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.
The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste have joined the National Redress Scheme. The Scheme provides acknowledgement and support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
We are committed to safeguarding all people in our care, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults. We have policies and procedures which are mandatory for all Carmelites, our employees and volunteers who work with us. Read more about: Our Commitment to Safeguarding, Our Safeguarding Policies & the Redress Scheme.
The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste are committed to the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse and mistreatment.
We are committed to safeguarding all people in our care, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Our Commitment
The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste, committed to living in allegiance to Jesus Christ,
being pure in heart and stout in conscience and unswerving in the service of the Master (Carmelite Rule)
reach out to people in pastoral service. We are committed to making all our places safe and protected
spaces for all people, especially children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Our Policies & Procedures
Since 2017 we have been working with the Australian Childhood Foundation to develop policies, protocols and responses which promote a culture and a practice of providing a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults in our pastoral care.
These Policies and Procedures were formally adopted at the 2019 Provincial Chapter and are mandatory throughout the Province for Carmelites and the employees and volunteers who work with us in our ministries.
These Policies and Procedures include a Code of Conduct for Carmelites, employees and volunteers, reporting procedures as well as recruitment and employment standards so that only suitable people work with us in our ministries. We are committed to ongoing education and training in recognising abuse, responding with justice and compassion to allegations and to direct intervention when abuse is suspected.
National Redress Scheme
In September 2019 the Carmelites were admitted to the National Redress Scheme. The National Redress Scheme provides acknowledgement and support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
For more information on the National Redress Scheme, visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress Information Line on 1800 737 377.
Reporting & Healing
The Carmelites Australia & Timor-Leste are committed to helping those who have experienced abuse in the past find support and healing. Our Provincial is the designated Safeguarding Officer and can be contacted at the Provincial Office, (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone (03) 9699 1922.
We urge anyone with evidence of criminal conduct to contact their local Police so that it can be appropriately investigated.
When children are involved, many States in Australia have mandatory reporting provisions to the police or relevant state authority. Use the contact information below for further information:
pdf Mandatory Reporting Contact Details for each State and Territory
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS RESOURCE GROUPS
New South Wales/ACT – 1300 369 977
Northern Territory – 0418 736 890
Queensland – 1800 337 928
South Australia – 1800 139 020
Tasmania – 1800 356 613
Victoria – 1800 816 030
Western Australia – 1800 072 390
Read our pdf Safeguarding Policy & Procedures | pdf Complaint Handling Policy 2021 | pdf Risk Management Strategy
ACSL Safeguarding Audit 2022 pdf ACSL Media Release May 2022 | pdf ACSL Audit Report May 2022
ACSL National Catholic Safeguarding Standards pdf NCSS Version 2 2022 | pdf NCSS Implementation Guide Version 1 | pdf NCSS Version 2 2022 Compendium
