The 15th of May marks the first anniversary of the canonisation of our brother Titus Brandsma, canonised along with nine other holy men and holy women, by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square in 2022. The memory of that celebration and the days that surrounded it still live in the minds and hearts of thousands of people all around the world. It was particularly moving for all of us who had the blessing of being in Rome when the event was taking place.

To commemorate the first anniversary of the Canonisation of St Titus Brandsma, we have created a new St Titus Brandsma Desktop Wallpaper that can be downloaded for free in 1920x1080 at:
https://carmelites.org.au/desktop-wallpaper

The final of the three Great Gospels of Lent is ours today - a Gospel story of life and freedom. Like the gospels of the last two Sundays, the dramatic story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead is a story of love, faith and belief.

There are three different groups of believers in the story: those who believe that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death (Jesus is already known to be a healer); those who came to believe in him because they see Lazarus rise, and those, like Martha, who believe in Jesus even though Lazarus died.

In this Gospel Jesus proclaims himself ‘the resurrection and the life’. We see him deeply moved by the death of his friend. We find him in earnest prayer with God. We see him full of strength as he commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb.

  pdf Celebrating At Home 5th Sunday in Lent [PDF]
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In this Sunday’s Gospel we accompany the man who was born blind on his journey into the light. The first thing we read in the full version of this Gospel is that Jesus announces that the man is sinless – he has been born blind so that God’s glory can be seen at work in him. Then Jesus gives the blind man sight. Notice that the man didn’t ask to be healed – this is Jesus’ initiative, taking the first step and reaching out in love. That’s how Jesus approaches us, too.

pdf Celebrating At Home 4th Sunday in Lent [PDF]
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A conference on Titus Brandsma will take place at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands on October 3-6, 2023. The program brings together scholars from various parts of the world who will present on the multi-faceted life and work of Brandsma. The number of participants is limited to 30, providing an opportunity for all to become involved in the discussions.

The Gospels of the next three Sunday make clear that the Way from temptation to transfiguration is in and through Jesus Christ who is Living Water, Light and Life for the would-be disciple. They are three great stories from John about responding in faith...

pdf Celebrating At Home 3rd Sunday in Lent [PDF]
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During Mass on Sunday 4 December at St Elias Community in Hera, Timor-Leste, 6 young Carmelites received the ministry of Lector (Brs Calisto, Pedro, Zebedeu, Aleixo, Donanciano & Gaudencio) and 4 received the ministry of Acolyte (Brs Samuel, Joao Caunan, Jonias and Lucas).

Fr Bruce Clark was the principal celebrant and the homily was given by Fr Carlito da Costa Araujo. Fr Roque S. Da Cruz also concelebrated and Br Narcizio Vilanova Da Costa was the deacon.

On Sunday 4 November the Carmelite Family gathered at St Elias Community in Hera for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr Bruce Clark. Fr Bruce is returning to Australia to take up his role as newly elected Prior Provincial after living in Timor-Leste for the last 10 years. During that time, he has served as Novice Master, Prior, Director of Formation and the Provincial’s representative in Timor-Leste. A large crowd of Friars, sisters and members of the Carmelite Family gathered to mark the occasion and express their gratitude for Fr Bruce’s presence and ministry in Timor-Leste.

"Thank You Fr. Bruce Clark, may the Lord Bless you always in your task as a Prior Provincial. We Pray always for you!" - Carmelite Community in Timor-Leste

Every three years the Carmelites are called to a Chapter where all positions are relinquished and new or renewed appointments are made. And so it is that the Australia & Timor Leste Province has concluded its Chapter and our Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Commission becomes open to a new team.

After 13 years on this team I will no longer be serving in this ministry acknowledging that it is time for a change, but grateful that the passion is still burning for God’s work in helping to make the world a better place. It has been enlivening and a privilege to bring before you the need for all of us to live out our faith in justice and in peace, as demonstrated with the vision and inspiring words of Pope Francis’, captured so beautifully in ‘Let us Dream’. 

pdf JPIC Newsletter No. 121 December 2022

Dear Carmelites and Friends of Carmel,

With less than a year to go to the World Youth Day, excitement is increasing, and we are beginning to feel that we have to get moving to get organised. There is a great expectation that there will be an enormous attendance at this next World Youth Day.

