Work is proceeding well on the new toilet and shower block for our 27 boarding house students in Zumalai, thanks mainly to the generosity of students, teachers, families and parishioners of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish and School in Coorparoo (QLD). The project is expected to cost around $30,000.00. The boarding house enables children from outlying villages in the huge parish to attend school in Zumalai.
If you would like to contribute to this project please contact our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Carmelites, Passionists and Blessed Sacrament Congregation have joined together to promote vocations at stand 98 during the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney from 7-9 December.
Fr Martinho Da Costa and Br Matthew Tonini are representing the Carmelites. Our new vocations brochure will be available at the Festival or by mail from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can see the brochure here.
Remarkably, another 3,826 people have joined our Facebook family in the last month, bringing the total number of followers to 85,469!
We post stories, photos and videos about the life and work of Carmelites in Australia and Timor-Leste, Carmelite Spirituality, prayers, reflections and contemporary events.
Why not join our family? Find us on Facebook @carmelitesAET and click on ‘follow’ so you can see all our posts in your news feed.
Whitefriars College students are taking a stance in preventing violence against women.
Each year on White Ribbon Day people are encouraged to wear a white ribbon and paint one fingernail white as a symbol of their oath never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
It is sobering to think that, on average, one woman dies each week as the result of male inflicted domestic violence.
How do the people of any nation cope with the aftermath of many years of the brutality of invasion, war, massacre and oppression?
Several countries have worked very hard to bring people to a sense of peace through a community process of healing.
Pat Walsh reflects on the process and spirituality of truth and reconciliation in Timor Leste.
Springs of Carmel, Peter Slattery's straightforward and succinct explanation of the Carmelite tradition, is now available from Amazon as an eBook.
Springs of Carmel is a refreshing account of the Carmelite spiritual tradition and the important people who have shaped its history.
Order from Amazon Australia | Amazon US | Amazon UK, Ireland & Europe
Since 2001 the Carmelites have been committed to serving the people of Timor-Leste. As an integral part of the Carmelite family, Whitefriars is committed to the opportunities to support their work. This Timor-Leste Immersion experience allows students to live in the Carmelite communities of Hera and Zumalai. Here, the students become immersed in and open to the transformative experience of living in another culture.
Two weeks ago, a group of 27 people set out to walk the beautiful Lilydale to Warburton rail trail. Amongst the group there was a range of walking experience, some who had walked hundreds of kilometres and some who were unsure of their ability but willing to try none the less.
Over three days we walked beside still waters, through groves of eucalypts, past lush farm paddocks and fragrant rose gardens, then cooled our feet in tumbling streams.
Sunday 12 November was the anniversary of the Santa Cruz massacre when more than 250 East Timorese pro-independence protestors were killed in the Santa Cruz cemetery, Dili, in 1991.
A mass was held at St Joseph’s Carmelite Church in Port Melbourne to commemorate the massacre and pray for Timor-Leste.
Fr Januario Pinto, OCarm, was the celebrant of the Mass and was joined by Fr Paul Sireh, OCarm, and members of the East Timor Student Association. Read more...
Br Matthew Tonini received the ministry of Acolyte on Sunday 5 November from Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) during Mass in the Carmelite Community Chapel at Middle Park (Vic).
Acolytes assist the priest during the celebration of the Eucharist, preparing the altar, missal and the vessels for Mass and cleaning them after Communion. They may also distribute Communion if necessary. Congratulations, Matthew!
