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History of the Discalced Carmelites in Australia

A Chronology of the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Australia

1842
28 January, Fr Daniel MacEvey arrived in Sydney.
He worked in NSW and Melbourne and returned to Ireland in 1846.

1854
6 December, MacEvey returned to Melbourne.
He was appointed to St Francis' Cathedral and requested secularisation.
He built the Lady Chapel at St Francis.
2 August 1860, he died at Belfast (Port Fairy) Vic.

1881
The Carmelites of the Ancient Observance arrived in Adelaide and made first Australian foundation at Gawler.

1885
30 July, Discalced Carmelite Nuns arrived in Sydney from Angouleme, France.

1922
Kew Carmel founded from Dulwich Hill.

1927
Brisbane Carmel from Dulwich Hill.

1933
Christchurch Carmel, New Zealand, founded from Dulwich Hill.

1934
Bomana Carmel founded in Kubuna, Papua New Guinea, from Autun, France.

1935
Nedlands Carmel founded from Dulwich Hill, Adelaide Carmel founded from Kew.

1937
Auckland Carmel, New Zealand, founded from Dulwich Hill.

1941
Fr Louis d'Argenlieu (Free French Admiral) visited Mother Mary Raphael at Brisbane Carmel en route to his headquarters in Noumea.

1942
Frs Agostino Galanti and Tomaso Attanasi arrived in Australia as prisoners of war having been captured by British troops on Mount Carmel.
They were interned in Bonegilla and Tatura Camps, Victoria.

1944 Mother Mary Raphael, a French nun of Kubuna Carmel who had been elected prioress of Brisbane Carmel while in Australia for medical reasons, wrote to the General and the Irish Provincial requesting Carmelite friars to make a foundation in Australia.
Frs Agostino and Tomaso released through the intervention of the Apostolic Delegate to the care of the Carmelite friars, Donvale.
Fr Agostino became the assistant chaplain to the Italian community then the principal chaplain in Melbourne.
The two Italian friars lived in the Port Melbourne Carmelite Priory.

1947 Mother Veronica of Brisbane pressed the campaign for a foundation of friars with Archbishop Duhig.

1948
3 January, Roman rescripts were given for the Brisbane foundation.
April, the Irish Provincial Chapter was held in Dublin. Fr Pius Dolan was elected Provincial.
The Chapter 'finally agreed that the Definitory Provincial should await further information from the Bishop of Brisbane, and left the matter (of the foundation) to the discretion of the Definitory'.
2 May, Fr Pius advised Archbishop Duhig the foundation would go ahead.
10 June, Frs Matthew McGettrick, 34, Jarlath Flynn, 37, Cormac Fenton, 26, and Br Kieran Deeley, 35, left Tilbury Dock on the 'Maloja'. 28 July, the founding friars arrived in Brisbane, they are met by the Archbishop and taken to separate residences.
Longford Carmel founded in Tasmania from Adelaide.

1949
January, the Brisbane community take care of Goodna parish for a year while looking for a permanent home.
Parkes Carmel is founded by the relocation of Tourcoing Carmel, itself the relocated Angouleme community.

1950
17 March, the first mass was celebrated in Gregory Terrace.
23 June, the first retreat was held.
7 April, (Good Friday) Fr Agostino Galanti died in Melbourne and was buried at Fawkner cemetery.
Fr Matthew celebrated the requiem mass in Carlton.
His remains were later transferred to the Carmelite plot at Donvale.
11 September, George Wyer entered the novitiate in Loughrea, the first Australian to receive the habit.

1951
St Teresa's Chapel blessed and opened.
Fr Michael Moylan, Definitor General, made an Apostolic Visitation of the Carmelite nuns in the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
This visitation subsequently led to the Carmel in Kew obtaining Vatican approval as a community independent of the Order.
11 September, Neville Treston entered the novitiate in Loughrea.
Fr Matthew resigned as superior and left Australia (November?). Fr Jarlath took over as superior.
Leo Kirton entered novitiate in Brisbane.

1952
Fr Hilary Doran arrived in Brisbane.
Brian Smith (Br Joseph) entered the novitiate in Brisbane.
12 September, Neville Treston was professed he then went to Dublin for his clerical studies.

