CARMELITE NEWS
The Carmelite community for 2024 is:
The Carmelite community for 2024 is:
- Fr Martinho Da Costa O.Carm, Parish Priest
- Fr Matthew Tonini O.Carm, Associate Pastor and Prior
The Carmelites
For over seventy five years, priests and brothers of the Carmelite Order have taken care of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Coorparoo. The present parish priest and Prior is Fr Martinho Da Costa.
The Carmelite Order had its beginnings on Mount Carmel in Palestine early in the thirteenth century. Its first members were pilgrims and crusaders from Europe who were inspired by Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the prophet Elijah to come together as a contemplative community. Their spirit of prayer and silence has been embraced by parishioners and is a feature of the liturgies.
The Lay Carmelites are one of several groups in the parish. They number about twenty five and attend Mass together at 8.30 am on the third Sunday of each month. Afterwards they meet in the community room for prayer and formation and refreshments. Peter White is the present leader.
In recent years, Mount Carmel parishioners, and teachers and children at Mount Carmel School, have been reaching out to help our neighbours, the people of East Timor. The focus of our Friends of Zumalai group has been on a very disadvantaged area called Zumalai. We have worked closely with the people there, helping them to get water, and we have assisted mothers and sick children in outlying areas. In addition to that, the children of Mount Carmel School here have given great help to the Mount Carmel School at Zumalai and to small outlying schools.
Nearly forty young East Timorese have joined the Order because they wish to become priests or brothers. Educating them, and giving them the formation they need, has become the priority of the Australian Carmelites. It is a work which has been greatly helped by the people of the parish.
The Carmelite Order had its beginnings on Mount Carmel in Palestine early in the thirteenth century. Its first members were pilgrims and crusaders from Europe who were inspired by Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the prophet Elijah to come together as a contemplative community. Their spirit of prayer and silence has been embraced by parishioners and is a feature of the liturgies.
The Lay Carmelites are one of several groups in the parish. They number about twenty five and attend Mass together at 8.30 am on the third Sunday of each month. Afterwards they meet in the community room for prayer and formation and refreshments. Peter White is the present leader.
In recent years, Mount Carmel parishioners, and teachers and children at Mount Carmel School, have been reaching out to help our neighbours, the people of East Timor. The focus of our Friends of Zumalai group has been on a very disadvantaged area called Zumalai. We have worked closely with the people there, helping them to get water, and we have assisted mothers and sick children in outlying areas. In addition to that, the children of Mount Carmel School here have given great help to the Mount Carmel School at Zumalai and to small outlying schools.
Nearly forty young East Timorese have joined the Order because they wish to become priests or brothers. Educating them, and giving them the formation they need, has become the priority of the Australian Carmelites. It is a work which has been greatly helped by the people of the parish.