The long-awaited renovations to our Church at Wentworthville (NSW) are now complete. Last Sunday Bishop Vincent Long (Bishop of Parramatta) consecrated the new altar and blessed the new ambo, baptismal font and renovated tabernacle.

Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) joined local Carmelites, Denis Andrew (Prior & Parish Priest), Anthony Scerri, John Powell and Martinho Da Costa and parishioners for the ceremony. More photos.

Congratulations to Brothers Marcolino Gomes, Agostinho Dos Santos and Avelino Dos Santos who graduated yesterday to the next level of their English for Pastoral Ministry course.

The Graduation Mass and Ceremony for the English Language School for Pastoral Ministry was held at the Passionist Monastery, Templestowe (VIC). Fr Tom McDonough (Passionist Provincial) celebrated the Mass and Fr Kevin Hennessey (Principal Executive Officer) presented certificates to some 40 students. More photos.

The Carmelite Province of Australia & Timor-Leste is committed to the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse and mistreatment.

Working with the Australian Childhood Foundation since July this year we are developing policies, protocols and responses promoting a culture and a practice of providing a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults in our pastoral care.

10 young Carmelites recently made their first profession of vows as Carmelites. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) received the vows during mass in Hera, Timor-Leste on 9 December.

Brothers Caetano Soares da Silva, Paulo Martins de Araújo, Jacob dos Reis Carvalho, Celestino Soares, Elias Soares Sin, Domingos Natus Quefi, Isaias de Jesus Martins, João Fernando Cabal, Fermando Gusmão and Bonifacio Bragança Lopes made their vows in the presence of other Carmelites, family and friends. More photos.

More than 500 young people visited the 3Charisms stand at the recent Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney and made paper cranes representing prayers for peace.

Br Matthew Tonini and Fr Martinho Da Costa represented the Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste.

See our 2 short videos and more photos from the Festival.

You can also visit our YouTube channel.

On Friday 8 December Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) formally received Samuel Lopes, João Batista Caunan, Alipio Godinho, Antonio Junias Da Gloria and Lucas Dos Santos Martins into the Novitiate at Hera, Timor-Leste.

For the past 2 years these young men have been preparing to become novices in our community at Fatuhada in Dili. We welcome them as they begin the Novitiate – a special year of learning more about the Carmelite journey of transformation. More photos.

Fr Martinho Da Costa and Br Matthew Tonini are representing the Carmelites at the Australia Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney. Together with the Blessed Sacrament Congregation and the Passionists they are manning booth 98 in the exhibition area.

Yesterday, visitors to the booth were invited to join in folding 142 paper cranes representing prayers for peace. Later in the day Br Matthew met up with the Highways & Byways team. Follow all the action on Facebook @carmelitesaet. See more photos.

World Human Rights Day of Prayer falls within the season of Advent, when Christians enter into the experience of longing: longing for Truth, for Freedom, for Peace, for Love…for the experience of all that gives meaning to human life. We pray with Mary and Joseph and their Child seeking shelter in a violent land during violent times. We pray especially for all child migrants who are most vulnerable and voiceless.

The Carmelite NGO has produced a book of prayers, songs and reflections for you to use for this year's celebration of World Human Rights day.

History will be made in a few days time when our 10 novices in Timor-Leste will make their first vows as Carmelites.

They will form the largest group of novices to make their first vows in the history of the Carmelite Province of Australia and Timor-Leste. The last big group was in 1963 when 8 novices made their frist vows together in Australia.

Last week we held our annual Mass and High Tea to thank our donors for their generosity. Almost 70 people attended. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) celebrated the Mass at St Joseph's, Port Melbourne (VIC). Frs Pat Harney, Maurice Barry, Paul Sireh and Januario Pinto concelebrated and Br Sean Keefe and Fr Michael Brundell joined the group for the presentations and High Tea.

Thank you to all our friends who generously support the life and work of the Carmelites in Australia and Timor-Leste.