1953
Brian Gardner
(Br Pius) and John Bergin
(Br Bernard) entered the novitiate in Brisbane. October, Fr Hubert Doyle and Dermot Sullivan arrived in Brisbane.

1954
Fr Cormac left Australia.

1955
March, Br Kieran left Australia for Philippines; July, John Groth (Br James) entered the novitiate in Brisbane.
27 August, John Landy and Michael O'Reilly entered the novitiate in Loughrea.
Brs Joseph Smith, Pius Gardner, Leo Kirton, Bernard Bergin, Denis Heffernan left the Order.
Permission for a novitiate foundation in Sydney Archdiocese was denied by Cardinal Gilroy.
27 September, Frs Jarlath and Hilary went to Perth to investigate the offer of a parish foundation from Archbishop Redmond Prendiville.
Fr Hilary remained in Perth living at Redemptorist Monastery for 16 months.

24 November, he purchased land in Wellington Road for the Carmelite Priory. The land had been a chicken farm with a very small and simple home (above), the friars added a galvanised iron extension for their cells (below).

1956
March, Visitation of Father General Anastasio, with Fr Thomas Kilduff.
June: Fr Michael Brown arrived in Australia.
19 June, the canonical erection of the Morley foundation, Fr Hilary became the first Carmelite PP. George O'Leary, of the Perth clergy had been first PP in 1954. The parish was named St Paul's and had a church/school in Walter Road. Fr Hilary renamed it Infant Jesus.
Fr Dermot arrived to join Hilary after Christmas 1956.
8 September, John Landy and Michael O'Reilly were professed in Loughrea and went to Dublin for their clerical studies.

1957
Fr Albert McKeogh arrived in Morley; 1 March, Br William Raymond Smith, (John Venard) a New Zealand Christian Brother, entered the novitiate in Loughrea, 1 April Paul Geraghty entered the novitiate in Loughrea September, Fr Stanislaus Callanan arrived Brisbane; 2 December Fr Anthony Kelleher arrived in Brisbane.
Fr Jarlath returned to Ireland.

1958
2 March, John Venard Smith professed in Loughrea and went to Dublin for his clerical studies.
2 April, Paul Geraghty professed in Loughrea and went to Dublin and then Rome for his clerical studies.
Brian Smith re-entered the novitiate in Brisbane.
Fr Gabriel Barry, Irish Provincial, made a visitation. As a result of his visit, he required that a priory be built in Morley.

1959
Br Joseph (Brian Smith) left the Order.
Fr Michael Coen arrived in Brisbane.
12 July, Fr Neville Treston ordained in Dublin, the first Australian Carmelite to be ordained a priest.
Apia Carmel, Western Samoa founded from Christchurch Carmel.

1960
Construction of friars' priory and Parish Church was begun in Morley.
Land was purchased in Smith Street for the parish primary school.
20 March, Archbishop Prendiville blessed the foundation stone of the new church at Morley.
Fr Hilary left for the Irish Provincial Chapter, in Dublin.
He remained in Ireland until 1964.
Fr Alphonsus Folan was appointed superior and PP of Morley and arrived from Ireland in August. Fr Neville Treston returned to Brisbane.
1 December, permission was given by Cardinal Gilroy for a novitiate foundation in the Archdiocese of Sydney.
18 December, the new Morley priory and parish church were blessed and opened by Archbishop Prendiville.

1961
23 September, John Power and Ben Gibbs entered the novitiate in Loughrea.
Michael O'Reilly left the Order.

1962
26 March, Br James Groth was moved to Morley.
8 July, Fr John Venard Smith was ordained in Dublin, 22 December Fr John Landy was ordained in Dublin.
Anthony Monopoli entered the novitiate in Brisbane.
24 September, John Power was professed in Loughrea and went to Oxford and Dublin for his clerical studies.

