| Please click below to download the Mass readings and reflections for Br Matthew's Ordination to the Diaconate. ![]()
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“LOVE is the motivation, but JUSTICE is the instrument”
Reinhold Niebuhr ( 1892-1971) Many in the community would be aware of my recent time in hospital. I went into Greenslopes Hospital for what might be described as a fairly standard operation, a full knee replacement. I was meant to be there for three to five days. A week later I was readmitted into hospital, but this time the Mater Private, for the surgery to be done a second time, following the contraction of an infection in the wound of the first procedure. Three more operations later under general anaesthetic, various procedures and tests under local anaesthetic, and five weeks of being in hospital I was finally discharged. In that time I found myself facing the possibility of dying and the probability of being diagnosed with cancer, both very confronting weeks, to say the least. Fortunately for me neither death nor cancer were the final diagnosis, but what I did not see at the time was the opportunity being given to me to LET GO the illusion that we all carry, that I was somehow in control of my life and my destiny. It was certainly an opportunity of death to my own small self, to my EGO! We are all part of LIFE that is much bigger than any of us! One night during this particular journey I came across an ad on commercial television (which I must admit to seldom finding myself watching) the question being asked: WHO/WHAT do I love in my life NOW? Where is my HEART invested? Suddenly I became aware that this is the question Jesus keeps asking his listeners, US! It is in the very experience of loving, ABUNDANCE OF LIFE, is to be received…..Isn’t this what is at the very core of Jesus’ MISSION here on earth, to lead us His followers into the very HEART OF GOD, who is LOVE ITSELF. We must LET GO and LET GOD! The experience of Resurrection begins in the here and NOW of LIFE. Here we are given many opportunities to learn how to live it, and it is in the ongoing death of one’s EGO through LOVING that we learn the language/way of ABUNDANT LIFE. OUR LIVES NOW are not a departure lounge simply waiting for the next life to come! This most recent experience for me has been a cathartic time, and another moment in life to know God works in crooked lines, while we continue to search for straight paths! I have been overwhelmed by the genuine concern, care given, gifts received and support shown by our wonderful Mt Carmel community, and not just to me but to the three of us Carmelites, Father Januario and Brother Matthew included. For this I want to express a heartfelt THANK YOU. I so often hear us talk at various Parish meetings of the need for us to ‘build community’. We already are a community, because fundamentally community means care and concern of each other. Perhaps the challenge for all of us is to become more awake to what already IS and to receive the blessings, to celebrate with grateful hearts always, and to trust in God’s vision for us which is larger than any one person! Thank You Fr. Wayne
What drew you to joining the Carmelites and making a decision to join as a religious brother?
Fr Paul Gurr was the first Carmelite I met in my early twenties. He was chaplain to the Benedictine nuns at Jamberoo Abbey and was part of a Christian prayer group who met once a month and prayed in the style of Taize. Fr Paul became a friend and spiritual companion to me and someone whom I kept in touch with during university studies and work in science and education. As I became more familiar with Carmelite spirituality through reading and conversations I became intrigued by the biblical story of Elijah and his journey of personal companionship with God amidst great turmoil in his life. I also found in Carmelite spirituality a transforming tradition of reflection, meditation and contemplation to which I was drawn. I had a growing sense of wanting to be a part of this way of life and to keep it alive in the midst of our society. Over the past eight years, you've lived in different Carmelite communities, what has that been like? I have had the opportunity to live in and visit Carmelite communities in Australia, Timor Leste, Europe and the USA. It has and continues to be a journey of self-discovery. There has been life in its many and varied shades and colours. At the core of each community I have experienced seeking to live a contemplative life through prayer, communal companionship and service. There is a commitment to seek out space for God and one another in our daily living. What does making this life commitment to the Carmelite way of life mean to you? As a religious, I make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to God and commit to living as a Carmelite brother for life. For me, this is an ongoing commitment to living my Christian life of faith, hope and love with our faith community. The Carmelite Rule, one of the documents that guides and inspires Carmelite life, speaks of a Carmelite 'living in friendship (allegiance) with Jesus Christ'. This is a lifetime friendship and in this friendship, as it is expressed in Carmelite life, I find meaning, hope and love that I believe are at the heart of a life well lived. It is a friendship that is always needed in our human family. What are your hopes for your work as a member of our local school and parish community? My first experiences of the Mount Carmel community have been one of welcome and support. I am hopeful that I can be part of fostering this living community that seeks to be a witness of faith, hope and love in Coorparoo. I hope to come to know the many people who call this community home and share in its life. And I am hopeful that as we encounter the challenges of our time, we continue to be united by our faith in ways of living that lead us to a shared and deepening awareness of the Love that is our constant companion. On 5 July 1770, 250 years ago, Captain James Cook’s Endeavour was stranded and undergoing repairs in what was then named the Endeavour River. The first foreign culture encounter with indigenous people included an Endeavour crew member shooting his gun – a frightening and intimidating experience for a couple of indigenous people out digging for food - what was normal for them was no longer normal.
