Thirty-two Carmelites from Australia and Timor-Leste gathered in Melbourne, Australia, this week for the triennial Provincial Chapter meeting. The prior general, Miċeál O'Neill, also participated in the gathering.

The Chapter comes at the end of an 18-month consultation process looking at the needs and hopes of the Carmelites and our ministries in the future as well as the realities we face in the present.

In 1881 five members of the Irish Province went to Australia to establish the Order. Five years later the Australian commisariat was established but ended two years later although the foundation continued. On March 22, 1930, a general commissariat was established, expanding to have houses in Coorparoo, Queensland (1937) and Donvale (1937). On September 13, 1948, the Australian province was canonical erected. A foundation was made in New Zealand following year, lasting until 1970.

At the Provincial Chapter of 2001, the Australian Province agreed to accept responsibility for the Carmelite presence begun by the Indonesian Province in Timor-Leste. Three years later a novitiate was opened in Fatuhada, Dili. A month later, in late September 2004, the name of the province was officially change to “Province of Australia and Timor-Leste.”

During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:

Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale: 
Fr. Bruce Clark, O. Carm.

1^st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere: 
Fr. Wayne Stanhope, O. Carm.

2^nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere: 
Fr. Januario Pinto, O. Carm.

3^rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere: 
Fr. David Hofman, O. Carm.

4^th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere: 
Fr. Carlito Da Costa Araújo, O. Carm.