1964
10 March, Fr Joseph McElhinney, the Irish Provincial,
arrived in Sydney, with Fr Hilary as secretary, after a visitation in California /Arizona.
Their mission was to establish a novitiate in the Archdiocese of Sydney.
14 April, the Varroville property was purchased.
It was then discovered to be in the diocese of Wollongong.
21 April, Bishop McCabe's permission for a foundation in his diocese was given.
May, Fr Martin Lydon arrived in Sydney to raise finance for the new foundation.
He enlisted the aid of Reuben F Scarf, before returning to Ireland in August.
Fr Michael Brown became the first superior of Varroville.
Br Kieran Deeley came to Varroville to recuperate after a heart attack in the Philippines and remained a member of the community until his death in 1996.
Fr Dermot Sullivan was moved to Varroville.
The community supported themselves by farm work.
At first this was from cattle but afterwards a piggery was added.
Fr John Venard Smith returned to Australia and was appointed to Varroville and Fr John Landy similarly was appointed to Brisbane.

1965
The Brisbane Carmelite nuns moved from Auchenflower to Ormiston. 25 April, Paul Geraghty was ordained in Rome.
August, Fr Terence Cahill arrived in Brisbane and in October Fr Pat Monahan arrived in Varroville. Anthony Monopli left the Order.
October, Fr Hilary Doran returned to Australia and was appointed to Varroville.

1966
Fr Paul Geraghty returned to Australia and was moved to Varroville.
Frs Pat Monahan and John Venard Smith were moved to Morley, Albert McKeogh as novice master and Michael Coen were moved to Varroville.
Fr Hilary Doran was appointed Provincial Delegate.
Wagga Wagga Carmel was founded from Kew Carmel.
Goonellabah Carmel was founded from Dulwich Hill.
Building of the retreat house began at Varroville.
Work was suspended in 1967, however, with the Chapel incomplete.

1967
February, John Follent, Ross Collings, Laurence Cox, Brian Gardner entered the novitiate at Varroville.
Mt Martha Desert Carmel was founded for Kew Carmel.
The retreat house was blessed and opened at St Teresa's, Gregory Terrace.

1968
February, Fr Des Williamson arrived in Varroville.
September, John Follent and Ross Collings made profession and went to Oxford and Dublin for clerical studies.
Fr Neville Treston left Morley and arrived Varroville in October.
Fr Michael Coen then returned to Morley.
Fr John Landy was moved to Morley in November.
21 December, Fr John Power was ordained Dublin.

1969
Fr Michaelangelo Batiz visited the Australian houses and held two Assemblies of Carmelite nuns at Varroville and Auckland.
Gregory Burke, Michael McDonnell, Michael Parsons, entered the novitiate at Varroville. Fr John Venard went to the Philippines.
Fr Raymond Clasby arrived in Australia, he was stationed at Varroville.
May, the Chapel at Varroville was completed and blessed on Pentecost Sunday by Bishop Thomas McCabe.
Fr John Power returned to Australia.
Fr Michael Brown became the superior of Brisbane, Fr Anthony Kelleher moved to Varroville, where Fr Albert McKeogh was the prior and Fr Des Williamson the novice master.
Paul Geraghty was moved to Brisbane.

1970
Greg Burke and Michael McDonnell made profession and went to Ireland for clerical studies.
Des Williamson was moved to Brisbane.

1971
April, Fr Stanislaus Callanan left Australia. Fr Francis Moylan arrived in Morley from the Philippines.
Br Brian Gardner left the Order.

1972
First Regional meeting was held at Varroville, March 27-29, attended by 12 friars.
This meeting was a grassroots initiative marked by a democratic and zealous spirit of renewal.
All votes were unanimous including one that St Teresa's Gregory Terrace be relocated.
May, after the Provincial Chapter held in Dublin attended by Frs Albert McKeogh and Michael Coen, Fr Paul Geraghty was appointed Provincial Delegate, resident in Varroville.
Fr Hilary Doran remained Delegate for the nuns and was resident in Brisbane.
Fr John Power became prior at Varroville, Fr Albert McKeogh novice master, Fr Francis Moylan moved to Varroville.
Fr Michael Coen did not return to Australia, becoming the prior of Loughrea.
Fr Pat Monahan became parish priest of Morley.
Frs Des Williamson and Michael Brown moved to Morley.
George Henry and Christopher Slattery entered the novitiate at Varroville.
Fr Jerome Lantry, the Irish Provincial, visited the Australian houses.