Local history recorded at the State Library tells us that on 22 March 1875 the residents of this area in a collaborative decision called this suburb 'Coorparoo' - the indigenous name for the area around Norman Creek. Our state, our suburb, our nation, our Church are linked inextricably to our First Nations people and so on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday we acknowledge the Turribal and Jaggera people, the traditional owners of the land on which we are gathered and offer our respect to elders, past, present and emerging. Why the history lesson and not just an acknowledgement of country you may ask and what has this got to do with the readings of Zachariah 9: 9-10 and the Gospel of Matthew 11: 25-30? Well, one of the Plenary council discernment groups reports: “‘The first roots of our contemporary country Australia were founded in trauma. The double trauma of a penal colony of confinement and punishment meeting the subsequent subjugation of our First Nations peoples has been written into our identity as a Nation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are one of the most traumatised and disenfranchised peoples of the world. Our Church was present from these earliest times, and therefore carries these disturbing storylines in its history and identity’. So I wonder how this sits with ‘my yoke is easy and my burden light’ As I write, I’m thinking many of you may be braver than I for last week I attended Eucharist and this was my first step back outside my home except for regular solo walks in the park, a stroll along the foreshore at Manly and a drive to Burleigh midweek in May for a birthday picnic. Covid 19 has been and still is for most of our world a frightening and intimidating experience where what was normal is no longer normal. I wonder how this sits with ‘my yoke is easy and my burden light’. Also none of us has any idea what each of us bring to any gathering, prayer, Mass, birthday, coffee. We can only imagine the anxiety and burden we carry. I again wonder how this sits with ‘my yoke is easy and my burden light’. The reading from Zachariah gives us a hint as it proclaims the kind of Messiah that Jesus in fact turns out to be – not a conquering ruler armed with the weapons of the world but the compassionate, burden-bearing figure that emerges in Matthew 11. But still all this ‘come and rest a while/burden bearing’ type figure talk can be very pious and not sound all that in touch with reality. In fact I have to agree with the little boy Billy who when asked over and over again by Sr Augusta of the Holy Cross what is furry and eats nuts eventually weakened and said “I know the answer is Jesus, Sister, because Jesus is always the answer to all your questions but really it sounds to me like a bloody squirrel’. If I can be honest like Billy, up to now I have found this gospel challenging my experienced reality and not terribly comforting because these words don’t take away the yoke or the burden or make them any easier or lighter. For maybe, maybe up until now, I have read this story as Jesus saying don’t worry stick with me and your difficult yoke and your hard burden will go away rather than coming to grips with the fact that there is no spiritual quick fix, there is no cheap grace. Fr Brendan Byrne SJ helped me turn my thinking on its head. His exegesis of this Gospel revealed to me that God is merciful and loving, not cruel and vindictive in fact rather gentle and humble of heart. God does not punish us, inflict evil upon us or demand the impossible. When in relationship with and in regard to us God’s yoke is easy and God’s burden is light. But how then is our hard yoke make easier and our heavy burden lightened. The Gospel tells me that I must look deep inside and become a ‘mere child’ to whom it has been revealed that it is not Jesus but Jesus’ message that our home, our family, our Parish and indeed every Christian community is called to be the sort of place where we carry each other’s burdens and rest with each other awhile. Therefore, let’s us hold in our hearts for a moment the burden and the yoke on our first Nations people, the suffering of those who have been effected by Covid 19 and all that each of us bring into any gathering we may enter. But whatever the burden and the yoke, may we all, at some time, know a moment's rest, the support of companion travellers and the gift of Christ's peace. Tricia Ryan, Parishioner ![]() Deacon Donato has graduated from his English course and now will return to Timor Leste on the 3rd of July to be ordained priest on the 8th of August. We congratulate and wish him well for his future ministry among the people of Zumalai. The Carmelites express our appreciation for the support he has received while here in Coorparoo and ask that we keep him in our thoughts and our prayers! By Madeleine Sayer
