Over the past twelve months our Conference has made 322 calls to assist those in need. We have visited families 56 times and single and couples 266 times.  The following income and expenditure indicates how much we have assisted our companions and shows also how generous our benefactors have been to enable us to do the work we do.
 
Once again we are asking for your support in our Christmas appeal and will show the video put out by our State Council at all Masses this weekend, 30th November/1st December.
Also, one of our members will talk at the Masses on 7/8 December.
 
As well as assisting those in need to the extent of $35,894.90 we also issued 48 Vinnies Gift Cards to enable our companions to spend up to $25 for each card.  Plus we were able to supply furniture items to the value of $2197.95.
 
Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and may God Bless You All.
 
Bob Green
Treasurer, Our Lady of Mt Carmel Conference​

The “Respect at Work and Other Matters” Bill is set to go before Parliament in the week of September 8th, the last sitting days before the election. This bill, in its current form, will have serious impact on all churches and faith-based organisations:
 
Make anti-vilification easily weaponised by one minority group against another, to silence speech that they consider “hateful” – with no protection for good-faith religious discussion.
 
Ban “harassment on the basis of sex” on the possibility that staff or volunteers might be offended, including:

• Teaching religious beliefs about gender and sexuality
• Having separate ministry roles, or places of worship, for men and women
• Requiring staff and volunteers to live according to their faith in regards to sex and sexuality

Authorise the Anti-Discrimination Commission to investigate churches, mosques and synagogues to enforce compliance.
 
            (Read more here: https://contactyourmp.org.au/qld-ad-respect)
 
 
Church leaders have sought meetings with the Government, to address our concerns and offer solutions. To date, they have not met with us.
 
It is urgent that you write to your local MP, and ask your church members / parishioners to do so.
 
We know that politicians respond when they receive lots of letters from people in their electorate. We need both sides of politics to commit to opposing or fixing this bill.
 
We have created a website to make it easy to find and write to your MP:
            https://contactyourmp.org.au/qld-ad
​

Every one of us contributes to the life of this community. In all sorts of ways. Some ministries are obvious. Many are not. Some are named. Many, if not most, go on day to day wherever we find ourselves caring and sharing kindness.

The Parish Advisory Council is a ministry within the parish.

We are a group of ten parishioners: Fr Martinho da Costa, Fr Matthew Tonini, Christine Clarke, Jane Connolly, Steph Unger, Cara Fox, Michael Kearney, Warren Fields, Paul Jensen, Anne-Marie Maw.

We meet monthly. We have an agenda. We record minutes. We share a bite to eat. We have a section on Parish website.

We listen, share, pray and discern. We seek to know our community, its story, what’s emerging - locally and in the wider church. Above all, we seek to enable our community to flourish true to our mission and our Carmelite focus on PRAYER, COMMUNITY and SERVICE.

2024 sees a particular emphasis on COMMUNITY. We are people first. Conversation/story sharing strengthen connection and inclusion. Our ministry formation sessions and Carmel Conversations have been very well attended this year. Our first Carmel Conversation focused on two questions: Who are we? What do we value? There was no formal input. The responses came directly from the floor. You value:

• Carmelite spirituality
• Quality/variety of liturgy/prayer experience
• Range of ministries – avenues of involvement
• Voice of women and laypeople – heard and valued
• Sense of belonging
• Silence and contemplation
• Shared personal responsibility to build community.
  
  

Your responses informed the Carmelite Assembly in April and provide focus for the ongoing evolution of our Carmelite parish. Your story, your input is at the heart of the work of the Parish Advisory Council.
Our next Carmel Conversation is in August and has a focus on SYNODALITY.

The Parish Advisory Council is a great supporter and encourager of initiatives that arise from the community for the community:  The ministry formation program. Christmas in July. Our Community Celebration weekends incorporating our much-loved family masses. The Mt Carmel Community night. The East Deanery session presented here by Bishop Tim Norton. Our Feast Day Celebration.

We were very excited to feature our longstanding OLMC Family Groups in our Feast Day celebrations. To think that they formed back in the 1980s and three continue today! They are communities within our community and their story is our story. The Parish Advisory Council looks forward to fostering further such opportunities to highlight and celebrate our community. We grow our church from the ground up. Your suggestions are welcome.

The Parish Advisory Council provides important co-leadership support for Fr Martinho and Fr Matthew and assists as needed with the Finance, and Plant and Resources Committee.

We are currently in a process of prayerful review and discernment in relation to the role, purpose and membership of Parish Advisory Council. We will keep you updated over coming months.

Thanks to everyone involved in active ministry in the parish, seen or unseen.

Thanks to everyone who shows love, care and kindness to other people here or elsewhere.

And, if life is not so good for you at the moment, for whatever reason, know that you are held by our community. You are loved.
​
Christ has no body now but ours.
Christine Clarke (Chair) OLMC Parish Advisory Council 

14 June 2024

Dear Year 3 Parents and Guardians,

We look forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with your child.     
As per the Sacramental policy of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Year 3 children will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In Year 4, they will receive their First Holy Communion.
In Year 5 they will receive the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). 
 
