A second shrine to Our Lady has been built by the Timorese Catholic community in Australia and was blessed on 11 January this year. The new shrine, dedicated to Our Lady of Aitara, was built at Marian Valley at Canungra in the Gold Coast hinterland which hosts a collection of shrines and chapels. Bishop Ken Howell blessed the shrine and celebrated mass assisted by Carmelite Fr Januario Pinto. The title, Our Lady of Aitara, comes from an alleged apparition of Our Lady more than 100 years ago on Mount Aitara in Timor-Leste. Since then popular devotion to Our Lady of Aitara has grown and Timorese people see her as the mother “who supported us through war, strife, suffering, invasion and illnesses,’ according to Canossian Sister Odette Moreira. More photos
Late last year Fr Carlito Da Silva (pictured) celebrated 2 Thanksgiving Masses in Portadown and Dungannon, Northern Ireland, for the Timorese community. Both Masses were hosted by TAIS (Timorese Association Inclusive Support) group. Fr Carlito was visiting Ireland during the Christmas break from his Doctoral studies in Spirituality in Rome. Carlito is a member of the Carmelite Province of Australia & Timor-Leste. More photos
Carmelite, Fr Paul Sireh, chaplain to the Australian PNG Catholic Community, says that a new chapel dedicated to Blessed Peter To Rot will open on 17 January. PNG Cardinal John Ribat will fly from Port Moresby to lead the celebration at the chapel in Marian Valley, in the Gold Coast Hinterland, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Blessed Peter's beatification.
Blessed Peter was a martyr and lay catechist who was entrusted with a PNG parish during World War II when Japan occupied the region. He stood up for religious values in the face of oppression and held secret services under the imperial rule. More story
Today Fr Pat Harney celebrates the 68th anniversary of his ordination as a priest. 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. Pat is also the oldest Carmelite Friar in the world and in March will celebrate his 99th Birthday! Congratulations, Pat! More photos
Feast Day: 9 January
Andrew was born into nobility, a member of the powerful Corsini family of Florence, and was one of 12 children. He joined the Carmelite community at the Carmine on the southern bank of the Arno sometime before the year 1338. This community was known for its sanctity and regular observance amidst a more tumultuous environment of religious life in the early Renaissance period. After completing his studies in Florence he was teacher of the younger students in the community. More story
Feast Day: 8 January
Peter Thomas was born into a poor peasant family in the southern Périgord region in France. His piety and skill as a teacher attracted the attention of the Carmelite prior of Bergérac, who invited him to join the Carmelite community there at age twenty-one. He taught in various houses of study until he was sent to University in Paris for advanced scholarship. While his studies were still in progress he was elected by the Order as its procurator general to the Papal Court at Avignon in 1345. More story
Happy New Year from the Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste!
New Year's Day is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
May the New Year be filled with an ever deeper awareness of God's presence around us and in us.
May Mary accompany us with wisdom and love on our journey into God’s heart.
The 2020 edition of the Carmelite Liturgical Guide is now available.
The Guide integrates the Carmelite Liturgical Calendar with the liturgical calendars of Australia and Timor-Leste to provide a guide to the Seasons, Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials and Carmelite celebrations for every day of the year.
In our parish at Coorparoo (QLD) our Timorese Carmelites have been getting the Church ready for Christmas. They have constructed a Christmas Crib in traditional Timorese style. Fr Janu and Brs Donato, José and Anacleto worked late into the night yesterday assembling the crib and adding a few contemporary features like Christmas lights. Well done, brothers! More photos
On 10 December our 6 Pre-Novices, André da Costa, Antonio Preito da Costa Soares, Honorio Pereira Bobo Lobato, Natasio de Jesus Maia, Ponciano Norberto de Deus and Virgilio de Jesus Brites, were received into the Novitiate at Hera, Timor-Leste. The Novitiate is a special year of spiritual development and learning more about the Carmelite Way under the guidance of Fr Bruce Clark (Novice Director). Our thoughts and prayers accompany these brothers on this next step in their journey. See more photos
