"I have found a very nurturing and joyful community at the Carmelite Centre with lots of opportunities for inquiry and growth."
Clare McArdleJPIC September 2021 Newsletter
Welcome to the September 2021 edition of Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation Commission newsletter. Click here.
JPIC August 2021 Newsletter
Welcome to the August 2021 edition of Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation Commission newsletter. Click here.
Lectio Divina “a warm inclusive welcome greeted me…”
I came to Lectio Divina in 2017. I hadn’t intended to ‘start’ Lectio Divina but as a post graduate student at the Catholic Theological College, I was studying Meditation, and wanted to experience first-hand what it was all about. I first rang The Carmelite Centre...
Lectio Divina “group of like-minded people”
Earlier this morning I participated in a session of Lectio Divina with friends from the Carmelite Centre in Middle Park. I’ve been participating in these weekly sessions for about two years, having started at a time on my journey when my own practice of Lectio had...
Lectio Divina “an oasis for the weary spirit”
I go to Lectio whenever I can. You are always made to feel welcome. Now it is online but you still feel the connection. It is a tall, cool glass of water when I thirst; a meeting of like minded souls; friendship found in the desert; an oasis for the weary spirit....
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family News – October 2019
From Damien Peile Spring is here and another cycle of seasonal change is upon us. The seasons offer us much as a metaphor for our own journeys in Carmel. Spring – a time for new beginnings! I recently attended a retreat-conference at the Carmelite Spirituality Centre...
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family News – February 2019
Welcome to another year and I hope 2019 is a good one for you. My main focus at present is planning the Carmelite Family retreat in collaboration with the Melbourne Lay Carmelite community. This will be on the Palm Sunday weekend in preparation for Easter and will be...
Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Family Monthly News – October 2018
News from Damien Peile - October 2018 I was fortunate to participate in the International Congress of Carmelite Laity held In Sassone (Rome) from September 15 to 20, 2018, along with Irene Hayes from the Carmelite Centre and four other Australians – Christine Wade,...
Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Family Monthly News – May 2018
Residential Retreat weekend with David Hofman OCarm Friday 31 August 5.30pm to Sunday 2 September 12 noon Venue Holy Cross Retreat Centre. 207 Serpells Rd Templestowe Cost includes breakfast, lunch and evening meals - TBC CONTACT DAMIEN PEILE FOR MORE DETAILS ON...
Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Family Monthly News – April 2018
Monthly News April 2018 - Damien Peile Three recent experiences struck me about being part of the Carmelite Family. First, how global and world-wide our Carmelite family is. Recently, I had the pleasure of catching up Fr Benny Phang , General Councillor of Asia...
Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Family Monthly News – March 2018
Monthly News March 2018 & Easter Greetings to all - Damien Peile This month I made contact with the new Lay Carmelite moderator in the UK, Rosie Bradshaw. In our communication we shared encouragement to grow the connection between the various Carmelite...
Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Family Monthly News – February 2018
Monthly News February 2018 The Lenten journey is well underway and it is good to hear of some of the activities happening within the Carmelite Family around the Province. Paola Yevenes from Wentworthville parish has drawn my attention to a number of parish activities...
Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Family Monthly News – January 2018
Monthly News January 2018 - Damien Peile The year has started well and as I meet and talk with different members of the Carmelite Family there are three things that stand out: the richness of each person’s unique call to the Carmelite Way the ideal of the Carmelite...
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family Monthly News – December 2017
Monthly News December 2017 - Damien Peile This month I am reflecting on my role so far, this year. I have learnt much about the Carmelite Family. Like any family, we share so many experiences. Along the way, there are joys and moments of celebration (anniversaries...
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family Monthly News – November 2017
Monthly News November 2017 - Damien Peile This month we have news from Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Wentworthville. I am pleased to let you know that Paola Yevenes has agreed to accept the role of liaison person in the parish. Paola brings much experience and...
Tenth Carmelite Way Pilgrimage
The Tenth Carmelite Way Pilgrimage 2019 On 8-10 November 32 pilgrims, led by Paul Sireh O. Carm and Denis Andrew O. Carm, braved the cold and wet Melbourne weather to walk along the Yarra Valley Rail Trail for the tenth Annual Carmelite Way pilgrimage. In spite of the...