1973
Stephen Monaghan, Gregory Fleming, Patrick Farrell, Steven Dobbie, Richard Hallett, Leo Duck entered the novitiate at Varroville. Fr Neville Treston went to the Kimberley mission, worked in Derby.
George Henry was professed at Varroville, but after a short time in Brisbane, left the Order.
10 June, John Follent was ordained in Dublin; 7 July, Ross Collings was ordained in Adelaide.
Both continued theological studies, Fr John in Dublin, Fr Ross in Oxford.
Greg Burke returned to Australia, continued clerical studies at Toongabbie and Hunters Hill.
November, Fr Joseph Kelly arrived in Morley from Philippines.

1974
Stephen, Steven, Richard and Leo were professed and began clerical studies at Toongabbie.
Canberra Carmel founded from Kew.
Fr Paul Geraghty, the Provincial Delegate, left the Order.
Fr Albert McKeogh was appointed Provincial Delegate.
Leo Duck left the Order to join Cistercians at Tarrawarra.

1975
The Order leased Nagleholme, on Sydney harbour at Hunters Hill from the Wagga Presentation Sisters as student residence.
Fr John Landy was in charge, the student community being Gregory Burke, Richard Hallett, Stephen Monaghan and Steven Dobbie.
Fr Pat Monahan moved to Varroville as prior.
Fr Ray Clasby became novice master.
Fr Albert McKeogh moved to Brisbane.
Fr Michael Brown became parish priest of Morley. The Carmelite nuns in Tasmania moved from Longford to Launceston.
6 December, Gregory Burke was ordained at Varroville.
Fr Jerome Lantry, Irish Provincial, visited the Australian houses. Richard Hallett left Order.

1976
Steven Dobbie left Order.
David Maguire entered novitiate at Varroville.
Fr John Power took position as chaplain with Marist Brothers Newcastle.
Gelorup Carmel founded from Bangkok and Chantaburi Carmels.
Fr Hubert Doyle was appointed Provincial Delegate.
Fr Albert McKeogh worked in a parish in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

1977
David Maguire was professed and went to Oxford to begin clerical studies in England, but left the Order after a short time.
July, Fr Pat Monaghan, prior of Varroville, left the Order as did Fr Neville Treston from the desert of Roquebrune.
Fr Raymond Clasby was appointed prior of Varroville.
Fr Finian Monahan made a General Visitation recommended Australia became a Regional Vicariate and suggested a plan for formation and vocational recruitment centred on one community, Brisbane.
Fr John Power volunteered for mission work in the Philippines.
The lease on Nagleholme ended in December.
Fr John Landy spent time in Adelaide and then worked in the Diocese of Broome, at Derby, WA.
Stephen Monaghan continued clerical studies in Dublin and then Brisbane.

1978
January, Fr Raymond Clasby had a serious operation.
He then attended the Provincial Chapter in Dublin in May and returned in November.
During this period Fr Gregory Burke was the acting superior of Varroville.
Fr John Venard Smith returned from the Philippines, Fr Michael McDonnell returned from Ireland, Fr Ross Collings from Oxford, with a D Phil.

1979
Visit of Fr Michael Buckley, Irish Provincial.
Fr Michael presided over a Plenary Assembly at the end of which he made the appointments of superiors.
Fr John Venard Smith was appointed Provincial Delegate.
Fr Hilary was appointed Delegate to the Nuns.
Fr Michael McDonnell received permission to spend a year in Israel.
Fr Eugene McCaffrey arrived in Varroville as director of the retreat house, while Fr Des Williamson was prior of the community.
The Little Sisters of Carmel began a community at Varroville to help run the retreat house.
The Order took on responsibility for St Andrews parish, Fr Albert McKeogh was appointed first parish priest.
Brisbane was designated the one house of formation, in line with the "Finian" plan.
Fr Ross Collings was in charge of formation and taught at Banyo Seminary, Fr Ray Clasby was prior, Fr Greg Burke arrived in
November after 6 months helping out in Morley and began study at the University of Queensland.
Fr John Follent returned from Ireland, with a Ph.D. and began teaching at Banyo Seminary.
At the November Plenary Assembly it was decided that Varroville be the site of the novitiate and that a new temporary structure be built to house the novitiate.

