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Soundings from the Carmelite Monastery,
Ormiston, Queensland
For Young Adults
Issue 5 (July 2002)
Awesome! That is how people described the
visit of the relics of St. Thérèse to our Carmel
from 29 April till 1 May. It was a unique experience, both
for us, and for the thousands of people of every age, ethnic
group and religious affiliation who came to see, to touch,
to pray, to learn, and even to return to God after many years.
 We
had recently acquired a data projector, which enabled us to
show images and thoughts taken from Thérèse’s
writings on a big screen. It proved invaluable for providing
words of songs and the texts of the Liturgy of the Hours.
As the procession entered our Church for the first time with
the relics, there was Thérèse’s photo
on the screen superimposed on our monastery with the words:
‘Welcome to Carmel, Ormiston.’ Thérèse’s
ambition to preach the Gospel on all five continents from
the beginning to the end of time was being realised, right
here in our very midst.
If people flock to this young saint, it is not for her own
sake. Her prayer was: ‘Draw me, Jesus, and all who love
me will be drawn to You too, just as a torrent sweeps along
with it everything in its path.’ Her youthful enthusiasm
is contagious. People today, especially young people, need
hope. Thérèse is an icon of hope in a world
of fear and despair. That is why we are dedicating this issue
of ‘Seeds’ entirely to Thérèse.
If you have not yet read her ‘Story of a Soul’,
we challenge you to do it now, and see if your life suddenly
takes on new meaning.
A Word from the Prioress
  Dear
Young Friends,
The 26th July this year marks the 75th Birthday of our community.
In 1922, Brisbane’s Archbishop Duhig went to France,
and while there, visited the Carmel of Lisieux, where, in
prayer, he promised St. Thérèse to found a Carmelite
house of prayer in Brisbane. The Carmel of Sydney responded
to his request, and eventually, eight founding sisters arrived
by train on July 25th in 1927.
St. Thérèse has shown her special interest in
us ever since - even crowning this significant year for our
community by the visit of her Relics from 30 April to 4 May
(the last two days being spent inside the enclosure, due to
a delay in her departure for Noumea). None of these coincidences
were planned in any way by us - but rather, we like to think,
they were Thérèse’s unique way of singing:
“Happy Birthday”.
Like all birthdays, our 75th has helped us recall some beautiful
memories. There are the stories behind God’s call to
each of our sisters who now rest peacefully in our little
cemetery beneath the gum trees on the cliff above our bay.
Like the twenty sisters who now make up our community, they
said “yes” to this Divine call, and ran after
Jesus to become one of His close friends, who would cast the
net into the sea for a great catch, through a hidden life
of love.
And now the question is, “Who is God calling today
to continue this mission of friendship with Christ?”
Is God calling anyone this year, so that her “yes”
will coincide with our 75th Birthday? If so, then such a birthday
gift would be highly esteemed, and Therese’s wishes
for a “Happy Birthday” will not have been sung
in vain.
Prioress
Note: Our community elections are due in September, so this
will be Sr. Katherine’s final message as Prioress.
If you have questions, comments, stories, prayer requests,
anything at all write to us here:
Sister Katherine,
Carmelite Monastery,
287 Wellington St,
Ormiston. QLD 4160.
e-mail: 
Visit us at: www. carmelite.
com
Themes. . .
Highlights of the Relics Visit
The Welcome
On Monday morning, 29 April, it was discerned appropriate
for us to leave the cloister to be present for the civic welcome
in the grounds of Ormiston House. At 10.30 the Thérèsemobile
arrived, and was piped into the grounds by the Ormiston Heritage
Pipes and Drums, while students from Carmel College formed
a guard of honour and six of the senior boys lifted the reliquary
onto the tartan-draped table, and later carrying it in procession
to the Church. After a trumpet fanfare and the national anthem,
Archbishop Bathersby formally welcomed Thérèse
to Ormiston. Our local Mayor, Councillor Don Seccombe, presented
Sr. Katherine with a beautifully framed certificate declaring
St. Thérèse an honorary citizen of the Redland
Shire. A small choir of the students sang three ‘Thérèse’
songs during this welcome.
The Night Vigils
Several young people spent all or part of the two nights
in prayer and vigil. The sisters led sessions in reflection,
image and song from 11.00 p.m.- 12.00 a.m. each night. There
was freedom to sing or pray aloud or dance at any time during
the night. About 3.00 am on the Tuesday morning, Andrew and
Emma, both from the Emmanuel Youth Team, came right up to
the tabernacle and sang in harmony accompanied by guitar for
an hour. It was very beautiful. Thérèse must
have been happy. She was simply an instrument, leading others
to Jesus.
The Departure
A group of students from All Hallows’ had spent many,
many hours learning “Thérèse’s Canticle
of Love”, a choral piece written by an American Carmelite
sister. It was the highlight of the departure ceremony on
the Wednesday. The girls also proclaimed the scripture reading
and intercessions with finesse and reverence. We were delighted
to meet them all afterwards.