Introduction: When I realised that Donato must begin his isolation following his Covid test on the 22nd June I also knew that there would be many in our community who would miss the chance to speak with him and to give him their wishes for his Ordination to priesthood on August 8th. My idea was an interview with Donato to give him the opportunity to tell us what is ahead for him and to say his farewells to our community. I met with our well-loved Deacon at the Priory on Saturday 20th June. What follows are my notes from our conversation. What is ahead for you as you leave Coorparoo and return to Timor Leste? Can you give us a picture of what will be happening? “Firstly, thank you for these questions. I have found it a time of reflection for me as I thought of my responses. I leave Coorparoo on 2nd July fly via Darwin and then onto Timor Leste. I must then meet the Timor Government’s requirement and self-isolate for 14 days.” Tell us a little of your Ordination preparations: "Already I have spoken many times with my parents and family. Once the self-isolation time is completed, I hope to travel with Fr Carlito and Fr Bruce to my home in Suai and to see my parents and brothers and sisters. A big worry for my parents is that Suai is a distance from Dili where I will be ordained. It is a 5 /6 hrs travel on a bus. The cost of the travel is very expensive.” Ordination and celebrations in Dili? I will be ordained in Dili by the Archbishop of Dili, Archbishop Virgilho (a very nice person). Fr Carlito has been organising for this and tells me I do not need to worry about it. Usually this is an occasion for a great gathering of people- thousands, followed by many joining in the celebrations. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 virus restrictions I think my occasion - it will be very different.” “We will travel to Suai for my First Mass. This too will be a very special time for my family. I hope to stay for some time in Suai, sometimes staying with my family in my village and sometimes at the parish house. My village is very close to the parish – as far as it is from the Priory to Coorparoo Junction – very close” After ordination you have been appointed to Zumalai – a place special to our parish as it is at Zumalai that so many projects have been supported by the Coorparoo school and parish communities. What will be your role as priest there? "I will join the other Carmelites in Zumalai in their pastoral ministry. Fr. Aniceto, Fr. Pedro and Br. Antonio Tell us something of your family. "My parents live in Suai. I have 3 brothers and 4 sisters. My name Donato means: ‘Do’ is first and ‘natus’ means born. I am the first born in my family. I have a sister who is a Carmelite sister - she is the second youngest. I speak often on the phone with my parents and family. My parents ask me if I am safe with the virus here. I tell them I am fine – I am worried about them having the virus in Timor!” We have loved having you in our community at Coorparoo. We are so impressed with your increased skill in English, your great smile and joyfulness. What will be your special memories and experiences that you will take as you leave Coorparoo? “I have had many experiences here. People are generous, kind, I have good friends here. I will never forget in my life my time here. When I return to Timor, I will share my experiences with my family and my Carmelite brothers. When my parents ask about Coorparoo. I say – they are just like Timor Leste. Good people. They talk before and after Mass – just like Timor Leste. They are good people” Thank you, Donato. We have been blessed to have had you with our community for this time. Your main purpose was to study English in the year you have been at Coorparoo and we congratulate you on your successful graduation this week. We have known you as a special presence in our community. You will take a lot of love with you. We wish you many blessings and great joy as you move into this next phase of your ministry. Our blessing is from the Celtic prayer: May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Maromak sei tane o iha nia liman laran. |
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