This Lent, reflect on and transform your relationship to God’s creation through simple daily gestures and commitments. Take this time as an opportunity to live more wisely, think more deeply and love more generously. “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (Pope Francis). The Calendar is made available by Catholic Religious Australia.
This month's issue of the JPIC newsletter highlights the tragedy of global human trafficking. Sr Claire Griffin talks about the work of Catholic Religious involved in alleviating suffering and rescuing victims. There's also a video on our JPIC page about the Zimbabwean Carmelite Sisters Agape Leona project helping Human Trafficking survivors in Africa, and the February Pope Video about human trafficking.
More than 40 Carmelites gathered at Blessed Titus Brandsma community in Fatuhada in Dili to welcome 3 new candidates into the Pre-Novitiate program. They are Manuel Xavier Gonzaga, Moises Soares, and Constantino Barreto Amaral. During the same celebration of Evening Prayer our 6 first year pre-novices were also admitted to the second year of the pre-novitiate program. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) presided at the celebration and presented a small cross and medal to the pre-novices as a sign of their participation in the program.
The pre-Novices, Carmelites and guests shared food, drink, songs and dancing after the ceremony. See more photos.
Recently all 49 Carmelites in Timor gathered at Hera for a training day about creating a safe and respectful environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults in our communities and ministries.
The day was begun by Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) with a reflection drawn from the Scriptures, and Carmelite and Church documents.
The next two sessions were led by the Forum Tau Matan, a Timorese Safeguarding training group, on child protection awareness training.
The Carmelites’ Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission has expressed support for the Urgent Medical Treatment Bill proposed by Dr Kerryn Phelps, MP.
Writing to politicians on behalf of the Commission, Gabrielle Fogarty (Chair) said, “We urge you along with Labour members, the Greens, and Independents to #BackTheBill as proposed by Dr Kerryn Phelps in the Urgent Medical Treatment Bill.”
Brs José Natalino Freitas and Anacleto Guterres Da Costa have arrived in Australia to study English and Theology. They have begun their English language studies at the English Language School for Pastoral Ministry at Box Hill, VIC. They are part of the Carmelite community at Middle Park VIC. After completing their language studies they will study Theology at the University of Divinity, Melbourne.
José and Anacleto joined the Carmelites in 2010 and recently completed their Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Timor.
Enjoy the rich variety of retreats, seminars, reading groups and prayer on offer at the Carmelite Centre this year.
Lectio Divina, meditation, mindfulness, Carmelite Conversations, residential and one day retreats are just some of the offerings this year. As well, there are sessions on the spirituality of the Carmelite Rule, St Thérèse of Lisieux, St John of the Cross, St Teresa of Avila, Evelyn Underhill, Anthony De Mello - and much more.
You can pdf download our 2019 program . You can subscribe to the Carmelite Centre Newsletter by visiting the website and adding your email address at the end of the home page.
Over 140,000 people are now part of our Facebook Family! And over 23,000 people in Timor-Leste are now following us. Through our Facebook page people regularly ask us to pray for their needs, view our news and download our publications. We also have over 1,000 followers on Instagram.
Find us on Facebook.com/CarmelitesAET and instagram.com/carmelitesaet and click on ‘follow’ so you can see all our posts in your news feed.
In graduating from his Clinical Pastoral Education course Agedo has now completed all the requirements for his Bachelor of Divinity degree. The graduation ceremony was held at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne where Agedo completed a 3 month Spiritual Care Internship on 31 January this year. Matthew Tonini and David Hofman also attended the graduation ceremony. Agedo says that the CPE was ‘very challenging; I learnt a lot about myself; how to work in a group and how to care for people of different religions and no religion’. Congratulations, Agedo! Click the 'read more' link for photos.
The Carmelites, Australia and Timor-Leste are looking for a Direct Marketing Co-ordinator to work with us to maximise income and donor growth through a DM strategy which focuses on donor retention, upgrade, conversion and reactivation of donors, and a donor acquisition and email program.