A Journey with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
A Garbled Account of the Visit of the Relics of St. Thérèse
of Lisieux!
by Beth Davies
When I first heard of the visit of the relics of St. Thérèse
of Lisieux I was less than enthused. In fact I was more than
a little confused, repulsed and concerned at the thought of
someone’s ‘leftover bits’ being carted around
the world. Surely all that mattered (the soul, energy and
life – the person herself) was gone! Is it really right
to venerate something or someone other than Jesus and His
cross? Honestly I thought it was all a bit morbid.
However in the course of the coming months my feelings and
ideas were to utterly change. It all happened in the oddest
way. For some months I had attended a Carmelite parish and
it was there that I had come across brochures publicising
the visit. I brought some home with me one Sunday but never
really looked at them. Then about two months later I was up
at night and unable to sleep with the feeling that the Lord
wanted me to pray. For some reason I was drawn to the brochures.
Until then, it had never really registered with me that St.
Thérèse (who is my confirmation saint) was a
Carmelite. Somehow without me knowing I realised I was attending
YCG meetings and a Carmelite parish and I had (unbeknownst
to my 10 year old self) chosen a Carmelite patron –
I could see a pattern forming. I knew at this moment that
I had to be involved with this great occasion.
From this point on I threw myself into helping prepare for
the imminent visit. In my heart grew a great desire and excitement
about the visit of the relics. I no longer thought of ‘leftover
bits’ but of this great saint joyfully coming to visit
us. In the ensuing months I heard several talks and explanations
of relics and our understanding of them in the Catholic Church.
In particular a program on St. Thérèse’
visit to Ireland in 2001 on Radio National. I was so touched
by the stories and reactions of the Irish experience I was
brought to tears. I knew the Holy Spirit was trying to spur
me on. I absolutely had to be with the relics as much as I
could.
As the visit became closer, my life became busier, and even
though it was stressful, I was more and more excited about
the visit of St. Thérèse’s relics and
how God was going to touch people and minister into their
lives through His mercy and Grace.
I had the privilege of vigiling overnight at Ormiston on
the Monday evening/Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening/Wednesday
morning. It was here in these precious times of prayer and
fellowship that I really started to understand what relics
are about and more importantly why St. Thérèse
is so special to me and to millions of others. The immediate
impression that I had when I entered the chapel where the
reliquary was housed, was peace, a tranquillity that settled
so gently on my heart I wanted to cry. You could sense this
amazing love in the atmosphere around you as well as in your
heart. In those few nights there was a very particular presence
of God, of a kind I hadn’t experienced before. It was
being in and pondering this presence that I began to realise
that the whole point of venerating relics is honouring and
pondering the union of a particular soul with God. Thérèse’s
journey was with and in God who is love.
I’m no expert but I felt that I was drawn to venerate
Thérèse’s union with her Jesus and glorify
Him with her. Also I saw how by virtue of dedicating and consecrating
one’s body and soul wholly to Christ the physical body
becomes holy in a new and more complete way because it (we)
has fulfilled God’s creative design for humanity.
It was a grace-filled (to overflowing) time in which I was
challenged to heed St. Thérèse’s little
way. God is So BIG and through the visit I feel that maybe
I have experienced one grain of sand more than before.
Journey's End
The 90 day Australian Pilgrimage of the Relics of St. Thérèse
ended officially on Wednesday 1 May. Due to a delay in flight
arrangements from Australia to New Caledonia, however, we
had the joy and privilege of having Thérèse
inside our enclosure for two extra days. We made full use
of the opportunity this afforded us, to be close to one who,
under God, had been responsible for drawing so many of us
to Carmel.
Sr. Cécilia, who comes from New Caledonia, farewelled
her in French, praying that she would help us all to rediscover
the simplicity and joy of the Gospel, in order to love Jesus
more deeply and serve the church more fully.
YCG Brisbane
The Young Carmelite Group continues to
attract interest from young adults, looking for peer
support in living their faith. As a recent email attests:
‘The YCG is a blessing too; so much strength
can be drawn from each meeting, and we go away with
big smiles and hearts renewed.... It has allowed me
to ponder God’s words in a new light - of a very
loving God: in the words of Jeremiah, ‘I have
loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant
in my affection for you’. I hope it flows into
my works to be seen by others, as sometimes I think
I have not done enough; I am so glad St. Thérèse
talks about a little way.’
Not all of the group were able to get down while the
relics of Thérèse were here, due to work,
uni lectures or other impediments. Ben was doing night
work at the time, yet somehow managed to be at our service
whenever needed. Davide and Nick came on the Tuesday
evening, when, with other members of the ‘Schola
Cantorum’ conducted by Tony Vaughan, they prayerfully
chanted Gregorian motets before the Reliquary. Anne
and Teresa both took some time off work. Beth very generously
offered to be the co-ordinator for youth during the
two all-night vigils. She did a great job encouraging
young people to spend the night in prayer and organising
someone to read a Thérèsian reflection
on the hour from midnight till 6.00 a.m. You can read
Beth’s story in this issue.