1980
22 January, Fr Stephen Monaghan was ordained in Varroville and later that year requested leave to work in Sydney Archdiocese. Stephen De Weger began postulancy in Brisbane.
Fr Michael McDonnell returned to Australia and was stationed in Brisbane.
Paul Maunder returned to Australia having entered the novitiate in Oxford in 1975 and studied at Ushaw.
He was appointed to Brisbane to complete his clerical studies.
The Little Sisters of Carmel left Varroville at the end of the year

1981
The Bennettswood property was rented from the parish by Fr John Venard Smith. February, The Carmelite Prayer Centre was begun in Brisbane, Fr Michael McDonnell was the first director.
Fr Des Williamson became the director after the August Assembly when he was moved to Brisbane.
August, Plenary Assembly in Brisbane presided over by Fr Finian Monahan, Irish Provincial.
The Bennettswood community was set up: Frs Michael McDonnell (in charge), John Landy and John Follent.
Fr Michael Brown became prior of Varroville.
Fr Hubert Doyle became parish priest of Morley.
Fr Francis Moylan was transferred to Morley.
Fr John Williamson arrived in Varroville from England.

1982
Fr John Follent began teaching at Yarra Theological Union.
Robert Pelletier, Brian Anderson, Rick Nunn, Steven Miller, Jude Nagle, Glenn Thompson, and others began postulancy in Brisbane.
Fr Michael McDonnell left the Order and the ordained ministry.
26 August, Paul Maunder was ordained at Varroville. The separate novitiate was built at Varroville

1983
Robert, Brian, Rick, Steven, Jude and Glenn entered the novitiate at Varroville.
Fr Ross Collings was the Novice Master.
Paul O'Shea, Aloysius Rego, Raymond Polton, Andrew Karczevski began postulancy in Brisbane. Fr Paul Maunder moved to Varroville.
Fr John Williamson moved to Brisbane.
The Discalced Carmelites were accepted as a member institute of Yarra Theological Union.

1984
1 Feb, Aloysius, Paul, Raymond and Charles Stowe, entered the novitiate at Varroville.
Robert, Brian, Rick and Steven were professed and proceeded to Bennettswood for clerical studies.
1 April, Fr Eugene McCaffrey returned to Ireland.
Fr John Landy was moved to Brisbane, Fr Hilary Doran to Bennettswood, where Fr John Follent was in charge of the students and the house.
Rick Nunn left the Order.
Fr Terence Cahill moved to Varroville.
October, the inaugural Chapter of the Holy Spirit Regional Vicariate held at Varroville at which Fr Finian Monahan presided.
Fr John Venard Smith was elected Regional Vicar.

1985
Jan, Fr Tom Curran became director of retreat house.
2 Feb, Aloysius and Paul were professed and then moved to Bennettswood for clerical studies. 24 May, Br Chuck Stowe professed at Varroville. Br Brian Anderson became a member of the Varroville community.
The Carmelite Prayer Centre ceased operations at the end of the year.
Fr John Williamson left Australia.

1986
February, Greg Homeming, Mark Harradine, Peter Himmelreich and Shane Kelleher entered the novitiate at Varroville.
February, Fr Greg Burke went to Bennettswood as superior and master of students, Fr Hilary Doran went to Brisbane, Fr Joseph Kelly went to Brisbane as superior, Fr Des Williamson went to Morley, Fr Jimmy McCaffrey came to Bennettswood for the academic year.
Robert Pelletier left the Order.

1987
23 January, Parkes and Dulwich Hill Carmels merged at Dulwich Hill as the Carmel of Mary and Joseph.
February, Greg Chee entered the novitiate.
2 February, Greg, Mark, Peter and Shane were professed and moved to Bennettswood.
At the Vicariate Chapter at which Fr Vincent O'Hara presided, Fr Hubert Doyle was elected as Vicar, Fr Ross Colings went to Bennetswood as superior and master of students, Fr Greg Burke went to Morley as parish priest.
Steven Miller left the Order.

