Newest Aussie Carmelite
On 17 June Fr Paul Sireh became an Australian Citizen. Due to COVID-19 the Citizenship Ceremony was held via Zoom. Fr Paul, originally from Manus Island near Papua New Guinea, joined the Carmelites in Australia in 2000. Since his ordination in 2005 Paul has served in the Carmelite parishes of Wentworthville (NSW) and Coorparoo (QLD) before taking up his present ministry as Chaplain at Whitefriars College, Donvale (VIC). Congratulations, Paul! More photos.
Funeral Arrangements for Fr Ken
Requiem Mass for Fr Ken will be celebrated on Monday 22 June at 10am. Those interested in attending personally should register their interest by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone to (03) 9699 1922 by 10am on Wednesday 17 June. Those who can be accommodated within the 50 people allowed will be notified by the evening of Thursday 18 June.
The Mass will be live streamed at: http://tobin.5stream.com/webcast/53941. For further details and to leave a message or light a candle visit: https://tobinbrothers.com.au/tribute/details/16413/Kenneth-Petersen-O-CARM/obituary.html
Fr Ken Petersen, O.Carm. RIP
The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste are mourning the loss today of Fr Ken Petersen who died peacefully in the early hours of this morning. Fr Ken was 81 and had been a Carmelite for 58 years and a priest for almost 52.
Ken served the Province and the People of God in the parishes of Coorparoo (QLD), Hilton (WA) and Middle Park (VIC), in formation ministry, Lay Carmelite National Chaplain and as Prior Provincial before establishing the Sancta Sophia Meditation Community at Warburton (VIC) with Sr Kathleen Murphy OP in 1996. Read more
The real presence of Jesus in us
It seems a bit odd to be celebrating the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ at a time when so many still cannot attend Mass and receive the Eucharist. Yet I think that this time has actually been a blessing for us. When what we have been used to suddenly changes, it is challenging. It is hard to deal with the sense of loss. But if we can transcend the moment it can become an opportunity. Read more. Click here for Lectio Divina for this Sunday.
Celebrating At Home for Body and Blood of Christ PDF
Celebrating At Home for Body and Blood of Christ for iPhone & iPad
God enfleshed in us
A quick look at the readings for today shows very clearly that the Feast of the Trinity is a celebration of God’s love for humankind. It is a day for reflecting on who God is, not for trying to figure out how there can be three persons in one God. The Church’s focus today is on our experience of God, not theology. Read more | Visit our Celebrating At Home page
Celebrating At Home on Trinity Sunday PDF
Celebrating At Home on Trinity Sunday for iPhone & iPad
Love and Violence
All of us have been deeply shocked, not only by the needless death of George Floyd, but also by the ensuing violence which followed. Many have referred to a 'pandemic of racism' at the heart of discrimination, poverty and unequal human rights. The violent arrest of a 16 year old Aboriginal youth was also deeply disturbing. It brought home to me that terrible things don't only happen in far away places; they happen here, too.
Pope Francis said, "We cannot tolerate or close our eyes to any kind of racism or exclusion and claim to defend the sacredness of every human life ... Nothing is gained by violence and much is lost." Read more
World Environment Day
We are celebrating World Environment Day today. Our latest newsletter features two articles reflecting on the critical issues of our time: caring for the environment and the global pandemic. Why not celebrate the day by spending a little time in nature and offering a prayer of gratitude, as well as spending time reading these articles to seek wisdom about where they are calling you to participate in making the world a better place.
A Prayer for You from the Carmelites
Carmelites and friends in the England, Brazil, Timor-Leste and Australia came together online to form a virtual choir to record the song, ‘God Be With You’ as a prayer for all during these times. The words are in English and Tetum. The recording was organised by Niko De Jesus whose brother, Estevão, is one of our young Carmelites in Timor-Leste and includes Australian Carmelite, Matthew Tonini. Watch the video.
Carmelites helping those in need
Over 40 families have received food parcels from the Carmelites in Hera during this time of lockdown. The food parcels were distributed by the Carmelites at Fatuhada to their neighbours and some isolated people in need. Donors from Indonesia provided the funds to purchase rice, noodles, cooking oil and other daily essentials.
There have been 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Timor-Leste and no reported deaths so far. All 24 have recovered and a further 253 people are currently waiting for test results. More photos
Mary, mother of the Church
Today we celebrate Mary as Mother of the Church. It is a reminder of the special place Mary has in the community of believers. In the Gospel of John, Jesus entrusts Mary into John’s care. There is a sense of intimacy and companionship between Mary and John who stand for the new community of Jesus.
