PLANS to form a Young Carmelites group in Brisbane got off the ground on October 7.
Sr Moira Kelly from the Carmelite Monastery at Ormiston said 15 young people from throughout Brisbane attended the initial meeting, and because of the enthusiasm, plans were now underway to make them a regular event.
She said Young Carmelites was a group of committed young Catholics who met once a month at a monastery with the aim of deepening their faith in Jesus through Carmelite prayer, Scripture reading and theology.
She said the group was for 18-35 year olds and members were encouraged to develop a deep spiritual life and a love of the Church.
Sr Moira said the Discalced Carmelites’ regional vicar, Fr Greg Homeming, and two young people from the Sydney group, Simun Soljo and Marilyn Kerjean, had travelled to Brisbane for the first meeting. Fr Homeming led participants through the three sessions on the day.
‘Our faith has to be lived otherwise we can be ideologues, without a relationship with Jesus Christ our belief is lifeless,’ Sr Moira said.
‘The day was the first of what will be a regular program for young people who are interested in developing knowledge and love of God guided by Church teaching and Carmelite Saints — St John of the Cross, St Teresa of Avila, and St Therese of Lisieux — and the highlight of the day was meeting with the Carmelite nuns.’
Fr Homeming said there was a lot of curiosity on both sides as to how the other groups managed to live their faith.
Sr Moira said the Brisbane Carmelites put a lot of effort into getting the day off the ground.
‘We sent out 350 letters to young people throughout parishes within Brisbane archdiocese and through the Young Adult Ministry group inviting young people to be involved.’
She said the Young Carmelite group in Brisbane would operate as an outreach, similar to the one in Sydney.
