It wasn’t quite Gardening Australia, but on Saturday morning the Middle Park (VIC) Carmelites gathered to re-pot our orchids which had become very overgrown. Under the direction of Belinda Ahearn, our Province Executive Assistant, we separated the orchids into ‘families’ of four and re-planted them in about 30 smaller pots with fresh soil. We hope when they flower next year we will be able to sell some to help the Carmelites in Timor-Leste. More photos
This issue of Carmel Contact is filled with stories about the difference our donors make to the lives of people in Timor-Leste. You can read about safeguarding children in our Schools in Zumalai, Br Anacleto’s personal story, Fr Agusto reflects on 20 years of Timor-Leste’s independence, celebrating our loyal donors, the first retreat for our Scholarship Students, the new teaching resources you provided to our schools, how to order your Carmelite Christmas Cards, and much more.
Today, Carmelites remember with love and thanksgiving all those people who have handed on to us the heritage of Carmelite life and spirituality. We remember especially those we have known and who have deeply enriched our own living of Carmelite life. These brothers and sisters of ours may not have been famous spiritual writers nor renowned for extraordinary experiences of prayer, but they made their mark on the Order and on each of us through their own efforts to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ in service to the Order and to the Church.
May God welcome them fully into the Divine embrace.
Today Carmelites celebrate the memory of all those who lived faithfully their calling as members of our family. They lived in the spirit of Mary and Elijah and sought the face of the living God in Scripture and in their hearts. They shared their experience of God in teaching, writing, apostolic ministry and love.
We continue to draw inspiration from the many ways they lived in the ‘footsteps of Jesus Christ’.
On this day in 1991 more than 250 mainly young people were shot as they sought refuge in the Santa Cruz Cemetery, Dili. The pro-Independence demonstrators had begun a peaceful march from a local Church to the Cemetery. Pursued by Indonesian soldiers as they approached the Cemetery many sought refuge within its walls. An estimated 200 Indonesian soldiers opened fire on hundreds of unarmed civilians.
We remember and pray for the victims, their families and friends.
Today we remember all those Australian service men and women who gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom. We remember those who mourn them and those who were left to battle on alone.
We remember those who returned home scarred in body, mind or spirit and those who loved and supported them. We remember courage, dedication, sacrifice, mateship and service.
We pray that the world may never again see the massive violence and loss of life experienced in world war.
On the feast of Carmelite Saint Nuno Alvares Peirera, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Community, Coorparoo (QLD) gathered to bless and name the newest multipurpose learning space at their primary school. The building was named Nuno, in honour of St Nuno a Portuguese national hero and Carmelite saint, canonised in 2008. It is the first building in Australia named in honour of Saint Nuno and will provide a modern flexible learning space for grade 5 and 6 students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel school.
St Elizabeth of the Trinity was born on 18 July 1880. As a young child she earned a reputation as an incessant chatterbox and vivacious crawler. She was strong-willed and determined. As she grew up she became known for her generous and loveable nature. She was an excellent musician whose concerts won critical acclaim. At the same time her awareness of God began to grow. In the midst of a busy social life she managed to find time to help with troubled youth and seemed to radiate the presence of God wherever she went. She entered the Carmelite Convent at Dijon in 1901. She was given the name 'Elizabeth of the Trinity'. Here she grew in the Carmelite attributes of reflective prayer, living in the present moment, loving God wholeheartedly and serving others with simplicity. Much like St Therese of Lisieux, Elizabeth's way was one of simple conversation with God and a deep, abiding awareness of God's presence within. Read the full story.
Eight of the 30 Carmelite Way pilgrims for next weekend’s three day walking retreat in the Yarra Valley participated in the Parish commissioning on Sunday 3 November at 10.30am Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Middle Park (VIC) with celebrants Frs Matthew McPhee and Pat Harney. The parishioners prayed for the pilgrims:
In the name of God and this parish community of St Joseph and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we send you forth as pilgrims. May God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be with you to guide and protect you, now and always. Amen. See larger photo.
Our JPIC Newsletter this month is the Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) publication JUST NOW highlighting the Aboriginal struggle to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart. As one Indigenous leader from Northern New South Wales commented: ”I see the involvement and groundswell from our mob, that actually change is going to happen." Each of us is encouraged to keep ourselves informed; to walk with our First Nation people to a better future and self-determination.
