Carmelites, Lay Carmelites, parishioners, students, parents and staff from Whitefriars College, and those for whom Titus Brandsma holds a special place in their lives, gathered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park (VIC), yesterday (31 July) for a Thanksgiving Mass celebrating his Canonisation. Students from Brandsma House at Whitefriars College joined the Entrance Procession carrying the relic of Titus Brandsma, the Brandsma House banner and a typewriter and camera. Joel Savy, House Vice Captain welcomed the assembly and gave a personal reflection on Titus Brandsma at the beginning of Mass. Students, staff and parishioners shared the readings and Prayers of the Faithful. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) presided. In his homily, Fr Paul called Titus Brandsma, 'a gift to the world, the Church and the Carmelite Order'. "Throughout his life, whilst exercising and sharing his intellectual gifts through his studies and his teaching, preaching and writing, he was also down to earth, connected with people in their everyday struggles, and keen to assist them in whatever practical ways that he could," Fr Paul said.
The second and final Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia has taken place in Sydney at the beginning of July. It was an historic event in the life of the Australian Church.
Our Provincial Paul Cahill has undertaken the four year journey of the Plenary Council on behalf of the Order and shares his reflections in this month’s JPIC newsletter after the final Assembly. “The plenary council has given an impetus to a change in style, a change in culture, a new way of doing things” says Fr Paul.
You can join Fr Paul on Wednesday 3 August 10.30-midday via Zoom to hear more about the Plenary which he describes as 'contemplative and pastoral'. More information
You can download and save the scripture texts, reflections and prayers for Lectio Divina for each day of this month. Visit our Lectio Divina page for more information about how to pray using Lectio Divina. Join our Lectio Online group every Friday at 10am (Australian Eastern Standard Time) to prayerfully reflect on the coming Sunday's Gospel. Register here.
All too often we are made aware of the vulnerability and uncertainty of life. Things can suddenly change. We don’t know what will happen today, tomorrow or even in a few moments’ time. Such experiences can make us profoundly anxious, and we look for ways to protect ourselves and what we own against life’s adverse events.
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Celebrating At Home 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF]
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Celebrating At Home 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub]
80 years ago, on 26 July 1942, St Titus Brandsma was fatally injected with carbolic acid in the hospital of Dachau Concentration Camp. The hospital was notorious for medical experiments carried out on inmates.
Many people struggle with a name for God. For some, ‘Father’ is fine. For others, the image of God as Father evokes traumatic memories of their childhood experience of pain, suffering, neglect and even abuse.
Celebrating At Home 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF]
Celebrating At Home 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub]
The Carmelites warmly invite you to celebrate the Canonisation of St Titus Brandsma and mark the 80th anniversary of his martyrdom at Mass on 31 July 2022 in Sydney and Melbourne. Masses will be held at
10.00am Sunday 31 July at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 4 Bennett Street, Wentworthville, NSW 2145
10.30am Sunday 31 July at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 210 Richardson Street (cnr Wright St), Middle Park, VIC 3206
pdf Download the flyer for Wentworthville | pdf Download the flyer for Middle Park
On 20 July Carmelites throughout the world celebrate the Solemnity of the Old Testament Prophet, Elijah. In the Carmelite tradition Elijah is regarded as the spiritual father of and a source of inspiration for Carmelites.
Brs Amandio Soares Salsinha and Narcizio Da Costa Villanova will be ordained deacons by Cardinal-elect Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, on Saturday 6 August. The ceremony will take place in the parish church at Hera.
Amandio and Narcizio successfully passed their final exams earlier this year and have been working in the Carmelite parish in Zumalai. Our thoughts and prayer accompany them as they prepare for this important step on their journey.
"The beauty of today's feast is that we celebrate someone who can teach us to wonder, to reflect, to learn from experience and to stop and ponder in our hearts all that happens to us," said Fr Hugh Brown during mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel yesterday.
