during the day and you can download our Novena prayer and intentions.

Today Br Marco leads us in our prayer on this 2nd day of our Novena for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Each day we are praying for different groups of people around the world who are experiencing or are affected by COVID-19. Today we are praying for all who are ill, especialy as a result of COVID-19.

You can join him on Facebook or on this page anytime during the day. You can also download the prayer and intentions.

Welcome to Day 1 of our Novena of Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 16 July. On each day we will be praying for different groups of people around the world who are experiencing or affected by COVID-19. Join Br Albino in praying today's prayer for peace in our world, our neighbours, our families and ourselves.

You can also join him on Facebook anytime during the day. You can also download the prayer and intentions.

On the 9 days before the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July), the Carmelites invite you to join with them in prayer. Every year we pray for the needs of our Carmelite Family in Australia and Timor-Leste. This year, in the midst of COVID-19, we are including the people of the world in our novena of prayer. Please join with us each day from Tuesday 7 July to Wednesday 15 July when one of our young Carmelites will lead us in prayer. You can join them  on Facebook or on this page anytime during the day. You can also pdf download the prayer and intentions. Watch Br Albino's invitation to join the Novena.

Go to our Novena of Prayer page for each day's Prayer.

Almost all of us have felt the burden of coronavirus in our country. For most it is the burden of fear and uncertainty, worry and concern. Others also had to deal with the burden of the illness itself and its effect on those they love. All of us have been burdened by lockdowns and shortages.

Read more & download Lectio Divina for this Sunday.

Celebrating At Home 14 Sunday in Ordinary Time PDF   
Celebrating At Home 14 Sunday in Ordinary Time iPhone & iPad

The Gospel today is a joyful, ecstatic outburst of feeling by Jesus. Matthew’s community must have been deeply troubled by the fact that the ‘learned and clever’ religious leaders of their day did not accept the message of Jesus. Surely they, of all people, should have been able to recognise the truth. But in this passage, Matthew explains that it is not from a position of knowledge or power that one recognises who Jesus is. Rather, it is from an attitude of openness and simplicity, such as we often find in children.

Read the reflection for this Sunday's Gospel

We celebrated Fr Ken's funeral last Monday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Middle Park (Vic). Due to COVID-19 restrictions it was a small crowd who gathered in the Church, but many more joined us via livestream. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) was the celebrant along with Fr Hugh Brown (Parish Priest) and Fr David Hofman (Prior, Middle Park). Sr Kathleen Murphy prepared the eulogy and Fr Paul gave the homily.

You can watch the video of the Mass and download Sr Kath's eulogy and Fr Paul's homily here.

Many are wondering about how our experience of COVID-19 is changing us and what sort of society we are becoming as a result. What will the ‘new normal’ look like? There is a sense of that in the Gospel reading this Sunday. Jesus is establishing a ‘new normal’ for his disciples in their relationships with him and with others. A new way of relating to others that goes beyond mere social custom and obligation - a call into genuine relationships with one another. Read more & download Lectio Divina for this Sunday.

Celebrating At Home for 13 Sunday in Ordinary Time PDF   
Celebrating At Home for 13 Sunday in Ordinary Time iPhone & iPad

Since the death of George Floyd our screens have been filled with marches and protests against racism. Lest we in Australia thought it was all about people in America, protests here have drawn attention to the experience of racism in our own country. While some were critical of those who marched, others seemed to understand that sometimes you just have to speak out, no matter what the circumstances. Read more. Click here for Lectio Divina for this Sunday.

Celebrating At Home 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time PDF
Celebrating At Home 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time iPhone & iPad