"I have found a very nurturing and joyful community at the Carmelite Centre with lots of opportunities for inquiry and growth."
Clare McArdleCarmelite Conversation, The Spiritual Drama of the Fourth Gospel with Hugh Brown, OCarm, 11 June 2025
The topic for this Conversation is The Mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple and their Roles in the Spiritual Drama of the Fourth Gospel. It will be facilitated by Hugh Brown OCarm. Mary and the Beloved Disciple appear at pivotal moments in the narrative of the...
Wisdom, Centering Prayer Meditation, May 2025
Our theme for this month – Wisdom, from Joan Chittister ‘s book, In a High Season, and the Wisdom Psalm 1 as expressed in the Carmelite rule: to develop a contemplative dimension to [our] lives, to “meditate day and night on the Word of the Lord.” Psalm 1 - Blessed is...
Carmelite Conversation, The Doorway to Mystical Hope with Bernadette Micallef, 9 April 2025
With Holy Week and the celebration of Easter approaching, this Carmelite Conversation incorporated the theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope” and reflections on “Mystical Hope.” How do we ‘access’ and foster the hope that does not disappoint? It considered...
A Lenten Reflection on Wilderness, Centering Prayer Meditation, April 2025
Our theme for this month - A Lenten Reflection on Wilderness, as we take time to explore the theme, we look to meet God in our own unique wilderness…asking Him to interrupt my agenda with his own. We’ll listen to some words from Isaiah, and a prayer from Henri Nouwen....
A message to the Carmelite Centre Community, March 2025
The recent retirement of our inaugural staff members, Irene Hayes and Damien Peile, after sixteen years’ service has provided the Province with the opportunity to reflect on the work of the Centre, its significance to the Province as a deep expression of who the...
Carmelite Conversation, Experience in Vietnam and Prayer in the Carmelite Tradition with Daryl Moresco OCarm
Recently, Br Daryl was in Vietnam giving a series of talks on Prayer in the Carmelite Tradition to 25 friars in formation during their annual Carmelite Studies Week. This conversation will highlight some of the topics presented such as the Practice of the Presence of...
Carmelite Conversations, The Carmelite Rule: a path to mysticism with Matthew Tonini OCarm
The Carmelite Rule (also known as the Rule of Saint Albert) was written over 800 years ago for a group of Christian hermits living simply on Mount Carmel in Israel. Despite its age, this brief but profound Rule has inspired countless men and women to cultivate a...
Carmelite Library January 2025
Dear Friends of the Carmelite Library Please find the link below to the January 2025 issue of the library’s newsletter. We hope that you enjoy reading about the library’s recent news and updates. We also invite you to take advantage of several opportunities for...
Carmelite Conversations: Saint John the poet and lover of nature with Patricia Greene
This session will look at the journey of John of the Cross that led him to the Carmelites where he would be an inspiring light in the darkness for all who journeyed in the spiritual pursuit of the Beloved. The main focus will on his love for the beauty of nature from...
Eco Spirituality Reading Circle – Inspiring and Challenging
For the small group of people who have gathered six times this year, the text we have been reading has been quite inspiring and challenging. It is Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis by Leah D Schade and Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, editors,...
Carmelite Conversations: Sharing the experience of the International Congress for Carmelite Laity in Rome
In September 2024 almost 200 Carmelites gathered for a week in Sassone, Rome. The theme of the International Congress for Carmelite Laity was: "Lay Carmelites: Called to Set the World on Fire." In this month's Carmelite Conversation some of the Australians who...
Carmelite Conversations: Saint Titus Brandsma – Mystery of God’s Nearness with Daryl Moresco OCarm
Saint Titus Brandsma has a profound message for us today on encountering the “mystery of God’s nearness”. From his life as a young Carmelite friar to his martyrdom in Dachau, we can learn how living fully in the present moment, mindful that we are always in God’s holy...
Carmelite Conversations: Melanesian Indigenous Spirituality with Paul Sireh OCarm
Paul writes: “In this conversation I will share with you and introduce who we are as Melanesians and our spirituality, distinct from Polynesians and Micronesians. I will look mainly at the Melanesian spiritual experience in Papua New Guinea where I come from. The core...
Practicing Presence, Centering Prayer Meditation, September 2024
Our theme for this month comes from Henri Nouwen’s book, Following Jesus, in particular - Practicing Presence. Henri tells us: * Prayer is entering into the presence of God here and now. Prayer is the way in which we become present to the moment and listen to God who...
The Psalms, Centering Prayer Meditation August 2024
Our theme for August’s reflection looks at the messages the Psalms have for us. We’ll acknowledge that we are known by God, in Psalm 139, protected by him when we call his name, Psalm 116, and strengthened, Psalm 16. * Psm 139. You have searched me Lord, and...
Carmelite Conversation – Discernment on the Carmelite Way with Matthew Tonini OCarm
In August, Matthew Tonini OCarm, addressed the topic of Discernment on the Carmelite Way. The final admonition of the Carmelite Rule might be translated: “use discernment, however, the guide of the virtues.” The writer of the Rule, Albert of Jerusalem, recognises that...
