These first Carmelites were seekers who stepped back and took the wide view of our shared life journey. They were on an intentional quest for meaning, purpose and ultimately for the God who is Love. On Mount Carmel – a holy place recorded in the Hebrew scriptures – they gathered as a praying community, pondering the Word of God in the Bible and seeking their simple way by following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Carmelites today in 2021, like those first Carmelites, continue living a way of life that seeks to follow the way of Jesus through practices of prayer, community and service. Here at Mount Carmel, Coorparoo, a community of Carmelite brothers, has lived in the community since 1937 accompanying the community (school and parish) in travelling the life journey of meaning and Love.

As I’m sure many of you would understand, in 2020 the pandemic made things look a little different than expected. As a result of COVID-19 and the ensuing border closures, my time on the National Evangelisation Teams Australia was cut short. However, the time that I did spend on NET was fruitful and engaging.

In my team of nine, we ran full-day retreats designed to facilitate an encounter with Christ at various schools for high school students in Brisbane, Ballina, Casino and Coffs Harbour. It was powerful and inspiring to journey with young individuals in prayer and discussion as they discover more about God.

My training and experience of youth ministry with NET has given me the skills and confidence to contribute to faith and fellowship at the University of Queensland’s Catholic Chaplaincy. I’m excited to return to my university studies as Vice-President of the Newman Society, our club of Catholics at the St Lucia campus.

Thank you to those who contributed to my fundraising, and for your support in prayer. I am so grateful for the astounding support I received from this community. The donations of my generous sponsors have been invaluable and will continue to support NET’s mission of the much-needed evangelisation of young people in Australia.

Please continue to pray for this organisation and their missionaries, as they head into another year of reaching the hearts and minds of the youth of Australia.

​God Bless!
Joey Bach 

The Carmelite Community Development Ministry are very pleased to congratulate two scholarship students who have recently graduated with Bachelor degrees in Timor. We feel very proud to see these young people achieve success with their studies and to have played a role in supporting them over several years. Carmelite Brothers were present and celebrated these important life milestones with both students.
 
Sabino completed a Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering at Dili Institute of Technology. As part of his degree, Sabino travelled to Indonesia on a 2-month intensive study tour with his classmates and lecturers, enabling him to broaden his understanding of the sector and use some of the larger petroleum engineering technology that isn’t in operation in Timor yet. It was Sabino’s first time overseas and first time on an airplane.

Julito graduated with a Bachelor of Information Management (ICT) at the Institute of Business. For his final year project, Julito worked with a dental clinic in Dili. He set up an information system so the clinic could manage their patient information. He then reflected on this experience and process in his written thesis, which he had to submit and then defend in an oral exam conducted by three university lecturers.

Also, congratulations to all the students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Zumalai and St Francis Xavier School, Raimea who recently completed their national exams. During the exams, students were able to use some of the teaching resources and stationery that have been delivered to Zumalai over the last year or two, including the sharpeners that were collected by students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School in Sydney.

Thank you for your ongoing connection with us and support for the important programs being implemented in Timor. During what has been a truly extraordinary year, we have seen the Carmelite family in Timor respond to new challenges with compassion, creativity and resilience. We look forward to further strengthening our programs in 2021, with a continued commitment to education and youth.
 
The Carmelite Community Development Ministry wishes you all a safe and joyous Christmas and New Year.
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Mayra Walsh, Community Development Ministry Coordinator