Luke also gives us the image of Mary gathered in prayer with the disciples as they await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Again, we are struck by the intimacy and closeness between Mary and this first group of believers. More story
Being God's love in the world
At Pentecost we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the first group of Christian believers - the disciples. This gift of the Holy Spirit is the culmination of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It would be wrong to think that this gift happened only once, in one moment of history. In fact, the gifting of the Holy Spirit is a continuing event in the life of every believing person and, therefore, in every age of human history. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God with us. Read more | Visit our Celebrating At Home page
Celebrating At Home for Pentecost Sunday PDF
Celebrating At Home for Pentecost Sunday for iPhone & iPad
Our national feast day
The Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians (24 May), not only celebrates Mary as patroness of Australia, but also as patroness of the Carmelites in Australia and Timor-Leste.
The first synod of Bishops in Australia in 1844 chose Mary as patron of the fledgling Church under the title of Our Lady, Help of Christians. It is an ancient title for Mary. St John Chrysostom was the first to use it in the year 345.
When the Carmelites in Australia formally became a Province in 1948, Our Lady, Help of Christians was chosen as the new Province’s patroness. Read more
Love in the heart of the world
St Therese of Lisieux once said that her vocation was to be 'love in the heart of the Church'. In this week's Gospel we hear Jesus commission the disciples to go out and make disciples of all the nations, to baptise them and to teach them his way. But the disciples are not left to do all that on their own. Jesus promises that he is with them always. The way in which Jesus will be with them is through the coming of the Holy Spirit which we celebrate next Sunday. Read more | Download Celebrating At Home using the links below.
Celebrating At Home for Ascension Sunday PDF
Celebrating At Home for Ascension Sunday for iPhone & iPad
A Novena for Creation
Join us in a Novena of Creation prepared by the Carmelite NGO. Reflect and pray with us each day, from 16 to 24 May, on the connection of Scripture, Ecological Conversion and Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical.
You can write down each day your actions so you can continue your reflection on them in the future, and also share them with others.
pdf Download the Novena here | Join in prayer for the 5th Anniversary of Laudato Si at midday 24 May | pdf Download the prayer
We are not left to battle on alone
For many over these last few weeks there have been feelings of isolation, loneliness and abandonment. All our routines have changed and we have lost our sense of the familiar and the secure. We are separated from those we love. was quite shocked to see the empty shelves in Woolies. I had never seen that before. I had taken it for granted that they would always be full. All of a sudden they weren’t. Read more | Go to our Celebrating At Home page
Celebrating At Home for Sixth Sunday of Easter PDF format
Celebrating At Home for Sixth Sunday of Easter iPhone & iPad
Laudato Si’ Week begins 17 May
Get ready! Respond to Pope Francis’ invitation to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si’, his encyclical on the care of our common home - visit the Laudato Si’ website. Join in prayer at noon on Sunday 24 May. Download the
pdf
Prayer here
. Learn more about Laudato Si’ and the challenges facing our planet and its people. See the video, We fell asleep in one world and woke up in another.
The map, road & destination
In the opening words of the Gospel Jesus calls the disciples to trust him and to trust God. He does so in the context of announcing his departure to them. Understandably, the disciples are afraid and uncertain, which the questions of Thomas and Philip show. Jesus calls them to trust him as the way to the God, the living truth about the God and the very life of God. Read more | Go to our Celebrating At Home page
Celebrating At Home for Fifth Sunday of Easter PDF format
Celebrating At Home for Fifth Sunday of Easter iPhone & iPad
Zumalai's Good Shepherds
All schools and universities are now closed in Timor-Leste as a precaution against the arrival of Covid-19. So far, there are 24 confirmed cases of the virus and, fortunately, no deaths. There are only 4 students remaining in our Boarding House in Zumalai, Timor-Leste. Most have returned home to be with their families.
Genivio, Elias, Celiano and Ricardo, along with Br Antonio, have been busily sewing face masks to distribute to their neighbours, the Police Force and anyone who needs one. As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday this weekend they are giving us a great example of being good shepherds to those around them. See photos
The Shepherd, the Gate and the Sheepfold
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because no matter what reading cycle we are in, the Gospel always focusses on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This year, the Gospel reading talks about Jesus as the ‘gate of the sheepfold’, that is, Jesus is the one through whom we truly enter into the fold of God. Those who enter the fold through Christ, the Good Shepherd, will be safe, will be led to good pasture and have life in all its fullness. Read more | Go to our Celebrating At Home page
Celebrating At Home for Fourth Sunday of Easter PDF Format
Celebrating At Home for Fourth Sunday of Easter iPhone iPad
Everything is connected
Pope Francis has invited Catholics everywhere to participate in Laudato Si' Week, from 16-24 May to honour the fifth anniversary of his encyclical on care for our common home. The theme of the week is 'Everything Is Connected'. Sunday 24 May will bring the world community together for a World Day of Prayer to mark this Anniversary of Laudato Si'.
Our JPIC reflection this month, offered by Peter Clarke, has a focus on the significance of both Earth Day launched 50 years ago and Laudato Si' promulgated 5 years ago. pdf Read this issue