1988
2 February, Greg Chee was professed. March, Fr Tom Curran left Australia for Nigeria at the General's request.
July, the Box Hill monastery was dedicated.
Fr Francis Moylan was hospitalised and was transferred to Varroville to recuperate but died there on 22 October and was buried at Varroville.
October, Fr Raymond Clasby left Australia to return to Ireland.
Fr Jimmy McCaffrey came to Varroville as director of retreat house.
Mark Harradine left the Order.

1989
4 January, Fr Hubert Doyle died and was buried in Varroville.
Fr Michael Brown was elected Regional Vicar.
Fr Jimmy McCaffrey became prior of Varroville.
9 Feb, Paul O'Shea was ordained in Brisbane.
Fr Paul Maunder spent a year in Israel and Loughrea.
15 July, Aloysius Rego was ordained in Marrickville at the end of the year he was moved to Varroville.
Peter Himmelreich left the Order.

1990
Fr Des Williamson worked in a house of prayer in Bunbury diocese.
Robert Donnelly, Colin Ollerenshaw, Charles Fivaz and Damian Buterin entered the novitiate at Varroville in July after postulancy at Box Hill.
Fr Paul O'Shea was moved to Varroville but after a time sought leave to work in Sydney Archdiocese.
17 June, a new priory opened at Morley.
28 July, the nuns of the Carmel of Mary and Joseph moved into their new monastery at Varroville.
Fr Paul Maunder went from Morley to Varroville to be novice master.
Fr John Hughes from England helped out in Morley for 6 months.
John Landy was moved to work in the Generalate in Rome.
Fr Terence Cahill was moved from Varroville to Morley.

1991
6 July, Robert, Colin, Charles were professed and moved to Box Hill for clerical studies.
Charles left the Order shortly afterwards.
20 July, Greg Homeming was ordained at Edgecliffe.
December, Fr Jimmy MacCaffrey left Australia.

1992
18 July, Greg Chee was ordained, Sydney.
Fr Des Williamson was moved to Brisbane.
Br Shane Kelleher went to the Order's foundation in Nigeria.
New parish churches were opened in February at Varroville and on 29 August at Morley. Fr Paul (Boulos) Basilli arrived in Australia and was appointed to Varroville.

1993
Fr Aloysius Rego was moved to Box Hill to continue theological studies.
On completion of his M.A. in Philosophy Fr Greg Homeming was moved to Varroville.
Fr Paul Basilli left Australia. October, the Regional Chapter was held at Varroville with Fr Jeremiah Fitzpatrick presiding, Fr Ross Collings was elected Regional Vicar.
The community of St Teresa's was asked to evaluate its viability, within context of the regional pastoral plan.
Fr Michael Brown returned to Dublin.
Frs Gerard Moran and Tadgh Tierney arrived in Australia both were stationed at Varroville where Fr Tadgh became the parish priest.
Fr Hilary Doran was moved to Varroville.
Fr Joseph Kelly to Morley.
Frs Albert McKeogh and Gregory Burke were moved to Brisbane, Fr Gregory became the delegate for the Carmelite nuns.

1994
3 July, Fr John Power, of the Philippine Commissariat, died in Moscow while on sabbatical to celebrate his silver jubilee of ordination, he was buried in Varroville during a Regional Assembly.
12 July, The Regional Assembly decided that the site on Gregory Terrace was no longer viable for our life and ministry.
10 October, Fr John Venard Smith died and was buried at Varroville.
25 October, Fr Angelo Gatto of the Venetian Province arrived in Morley.
October, Fr Peter Dowd entered novitiate at Varroville.