To be eligible for the Sacrament of Confirmation, your child must be Baptised.
If you are unable to locate your child’s Baptismal certificate, please contact the Parish in which they were Baptised and ask for a Baptismal extract.                   
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated here at the Parish on
Thursday 5 September and Friday 6 September 2024 at 5pm.    
  ____________________________________________________________________________
Parental Responsibility and the Sacraments in the Catholic Church
Your child’s journey in faith began with their Baptism – and in the words of
Pope Francis “without Confirmation they have only come half-way”

At the Rite of Baptism: “You have asked to have your child Baptised.                                                                        
​ In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith.                                               Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”    “I DO”

It is very important for the children and their families to participate regularly in Parish Mass.  The Mass is at the heart of our Catholic identity and faith.  We are indeed, Baptised and Confirmed so that we can participate fully in the Mass.

For your child to be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is very important that all sessions of the preparation are attended.  When you and your child make a decision to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, you are making a commitment to share in the complete journey of receiving this Sacrament. Please see the list of dates below for this sacrament.

The Parent and Child Information Session will provide an overview of the preparation involved with the Sacrament of Confirmation and will be an opportunity for parents to raise any questions.

If you are happy for you and your child to make this commitment, please complete the online enrolment form and Parental Consent Form (also attached below) and submit along with ALL the supporting documentation to the parish office by Friday 2 August. Please note, the enrolment form will not be processed until ALL documents are received.

This Sacrament is a very special moment in your child’s journey of faith and your Parish community look forward to supporting you in the journey and to the celebration of the Sacrament. 
For any further enquiries, please contact the Parish Office on telephone 3397 1587 or by email at [email protected].
​
Sincerely,
Rev Martinho Da Costa O.Carm                                                                                                                                      Parish Priest

Jane: Good evening everyone
Tonight, I have been asked to speak on behalf of the community in thanking two very special people. Mercy sisters, Genevieve and Madonna have been integral members of our parish for almost a quarter of a century. Tonight, we farewell them as they move into retirement care at Nudgee.

Together, Genevieve and Madonna have quietly engaged in a ministry of prayer for everyone in the Mt Carmel community. Their warm welcome, engagement, and acceptance of all has been inspirational and both are much loved. Genevieve and Madonna have a great capacity for friendship and have opened their hearts and home to many. Here in the parish, they have made friends leading Lenten discussion groups and prayer groups and Genevieve in particular has engaged with many through her love of sport of all codes, particularly cricket in summer and the NRL in the winter months. For those who aren’t aware, she’s a great Cowboys supporter.

A country girl from Nanango, Genevieve travelled far and wide in her younger years, teaching in London and France. From a big family she learnt her great hospitality and cooking skills and no doubt honed her sense of humour and great stoicism in their midst.
She is perhaps best known to many of us as a tireless advocate for the marginalised, particularly refugees and asylum seekers. She has been a good friend to the Romero Centre who will be among the number to miss her wise counsel.

Madonna started life in Goodna, attended All Hallows School and then trained as a nurse.  Before arriving here at Coorparoo, Madonna’s nursing career had led her to leadership of the Mater Public Hospitals and leadership of the Mercy Congregation. Managing such responsible roles, it is no wonder Madonna loved the opportunity to travel and holiday.

We have been the beneficiaries of so many aspects of her roles in nursing and leadership, which she has brought to the ministries in which she has been engaged here at Mt. Carmel. She has been a catechist for the RCIA program, has led communion services, been a reader, eucharistic minister and taken communion and good cheer to the sick.

A good friend of Sister Helen Maguire, former principal of Mt Carmel School and dear friend of Father Jerome, she has been a great support to him as he has struggled with his own changing circumstances. Madonna’s gentle guidance and presence has been a gift to so many.

And now Madonna and Genevieve face their own changing circumstances with grace, great faith, and some sadness. Downsizing from their home in Bunyah St has been a new and challenging experience. Both apparently are hoarders! No doubt during the process of making difficult decisions about culling Madonna has been mindful of advice she once gave to her Aunt Marie: Sometimes God wants us to do what we don’t want to do. And perhaps on the more difficult days she has agreed with her Aunt Marie whose response to that advice was that God could mind his own business!

But as both Madonna and Genevieve know, change is one of life’s certainties. As they face this change in their circumstances and move from the community they have embraced for so many years, we pray that they know our ongoing love and support. As they will miss us, we too will miss them.

(Martinho to present candles) Knowing that you have culled many treasured items in preparation for your move, we hope that you have room for these gifts, candles which will remind you of the light this parish has been for you and the light that you have brought to so many in this community.
Tonight we thank you for your presence with us and for being present to us.

Father Martinho will now bless you both as your journey continues.

Farewell dear friends.
 
Martinho: I invite everyone to raise your hands in blessing for Madonna and Genevieve.
Genevieve and Madonna, we have been abundantly blessed by your love, care, wisdom, compassion and faith. You are light for us all.  We pray that you will always know the infinite kindness of our God.
Living God, Giver of life, Heart of life, Breath of life, Sustainer of life
Bless Genevieve and Madonna today, tomorrow and always.
​
All: Amen.