This issue of our newsletter, Carmel Contact, comes with some good news in this moment of crisis for us all. With what is happening around us it is easy to lose sight of the fact that we are on our journey to Easter - a journey into God's heart. As well as inviting you into a moment of prayer for your loved ones and all who are sick at this time, we share with you our ongoing work for people in Timor-Leste and Australia. Around the country our friends and supporters of many different ages are helping to continue to provide education and support.
Today Fr Pat Harney turns 99 years young! He has been a Carmelite for nearly 75 years and a priest for 68. Fr Pat is the oldest Carmelite Friars in the world. Over the years, Pat has worked all over Australia and in New Zealand, in Carmelite and Diocesan parishes and hospitals. "I've been everywhere, man!" he loves to quote from the famous song, when asked about his many places of ministry.
Born in 1921 in Elmore (Victoria), Fr Pat was the second of eight children. He remembers his home life filled with daily rosary, private morning prayer and Sunday Mass. More story & photos
The Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste offer you our support in these uncertain and difficult times.
We are praying for the whole world, and especially, for all those who are members of our wider Carmelite Family.
Each week we will offer a variety of prayers, reflections, Lectio Divina and liturgies to celebrate at home when you cannot celebrate in Church - our Celebrating at Home series.
In this time of crisis and uncertainty you might like to join the Carmelites in this prayer for our nation and our world.
Eternal God,
calm the fear in our hearts.
Help us to work together to protect
and look after each other. Read the whole prayer
Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) has announced the closure of the Carmelite Provincial Centre in Middle Park, together with its associated Fundraising Development, Carmelite Centre and Carmelite Library ministries and that staff will work from home. “We are conscious of supporting our staff as best we can and of helping them to protect their own health and wellbeing and minimising the risks that any of our activities might pose for them or for the people to whom they reach out,” Fr Paul said yesterday. More story & information about Covid-19 from the Australian Government
On this rare occasion I want to address a word of support to all our members who in one way or another are affected by the continuing spread of Covid-19. Here in the Curia we have heard the instructions of the Italian government and we have done our best to follow all the instructions. This has meant saying to our staff that they should not come to work until further instructions. We have organized our life in such a way that none of us will have people coming to the house and no one will leave the house until the ban is lifted, except for emergencies and essential services. We recognize the sacrifice that this entails, but we feel that we have to allow ourselves to be guided by the advice of the experts. Read more
Fr Anthony Scerri represented the Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste at the first Chapter of the General Commissariat of India. Fr Anthony was instrumental in helping to establish the Commissariat during his time as a General Councillor. From a small group of Carmelites, the Commissariat now has 30 Solemnly Professed members and 36 in various stages of formation.
The Commissariat, located in Kerala, is part of our Asia-Australia-Oceania Region of the Order. More photos
“Sainthood doesn’t exist in people doing extraordinary things, but living ordinary lives with extraordinary spirit”, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, said during Mass at the Carmelite parish of Wentworthville (NSW). The mass was celebrated at the end of a day of veneration of the Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents, Sts Louis and Zélie Martin. After Mass the Relics were taken to St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta overnight. More photos
Carmelites must not be afraid to encounter the new and emerging technologies of the millennial age. Rather, they should bring the gift of contemplation into dialogue with the signs of the times so that they can listen together to the Holy Spirit. The final message from the 4th International Congress of Carmelite Laity calls on older Carmelites to accompany young people with confidence and trust. The joy of the Gospel should be evident among those called to live in the presence of the Lord. We need to be optimistic, not afraid. More story & photos |
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Read the Final Message
When the grief, sadness and anger about where we are today on this earth becomes overwhelming, there is often a felt need to turn to poetry and prayer to remind us of what was, and what could be. To remind us of how we can be - in community - together, with love, justice, and compassion. In our JPIC March newsletter Peter Thomas of the JPIC team reflects on the many concerns we all are feeling at this time, using poetry and Laudato Si.