A special visitor to the April YCG meeting was Nicole
Lavery, a teacher from Home Hill in North Qld. Bishop
Michael Putney was bringing a pilgrimage from Townsville
Diocese while the relics were at Ormiston. We offered
to sponsor one young person, so we invited anyone interested
to send their names to Bishop Michael, and he picked
Nicole’s name from a hat. She was very excited,
and so were her ‘year fives’. As it turned
out, she was able to come a day early and take part
in the YCG meeting.
If you would like more info on the YCG,
or to be notified of the next meeting,
just send your name, age, address and email to:
Sister Katherine,
Carmelite Monastery,
287 Wellington St.
Ormiston QLD 4160
Ph: (07) 3286 1401
Email: orrmiston@carmelite.com
Visit our Carmelite website: www.carmelite.com
Nicole with Sister Katherine
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Praying with. . .
St Thérèse of Lisieux
"Praying with..." is designed to introduce you to Carmelite spirituality
and help you to seek God in silence and prayer.
| Just
as the sun shines on the tall cedars and on the tiniest
flower as
though it were the only one on earth,so our Lord is
occupied particularly with each person as though there
were no other like them. And just as in nature all the
seasons are arranged in such a way as to make the humblest
daisy bloom on a set day, in the same way,everything
works out for the good of each person.
St. Thérèse |
We can learn so much from God’s creation.
Thérèse loved flowers, the sea, birds, snow....
Being a reflective person, she pondered and penetrated the
essence of things. They spoke to her of the God of love who
had created them. Jesus, too, used the birds and the lilies
to teach us of God’s constant care for the most insignificant
of creatures. It’s the little things in life that really
count. Society would have us believe otherwise. The high achievers,
the rich and powerful are held up as icons for us. In prayer
we realize that our self worth is not dependent on these.
As we stand before God with empty hands, we realize that we
are precious and loved for our own sake.
Take time out and ‘go bush’:
to your favourite outdoor hide-away....perhaps in the mountains
or a quiet country place, or at least in a lonely part of
the garden. Give yourself 30 minutes or more. This is a good
way to pray when you’re stressed out.
Sit on the ground and invite Jesus to join
you. Feel the earth under you. Drink in the silence. Notice
the little things around you: the flowers, the insects.....
Look at the details you have never noticed before. See the
beauty there. This is how Jesus is looking at you right now.
He sees things nobody else sees, least of all, yourself. And
He loves what He sees. He loves you madly: as you are now,
and as the person you can become.
Read slowly Matthew 6:25-34 as though Jesus
were talking to you as a friend. Hand all your worries over
to Him. Tell Him about the stresses in your life....pressures
at work.... or perhaps being unable to find work..... difficult
relationships.... whatever.
For Him, you are the only one in the world.
Stay with Him there quietly and let Jesus
love you into tranquillity, joy and freedom.
‘Love can make us as big
as God, and God as small as us.’
from “Song of Youth”
A TRUE ROLE MODEL
by Teresa Balogh
Teresa was one of the Young Carmelite Group
who gave time to help us while the relics of Thérèse
were in Ormiston. We asked for her impressions.
It is difficult to put into words the way St. Thérèse
affected me.... how someone 4 years younger than myself had
lived a life of total love for God, and died in a humble way,
to become one of the most loved Saints. Her gentleness and
compassion have inspired so many people to a closer communion
with our Lord.
I was privileged to see the relics at St. Stephen’s
Cathedral, The Little Flower Church in Kedron and at Ormiston,
the latter being the most touching. It was wonderful to share
that experience with the joyful crowd and all of the Sisters,
who have become dear to me. When the sisters came out of the
convent for the arrival of the relics there was an audible
gasp and I admit to being one of the few that ran up to meet
them. I have always admired the fact that the sisters dedicate
their lives to prayer for the whole world, holding us all
in their heart, and choosing to live in an enclosed order.
On that day as on the other two occasions there was a real
feeling of peace and hope. As we all went in to the church,
after the prayers, speeches and music, which were kindly provided
by many local shire groups, there was a real feeling of anticipation.
While I waited for my mother, I started chatting to a guy
who told me he was a photographer for one of the local papers.
He said he was not Catholic, not even religious, but said
that there was definitely something there, that she had moved
him.
I am currently reading her life story and marvel at the way
she treated everyone with warmth and love: often biting her
tongue in the most strained circumstances. Forget tennis stars,
actors, or footballers, she is a true role model. From her
visit and inspirational life I hope in some small way to take
to heart what I have learnt: that the smallest thing you can
offer in love, can be the greatest reward.
Last month I was invited to a thank you BBQ given for some
of the volunteers who helped the Sisters during the visit
of the relics. While I still believe I did not deserve the
honour, I wanted to thank everyone at Ormiston for graciously
including me. It was an experience I will never forget.
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