When we hear the name Portugal we often think of Fatima and of the many beautiful events Carmelites have had there over the years. This time Portugal means Lisbon, a beautiful city in which there have been Carmelite communities since 1387. The Carmelites in Portugal are getting ready to welcome the participants at the Carmelite Day that will take place on the 2nd August 2023, the day before the main event.

On 15 October we commemorate the feast day of one of the most remarkable women to have ever walked the earth, a Spanish contemplative nun who lived and died well over four centuries ago but whose words and deeds continue to impact us, especially those who have chosen to heed the silent call of Carmel.

Today the Carmelite family celebrates the memorial of Blessed John Soreth (c.1395 – 1471), Prior General and reformer of the Carmelite Order. During his time as Prior General he was also responsible for the creation of Carmelite communities for women and the admission of lay associates as part of the Order.

This Gospel begs us ask ourselves if we are truly people who remember Jesus and allow his Spirit to shape our words, thoughts and actions so that he may remain present to us and to those around us.

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In the Annual Report by the Church to the National Office for Child Safety, the Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste drew particular attention to its work with 2 East Timorese child protection experts to review progress in implementing the Province's Safeguarding Policy. This also included a risk assessment of the ministries in Timor-Leste. The report of the 2 experts highlighted that Carmelites in Timor-Leste have a good understanding of the policy and positive attitudes towards implementing it. In addition to making helpful recommendations, the East Timorese experts produced a training manual and ran three training sessions with seminarians, staff, volunteers, teachers and key community leaders, specifically focusing on the code of conduct.

On the 9 days before the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July), we pray for the needs of our Carmelite Family in Australia and Timor-Leste. Last year, in the midst of COVID-19, we included the people of the world in our novena of prayer. The novena can be prayed at any time of the year for the intentions below or for your own intentions asking Our Lady of Mount Carmel to intercede and pray with us. The prayers and intentions can be downloaded pdf here.

Join Prof Keith Egan, TOCarm, as he explores the Carmelite charism's dynamic and evolutionary character, as shown in the unfolding of Carmelite identity when the hermits on Mount Carmel migrated to Europe and gradually embraced the mendicant movement. Keith Egan has written and lectured extensively in Carmelite Spirituality and theology over many years. Watch now.

John the Baptist sits at the centre of this week’s Gospel and next week’s. He is the ‘one who cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord; make his paths straight’.

John was preparing the people for the coming of Jesus. Moved by his preaching many sought baptism in the river Jordan. This ancient water-rite symbolised dying to the old way of life and rising to a new way of life. That’s what repentance is about: turning away from sin and turning towards God. It is about true conversion of heart. It’s about making straight the pathways of our hearts. The fruit of our repentance and true conversion shows itself in good works.

Seventy years ago, in the wake of the barbarities committed against whole races and nations, the United Nations agreed on The Charter of Human Rights. Throughout the succeeding years, some of these fundamental rights have been ignored and trampled upon when political expediency has been the motivating force.

Article 21, part 1 states:
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyong his control.

Let us pray for those who lack the elements necessary to live a basic human life.

Among the four women religious canonised by Pope Francis on 17 May was Discalced Carmelite nun, Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified. She is the first Carmelite nun from the Middle East.

Born in Galilee, Mary lived in Egypt, Lebanon, France and India and her short life came to an end in Bethlehem. She is a bridge between the Christians of the East and West.

Miriam Baouardy was born in Galilee on 5 January 1846 to Greek parents of the Melkite Rite.

The original walking cane used by St Teresa of Avila during her journeys across 16th Century Spain arrived at the Discalced Carmelite Friars' priory in Varroville, NSW as part of a global "Way of Light" pilgrimage to mark the 500th anniversary of her birth.

So far the walking stick has been to Latin America, the USA, Indonesia and Taiwan. It will return to Avila in time for Teresa’s 500th birthday, 28 March 2015. By the time the journey is over, the staff will have visited 5 continents, 30 countries and travelled 117,000 miles in 164 days.