1995
February, visit of Father General Camilo Maccise.
Fr Camilo presided at a Regional Assembly of the friars which voted for the expeditious sale of the Gregory Terrace property.
An Assembly of the Carmelite was nuns held at Varroville at the same time. The sisters voted to form an Association.
19 July, The Regional Assembly decided to retain the foundation in Brisbane Archdiocese, while selling Gregory Terrace, subject to an overall review of the Region. A search for alternative sites was undertaken. The farewell mass at St Teresa's, Gregory Terrace, set for 17 December. Frs Stanislaus Callanan, Joe Kelly and Br James Groth were present.
The Brisbane community are told they will stay on at Gregory Terrace after 31 December.
October, Fr Peter Dowd was professed, he then went to Box Hill to continue his Carmelite formation but left the Order six months later.

1996
15 February, acting on a request from the Regional Council the General Definitory suppressed the Brisbane foundation. The last mass was on Easter Sunday, Fr Des Williamson was moved to Morley, Fr Albert McKeogh to Box Hill, Fr Greg Burke to Varroville.
July, First Assembly of Our Lady of the Southern Cross Association of Discalced Carmelite Nuns was held at Varroville. The member Carmels of the Association were: Adelaide, Auckland, Bomana, Gelorup, Nedlands, Ormiston and Varroville.
Fr Greg Burke was appointed the Religious Assistant by the Holy See and was also moved to Morley as parish priest.
30 November, Robert Donnelly was ordained Hobart, 7 December, Colin Ollerenshaw was ordained in the chapel of Kew Carmel, Melbourne.
October, the Regional Chapter was held at Varroville, Fr Jeremiah Fitzpatrick presided.
Fr Ross Collings was re-elected as Regional Vicar.

1997
Joseph McDonald went to Oxford to enter the novitiate.
Collin Ollerenshaw went to Oxford.

1998
28 March Joseph MacDonald was professed in Box Hill.
30 June, Albert McKeogh and Ross Collings were tragically killed in a car accident near Gundagai. Br Joe McDonald, the driver, received minor injuries. They were driving from Melbourne to the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the friars at Varroville.
The Irish Provincial, Fr Vincent O'Hara came from Ireland for the funerals and at which Archbishop John Battersby of Brisbane presided along with Bishops Bill Murray and David Cremin. Frs William Fenton, Paul O'Sullivan, Tom Shanahan, Michael Brown and Br Shane Kelleher were also present as well as the regional communities and very many priests and laity. The funeral was held in the parish church and the large congregation walked up the road (which the police had blocked) to the friars' cemetery at Mount Carmel.
The meeting of the brethren went ahead after the funerals.
Greg Homeming became Regional Vicar, Tadgh Tierney the First Councillor, Fr Paul Maunder was elected Second Councillor (to fill the vacant position on the Regional Council) and moved to Varroville to become the Novice Master.
Greg Burke became prior as well as parish priest in Morley.
A Regional Congress of the OCDS was held in September and was followed by a formation meeting organized by the Association of Carmelite nuns.
Aloysius Deeley who had arrived to take part in the OCDS meeting had a stroke and was hospitalised for some time.
Charles Serrao's mother also had a stroke so that he left the nuns meeting without giving his workshops.
Greg Burke filled in for both and then developed pancreatitis on returning to Morley.
Br Joe McDonald remained in Varroville after the accident rather than return to Box Hill. He continued theological studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

July 1998 Morley Community: Paul Maunder, Greg Burke, Des Williamson, Terence Cahill, Angelo Gatto, Br James Groth. Varroville Community: Frs Greg Homeming, Greg Chee, Hilary Doran, Joe Kelly, Tadgh Tierney, Gerard Moran, Robert Donnelly, Brs Brian Anderson, Chuck Stowe, student Br Joseph McDonald. Box Hill Community: Frs John Follent, Aloysius Rego.

1999
25 Jan Damian Pitt, Murray Coller and Richard Healey began formation as postulants.
The Regional Assembly in February was devoted to the topic of the quality of our life together.
A committee was selected to prepare the next Regional Chapter in August.
15 July Damian Pitt, Murray Coller and Richard Healey began their novitiate.
1 September, Peter Dowd returned to the Order (on probation).
Murray Coller withdrew 1 November.
Shortly before the Chapter Robert Donnelly asked for leave from the Order.
At the Chapter in August, Greg Homeming was elected Regional Vicar, Paul Maunder and Aloysius Rego made up the Regional Council.
Greg Chee was appointed prior of Varroville, Aloysius of Box Hill and Gerard Moran prior and parish priest of Morley.
Des Williamson was appointed Regional Delegate to the Secular Order and moved to Box Hill.
John Follent was moved to Morley and Greg Burke was given study leave, which he took in Washington DC at WTU from 2000.
Paul Maunder was re-appointed formation director.