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family Monthly News – October 2017
From Damien Peile Following last month’s news, I am keen to hear of more groups connected to Carmelite communities in addition to the ones I mentioned in the September news – Lectio Divina and Carmelite Learning Circle in Middle Park. Two gatherings to highlight this...
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family Monthly News – September 2017
From Damien Peile: In the August news, I mentioned the Carmelite Explorers Spirituality group from Ireland that holds regular meetings and sought endorsement from the Irish Province. Since then I’ve contacted the group’s convenor and founding member Dr Mary Forrest...
Provincial Delegate Carmelite Family Month News – August 2017
It has been said that a change of geography is good to revive the spirit; more so when the change of geography involves the Carmelites. Irene and I have not long returned from Chicago (hence July news a little late!) attending the symposium titled ‘Pope Francis...
The Carmelite Family Symposium – Summary of Experience
On 26 -29 June we were pleased to attend a symposium on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago (USA). The symposium was organized by the Carmelite Institute of North America and entitled “Pope Francis points the way for Carmel” which dealt...
The Carmelite Family Symposium – Day Three
On 26 -29 June we were pleased to attend a symposium on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago (USA). The symposium was organized by the Carmelite Institute of North America and entitled “Pope Francis points the way for Carmel” which dealt...
The Carmelite Family Symposium – Day Two
On 26 -29 June we were pleased to attend a symposium on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago (USA). The symposium was organized by the Carmelite Institute of North America and entitled “Pope Francis points the way for Carmel” which dealt...
The Carmelite Family Symposium – Day One
On 26 -29 June we were pleased to attend a symposium on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago (USA). The symposium was organized by the Carmelite Institute of North America and entitled “Pope Francis points the way for Carmel” which dealt with the...
My Journey with the Carmelite Centre
I first attended the Carmelite Centre at the invitation of a friend. She was presenting a talk on the poet Denise Levertov at a monthly 'Spiritual Reading Group' held in the Carmelite Library. I am from Perth and welcomed an opportunity to experience something new in...
Soul Searching
In the early part of 2014 I became aware that I was dissatisfied with some aspects of my life especially the part that was outwardly focused on achieving material success. I yearned for something that would be more enriching for my interior life so I began to look for...
OUR LATEST BLOG
Carmelite Spirituality in a secular world and insights from Ruth Burrows with Denis Andrew OCarm
In this "Carmelite Conversation" with Denis Andrew we considered modern Western society which has been described as being increasingly secular and looked at how we live our Carmelite life in this milieu. We take the opportunity to delve into the writings of...
Eco-Spirituality Reading Circle: Ten Love Letters to the Earth
On Tuesday 20 February, our first meeting for the year, we had eleven participants. I think this is the largest group at a zoom meeting. We shared our thoughts about the "Ten Love Letters to the Earth" which are a series of meditations on Mother Earth written by the...
Living the Carmelite Charism: the personal journey of Matthew McPhee OCarm
In this "Carmelite Conversation" Fr Matthew shares his experience of living the Carmelite charism. He recently celebrated his Golden Jubilation of Ordination and 70 years of religious life with the Carmelite community. Fr Matthew has ministered in a variety of...
My experience of the Carmelite Centre community
I walk my dog every evening around the streets of Middle Park. On one of these walks, some years ago now, I noticed a flyer in the Carmelite Centre advertising poetry evenings. I heard Les Murray read his poems. What a fantastic night. Another time on the way back...
Who are the Lay Carmelites?
In this "Carmelite Conversation" on 1st November 2023, Gabrielle Fogarty, Moderator of the Lay Carmelites in Australia and New Zealand and several other Lay Carmelites situate the Lay Carmelites today within the history of the Order. They share what it means to be a...
Final session with Brendan Byrne on St Paul’s Letter to Romans
On Tuesday 19 September 2023 a group who have been meeting via zoom every month since February had our last session. Over these months we have been progressively reading St Paul's Letter to Romans and discussing and sharing our insight. A special thank you to Fr...
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