Sunday 28 August

Life is more than building.  Since last Sunday the Carmelites from our three Australian houses (Varroville, N.S.W., Morley, W.A. and St Ives in North Sydney) came together for a week-long chapter meeting.  This involved sustained reflection on our life in Australia, and our hopes in the face of difficulties and challenges.


It was also a time to renew the bonds of Christian dedication and friendship that bind us.  It was especially good to have, Fr Jim Noonan, the Irish Provincial with us.  His relaxed presence and his sharing of the experience of our brothers in Ireland, England and Nigeria brought helpful insights.

Fr Jim Noonan, the Irish Carmelite Provincial

We voted in a new leadership team leaded by Fr Aloyius Rego with Frs Greg Homeming and Paul Maunder as councillors.  We agreed on a concluding statement which listed our hopes, affirmed what we had begun and made a number of propositions for our future.  We met and listened to our sisters from the Australia/Oceania Association of Carmelite nuns and the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Australia/Samoa and New Zealand.

Attentive listening by Jim, Jennifer, Aloysius and Greg Homeming

In the photo we are from left to right: Sunny Peackal, Gerard Moran, Tadgh Tierney, Sr Marie Therese, Br Graham Neist FMS (facilitator), Greg Homeming, Sr Jennifer, Paul Maunder, Peter Dowd, Greg Chee, Jim Noonan, Aloysius Rego, Mary Clancy, Des Williamson, Mary Heffernan, Greg Burke, Lorraine Murphy, Gabriel Maliakkal, Shane Kelleher and Johny Arattukulam.

On Wednesday Sr Jennifer from the Varroville Carmel, Lorraine Murphy, the Australian/Samoa OCDS President, Mary Heffernan OCDS President New Zealand, Shane Kelleher, Sr Marie Therese President of the Association of Carmelite nuns and Mary Clancy, OCDS who with Lorraine and the local OCDS group has responsibility for the Carmelite Priory Bookshop visited the site.


Our concluding document the draft of which was crafted by our facilitator Br Graham Neist, FMS was titled "Unless the Lord build the house".   The scriptural quote came from the ceremony of blessing of the new priory which took place during the chapter.  The scenes and intense activity of the work on the foundations was seen as a fitting image for the context of the Australian Carmelite Vicariate at this time in our history.

"We desire to put into place solid and suitable foundations for the future development of Carmelite life in this part of the world.  Like the actual priory building it is difficult to see the final result from simply looking at the foundations, but with commitment and determination we believe we will see our dream come to life."

On Thursday Aloysius leads the procession to building site

We gather, listen to scripture and pray

Aloysius is assisted by Pete in the blessing

During all our meeting the workers on the site worked away smoothly and efficiently.  The work of drilling the piers has continued.  The deepest was over 4 metres deep.  Though most are just over 1 metre deep.

First you drill, then you place in the reinforced steel

Then you fill them with concrete

The plumbing is now making an appearance

So it was an eventful week in our life together.  There will be changes that will come as a result and the new priorities and direction it has set.

Today is Sunday, a day of rest and in the day the Church asks us to reflect on the spiritual and moral issues involving Migrants and Refugees.  Bishop Peter Ingham will celebrate mass this afternoon in the parish church for the people of many the nationalities and cultures that make up our Church and nation.  It will be followed by a very inclusive celebration.

Peace and Blessings on all.