2000
20 July, Br Alan Theseira from Singapore arrived at Varroville to begin theological studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney, after taking profession on 9 June.
Joe Cardoso, from the Karnataka Goa Province, arrived in Morley parish to work at Curtin University and to help out in the parish.
Peter Dowd made profession 24 May and on 14 September so did Richard Healey and Damian Pitt.
There was a General Visitation by Charles Serrao in June.

2001
While attending the Extraordinary Definitory in Nairobi, Greg Homeming learnt that the Carmels of Launceston, Goonellabah and Apia had joined a new international Association of nuns called the Dovecotes of Our Lady. Apia and Goonellabah subsequently withdrew from the Association after discussions with Greg Homeming.
Colin Ollerenshaw took a leave of absence from the Order at the beginning of the year and worked as a school chaplain while living at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne.
Joe McDonald left the community on the expiry of his annual vows in March.
Greg Burke graduated with an MA in Theology in May with a thesis on the official rehabilitation of Jerónimo Gracián.
Douglas Mawhinney, a New Zealander, arrived at Varroville as a postulant in June.
In July two Carmelite Missionary sisters visited Varroville to investigate the possibility of a foundation.
The Regional Council and the Diocesan Consultors accepted the foundation.
In October, Aloysius Rego is awarded a D.Theol for his thesis on Eduard Schillebeckx.
Also in October Greg Burke begins the course at the Centro International Teresiano Sanjuanistica in Ávila after spending two months learning Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico.
1 Nov, Anthony Hammon and Bernard Hancock joined the community.
Anthony left at the end of the year.
Peter, Damian & Richard attend the East-Asia Oceania Fraternity Meeting for Students in Manila, Philippines, from 25 Dec - 12 Jan, 2002.

2002
In January, Colin Ollerenshaw asked for another year of exclaustration.
There was a regional assembly from 21 - 24 January.
The relics of St Therese visited Australia (31 January - 3 May) and began their journey around the country at Morley to great media coverage. Everywhere the relics visited there were moving scenes of popular devotion. Around 500,000 Australians venerated the relics during their 90-day tour.
Michael the younger brother of Gerard Moran died in Woodford, Ireland.
The Irish Provincial Chapter was held in Dublin in May.
Previous to its meeting Fr John Grennan had been elected Provincial in a direct postal election by the entire Province.
In July, Br Shane Kelleher returned to Australia after 10 years ministry in Africa, in Nigeria and Kenya.
In the same month Greg Burke also returned to the Region after his time of study.
In August the Chapter of the Australian regional Vicariate was held at Varroville.
Fr Aloysius Rego was elected Vicar, with Greg Homeming first councillor and Shane Kelleher second counsellor.
After the Chapter it was announced that Paul Maunder, with the students would move to Box Hill in mid December.
Des Williamson was appointed superior in Box Hill and Shane Kelleher joined the community. Joe Kelly was assigned to Morley and Greg Burke to Varroville as the Director of Retreats. A number of new committees were appointed, including the ITC, to continue to develop this website.
Shortly after the Chapter Br Alan Theseira returned to Singapore to pursue his Carmelite vocation there as a brother.
Greg Homeming attended the Extraordinary Definitory in Lipa, Philippines as the representative of Aloysius.
In December Greg Homeming went to Kensington, London for a two-month study break.

50 YEARS OF THE DISCALCED CARMELITE FRIARS
IN AUSTRALIA (1948-1998)

Contents::

Introduction
1. Daniel MacEvey - the first Discalced Carmelite in Australia
2. Other Discalced Carmelites in Australia before 1948
3. The First Foundation
4. Chronology of the Friars in Australia (1948-2002)
5. A Who's Who

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Page last modified: Friday, 21 February, 2003
Document path: http://carmelite.com/friars/prov4.shtml