Fr Fernando Millián (Prior General of the Carmelites) has written a special message to the whole Order as we approach the Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

In his letter, Fr Fernando looks at what 3 great Carmelite figures says about Mary: St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi, Blessed Baptist of Mantua and Blessed Titus Brandsma.

Click here to read & download Fr Fernando's message.

Making a novena (from the Latin for nine) has a long tradition in the Church. Typically, it means nine successive days of prayer. Each year, on the nine days before the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (7-15 July) Carmelites offer their prayers for those in need.

The prayer for each day of the Novena is on our social media sites Facebook, Twitter, & Tumblr. The prayers are also available by clicking the 'Read more' link below.

For the third time in recent weeks, Pope Francis has appointed a Carmelite as Bishop. Fr Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan has been appointed Bishop of Malang (Indonesia). Congratulations, Henricus!

Fr Henricus made his profession in the Order on 15 January 1976 and was ordained priest on 7 February 1982. Since 2012 he has been president of the “Philosophical and Theological Higher Institute ‘Widya Sasana’”. A noted theologian and Biblical expert, Fr Henricus succeeds Bishop Herman Joseph Creed Pandoyoputro (also a Carmelite) who has been Bishop of Malang since 1989.

Br Albino Dos Santos will arrive in Melbourne from Timor-Leste on 6 July to undertake an intensive course in English at Yarra Theological Union before beginning his theological studies next year. He will join our community at Middle Park for the rest of this year. Br Sean Keefe will also be joining the Middle Park community for the rest of this year, looking after our young students and continuing his chaplaincy work at Whitefriars College. Fr Angelino Dos Santos will move to our community at Port Melbourne for the rest of this year and also continue his chaplaincy ministry at Whitefriars College. Fr Matthew McPhee will move from Coorparoo community and parish to Middle Park early in August.

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

In this issue:
Lay Carmelite & Provincial News
Jubilee Year of Mercy
Journeying to Timor-Leste
Mary Longworth RIP

Download your copy here

This month's newsletter from our Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission.

In this issue:
Nappies and other disposables
JPIC Calendar for July
NAIDOC Week
Prayer for Justice

Download this issue here

On 9 July our Deacons, Agostinho Exposto, Fausto Tilman De Araujo and Carlito Da Costa Araujo will be ordained priests in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili, Timor-Leste by Bishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, S.D.B., Bishop of Dili.

Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial), on behalf of the Carmelites, will formally present the deacons to the Bishop for ordination.

In the weeks following the Ordination, each of the new priests will celebrate masses in and around Dili as well as Masses of Thanksgiving in their home villages of Seloi, Bei Kala and Lauana.

Congratulations, Agostinho, Fausto and Carlito!

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

On the Gold Coast (QLD) a new Lay Carmelite community is forming under the guidance of Norm Harding, TOC and has been meeting for more than 12 months.

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

Br Agedo Bento will make his Solemn Vows (life commitment) in the Carmelites during Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park on Saturday 16 July (the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel).

You are warmly invited to share this special occasion with Agedo, his fellow-Carmelites and members of the Carmelite Family.

You can download your invitation here.

You can read more about Agedo here.

In the last 2 weeks Pope Francis has announced the appointment of 2 Carmelites as Bishops.

Fr Paul Horan of the Irish province will become Bishop of Mutare in Zimbabwe and Fr Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista will become Bishop of Cajazeiras in Brazil.

Fr Paul has been worked in Zimbabwe since 2001 and is presently the Prior of the Pre-Novitiate house in Nyazure, Rusape. The Irish Carmelites have been missionaries in Zimbabwe for the past 70 years.

Fr Francisco is presently Secretary General of the Carmelites. He was Prior Provincial of the Carmelites in Pernambuco from 2005-2011.