Lectio Divina: an inspiring way to start the day
I was given the link for the daily Carmelite Lectio Divina by a friend four years ago and have made it a daily habit to use it. I was delighted when I discovered the weekly Friday Lectio on Zoom, led so wonderfully by Irene and Damien. Since then I have put the...
Carmelite Conversation: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux : Radiant Light for Theology with Dr Michelle Jones
At the July Carmelite Conversation, Dr Michelle Jones explored the spirituality of St Thérèse of Lisieux. Inspired by Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “C’est La Confiance”, this conversation explores the ways in which the spirituality of St Thérèse of Lisieux can...
Silent Prayer, Centering Prayer Meditation July 2024
Our theme for July – Silent Prayer, comes from Jan Harris’ book, Quiet in His Presence. We’re encouraged not to pay attention to any words or thoughts...coming to Him for himself, as a gift…empty-handed, humble and speechless…encouraged in our meditation to use a...
Tuesday Prayer Meditation – a safe, nourishing and peaceful place
I first connected with this online gathering during one of the Covid lock-downs in 2020. I instantly found it to be a safe, nourishing and peaceful space to spend 30 to 40 minutes in once a week. I was delighted in 2023 to be offered an opportunity to facilitate...
Creating a Synodal Parish, Carmelite Conversation with Paul Cahill OCarm, June 2024
At June's Carmelite Conversation, Paul Cahil OCarm, explored the concept of Synodality - walking together. Vatican II emphasised the image of the Church as ‘The People of God’ who walk together, laity and hierarchy, in fulfilling their common Baptismal right and...
Courage, Centering Prayer Mediation, June 2024
We continue our reflections from Gerald May’s book, the Wisdom of the Wilderness, for this month – on the theme of courage. Gerald May says: Sometimes you just take your chances. There’s a sort of freedom when you’ve done what you can do and you just have to give up...
Contemplative Autumn Walk – mini pilgrimage – Saturday 11 May 2024
On a lovely mild Autumnal day a group of thirteen set out from Lilydale rail station on a sort of mini Pilgrimage to walk the 7km track to Mt Evelyn. We began with a short reflection from the booklet The Carmelite Way Pilgrimage, choosing for ourselves a memorable...
The Power of Slowing, Centering Prayer Meditation, May 2024
The theme for this month of May is a reflection on the Power of Slowing, using themes from Gerald May’s book, The Wisdom of the Wilderness, with epigraphs from Saint John of the Cross, a sixteenth-century Spanish Carmelite friar. Gerald May says: The call of...
The perennial human questions: a reflection on suffering and death, Carmelite Conversation, May 2024
At May's Carmelite Conversation, Bernadette Micallef led a reflection on our own response to the perennial human questions about suffering and death. The group of 18 engaged thoughtfully and prayerfully in the discussion sharing personal experiences in particular...
OUR LATEST BLOG
Carmelite Conversation, The Spiritual Drama of the Fourth Gospel with Hugh Brown, OCarm, 11 June 2025
The topic for this Conversation is The Mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple and their Roles in the Spiritual Drama of the Fourth Gospel. It will be facilitated by Hugh Brown OCarm. Mary and the Beloved Disciple appear at pivotal moments in the narrative of the...
Wisdom, Centering Prayer Meditation, May 2025
Our theme for this month – Wisdom, from Joan Chittister ‘s book, In a High Season, and the Wisdom Psalm 1 as expressed in the Carmelite rule: to develop a contemplative dimension to [our] lives, to “meditate day and night on the Word of the Lord.” Psalm 1 - Blessed is...
Carmelite Conversation, The Doorway to Mystical Hope with Bernadette Micallef, 9 April 2025
With Holy Week and the celebration of Easter approaching, this Carmelite Conversation incorporated the theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope” and reflections on “Mystical Hope.” How do we ‘access’ and foster the hope that does not disappoint? It considered...
A Lenten Reflection on Wilderness, Centering Prayer Meditation, April 2025
Our theme for this month - A Lenten Reflection on Wilderness, as we take time to explore the theme, we look to meet God in our own unique wilderness…asking Him to interrupt my agenda with his own. We’ll listen to some words from Isaiah, and a prayer from Henri Nouwen....
A message to the Carmelite Centre Community, March 2025
The recent retirement of our inaugural staff members, Irene Hayes and Damien Peile, after sixteen years’ service has provided the Province with the opportunity to reflect on the work of the Centre, its significance to the Province as a deep expression of who the...
Carmelite Conversation, Experience in Vietnam and Prayer in the Carmelite Tradition with Daryl Moresco OCarm
Recently, Br Daryl was in Vietnam giving a series of talks on Prayer in the Carmelite Tradition to 25 friars in formation during their annual Carmelite Studies Week. This conversation will highlight some of the topics presented such as the Practice of the Presence of...
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