Carmel Bulletin, 21 June 2015
Late last year, Pope Francis declared 2015 to be a Year of Consecrated Life. The year provides everyone in the Church with the opportunity to reflect on the witness that people in consecrated life give, both to the Church and the world. Pope Francis, in opening the year, encouraged all in consecrated life to “wake up the world”. His first expectation for the year is this:
That the old saying will always be true: “Where there are religious, there is joy”. We are called to know and show that God is able to fill our hearts to the brim with happiness; that we need not seek our happiness elsewhere; that the authentic fraternity found in our communities increases our joy; and that our total self-giving in service to the Church, to families and young people, to the elderly and the poor, brings us life-long personal fulfilment.
Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to all Consecrated People on the Occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life, 21 November 2014
In Wentworthville we are blessed with the joyful witness of people in consecrated life. Each member of our Carmelite community lives a religious life “in allegiance to Jesus Christ” (Carmelite Rule, and Carmelite Constitutions, no. 2), as part of a contemplative community in the midst of the people.
Our celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel next month, the feast day of our parish and the Carmelite Family worldwide, provides us with a particular opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate how those in consecrated life enrich the life of our parish and the life of the Church.
We look upon our consecrated life above all as an invitation and a great gift from God, by which he consecrates us to himself, that we may serve our brothers and sisters following Christ’s example.
Carmelite Constitutions, no. 5
Liturgy 