| This is a group of committed
young Catholics that meets once a month at the Discalced Carmelite
Monastery, Varroville. There is also a group that meets every
few months in Brisbane, and hopefully soon, groups also in
Melbourne and Perth. Our aims are very simple. We hope to
deepen our faith in Jesus—who we can know through prayer—through
love of Jesus Christ and his Church, thereby placing ourselves
at the service of God. This demands a serious desire to give
ourselves to Jesus who invites us to know Him through scripture,
the truths of the faith, and most of all through an intimate
personal relationship.
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 Small
Groups
All members of the group are encouraged to develop
a deep spiritual life and a love of the Church. Some commit themselves
to one of three core groups:
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The structure of each Sunday reflects these aims. We begin
the afternoon with Mass, then we have a reflective,
intelligent reading of Scripture (in 1999 we read
and again in 2003 we read the First Letter to the Corinthians.
In 2004 we wil study St Mark's Gospel. In 2000 and 2001 we
read St
John’s
Gospel;
in 2002 it was the Book
of Job). In the next session there is a talk given on
some matter of the Catholic faith, this is followed
by group discussion which is led by group leaders. At 5pm
we all join the Discalced Carmelite community in their chapel
for Evening Prayer followed by silent private prayer
till 5.30. Finally we have a talk on some matter of Spirituality
and Prayer with special emphasis on Carmelite spirituality.
This often features a Guest Speaker. We finish with
a light meal.
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There is a Theology Group which studies readings in theology
in preparation for the next meeting so as to help with the discussion
groups. This group meets at 11.30 when Fr Greg Homeming gives them extra
instruction. In 2004, this group will study Veritatis Splendor.
There is a Prayer Core Group in which members commit
themselves to half an hours private prayer each day together with either
the rosary, mass or the divine office. They also pray each day for the
intentions of the group and write to Carmelite convents for their prayer
assistance.
There is a Carmelite Spirituality Group which
is a small group of people committed to developing a Carmelite spirituality.
They attend daily mass, say the divine office and spend at least half
an hour each day in private prayer. This group meets at 1.30pm to study
the spirituality of St Teresa of Avila, St
John of the Cross and St Therese
of Lisieux. In 2001, we read the Spiritual
Canticle of St John of the Cross;
in 2002, Manuscript B of St. Therese of Lisieux's Story of a Soul; in 2003
we
read the 1st Mansion of St Teresa of Jesus (Avila)
- The Interior Castle. In 2004, this group will
study the First Book of the Ascent of Mount Carmel by St John of the Cross. |
